Travel-Weary, Travel-Ready

I perpetually seem to underestimate the amount of time, effort, and energy it takes to get ready for a trip, and  now, being a little more seasoned (read: older) than I once was, I am both more prepared, and more worn-down by the prep. Most of my international travel to date, with the exception of Panama a few years ago, has been medium-termstints of living abroad, rather than short trips, and I definitely prefer to experience the world that way.

But prepping for a long trip is EXHAUSTING.  I have to acquire a culturally appropriate wardrobe, get vaccines, stock up on  drugs and prevention for the ailments that will inevitably come, make arrangements for my mail and my bills, acquire visas (Getting an Indian visa was infuriating, and I'll leave it at that), perform feats of strength while repeatedly weighing my luggage to get it under 50 lbs, say goodbyes. Etcetera.  And so on.

Sorry, apparently the rant that was supposed to be a lead-in to the real point of this post got a little out of hand.  The refrain running through my head is not "I hate traveling," but the asked-and-answered question, "Why do I do this to myself?" "Because I love it.  I love every minute." Not that there aren't  many minutes in there of stress, exhaustion, anxiety, awkwardness, discomfort; there are truckloads, and I don't always feel the love.  But I love that each minute is a minute I'm choosing to be wherever I am, rather than resorting to my default geography. It's mine to enjoy, to suffer, to make mistakes, to learn from them.

I recently watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and though it got mediocre reviews, I kind of loved it.  In one scene where the title character is meticulously balancing his checkbook from a Papa John's in in Iceland, I noticed that he had logged his passport photo prints and expedited passport fees, at a cost of $400.   In my current state of flux, I  genuinely appreciated that they didn't just pretend a man who has only been to Phoenix magically has a valid passport. But they also didn't bother to film a scene where he went to apply for an expedited passport. Because that's not what was important. It's just what had to happen (and be paid for) to get to the important stuff. Getting a visa and buying a bunch of shit isn't a story, it's just an inconvenience that gets you to a story.

This summer, have an incredible opportunity to work in my target field while living in a country I've dreamed about for years. It's been hectic and crazy to get ready. Like every time I go through this, I keep promising myself that I'll someday stop living like a vagabond.  But I never do. I know deep down that I have to get through this ritual in order for this summer's story to begin. And that I'll probably love every minute.

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PS: If you have a couple hours and a nearby Redbox, check out Walter Mitty. It's a good way to get you geared up for upcoming travels or spending some serious time on Kayak finding somewhere to go.