not-tripping out.

I'm all about a good quote and I love to travel, so I should love this picture.   

But when I saw it on a friend's Pinterest board the other day, for some reason it rubbed me the wrong way.

Not because I don't agree - traveling has expanded my horizons and I've been fortunate to have visited some of the most culturally rich countries in the world.  Many of the best memories of my life were created when I was on a trip - some of which I've shared in this space.



But every trip I've taken since hopscotching across Europe on my parents' credit card has put a strain on my bank account.  Some of my journeys have drained it completely.

Amazing memories have been made, none of which I would trade for anything, but let's be honest, traveling is expensive.

I have a knack for embracing expensive hobbies.

I know it doesn't have to necessarily be this way - there are ways to travel on a budget and with a little planning, good deals can be found.  But that's not me - I'm not a planner.  I'm a spontaneous, last minute, fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants globetrotter.

When I travel, I act like the wasted guy in a bar who is always buying shots for everyone.  I think I'm rich, invincible and money is no object.

So after years of enthusiastically saying YES to anyone and everyone's offer to travel, I am, for the first time ever, forcing myself to say no.  Hardest of all, I'm saying no to the loudest voice inside of me that keeps nagging me to plan a trip that right now, I simply cannot afford.

And I'm so pissed about it.

I hate it when people ask me what I'm up to this weekend or "Got any trips planned?" and I have to answer with, "Nothing much," and "Nope."

I feel lame.  Boring.  Not like myself.

I know that I will be better off for this trip timeout - and being completely debt free is going to feel oh-so-good.  I've already thought about the blog entry I will write to tell you how I did it and include copies of all of my credit card statements that have ZERO balances.

But right now I'm just bitter.  Being financially responsible sucks.

For my cosmopolitan friends in the northeast, bracing for this weekend's blizzard: stay warm, and don't feel bad if you can't really do a whole lot this weekend -- call me.  Let's catch up.  I totally feel your pain.