RELUCTANT TRAVELER REPORTS PROGRESS

How many times has a world traveler started telling their story only to be interrupted by a local traveler?

The short answer? Too many.

How do I know? Because if a story is worth telling, worth listening to, then it’s worth examining.

So you ask, “But David, isn’t it rude to interrupt?”

Look, I’m positive there are better ways to understand someone than grilling them like a murder suspect. But, if they can’t stay focused in spite of gentle heckling, what’s the point?

Someone explained how they were a Rolling Stones tour traveler.

“We just love touring with the Stones,” they said.

“I know,” I said. “Sometimes I just drive to the Tigard gas station by Hwy99 just to watch the cars go by on 217.”

I waited on the silence, then said, “It’s sort of the same thing.”

Some people would hear the joke in there, not that time.

The Reluctant Traveler

And they say being a traveler is fun. It’s not so fun when travel becomes some kind of status symbol.

The only story worth telling is how to get on the road, how to get organized.

Start with motivation. Who is the driving force behind taking a trip? If it’s not you, stay home. If you’re married and your partner yearns for new sights and new food and new smells, stay out of the way.

There’s nothing wrong with being a support person; there’s lots wrong with being a control freak. The savvy traveler knows all about control. What’s the biggest travel secret? Be on time, and don’t complain.

If that’s not you, start training yourself. You don’t want to be the weak link in any chain.

In review: if life is a burden, if that’s how it feels, think about being the sort of traveler who watches cars on the nearest freeway in town.

“Do you know where all of these cars are going?”

“That one’s going to Washington; that one to California.”

“Wow, really? How do you know?”

“It’s the license plates. Also the Washington car can’t stay in one lane, and the California car is going to fast.”

“I didn’t know how much fun watching cars could be.”

“Ever drop water balloons off an overpass?”

“What?”

“Oh, nothing.”