To go or not to go

Yesterday, I had a conversation with one of my younger co-workers about travel. He was conflicted about his girlfriends desire to stick close to home, family and friends versus his wanting to travel and see the world.

I didn't tell him to drop the girl friend, who may have good reason to want to stick close to home, but I suspect her timidity may have more to do with a lack of a sense of adventure than common sense and a need to settle down. I did tell him to go. You will never regret going to Europe, the far East or where ever your wanderlust takes you.

He mentioned that some one told him he could always travel after he retired. I told him that there was no guarantee that he would have the time, health or the money to travel after he retired. Besides there is one important element to travel that he would miss and that is the education about other people and the way they live. I know from first hand experience that he will see more easily that while we live in the greatest society in the world, others do have good idea's about how to live and we can learn from them. If he waits until he retires, he may learn those things, but he won't be able to apply that knowledge to his entire life.

Damn the cost man. Wait for that cheap airfare, buy your rail pass and go. You will always have time for work and you'll be a better person for the experience.