Maybe it’s because too much time has passed since my first post, or that I am insecure that I haven’t quite found my niche, but whenever I am asked why I decided to start a travel blog I get nervous, stutter a bit and then offer a long winded answer that mostly pertains to what I want my blog to be rather than why I set out to start it in the first place. On the occassion that someone ‘gets it,’ I am releived that I have (for lack of a better word) “branded” it according to my original vision, unless they are just being kind, and move on.
Yesterday however, while reading Monica’s end of year post at A Pair of Panties & Boxers, when she pointed out the reason for starting her travel blog I was reminded of why I started mine – to travel.
When you have a travel blog you have to have material. And as much as I have tried to make it clear that I am in no way a nomad and that I actually have one foot in a cubicle most of the time and the other off dreaming up and planning my next adventure, at the end of the day, if I am at least not working toward travel, my blog would cease to exist. It seems silly to need a place here on the internet to force myself to live and experience, but in a huge way my blog has kept me on the right track.
One year ago today I put together a list of travel goals, both long and short, which included my destination wish list for the year. When I pulled it together I envisioned being able to tackle the everyday, like checking out new restaurants and actually getting out of the office for lunch, and then crossing my fingers for the rest. Looking back I actually accomplished a lot more on my destination list while I let the everyday fall away.
For instance, I actually traveled with Mike.
I also fulfilled phase 4 of girl’s weekend with my friends and hit up Montréal.
We also went to New York to visit our friend Caitlin.
I didn’t get to Philly as much as I would have liked and when I did go, I never made it back to NorthThird nor did I eat a cheesesteak, but there is always next year. And hey, the fact that I met Mac and Sweet Dee from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which was epic, kind of made up for it anway.
Beyond my blog and my travels, 2009 held the second most significant event of my life - getting engaged to the love of my life. For me, 2010 holds my first most significant event – marrying him.
As I plan my wedding and my honeymoon, for which a location hasn’t been decided, I do have a bit of travel on the horizon too. My friends and I have already started a spreadsheet in Google docs that lists our favorite locations. In it we also put notes on each location (we each have our own column) and it includes a calendar of when we are available throughout the year. We aren’t fooling around. I also have a wedding in Philly and I hope to attend the wedding of a close friend in Mexico.
All the while my blog will be right here with me, encouraging me to continue on this course. And the next time I am asked why I started my blog, I will not pause or stutter or go on and on. I will simply and proudly tell them: to travel.
the google docs spreadsheet with your friends is brillant! we might have to try that to make it easier to meet!
Funny, my resolution is to stay grounded a bit more! But yay to 2010 weddings!
cool, it seems like you’ve had a great year…
btw, happy new year!!!
keep on travelling and keep on blogging
-fip
cool, it seems like you’ve had a great year…
btw, happy new year!!!
keep on travelling and keep on blogging
-flip
I love your travels, really. Travel blogs inspire me to travel more too and visit the places the bloggers mentioned that attract me.:D happy new year, here’s to more amazing destinations for you to visit! *clink*
I think having a blog can certainly inspire you to do more – because telling people about your travels can be so much fun! I find myself that I go out and do more in my life as a result of my blog – things I wouldn’t always do but I think afterwards it might be fun to talk about it. And if having a travel blog gets you to travel more, it can never be a bad thing!
Hope you have some fabulous adventures in 2010!
happy new year! your 2009 and 2010 sound so exciting. good luck meeting your resolution!
Hi Susan! Thanks for mentioning me in your blog and congratulations on your engagement! That must be so exciting. Best wishes to you and your fiance for 2010. Do you guys have any plans for your honeymoon yet?
I love this post! Happy new year to you! I miss traveling so much and reading your blog reminds me of why I love it!
Hope to see you tomorrow for Where In The World Wednesday!
[...] I look at my travel goals, for the average full time working person, I feel like I am pretty fulfilled. I’m going to [...]