October 12, 2010

Regrets..I've had a few.

If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?

14 years ago this month, I did a very challenging and life changing thing. I was 29 years old. I had always been interested in America, in travel and in meeting other people from around the world...

I travelled to America...alone. I have written about this previously here and here so you can see that I am actually quite obsessed. I'm actually quite obsessed with airports too which even I see as a bit strange..

I think about my trip alot...little things jog my memory of experiences I had and sometimes it feels like only yesterday that I was there. At other times it feels surreal.

My one and only regret is, that I wished I had travelled earlier in my life. You see, I was 29, and as soon as I returned to Australia, The Hubbster (who was The Fiance) and I moved states to sunny Queensland and started our new life in the tropics...

There was the house to find, the job to get and the friends to meet. There was simply no time or money spare for travel.....

We got married, birthed our babies and life went on.

As soon as I returned to Australia from my trip, I had the travel bug, I was well and truly hooked. But because of the circumstances, I haven't been able to travel again.

Now we are working the farm, building The Money Pit, so our time and money is going there..oh there are also dance fees, football fees, school stuff and the list goes on.

I should have travelled during my twenties, when there was not a lot of commitments, time and money was on my side, and I don't know why I didn't. The years just slipped away.

I would never in a heartbeat change what I have now, my family...my lifestyle....but if I had my time over.....I would get on a plane and go........I wouldn't hold back. There is so much to see in this world....I am yet to see it....I hope one day I will have the chance...

I feel so strongly about this that I hope to visit America again one day.....I need to. I love this country so much, the people I met and the cities, the architecture, the beautiful scenery.....the touristy things you read about and see on tv, and the parts that you don't...the amazing families who hosted me who I am still in contact with today..

I would love to travel with my kids.

I will be telling them to do what they love, to not hold back and waste the time because there is so much to see and experience and if they wait....they may never get the chance.

I don't want them to have regrets...


12 comments:

Liz said...

My husband always says that I should never live with regrets, but I can't help it! I firmly believe though, that it makes you more determined in life to not make any more!

Anonymous said...

Awww.. Come back! Come back! We welcome you and the whole fam! :)

Rachel said...

Definitely come back! How's about a house swap for a couple weeks? :)

Tina said...

We started our family when I was 17 so I haven't traveled at all. But I figure that we'll still be young enough to do it when the kids grow up and move out!

Farmers Wifey said...

@ Liz, yes I agree it does make you more determined.....

@ WITMR, how awesome it would be to meet you all!!

@ Rachel, that would be a great idea, a great money saving tip, I think there are companies that do things like this..

@ Tina, you have plenty of time to travel, my first baby was born at 33 so I was a very late starter!!

Kakka said...

Travel is probably the one thing I regret not doing as well. My first trip overseas was not until 2001 and I was 46. But like you, I would not change my circumstances as it would mean not having my family.

Farmers Wifey said...

@ Kakka yes that is what I mean, thank you...I wouldn't change my family but I would change what I did in the years before I had them...

Unknown said...

lol when I saw your teaser yesterday i just KNEW it would be about travel!

Annette Piper said...

I travelled overseas extensively with my parents when I was 12 - 13 and must have got that travel bug out of my system. I would still like to go o/s but its not a burning desire. I hope you get to go again and not too far in the future.

fromsophiesview said...

Isn't it always the way...wanting to have what is just out of your reach. Everyone around here wants to go to where...you guessed it AUSTRALIA! All you hear is the exotic locales and sandy beaches are out of this world...what more could you want. So I go online and watch TV to see what I'll never see. That's OK. I'll live through others.Your blog helps!

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

I wish we had traveled more before our son (17) arrived, then in the big break in between before our 4 yr olds.

Next year we are going on a roadtrip with a caravan ...well we are taking MR 4's.

One day we might get to see more of the world ;)

Nikkers said...

I think it's so amazing that you went by yourself.
The main reason I didn't travel in my 20s was that all my high school friends were getting married or close to it and I was too insecure to travel on my own!
Now I would happily go by myself but have more pressing priorities for any money I have.
I'm sure you'll travel again some day. Where there's a will there's a way!