Travel

I couldn’t wait to get to a point in my life where I no longer needed permission to take a trip and could afford to go anywhere I wanted. Well, mid life is here, I can and now I really find traveling a chore. I really do try to find all the ways of convenience. I really like to be pampered.

I try to utilize frequent flier miles (ha ha) when I can match schedules. Travel off season or opposite school scheduled vacations and choose the shortest lay over times as well as the lowest number of stops. Lightweight bags that have wheels that turn in every direction have been a shoulder and back saving invention. (It is much easier to push your bag from terminal to terminal than pulling it.)

Learning to purchase dark base travel material clothing lets me wear something more than once and allows more lightweight accessories to accompany me. Lightweight tee shirts in different colors are easy to pack and carry to allow fresh looks every day. I can even wear tee shirts for bed. Jewelry fits in a bag in my purse leaving room for base essentials in the carry on. I shoot for comfortable flats, sandals and my bulkiest shoes I where on the plane. Heels are a memory as they may only get worn once and that does not fit my packing criteria. I can now pack for a week in one carry on bag.

If I need more than a week, I look for a laundromat or utilize the machines at where ever I stay. Throwing in a bag of Laundry soap and a couple of dryer sheets is simple. I don’t know many of the people that see me and how would they know if I had just worn that same outfit the day before unless it had food stains or something on it!

I usually check the weather website to see the 10 day forecast to know what type of outerwear I need. A lightweight leather jacket and a black or beige sweater as well as a decorative scarf is worn on the plane. I’ll carry a handbag that is larger than I normally carry to accommodate all important extras (even lunch) that I deem necessary to have with me. Camera, phone and cord, jewelry, Kindle, wallet and anything I would not want in a bag out of my sight.

I used to carry books to read everywhere I went. The library supplied lots of great choices that I could take and return consistently changing subjects. I then changed to buying paperbacks from library sales and when I read the book, I would leave it behind for the next vacationer. That worked well for a while but now that we use the carry on bag method….I have a new love. It is the Kindle. Great entertainment, you can download many books and games etc and stay entertained for hours. It stores well and fits in my purse. Didn’t think I would go for it but, received it as a gift and haven’t looked back.

I also learned to swallow my pride as after a few surgeries I couldn’t walk as far or as easily as I did when I was younger. I shove my ego back and utilize the airline help service. A wheelchair to the gate is so much easier then trying to agonize walking sometimes a mile or more between terminals in some of these large airports. When I see people in agony walking so slow carrying “stuff” I want to reach out and tell them to “wake up and smell the coffee”. Get your butts in a chair or electric cart so that you are not huffing and puffing and sweating through the airport to only miss your next flight. It’s a FREE Service. Just call the airline a head of time and order it or even ask upon check-in and they will have service available at all your flights. It definitely beats being exhausted just trying to get to your destination for such a hard earned vacation.

Start finding ways to completely enjoy Travel as the flight should be part of the trip and not the punishment for taking time off to visit and have fun.
Marge