A preserved stately home from the 1800s in Brussels
Travelling is not the biggest norm in our society. Settling and building and growing a family and assets is the more considered normal path that most individuals in Western influenced societies choose. Neither is right or wrong. One certainly doesn’t lend itself to expanding the human population, if one considers having children the only way to expand the population (well it is the most direct and obvious anyway). But that also puts a person’s value in only expanding a population as being the main function of being human. But that is a whole other topic.
An interesting little cherub
Back to travelling. As it is not the more “accepted” norm, if I can say accepted insofar as most people choose it, you get a range of feedback on what people have to say about it. Some are excited for me and wish they could be doing a similar or version of it. I would say, although I have not been keeping any real statistics on it, that those people mostly tend to wish they could be doing what I am doing but they have children so their priorities and efforts have to go a little differently.
The Cathedral - Brussels
Alternatively they are younger people who have yet to put the same amount of time into work and adult experiences as I have so they won’t have the same resources to work with, or as I like to say, to have earned it. Then there is the other perspective.
The beauty of horses
I have been asked by a number of people if perhaps I am running away from something. So I decided to give this some thought and I thought, “Well heck, who says it’s running away, maybe I am running towards something!” I have realized you see, that I live life at a bit different pace than the norm. I live it faster. Experiences for me happen faster and I encounter different experiences more often than most.
The old surrounded by the new
I don’t know if you quite understand what I am saying but some people ask if I think I will ever settle down. Well I have settled down lots of times, the last time was over 5 years. Had circumstances and life unfolded differently in each case, I might have still been there. But it unfolded the way it did and I am the sort of person to say, “Well time to leave that behind and move on.”
Kinda looks like a big smiling face to me.
So what looks like to some, me running away, is me moving on. Moving towards something new, yet to be realized. I think in another era I would have been an explorer. And well let’s face it, the world needs explorers. Some people ask me if I get lonely, and yes, sometimes I do. But that is life I suppose. People can be in really unhappy relationships and be more lonely than someone who is single. So I figure, whoever it is that is next to share some life with me, will show up at some point and it will be obvious. Until that time, I’m exploring. So that’s me, Sara the Explorer. I wonder what my next adventure holds.
Storm clouds a-brewing in Amsterdam
Just wanted to let you know that I like your idea of incorporating your “leftover” pictures in this blog of yours and my fave is the one with the tower surrounded by the building. I wonder why you included a picture of horses? HAHAHA
I have to agree with you about not running away from but running towards something. It is all about perspective…. 🙂
I am thoroughly enjoying your travel experiences and read your blog every morning. Sometimes feel as though I am on this journey with you!!
I am glad – it keeps you posted about my whereabouts too.
yes carpe diem Sara…
Thanks Annette. Doing my best and having a darn good time doing it. I don’t want to stop actually.
“ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END” by Chaucer. “There is an end to everything, to good things as well”….
I’m sure that you’ll remember the wonderful people you have met along the way, the great times spent and of course, all the beautiful towns and cities you have visited.
Oh this is not going to come to an end, it is only the beginning.
Sara, I hope that you get the opportunity to travel outside of Reykyavik and I can certainly recommend Myvatten (and you probably landed at Kevlavik) but only if you are carrying fishing tackle. The ultimate destination in my “colder” country ventures has been the West Coast of Greenland, a totally unique experience and you are so close. JOHN
I am going to other parts of Iceland but alas I will not have time to get to Greenland THIS TIME. I am fully planning on coming back here though and spending more time so will have to do that then. Thank you for the suggestion. I will be sure to put it to use.