(no subject)

[randomness]

A couple of nights ago persis observed that when I write about going to places it's not with a feeling of that I've been there, done that, cross that off the list. Instead it's clear in my posts that I have every intention of going back.

I had a conversation with a guy from San Diego at Iguazu Falls during which I mentioned I was checking things out for next time. "You're coming back here?" he asked. He told me he generally didn't go back to places after he'd visited them.

While there are places I find don't like, I do try to give them a chance later. They just drop farther down the priority list. And when I have bad experiences I try not to repeat them. It's true though that the idea of a "once in a lifetime trip" is alien to me. If I like a place, why wouldn't I plan to go back? Travel is easy nowadays, and getting easier every year.

It does depend on what your motivation for going places is.

Comments

[awfief.livejournal.com]

I think you also enjoy watching a place change over time, which is not something you can really do if you only visit a place once.

The answer to "If I like a place, why wouldn't I go back?" is a combination of "What if you like a new place better?" and "What if you liked it, but didn't consider it worth the money/time/effort to go back?" It's not about having a lack of money, even folks with plenty of money have to make tradeoffs and have to have a sense of what is a "waste" of money and what's worth doing again. Some folks don't like planning travel, or liked it but wouldn't want another 14-hour flight like the last time.

Personally, I used to think that expensive trips were once-in-a-lifetime, but now I take it as "if I really want to I can save the money to do it". I'm in Australia now and I was thinking of maybe visiting the Great Barrier Reef, because who knows how long it will be around for? I do intend to come back to Australia, but it may be 10 years before I do, and by then the opportunity may be gone. It's the nature of things, places do change. Then again, I'm not one for the OMG PLACES YOU NEED TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE lists either. I'm more interested in walking around a city and keeping my eyes open to how things are working (I'm always curious to see how/if pedestrians jaywalk, if cars run the red lights or even jump the gun on the red+yellow lights), than seeing "the sights".

My motivation for travel is "to have fun" - it's not about checking off boxes on a list, it's about enjoying myself, without pressure.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I'm more interested in walking around a city and keeping my eyes open to how things are working (I'm always curious to see how/if pedestrians jaywalk, if cars run the red lights or even jump the gun on the red+yellow lights), than seeing "the sights".

I'm totally with you there. When I'm alone that's the sort of observation I do, as there are plenty of people I travel with who like seeing the sights.

I don't mind seeing the sights but there are many people I would bore with my wanderings, so when I'm with others who want to see the sights I save that experience to have with them.