Everyday I read BootsnAll member applications where people say things like, "I've always wanted to travel" or "I was born with the need to travel" - so that's got me thinking... Is the desire to travel something we really can be born with? You'll forgive this girl with a sociology degree for imposing a "Nature vs. Nurture" question on this, but that's what I'm thinking about.

My husband, for instance, grew up in a house where neither of his parents had passports (they still don't, to this day) and yet he says he always wanted to travel. He took advantage of travel opportunities in school, even though he didn't get any kind of positive reinforcement about that from his family.

I, on the other hand, grew up with two parents who had traveled extensively and with relatives living in several countries overseas. I'm relatively sure I would have been pushed into studying abroad by my folks if I hadn't shown interest in it myself.

So, what do you think? Can we be born with wanderlust?

I think all human being are born with some sense of natural curiosity. Curiosity has, afterall, been a huge catalyst in our development as a species.

People channel that curiosity in different ways - travel, invention, hobbies, gossip, rebellion.

Maybe it somehow get squashed in some people. Through a wide range of fears - about the unknown, about what people will think, about other cultures, about taking that step, to name but a few.

KPG

Can we be born with Wanderlust you ask? well ask a gypsy...i am sure they will tell you the answer is yes! but on a deeper note...if we can resign ourselves to believe in fate, in love, in destiny, then why not the idea that we we not meant to stay still in one place, but bring ourselves and share our light and visions with the world?

I definitely think people can be born with wanderlust. When I was about 8 I started reading about different countries in encyclopedia's. I have continued to read information about different countries ever since (though I have shortened the list of countries to those in Asia and in particular the Himalayan countries).

I have always told my friends and family that I was born 100 years too late. In the late 19th and early 20th century many explorers went out to map and explore Tibet and the greater Himalaya region (Joseph Rock and Sven Hedin are two examples). A lot of times I wish I could have lived in Tibet during that time. But living here now is a lot of fun as well.

Life in Tibet

I agree with Losang - I have been reading about countries since childhood. Most specifically, Ireland. It has long been a dream of mine to go there and I read many many books related to it. I don't know where my curiosity came from. Neither of my parents ever really traveled. I guess I just have never been satisfied with staying in one place. I really enjoy mythology from around the world, as well, which I think really got me started in Ireland in the first place.

I dont know about being born with it but i feel mine was nurtered in childhood.

We went on a family holiday every year somewhere in europe since i was 6 - and instead of sitting on the beach for two weeks my parents did organised day trips. I saw Ephesus in Turkey when i was 8.

I always add a fascination for geography and history and was always studying maps.

To get extra income my parents always took in foreign students in the summer who were attending language schools so i was always learning about new places and taught basic phrases in different languages.

I think all these things helped to advance my wanderlust -

Michelle

As far back as I can remember I had an obsession with maps and globes. I owned a map of my town and, once I was old enough, I tried to find my way to different places. I expanded my territory once I got my first ten speed, and my wandering has grown exponentially since then. As much as anything can be, travel is in my blood.

I'm not sure if you can be born with it...I don't think I was...I think mine was pretty much nurtured in childhood..

I remember going on several European holidays and one to the USA (when I was 14 or 15)....and they were great..but the one that really started my Wanderlust was when I was 17 or 18 and I went to Tunisia...I was there with my Mum and some friends of hers, but wasn't sharing a room with Mum, so it felt like I was an adult...I had my own money and the freedom to go off and do what I wanted to do...It really opened my eyes.

Since then I've travelled extensively...although not as extensively as I'd like...

But perhaps, to a certain extent, I was born with it as my Mum doesn't like to travel much and most of my family don't have dreams of travelling...so I wonder where I got it from...

Yes, I think some people are born to travel. I have been facinated by maps, books, and globes since I was about 6. My parents moved around a lot while I was growing up (dad was busy climbing the corporate ladder) so moving frequently seems like a natural thing to me. I'm always amazed when I meet people who have never been out of their own state or even city! On one hand, I'm a bit envious of them because they obviously believe that they live in the best place on earth and are perfectly content. On the other hand, I pity them for all of the wonderful places they are missing.

Scientists first isolated it from the thymus glands of the wildebeest, genus Connochaetes, also known as the gnu.

My dad hitchhiked in the mid '70s from Maryland to Canada to California and then back. I grew up with his stories of that trip and always wanted one of my own. However, I never thought that I would ever be able to leave the US. It wasn't until I was a sophmore in college when a woman from the coop program came in and told those in my German class that she could find people jobs there. At that moment I knew that I was going to Germany. I've been filled with wunderlust ever since.

i think living abroad when i was younger has a lot to do with my wanderlust. i also watched a lot of indiana jones and james bond movies. and for some reason whenever i watch the old star wars movies i want to travel

I'm afraid to ask but where do you want to travel to...another dimension?

Not another dimention, a gallexy far far away

I'm going to go w/ nurture over nature on this one (I'm a soci major ) Anyways, I did not get this wanderlust until I was in university. Before that I went to an inner city school and was mostly around kids from poor backgrounds, remember: travel/ holidays are a privilige--- most Americans do not have. When I went to college I met people who had travelled everywhere and had so many opportunities. I will be the first to admit that jealousy has definetely played a part in my wanderlust. I've been working partime school year/ full time summer since I was a teenager, ie. no vacations. I think studying different parts of the world has played majorly into wanting to see the everything I can first hand.