Basement Whatever

One of the biggest changes in my personality with middle age is that I no longer really enjoy travel beyond local weekend getaways. Almost no destination has a pain/novelty ratio that makes it worth it. On the one hand, I’ve traveled enough that few places hold the promise of real novelty and stimulation. On the other hand, even though travel has gotten way more convenient overall (smartphones, eSIM cards, cashless payments, Uber, Google Translate — though at the expense of phone-loss anxiety), my tolerance for discomfort has plummeted.

I feel this. After constant work travel, travel has lost most of its allure. I’ve started preferring long periods without travel which allow me to keep a steady workout and diet schedule.

In fact, as I’ve gotten older, the parts I most enjoy about travel aren’t really related to the destination. I like getting to meet new people. And I enjoy the proficiency that comes with travel – knowing how to pack a bag right, knowing your way around the apps and points programs, having fluency in major airports.

I admit, it’s easy to feel like a weirdo when 60% of coworkers in team bonding exercises list “travel” as their favorite hobbies. Who knows – maybe the joy of travel will come back, but as long as it’s being replaced with the joy of rootedness, I don’t mind.