Out of Practice
The new year, and perhaps some new travel, if I can just get started.
26.12.2009 - 02.01.2010
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The clock has struck midnight on 2009, and we now enter 2010.
My 2009 didn’t end so well. I never made it to Morocco, nor even a weekend away. Due to an unfortunate family situation, I wound up flying back to Toronto on Boxing Day. In the end, the cancellation of my flight to Morocco was probably for the best, as it freed me up to be able to fly to Toronto instead and be with my extended family at a trying and emotional time. And even though it was due to unfortunate circumstances, it was nice to see all my extended family during the holiday period.
Truth be told, though, I was never really that excited about Morocco. Even sitting at the airport on December 21st, before the weather closed in and the flight board showed delay after delay, I wasn’t that excited about going to Morocco. I found myself anxious about travelling to a new country, and that anxiety was overwhelming any excitement for my trip.
When my flight finally got cancelled and I couldn’t rebook, secretly I found myself relived that I would get to stay home.
Then came the news that brought be back to Toronto. I landed on Boxing Day and checked into a hotel in downtown Toronto. I spent four days visiting with family and friends, returning each night to my hotel.
On my final morning in Toronto, as I packed my bag and prepared to check out and return to London, I was suddenly struck by the urge to head somewhere other than London. Just a quick trip away, but some place exotic. Yeah, that would really hit the spot. A nice trip away someplace... someplace far away.
I realized that my anxiety while waiting for that Morocco flight was because I was completely out of practice. I haven’t been travelling for work since August, instead spending my time working in London. While working in London has been great, and its allowed me to learn a lot about my adopted home and cement some really excellent friendships, it has also lead me to become something of a homebody. I think I’ve been cocooning.
All that not travelling, and I’ve lost my sea legs. Travel begets travel. Being on the road makes me want to be on the road more. Being at home, and I want to spend more time at home.
So, who knows what 2010 holds. The London based project won’t last forever, and it is probably only a matter of time until I am on the road again. Then I’ll probably get my sea legs back and be excited to travel again.
Travel begets travel. All I need to do is take that first step out of London again.
Posted by GregW 09:32 Archived in United Kingdom Tagged tips_and_tricks
