2015 was a different year of travel for me. Typically, I travel 7-10 days each month, rounding out with some local trips and experiences. This past year, however, I found that I was gone for weeks at a time, often coming home for a day or two to unpack and head off again. I don’t that this was any better (or worse) than previous years, but one advantage was that I did get some extended time here at home to balance things out. I visited four new countries, made three trips to Europe and two to Asia, went on three cruises. Plus, a whole lot of domestic trips. Let’s take a look at what kept me busy this past year. January The year started in Seattle, with a traditional New Year’s Eve celebration at one of my favorite restaurants (El Gaucho) an overnight at […]

It’s time to update my bucket list, something I do every two years. It’s not a list for me to check thing off, something that should be obvious in the slow pace I’ve taken to the list. No, I’m just an avid list maker, and when I hear or see something that captures my interest, I put it on a list. I’ve capped my bucket list at 100, which provides plenty of room to list some far fetched ideas along with the practical ones, but also makes it finite. I don’t add anything until something gets eliminated, whether by accomplishing it or changing my mind about it. Here are the things I’m crossing off since my last update for 2014. Greece – I visited Greece twice in 2014, once for a tourism conference, and then for TBEX and some post-TBEX […]

Today I am 60. There, I said it. A decade ago I couldn’t choke out the admission that I was turning 50, but this new decade seems a bit more comfortable, a bit easier to accept. Today I realized a few other things. So forgive me this self indulgence as I reflect on what it means to turn 60. I’m beyond middle age. I’m not going to live to 120, and that means that I am now on the downhill side of life. While I’m going kicking and screaming into my twilight years (or should I say traveling and exploring), the harsh reality is that I have more years behind me than I do in front of me. I plan to make the most of them! George Sand was right, “There is only one happiness in this life, to love and […]

March was a busy month of travel for me, including return visits to Berlin and Bangkok, and first time visits to Stockholm (Sweden) and Seoul (South Korea). While I don’t think travel is completely about checking off a to-do or to-visit list, I do think it’s fun to keep track of places I’ve been and things that  want to do. Here’s my map of the world showing where I’ve visited. Only 16% of the world, leaving me lots of places left to visit. Create your own travel map – TravBuddy

I log a lot of travel miles each year, and every year I say that I’m going to keep track of just how miles that is. And every year, about half way through, I forget to update my miles and then I never seem to get back on track. Maybe next year I’ll stick with it (and I say that every year, too). While many of of travels each year are a result of flight attendant work, I do manage to log a goodly number of other travel each year, usually averaging one trip a month. This year featured two trips to Europe and a nice amount of U.S. travel. I am grateful for the many travel opportunities that have come my way this past year. I’m blessed beyond belief to be able to see the world and, as I […]

Bucket lists have gotten a bad rap, too often seen as a rush to check off experiences without any thought or meaning. I don’t think of it that way – perhaps because I’ve always been a list maker. My travel bucket list doesn’t represent a race to accomplish, far from it. Some of the items on my list are practical and will eventually be checked off. Others are beyond my current budget and abilities, but a girl’s gotta dream. so they’re on the list. I haven’t updated my list for two years, so it’s time. Here are the items that have been crossed off in those two years. There aren’t a lot, so no one will be accusing me of racing through the list. Ride in a gondola in Venice – This was changed to a motor boat because of […]

I’m often asked how much I travel, outside of the flight attendant flying that I do; the answer is once a month, on average. I probably averaged a bit more than that this past year. 2013 was a great year for travel, with two trips to Europe, two to Asia, and a bunch of traveling around North America. Here’s a little look back at the year in review. January As has become a family tradition, I welcomed the New Year in with a stay at the Westin. After a great meal out at one of my favorite restaurants, I tucked into bed and watched the midnight fireworks off the Space Needle from the warmth and comfort on my room. There’s nothing like playing tourist in your home town to help you appreciate all that your city has to offer. Shortly […]