Hello everyone!
Today I want to share something really quick—something many of you probably already do—but since it’s something I experienced last week, I decided to share it anyway!
One thing I’ve noticed is that traveling is all the rage. I won’t deny that my observation might not be a revelation in itself.
Maybe it’s a bias because I’ve changed social classes over the last decade. It could also be the fact that social media is in full swing and everyone is posting about their paradise destinations—and I don’t exclude myself from that group.
My biggest annual expense is travel—that’s where most of my “fun money” goes 😜. Last year, 26% of my spending went toward travel. This year I’m already at 35%, but the most expensive trip has already been paid for and we’re only halfway through the year—so it should end up closer to 20% anyway.
Of course, the biggest factor influencing this number is living outside my home country and making a point to visit my family and close friends a few times a year, but that also might incluse a quick trip to a Caribbean paradise or some medieval European country.
Often, especially in the winter, I get restless and immediately start planning my next destination. At other times, a spontaneous trip comes into play, and it’s that trip I want to talk about.
Last week, I took the car from home and drove to the office on Thursday—my in-office day, remember? And from there, I extended my trip by another 6 hours. From Cambridge, MA, I ended up in Montreal, QC, in Canada, where I have a very dear friend who always welcomes me so warmly. This was a visit to her and her family, not to Montreal itself.
We did go out—we went to our favorite café, the kind that sells stationery. But we spent most of our time at her house testing pen inks, writing, and having those long conversations about life that is going through major changes. The kind of things only we understand.
This trip itself cost me less than $100 for gas, parking, and food. A symbolic amount, made possible thanks to my friend and her family, who welcomed me with such warmth. And it was a short trip, yet a delightful one. Full of laughter, delicious food, hobbies, and deep conversations.
Here’s a snapshot of us at our favorite café in Montreal to liven up this post:
What prompted me to write about this trip wasn’t just that it was a great experience, but rather to remind you that for something to be good, it doesn’t necessarily have to be glamorous. In other words, you don’t need to board a plane and stay in a luxury hotel to have an experience that lifts your spirit while traveling.
Sometimes it’s just looking around and taking that trail with a beautiful waterfall in the middle that will refresh you. Sometimes, a bus will take you to a museum that will teach you something new. And sometimes we have that friend or relative who lifts our spirits in a way that makes even a 7-hour drive seem easy.
Tell me now about a destination near you that’s worth the experience and that you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy.
That’s it for today.
Hugs,
— Débora