| One thing that I have in common with a lot of my | | | | from Las Vegas to Seattle where I live, but he took |
| close friends is they love to travel. Travel opens the | | | | two weeks to do it. He stopped along as many |
| world up for new possibilities. It is part of the | | | | coastal and inland stops and camping spots as he |
| adventurous spirit that we all have. I have traveled | | | | could. By the time he made it to my house he was |
| to Mexico several times by myself and with friends | | | | ready for a nice home cooked meal and a shower. |
| and family. I have jumped on a plane for a two day | | | | He has also been known to hop planes to Costa Rica, |
| trip to Japan to meet potential business partners. My | | | | Amsterdam, and New York for the heck of it. |
| wife and I have taken our kids to New York City for | | | | Travel is a way to find yourself and discover that |
| a winter trip, Cancun for a party trip, England and | | | | the world is connected and the world is wondrous. |
| Scotland for an adventure trip, and Hawaii for a | | | | When you do travel you should go with the |
| family trip. Despite the cost and despite what other | | | | expectation of finding something great and new to |
| things I have had in my life, my travels are what | | | | you. I was 16 the first time I arrived in Mexico City. |
| have given me the most juice and excitement. | | | | My eyes were popping out of my head. Every corner |
| I just received a phone call yesterday from a friend | | | | provided a new site, sound and smell. I was a kid |
| of mine who was tired of the working rat race. He | | | | from a small town in the Northern corner of |
| traded in his jeep for a van and got himself a | | | | Washington State. I couldn't believe my senses as |
| Western Hemisphere map. Currently he is in | | | | we drove around a city of more than twenty two |
| Ensenada, surfing the waves and meeting new | | | | million inhabitants. From then on, I was hooked on |
| friends. His plan is to travel from Mexico, through | | | | exploring the world. |
| Central and South America and make a final stop in | | | | I know there are many people out there who have |
| Argentina or Brazil. He has been on this trip for more | | | | told the same stories. "I can't afford it." "I don't have |
| than a month and he is only made it to Ensenada. He | | | | time." "I have kids, so I can't travel." These are just |
| has a long way to go on his journey, but he doesn't | | | | stories. You can find a way to travel, even if it |
| have any hurry. He has volunteered for a week at an | | | | means driving to the next state over and visiting |
| orphanage and he is going to take some Spanish | | | | some sites. Instead of putting the down payment on |
| classes these coming weeks. It is an adventure that | | | | that new car, go to Europe for a week. Instead of |
| most people dream about but never do. | | | | buying a new sofa set for your living room, it is time |
| Another friend of mine, was laid off from his job a | | | | to go to Southern California. Instead of using your |
| few months ago, and could not find another job. | | | | tax return money for a big screen television, you |
| Instead of feeling sorry for himself and moping | | | | should go to the Caribbean on a cruise. Why would |
| around the house, he took a three month trip to | | | | you want to watch somebody else's adventure on a |
| Eastern Europe. He visited historic sites, and made it | | | | big screen television, when you could doing your own |
| as far as Turkey. He had taken similar trips to | | | | adventure? Get you and your family a passport and |
| Australia, New Zealand, and Western Europe in the | | | | start planning where you really want to go. Get the |
| past. Now he is back in Seattle, working again and | | | | family excited and start a saving fund. If you get in |
| probably planning his next big trip. | | | | the habit of taking trips at least once a year, you can |
| A good friend of mine took a road trip last year with | | | | open up your horizons and enrich your life. |
| his pickup truck, his dog and a road map. He drove | | | | |