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Megan: For me, traveling is an escape from normal. Something that makes you hopeful and excited for the future. Whether that be a trip to see family and friends or a trip to visit a new country. Traveling for me is about making memories both with loved ones and with strangers. Traveling is about the sense of control and the excitement of the unknown; controlling how to spend the most of your free time, and the excitement of all the wonderful things that happen you could never plan for.
Starting a travel blog during a global pandemic can be seen as strange timing, but for me, getting to reminisce about moments in my life that were truly the most magical has been something really positive to think about during these troubling times. All too often, I find myself planning for my next adventure without looking back and reflecting on those I’ve had. It has been nice to take a step back and get perspective of all the things I do have and those things travelling has gifted me.
Even with all that, I can’t wait for the day when traveling is safe again. My “type A personality” can’t wait to crack open an Excel doc and begin planning my next international adventure. I can’t wait to dust off my camera and capture memories that will last a lifetime. I’m hopeful for the day that I can have new experiences with friends and family and hug them a little longer. I can’t wait to be in control of my future again. And most of all, I’m excited for all the unexpected and unplanned surprises that traveling brings.
Until then, I’m going to explore my own backyard. Take little trips around Florida and remind myself I am so lucky to live in paradise. I’ll also keep dreaming of all the places I am going to go and continue to promise myself that I am not going to wait to see the world, but do it now!
Katie: B!tches Be Tripping was only a few days old when I first had someone ask, “Isn’t this a bad time to start a travel blog?”
I get where they’re coming from – but I couldn’t disagree more.
Megan and I have both had travel plans cancelled because of what’s happening in the world right now. I was supposed to go to Shanghai with my husband in March, on a Mediterranean cruise with friends in May. Megan had planned to go on a Mediterranean cruise in July.
We are both fortunate that we, as well as our friends and family, are in good health. We have great jobs with a company that treats us well. We’re at home in Florida with our loved ones. It feels silly to complain about our “cancelled vacations,” but it goes beyond that.
Travel is more than just taking time off from work, though that’s certainly part of it. Travel means immersing yourself in a new culture and experiencing new things. Travel means having goals and planning for the future. Travel means hoping. That’s what I’m missing most.
It is so hard to plan for the future, to have hope, when the world seems sort of like it’s falling apart.
But that won’t keep us from trying. We’re compiling our past experiences here, the things we loved and the things we learned from, and sharing those insights with you, but we’re also looking to a future when we can travel again. I currently have (flexible) flights booked to Peru for December because I need to have that to look forward to. I’m enjoying planning for the accompanying adventures – and keeping my fingers crossed that we actually get to have them.
We all could use a little more travel, and a little more hope, in our lives. Maybe that makes us seem crazy, but that’s okay – as they say, b!tches be tripping.
