Sunday 1 September 2019

Travel

Cro, on his most recent post, speaks of Travel and how easy it is these days and how many go far and wide during their lives whereas others never move far from home.   Interesting topic.  

In my parents' young days (early 1900's) nobody travelled far - unless they were very wealthy so most young folk married someone from the next village or from within the town where they lived.  The townsfolk usually met either through their work, or in the Pub, or at the Saturday Night 'Hops' of which there were plenty.   The villagers had grown up together, often gone to the same school and/or church.   So it was easy to meet plenty of possibles. 

Now, of course, the world is their oyster (not necessarily making for any happier relationships).
But there are many who still are unused to travel for a variety of reasons - and not always from lack of the money to do so.   Sometimes staying put is their choice and they are content.

All this reminds me of a story from my young days.   When my son was in his teens we always went to the same cottage in Wales - to a cottage on a farm not far from Cardigan.   We often went two or three times a year, we knew the family well by this time and we loved the walks in the area.

Just down the road lived an old man who lived alone and who, in his whole life, had never been further than Cardigan and had no desire to do so.  One evening, while standing at his gate watching the moon rising on a warm Summer evening, a car drew up and the passenger asked him the way to
somewhere a little further North - let's say Aberporth.   (all of ten miles away).   He thought long and hard and then said 'Go up to the moon and turn left'.   The old man had had a long and happy life.   Horses for courses as they say - be a stay at home or travel the world - all that matters is to be content with your lot. 

16 comments:

jinxxxygirl said...

I have traveled more than i ever thought i would. But i would love to travel more. I like to travel but still have my home to come home to. Twice in my life i made a leap of faith and both times turned out to be the right decision that led to many happy travels..

the veg artist said...

I've travelled for fun, but never lived more than 15 miles or so from where I was born. I'd love to move somewhere where there was a bit more culture on my doorstep, places I could walk to or catch a bus, but I live in a beautiful part of the world that people flock to. Choices!

Derek Faulkner said...

I love the idea of people never going any further than the next village and of course, in those days, you only heard about the local news, no one was being bombarded with news from all round the world, something that many people today find necessary to know.
I started taking holidays abroad in my mid-30's- only the usual beach holidays, nothing different or adventurous, and stopped over ten years ago and don't miss them at all. I'm off to Bodmin Moor for a week in October in a farm cottage, that's all I need.

Rachel Phillips said...

As you say in your final sentence, what matters is to be content with your lot, and that really is all that matters.

Heather said...

What a lovely story. I never had the opportunity to travel much, but like the idea of visiting new places and meeting people from other cultures. However, I find travelling very tiring and don't have the energy for it any more. I have become an armchair traveller and love reading posts about other people's visits abroad and around the UK.

Tom Stephenson said...

For me, the best bit of going abroad is remembering it some time after getting home. I hate airports more and more these days. I like the idea of getting down to the South by train, but H.I. is not so keen. She's not so keen on camping either.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

There was a man who lived in the next village to me who worked as the village roadman and had never been more than five miles from home. The council made him redundant but offered him a job on the dustcarts. After his first day in his new work he went to the pub and told them how he'd been "orl over the world"!

Sue said...

I am weary of travelling far, I prefer to stay at home these days. Roads are too busy and airports are a nightmare.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Agreetotally about the misery of airports.
I no longer have any desire to travel anywhere - East, West Homes Best for me now I
think. Although rather like the sound of Bodmin Moor Derek.

Chris said...

I agree with Tom. I love to see new places but getting there is becoming more and more of a huge aggravation. Not to mention adding to your carbon footprint every time you take a flight!

Joanne Noragon said...

It seems many of us are tired of the inconvenience of travel; it outweighs the pleasure.Another price we pay for age.

Cro Magnon said...

And in these days of cars and easy travel, so many people rely on their computers to meet a future wife/husband. Bizarre.

Librarian said...

If it weren't for the family in Yorkshire (and the fact that I love the area and could easily imagine living there for good), I would not take the long trip from my home town to Ripon each and every year.
As for other travels, work sometimes requires a trip to Berlin, Munich or elsewhere; not trips of choice but they are part of the package.
"Just" beach holidays would make me restless on the second day, I guess - I need to walk and hike, I love being in the mountains and woods, and since I live in one of the most heavily industrialised areas of Germany, I find those mountains and woods only after a few hours of travel. One such holiday coming up next week - Austria this time.

Gwil W said...

"Go up to the moon and turn left"

That's wonderful and I can relate to it.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Pity we all live so far apart - we seem to be all of one mind so it would be good to meet up. Seems to be that we can only do that through our computers. Thanks anyway.

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