Unagi wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 5:21 pm
Being in unique locations on Earth geographically or historically.
Laying my own eyes on antiquity.
Those are big for me.
I've got a few artifacts that are thousands of years old. It's fascinating to hold one, studying the marks and seeing the decisions that were made in creating it, knowing that it was made by an everyday human so long ago. It gives the items a certain... something. Being able to stand in a castle that my ancestors controlled hundreds of years ago, or on the docks (or their approximate location) from which my more recent ancestors left for America some 400 years ago, or standing in Roman ruins, knowing the history, or in a Greek temple, knowing the mythology and beliefs behind it would bring that same kind of experience.
I took an around-the-world trip with my family in the summer of 2018. We didn't initially plan on doing so. My mother-in-law wanted her two daughters (my wife and my sister-in-law) and their families to go with her to the Philippines and get a special blessing from one of the Buddhist temples there. As we were planning it I said "you know, we can't go to the Philippines and not stop in Hawaii" as the majority of my relatives still live there. Then she said "Maybe we should visit my cousin in Singapore as well?" to which I agreed. And then we thought - why go west when we can go east? Fly to Singapore first, spend a few days there, then the Philippines to be with my wife's side of the family, and then Hawaii to visit my side, then fly home.
So we did. Virgin Atlantic to London (layover), changed to SIngapore Air to go to Singapore. 5 nights there then flew Philippine Airlines to Cebu. 5 nights in Cebu then flew to Tokyo (layover), changed to United to fly to Hawaii. 5 nights in Hawaii then flew United back home to Virginia.
Most awesome trip ever. It made me realize that coach on international flights is so much better than coach on domestic flights. And Singapore was a blast. We all loved it, and we got to point out the sights we saw when Crazy Rich Asians came out.
But to answer the question, I have visited:
Hawaii, California, Connecticut, New York, Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Vermont, and Texas.
Internationally: Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong (before it went back to China), and Belgium
As to the original topic, I've been to 31 states, most of the Caribbean islands, Canada, Mexico, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, England, Scotland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, the USSR, Portugal and the Canary Islands. Much of my disposable income has gone to travel.
I don't think I've ever posted about this, but back in 2018 I sold my house then traveled round the world for a couple of years. Mostly SE Asia, but also random spots in Europe and I also somehow ended up in Darwin, Australia for a month. Technically, I think I've been around the world 2.5 times (and, yes, it's definitely round). Then covid hit and . . . record scratch noise.
Anyhow, I'm now typing this from Hua Hin, Thailand and in a few month I'll be eligble for a "retirement" visa. Thinking about trying out Bangkok as a home base for year or so. Next stop, though, is Nha Trang, Vietnam after my current Thai visa runs out.
Hamlet3145 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:26 am
I don't think I've ever posted about this, but back in 2018 I sold my house then traveled round the world for a couple of years. Mostly SE Asia, but also random spots in Europe and I also somehow ended up in Darwin, Australia for a month. Technically, I think I've been around the world 2.5 times (and, yes, it's definitely round).
Now *that’s* well-traveled.
As opposed to the Chevy Chase head bob at the Grand Canyon from ‘Vacation’ (which is how my brother in law ‘travels’…he’s only interested in getting passport stamps apparently, and being able to say he’s been somewhere, even if he’s only spent a day or less in the location.).
I've been to a decent amount of states (maybe 25-30) and to Canada, Mexico, France, and Germany (plus the airport in Amsterdam!). A friend from law school, however, has been to every continent, which impresses me. The big get is Antarctica, obviously. She was one of the last lawyers standing at the old Arthur Anderson as they wound down following Enron, and they kept paying her retention bonuses to stay on to handle the litigation. By the time she was done she had collected quite the nest egg, so she signed on for a tour working in the cafeteria at one of the stations in Antarctica.
ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:49 am
I've been to a decent amount of states (maybe 25-30) and to Canada, Mexico, France, and Germany (plus the airport in Amsterdam!). A friend from law school, however, has been to every continent, which impresses me. The big get is Antarctica, obviously. She was one of the last lawyers standing at the old Arthur Anderson as they wound down following Enron, and they kept paying her retention bonuses to stay on to handle the litigation. By the time she was done she had collected quite the nest egg, so she signed on for a tour working in the cafeteria at one of the stations in Antarctica.
Anyone that goes to Antarctica and then doesn't visit the rest ... I honestly doubt that person exists.
I mean the list of people that have been to Antarctica must be nearly the same list of people that have been to every continent.
Speaking of Antarctica, I have two cousins who recently completed a marathon there and finished pretty high in the list. Just the idea of competing in those temperatures is enough to impress me.
Hamlet3145 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:26 am
I don't think I've ever posted about this, but back in 2018 I sold my house then traveled round the world for a couple of years. Mostly SE Asia, but also random spots in Europe and I also somehow ended up in Darwin, Australia for a month. Technically, I think I've been around the world 2.5 times (and, yes, it's definitely round). Then covid hit and . . . record scratch noise.
Anyhow, I'm now typing this from Hua Hin, Thailand and in a few month I'll be eligble for a "retirement" visa. Thinking about trying out Bangkok as a home base for year or so. Next stop, though, is Nha Trang, Vietnam after my current Thai visa runs out.
Somewhere out on the new purple line in BKK would be ultra affordable in some brand new buildings. Would be thin on expats and English language probably? Could get everywhere by train easily I'd think.
Unagi wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 2:18 pm
Anyone that goes to Antarctica and then doesn't visit the rest ... I honestly doubt that person exists.
I mean the list of people that have been to Antarctica must be nearly the same list of people that have been to every continent.
I have a friend who might fit the bill. She went to Antarctica on a science teacher internship. She's well traveled in the Americas and Europe but I don't think she ever made it to Africa and I'm not sure about Asia.
Hamlet3145 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:26 am
I don't think I've ever posted about this, but back in 2018 I sold my house then traveled round the world for a couple of years. Mostly SE Asia, but also random spots in Europe and I also somehow ended up in Darwin, Australia for a month. Technically, I think I've been around the world 2.5 times (and, yes, it's definitely round). Then covid hit and . . . record scratch noise.
Anyhow, I'm now typing this from Hua Hin, Thailand and in a few month I'll be eligble for a "retirement" visa. Thinking about trying out Bangkok as a home base for year or so. Next stop, though, is Nha Trang, Vietnam after my current Thai visa runs out.
Sounds great. For years I thought I'd do such a trip but it's clear that my wife doesn't harbor the same dream even if she likes traveling.
ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:49 am
I've been to a decent amount of states (maybe 25-30) and to Canada, Mexico, France, and Germany (plus the airport in Amsterdam!). A friend from law school, however, has been to every continent, which impresses me. The big get is Antarctica, obviously. She was one of the last lawyers standing at the old Arthur Anderson as they wound down following Enron, and they kept paying her retention bonuses to stay on to handle the litigation. By the time she was done she had collected quite the nest egg, so she signed on for a tour working in the cafeteria at one of the stations in Antarctica.
Anyone that goes to Antarctica and then doesn't visit the rest ... I honestly doubt that person exists.
I mean the list of people that have been to Antarctica must be nearly the same list of people that have been to every continent.
I will admit to the exception being people who were/are forced to work there through happenstance -and- don’t have any interest in seeing the world. And they do exist.
Hamlet3145 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:26 am
I don't think I've ever posted about this, but back in 2018 I sold my house then traveled round the world for a couple of years. Mostly SE Asia, but also random spots in Europe and I also somehow ended up in Darwin, Australia for a month. Technically, I think I've been around the world 2.5 times (and, yes, it's definitely round). Then covid hit and . . . record scratch noise.
Anyhow, I'm now typing this from Hua Hin, Thailand and in a few month I'll be eligble for a "retirement" visa. Thinking about trying out Bangkok as a home base for year or so. Next stop, though, is Nha Trang, Vietnam after my current Thai visa runs out.
Somewhere out on the new purple line in BKK would be ultra affordable in some brand new buildings. Would be thin on expats and English language probably? Could get everywhere by train easily I'd think.
I've actually already started looking into intensive Thai language schools. I know that it will totally kick my butt, but I think it would be worth it long term. If nothing else, it would be fun to be able to eavesdrop a bit on what people are saying about me. I'm fortunate in that I'll have a pretty good housing budget, so I'm leaning toward the more central Phrom Phong area, but we'll see. I do like the idea of having a cheap enough condo that I don't feel guilty about leaving it for a month or two here and there to travel and/or visit the US.
Hamlet3145 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:26 am
I don't think I've ever posted about this, but back in 2018 I sold my house then traveled round the world for a couple of years. Mostly SE Asia, but also random spots in Europe and I also somehow ended up in Darwin, Australia for a month. Technically, I think I've been around the world 2.5 times (and, yes, it's definitely round). Then covid hit and . . . record scratch noise.
Anyhow, I'm now typing this from Hua Hin, Thailand and in a few month I'll be eligble for a "retirement" visa. Thinking about trying out Bangkok as a home base for year or so. Next stop, though, is Nha Trang, Vietnam after my current Thai visa runs out.
Sounds great. For years I thought I'd do such a trip but it's clear that my wife doesn't harbor the same dream even if she likes traveling.
Being single with no kids definitely helped on the logistics front for me. (Although, I do know of couples, and even families, who have done something similar). Maybe pitch a one month trip to a certain region? I didn't travel much in my pre-40s, but once I started it's been hard to stop lol.
Hamlet3145 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:06 pm
Being single with no kids definitely helped on the logistics front for me. (Although, I do know of couples, and even families, who have done something similar). Maybe pitch a one month trip to a certain region? I didn't travel much in my pre-40s, but once I started it's been hard to stop lol.
For years we traveled fairly often but Covid shut it down and she hasn't wanted to travel since then other than local travel. We did move to a new area so between scouting trips and trips exploring locally I can understand. On the other hand I'm getting the itch to go farther afield again. She isn't opposed to travel though so I'm fairly sure we'll head out again.
While we were taking a trip to Vietnam we ran into a family doing a slow trip spending a month in each country, homeschooling as they went. We both liked the idea but right now our aging parents would make it difficult to do that sort of trip. But two weeks at a time is probably in the cards.
Hamlet3145 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:01 pm
I do like the idea of having a cheap enough condo that I don't feel guilty about leaving it for a month or two here and there to travel and/or visit the US.
Hamlet3145 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:01 pm
I do like the idea of having a cheap enough condo that I don't feel guilty about leaving it for a month or two here and there to travel and/or visit the US.
Hamlet3145 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:01 pm
I do like the idea of having a cheap enough condo that I don't feel guilty about leaving it for a month or two here and there to travel and/or visit the US.
Hamlet3145 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:01 pm
I do like the idea of having a cheap enough condo that I don't feel guilty about leaving it for a month or two here and there to travel and/or visit the US.
That's my thinking too.
Y'all don't have pets, do you?
No even a plant!
Ditto, not even a plant. I wonder if the idea of pet "sharing" or "rental" might be a money maker? I wouldn't mind having an occasional pet friend after having taken care of a friend's cat for a few months. My sister pet sits for her friends with large dogs.
Kraken's point about pets is well taken. It was significantly easier before the pup. Edit: I felt I should qualify that I'm NMNK, which makes it a little easier.
I'm clocking in at 32 states.
Internationally, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Cuba, Italy, Vietnam, and Thailand. Going to hit Bali hopefully in June.
Want to explore more of Europe, including walk the Camino de Santiago, hike in Argentina, climb Kilimanjaro and see the Serengeti (that's top of the bucket list), explore the Middle East during more peaceful times, wander through New Zealand...
... and get a job with a significantly higher salary and an extensive vacation policy. I watch with envy some of the people I met in SE Asia who work remotely who just change locales every three to six months.
Last edited by Dogstar on Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I'm pretty much the entire east coast and California. We just never had the time or money to go anywhere else since my daughter was born. I would like to go see one of the bigger state parks, but we kind of find a spot we like and just go over and over.
Capitalism tries for a delicate balance: It attempts to work things out so that everyone gets just enough stuff to keep them from getting violent and trying to take other people’s stuff.
I have a colleague who has done paleontology in both Arctics.
In the North you carry a rifle on the off-chance of Polar Bears. In the South you don't because it's illegal to shoot penguins and because shoggoths are bulletproof.