Butchblog

Bev and I recently returned from a trip to Italy, Tuscany to be exact, the town of Lucca to be even more exact. We’ve traveled a lot over the years we’ve been married, and almost always have enjoyed these ventures, both in the planning and anticipation, and then in the actual getting up and moving. Traveling, I believe, can bring your life into sharper focus. Gives you the distance that is sometimes necessary to think about and see where you are in that bigger life journey. Of course, the greater benefit of travel is the way it wakes up all your senses, shows you new things at every turn – new food, new people, new experiences. But travel can also be a challenge.
An even bigger one as you get older.

            When we returned home after our Italy trip, we were totally exhausted. Not so much from the adventuring in Italy, but more so from the actual traveling part of the travel experience – the long flights, the making or missing of connections, the jet lag and concomitant loss of sleep and foggy brains. It takes a day or two to fully recover, on both ends. Though I recognize what a privilege it is to have the time and resources to be able to go off on these adventures and to still be healthy enough to get out there, I must admit, that this time felt harder than any of our other ramblings. My ankles swelled, I didn’t sleep well. I totally felt my age. I struggled.

            Our last three international trips (to Iceland, Costa Rica, and Lucca) have been with an organization called Road Scholars. They arrange the whole deal from air travel to hotels, to meals, and, as the name indicates, provide a total guided learning experience. The Lucca trip was an Italian cooking class combined with daily walking tours of historical sites, wineries, olive oil farms, museums, churches; all led by local, extremely knowledgeable guides. The groups are small (10 to 12 ), and on all three trips were with interesting and likeable fellow travelers of similar ages. Road Scholar trips are for people over 55, and in our experience tend to trend older. People in their 80’s are not uncommon. It’s a great way for older folks to travel without all the hassle. I shudder at the thought now of having to arrive in a foreign airport, rent a car, and drive into the night. I used to be able to do such a thing, and even enjoy it. Ah, to be young. But I’m not, and so I have to slow down. But not stop. Not yet.

            One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about our Road Scholar trips was the chance to interact with the people we traveled with. I’m a bit of an introvert, will avoid too much socializing when at home. I like my creature comforts, my routines. But when in a group of folks all experiencing the same wonders and some difficulties, I find myself much more open to connecting with others. And not just on a superficial level. I open myself up to these “strangers”, share intimacies, discover connections. My extroverted self is allowed to come out and play.

            So, I think I may have convinced myself that I’m not yet ready to stay in place. I don’t have a bucket list of things I need to do before I kick the aforesaid bucket. That’s kind of a morbid notion anyway. What I’m still after is feeling alive and curious for as long as possible. But I will have to factor in a bunch more recovery time.