When In Doubt, Travel.

Sounds too simple? It is.

My husband and I just returned from a trip that was sorely needed. We had been facing an unsure America, our aging, our future needs and wants, what would be available for us that was promised by our Government but is ever-changing on a daily basis, and an unsure future under the current political atmosphere. 

We put all that behind us and planned a vacation. We had to or go insane. 

I've found that getting away from your current surroundings is like a breath of fresh air. It allows you to drift from the ordinary days to one of curiosity, excitement, a newness clearing the mind and the spirit to come back and face it all again. It doesn't matter if the trip goes awry, if your luggage is lost, if Customer Service is rude, or where you went doesn't have your kind of toilet paper! (Yes, I've heard that complaint before.)

The idea here is to let yourself be free to explore another area, nearby or far away. But it must be different than your own daily life. It doesn't have to be for long. For instance, this was a 12 day trip and we covered exactly what we wanted to and whatever else we found interesting. It wasn't necessary to spend a month looking at everything and going everywhere in Europe. We had a flexible plan. And it was great! 

The negatives weren't 'negative' enough to completely absorb us, because you must have a selective memory of the negative or you will spend every moment of your time and money being miserable! And who wants that?

So, we covered Berlin, where my daughter lives and showed us around, Amsterdam, and Prague. The pictures I took do not do these cities justice. I know you always hear that. Perhaps some of them do, as I am obsessed with doors, windows, and floors wherever I go. I love old Churches and structures. I love nightlights of cities as workers head home or out for the evening. I love quirky posters, ads, or, even stickers on windows. I am that kind of person you see taking pictures of the local food because it will always be a good reminder of the place, the atmosphere, the servers or guests we met. Their faces will come to me and I'll smile later. We talk to everyone, especially drivers who see the city and its people the most. We ask questions they are usually able to answer about themselves, if we speak a little of their languages and they speak a little of ours. Sometimes it's an hilarious exchange and we all laugh, settling on a few English words that get the meaning across.

We returned with fresh eyes on our Country to the same crazy daily news and chaos but we know the entire world is not like this, right now. We have hope that lessons will be learned from the places we've visited, good and bad. We can look at our lives and say, it's not that bad. It's not great. But it's not so bad. In short, we can deal with whatever the world throws at us. When we feel jumpy again, we'll plan something else. Fortunately, it doesn't require a lot of money, just time and flexibility.

All in all, I arrange our travels, not on guided tours, but to be free to hop a train to another city or town, to wander crooked cobbled streets to find a restaurant a driver recommended, to see and hear about the history behind a building or bridge we find. For instance, Daughter took us to Templehof Field. The entire area was an airfield for German Nazi planes just behind the buildings they used. We walked through this giant area that is now used for entertainment, sports, walks, runs, picnics, dog-walking. It's used for joyful experiences. They have completely taken its past and brought it into a peaceful future. I can appreciate it because one must take that conscious action of changing the negative to a positive to truly live. The hate must become love. The irritation must become tolerance. The frustration must become patience. Any other reaction is wasting your precious time while you are here.

It reminds me of when my older brother was around 8 years old and I was 6. We'd get on a bus just to see where it went, all the way to the end of the line to the other. We didn't tell Mom about that until we were adults or she'd have been crazy with worry. We had a 'loose' plan but left room for what? We didn't know. But, even then, I knew we'd find it when we got there. It was called an adventure.

And, that, my friends, is Life.

Sucarichi Reboot Challenge? Head out to a new neighborhood, city, a tourist place in your own city, take a bus tour like  Hop-On Hop-Off of your own city, talk to people and find the best places to eat or to get coffee, ask about the neighborhood you are in. Maybe you'll hear some history if you ask an elderly person that's been there for a long time. You'll hear more interesting stories than if you were on a tour, I'll guarantee that! Live well, have fun, learn, connect with others.

I say again. This Life is not a dress rehearsal.