Our BetterMost Community > The Polling Place
Do You Have Any Phobias?
Kerry:
--- Quote from: moremojo on May 14, 2007, 07:46:04 pm ---I can definitely sympathize with your feelings on flying, Kerry (and I, too, did it some in my younger days, and now can't fathom ever doing it again).
I did wonder, though, how isolating that might be for you Down Under, where I have the impression that air travel is such a paramount means of getting around the country, not to mention visiting overseas. Here in the States, which like yours is a vast country, flying-phobes such as myself can conceivably board a train, car, or bus and cross over into Canada or even, theoretically, go as far in the opposite direction as Central America. And though long distances often separate the various American cities and towns, there are always even small hamlets along most of the land routes one can take, to accommodate in terms of lodging, nourishment, and rest. In Australia, I have the impression that the interior of the country is largely empty of human habitation, so that though one can drive as far as the roads will take them, one must be very well prepared in terms of fuel and food lest one not encounter another community for many hundreds of miles.
Just wondering, and I beg the pardon of anyone reading if I unintentionally offended with my ruminations.
--- End quote ---
I'm really lucky in that I've never enjoyed travel. I'm a real home-body! I love my home and being at home. I dislike living out of a suitcase. I'm also not curious about visiting exotic locations. I love Australia and may see more of it when I retire. You can travel all over Australia, without leaving the ground, even to Tasmania, the state that is separate from the mainland by Bass Strait (via ferry). Contrary to popular overseas belief, Australia is dotted throughout with little towns and hamlets as well as substantial cities, where one can find a clean bed for the night in a local motel, a hot meal and a full tank of petrol to get you on your way. Granted, sometimes these facilities are somewhat few and far between in the major desert areas. What I'm trying to say, I guess, is that I'm not sitting at home, pining away, wishing I could get out of the house and fly somewhere. No, that is definitely not for me. And I don't like anything connected with flight. I hear people talking about the glamour of flight, or about being upgraded and how "fabulous" it was in Business Class, and all I can think is, to be honest with you, what a wank! Flying, no, I'll pass, thanks all the same! (I'm shuddering again!)
ednbarby:
I'm kinda like you, Kerry. I don't mind traveling and in fact kind of enjoy it, but that's probably because I do it so rarely. And when I do, it's most often to visit family and/or friends in far-away places in my own country. I see flying as a necessary evil to get to some of them, like the extreme Northeast and all parts West, but I prefer to drive if it's only a day's worth of it. The trouble is I don't have enough time to do two- and three-day driving trips to get up North to my family. But if I did, I wouldn't mind taking my time and seeing some sights on the way.
I have some friends who live to travel, and they've traveled all over the world. I think "Good for them." I couldn't care less if I ever see China or Africa or even South America, to which my husband flies regularly for his job. I'm a huge Anglophile - always have been - so of course I had to see England the first chance I got. I've been back twice since, I loved it so much. I'd rather go there yet again than go to see Spain or France or Italy for the first time. I'm sure they're all lovely, but I just really don't care. They're for someone else, and power to them, but not for me. I see all the beauty I need to see right in my own back yard. Sure, sometimes I tire of the sub-tropics and want to get away up North to see a different season or a different kind of landscape, but I'm never away from home for too long. I love my house and my neighborhood and I love just knockin' about in my own town.
Kerry:
--- Quote from: ednbarby on May 15, 2007, 09:27:10 am ---I'm kinda like you, Kerry. I don't mind traveling and in fact kind of enjoy it, but that's probably because I do it so rarely. And when I do, it's most often to visit family and/or friends in far-away places in my own country. I see flying as a necessary evil to get to some of them, like the extreme Northeast and all parts West, but I prefer to drive if it's only a day's worth of it. The trouble is I don't have enough time to do two- and three-day driving trips to get up North to my family. But if I did, I wouldn't mind taking my time and seeing some sights on the way.
I have some friends who live to travel, and they've traveled all over the world. I think "Good for them." I couldn't care less if I ever see China or Africa or even South America, to which my husband flies regularly for his job. I'm a huge Anglophile - always have been - so of course I had to see England the first chance I got. I've been back twice since, I loved it so much. I'd rather go there yet again than go to see Spain or France or Italy for the first time. I'm sure they're all lovely, but I just really don't care. They're for someone else, and power to them, but not for me. I see all the beauty I need to see right in my own back yard. Sure, sometimes I tire of the sub-tropics and want to get away up North to see a different season or a different kind of landscape, but I'm never away from home for too long. I love my house and my neighborhood and I love just knockin' about in my own town.
--- End quote ---
You sound like my soul-mate, Barbara. I agree with everything you said. Only difference between us is that you're a lot braver than me! I have a gentleman friend ;) who lives in a beautiful coastal town, seven hours drive, north of Sydney. If I were to fly, I could be there in under an hour. Instead, I prefer to drive and enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery along the way. Now, post-BbM, whenever I make that long drive, I fantasize that I'm Jack, on my way to visit Ennis - which is, in fact, exactly what I'm doing! :D I'm with you about England, too. It's where my family comes from and it would be nice to visit. But it's not a priority in my life. Maybe I'll take a boat there one day! :laugh:
ednbarby:
I often think of the Phil Collins song "We Said Hello, Good-bye" along these lines, especially the part that goes like this:
Well, it really [doesn't] matter much where you are,
'Cause home is in your heart - it's a feeling that you wake with one day.
Some people keep runnin' all their [lives]
But still find they haven't gone too far -
They don't see: it's a feeling inside - the feeling inside.
And yes, I often think we are soulmates, too, Kerry. :)
HerrKaiser:
I like to know it when people like to not travel; brings a sense of 'home' to the mind that seems uncommon these days.
After 14 million miles on American airlines, i could use some home time (my house doesn't even recognize me!)
As for spiders, I like them; they bring good luck according to German fairy tales.
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