It’s become abundantly clear to me that come January, I need to take a break from traveling for a little while. I sort of put two and two together when I was in line for Mickey’s Philharmagic with Danica and we were recounting what we were thankful for. She talked about her family, her son, her boyfriend. I talked about how far I’ve come in the last year, how amazing the opportunity to travel has been, rebuilding my family, having a strong circle of friends… and I burst into big, fat, crocodile tears.
“Don’t be sad,” Danica said, rubbing my back.
“I’m not, I’m ridiculously happy,” I wailed.
Danica nodded. “I’m thankful that I’m not crying like a little bitch who skinned her knee.”
(Jesus, I’m even crying as I type this. I’d jump on a plane to run away from my emotions, but I’m already in frickin’ Florida. Goddammit.)
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But she has a point. Last night we got into discussing – what else? – love and relationships, and I was telling her that despite the fact that I’m not with someone, I’m pretty happy. She then pointed out that I didn’t look happy. Or sound happy. And she was right. Over the past few days I’ve been all up in my head about some stupid things that really don’t matter in the grand scheme, and getting all weepy about things that aren’t weepable… or at least, not snot bubble-worthy. After I fell asleep so deeply last night that Danica couldn’t wake me up, it became abundantly clear to me that this much travel is beginning to wear on me. Granted, most of the trips I do don’t require me to be on my feet or flipped upside down and backwards for 17 hours a day, but still. The planes, the transfers, the not normal eating conditions… I need to give it a rest for a bit.
Which isn’t to say that I’m ungrateful for anywhere I’ve been this year, or even where I am right now (and for the record, there are giraffes and ostriches right outside my room, not to mention one of my best friends in the whole world sitting on the bed next to mine. She’s a gazelle.) I love everything I’ve seen and learned, all the different cuisines I’ve eaten and experiences I’ve had… but there’s something to be said for sleeping in your own bed longer than six hours, only to unpack and repack to take off again 24 hours later.
I suspect my next three trips will be mellow, which is good. And I don’t really have anything else scheduled until Guam in February. I was going to go to India in January, but I’m going to postpone it – I don’t want to go when I’m exhausted and worn for the kind of trip that I want to do. So unless something stupendously incredible and amazing comes along, I’m actually going to make an effort to root down at home and reconnect with friends. After a month or so long break I’ll go back to my original plan of one trip a month, and I’ll do so with glee. But I think the opportunity to recharge my batteries will be a really good thing.
That said, I have to book it over to Disney’s MGM Studios so I can finally get on Rock n’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. Happy Thanksgiving – I hope you’re having a great turkey day!
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