BootsnAll Travel Community

Mikemongo - it's just stinkin thinkin and you can get clear yourself if you're really honest. Do you love travel because you're supposed to or because you really do love to travel? We all get in slumps and life can easily take us away from where we want to be (or go). May you used to like to travel but now it just seems to be too much work or to lack an opportunity for fulfillment. Also, you may be judging what travel will be like based on your experiences when you were younger and you can't quite develop a vision for travel as a more mature person.

Travel with a purpose is a good way to do it. You might think if checking out some of these opportunities:

Idealist

or

International Volunteer Program Association

You'll also come across various volunteer opportunities as you start to explore a particular region. Through the hostel where I'm going to stay in Quito I learned about an cloud forest where they do all kinds of conservation projects for which they need volunteers.

If you really want to feel useful you could try doing some volunteer work here at home and seeing how that works for you.

Mike...

You made me smile..and Tammy Blue is right...there are lots of organizations..I thought to post Idealist-but she beat me to it.

But also...very often when u get "there" wherever there may be...there is often much to do wher u can be fullfilled...I never had it "planned out" but often u find things that need to be done...help to be given etc..on the road ...but there are also lots of organizations as well.

I'm a few weeks shy of 42...but not sure I have the meaning of life one completely figured out. I thought it keeps changing.

Hi Sunshine,
Just a stray comment on what I've just read in your post.
I am just a few months away from reaching the age of 47... I've given up the search for "the" ultimate meaning of life, it just doesn't seem to be a viable quest. Just live it and make the most of it - by wandering around the earth and by other more simple (and less costly) actions that GIVE meaning to life. So it's rather 'giving' than 'searching' in my view. Hope you can appreciate these remarks...they are meant very sincerely.

Thanks Balkeneer...and I always appreciate stray comments..

I try to give/share quite often, you see I am a teacher, but not ur "average teacher"...and I know that you won't be surprised to hear, that it is during those times when we truly give...that questions of meaning slip away...

thanks for reminding me....

I turned 62 and decided I had had enough of the 9-5 , so I set off on my travels. I have stayed in hostels with a few people my age but mostly folks younger than my children, but always found a common bond and learned as much from them as they may have from me. So to me , age is relative. Part of the reason to travel is to break out of the eggshell and experience what is on the outside whether it be countrys or people.

Well Im 45 and my partner is 55 -we have just camped our way around Australia and are now saving up for the next big trip - maybe Eastern Europe

We're mid 60's, still backpacking and probably doing it a little more successfully than we did 40 years ago, though in recent years the Memsahib has insisted on a few more little luxuries, like A/C in our Cambodian accommodation last March.

When we get old we'll let you know what it's like.