Travel As Relationship

“Give a month at least to this precious reserve,” said John Muir when he was trying to tell America how essential Glacier [National Park] was. A month? Who has a month anymore? Our holidays are speed dates, quick hookups with the 1,000 places you need to see before you die.” - Peter Fish, “The Road to Awe,” Sunset Magazine, August 2010

Way too true for many of us. Many have come to view trips as no more than a one night stand or, at most, a casual relationship. There are others view it as a full time all the time continuous journey where travel almost becomes, or is, a job. For proof, watch “Up in the Air” with George Clooney or check out NomadMatt website. In most good and healthy relationships, there should likely be times of intensity and times of apartness (not sure there is such a word, but, if not, there should be).

So it is with travel – a refreshing weekend getaway, then a spring break or summer vacation for a week or two. And then the occasional longer break – to see the “precious reserve,” to see how essential the world is – not just your corner of it. All are part of our relationship with travel – a relationship of learning, trusting, experiencing, and getting to know a sense of place, of others and of self.