I agree LeX, nothing simpler!

Jennifer, I like your line about travel not having to be mind expanding simply because when I wrote this article the notion of travel to expand my senses was at the forefront of my thoughts. You reminded me of another reason why I love to travel; the notion of rest and the need to regather myself. When I was a regular 9 to 5 guy with all the stresses that it included I often went away just to regroup who I was and get away from the normal routine. That kind of travel is just as important as any other.

Thanks for the comment and you’re right, all travel is definitely good travel.:)

It’s a great view you have D.J. and I totally agree. Just let me explore the world as I see fit until the colors dim, the aromas vanish, the tastes fade away and all that remains are glorious memories of a life truly lived.

Penny, thanks for the comment. It’s no secret that travelers travel to see and experience new things. It can be highly addicting and going back to a predictable 9 to 5 job can be quite hard for some. The truth, though, is that at some point most travelers come to the understanding that life is fleeting and the world holds so many marvels and wonders that limiting themselves to only a small window of all the possibilities is like cutting off their oxygen.

Defining themselves as travelers versus vacationers for instance implies that they see life differently from your average person when in reality they have no idea what the other persons views or thoughts are. For good or bad, they are just as guilty as labeling themselves as others are of labeling them. In my experience, the only times labels are good is when they’re on the side of a box letting you know where your toothbrush is hiding. 😉

It’s funny that you say that because it totally reinforces what I was getting at. Being an investment banker was what you did, not who you are. These days when someone asks me what I do I usually have an instant smile on my face and either make up some crazy job or simply say “I do whatever I feel like”.

The truth is I’m many things at once and not all of them fit within western societies general structure. The sooner they realize I don’t have a normal 9 to 5 job the sooner we can get past stereotyping me and have a meaningful conversation. I’m always surprised at the amount of people that never question the path their on, why they’re on it or where they hope it takes them.

BTW, you DON’t seem like any investment banker I’ve ever met however most have been pretty darn boring so take that as a good thing!