A few weeks ago, I went to Houston to see Miss Self Important. It was a very nice trip! And I'm somewhat amazed to admit that it's the first time I've been on an airplane in almost six years.
The last time I flew before this was from DC to Detroit in May 2019, shortly after I moved to Michigan. And on that trip I stayed with Alex, so the 5402 reunions are apparently the only reason I go anywhere!
A lot of things have made me uninterested in flying since May 2019. First, I was working in retail and therefore was short on free time and disposable income. Then, I got a puppy (my beloved canine baby) in June 2019. And you all know what happened next: covid, moving, human baby, moving, changing jobs, house buying, changing jobs again, moving, next human baby.
And here we are, six years later.
I know people (my parents, specifically) think it's weird that I don't travel anymore. I have questioned whether this is some kind of super specific postpartum anxiety, and maybe that's part of it. Mostly I don't travel because I have small children and I find traveling long distances with them less pleasant than just staying home. I like home, I like sleep. I don't get bored. I enjoy not having to schlep a pack n' play and sippy cups and diapers long distances just so I can sleep worse in a different country.
Also, travel for the sake of travel (not to see people) seems kind of pointless now. Maybe it's because I've already traveled a lot — like, to every continent except Antartica and almost every country in Europe. I'm the sort of obnoxious person who has been to London and Paris so many times they've lost track. And sure, London is nice, but it has essentially the same stuff as New York, and New York is a lot closer. I could go to New York right now and be back in time for dinner.
I enjoyed my travels and I'm happy I did them when my life was simpler. But I'm not sure what I got out of traveling. I learned about the world, I guess, but mostly I was just a tourist killing time. I don't think I even scratched the surface of most of the places I've been. I was mostly traveling just to say I traveled — the early 2000s equivalent of going someplace just to post the pics.
There's nothing wrong with that, of course! Traveling just to travel and be in a new place is great. But, I don't know, not doing it also seems fine? I don't feel like I'm missing anything.
As my kids get older, I imagine I will start traveling again, taking them to Europe like my parents took me. But honestly, I'm not sure. I might just take them to the shore. Could be more relaxing.