When In Roam, October 24th

Like many of you, I absolutely love to travel. During a work trip I’m thrilled if I have even one hour of free time to escape the confines of the hotel to enjoy an early morning walk of the city I’m visiting with colleagues. (Katie, Sari, Molly!) Getting those pre-conference steps in allows me a unique view of the surrounding area and it’s a fun way to connect and bond with folks who I know will be as busy with the corporate agenda during the traditional workday as I will be.

So where does our wanderlust come from? According to Wikipedia, during adolescence, “The dissatisfaction with the restrictions of home and locality may fuel the desire to travel.” Does this ring true for you? I grew up in a suburb of NYC and couldn’t wait to move directly into the big City as soon as I was able. I think I was looking for more choices, later operating hours, and more excitement than my sleepy suburban life offered.

As a kid, I loved to visit friends in faraway places and was so fortunate that my parents took us to Israel, California, England, Mexico, and Florida, among other places. I was intrigued by the differences in language, cuisine, landscape, and customs. And of course we spent a good deal of time in NYC as well. In New York, I loved the energy, activity, and diversity. And for me, The City in particular presented so many options for food, culture, history, entertainment, and discovery that I was convinced it would never get old.

I’m so glad that I was right, for NYC has never failed me and still manages to thrill me. I love to stroll around less familiar neighborhoods to visit new shops, parks, restaurants, bakeries, museums, and hidden gems. And so many decades later, I feel inspired just by wandering around.

Wikipedia says, “Wanderlust may reflect an intense urge for self-development by experiencing the unknown, confronting unforeseen challenges, getting to know unfamiliar cultures, ways of life and behaviors or may be driven by the desire to escape.” I think all of this is true.

But I think the best part of roaming is when you’re in a truly foreign land long enough to have the luxury of wanderlust without a ticking clock or agenda. Which is why Michael and I are off to Paris again for a month! It’s another workcation, not a true vacation, but we still have the luxury of several hours each day to explore. Since we’ve been before, we sort of know the drill and how to balance work/life while we are there. Happily nothing detracts from the excitement of a place you’ve already visited if there is still so much to experience, embrace, and of course for me, to taste.

Remember the earworm from The B-52’s called Roam? It was a great tribute to true wanderlust. “Roam if you want to. Roam around the world. Roam if you want to. Without wings, without wheels. Fly the great big sky. See the great big sea. Kick through continents, Busting boundaries.”