Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Pretending to Travel Abroad


My husband and I have a new tradition that helps keep the itchy travel bug at bay. The reality is that we need to be here, in one place, for a time. And even though the urge to move and shake and live in a hut in the Sahara drives me mad somedays, I need to find a way to be content HERE. Right?

So, here's our secret. We live in a city that connects with the metropolis of Vancouver by an express commuter train. For daily commuters, our new plan is not exciting in the least. But for non-commuters, it's downright exhilerating.
We live in the valley. And everyone around here knows that the city and valley folk are on different timeframes and wavelengths. Sometimes stepping out of one and into the other is like traveling abroad.

So, this is what we do. We buy a 19 dollar round trip ticket to Downtown Vancouver and we "commute" first thing in the morning. Except we don't go to work! We "travel" all day. The ticket covers our skytrain and bus fares and we are footloose and fancy free. We take a list of favorite bookstores, coffeeshops, music stores, thrift stores. And we explore the city until the last commuter train heads home in the evening.

So far, I have done it alone, and Bry has done it alone. I am scheming about a family excursion this summer when the beaches heat up.

It has taught us to look around for ways to make our current situation feel exciting and exotic, without going into debt for it. We have traveling gypsy blood, with a capital "T" and an urge to soar and fly like the eagle in the picture above.
This desire to explore surges on and on. We want to move into distant lands and onto furthermost shores. But, we also love to be here. So, our days in the big city take the edge off the wanderlust as we learn to create beauty in the everyday.

8 comments:

melissa v. said...

Hey, where do you live? I thought N. Van, but you say "valley" and mention w.c. xpress...maybe we live closer than I thought! Hehe...I'm stalking you!

melissa v. said...

Oi! We SHOULD hang out! We're 20 minutes apart (give or take a ferry wait)!

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of exploring a city for a whole day. What a great way to scratch that travel itch! It allows you some space, gets you out of the house, and maybe finds you some jewels out there in the thrift stores and bookshops. Not to mention cool photo ops and inspiration for writing.

Erin and I decided almost two years ago that we wanted to live, work, and travel all at the same time. It's worked out great so far—we are full-time RVers now—but we want to continue the spirit of adventure and discovery our entire lives, even if we stop the life-on-wheels.

So, I'm bookmarking your idea for future use, it could come in handy. ;)

Dawn said...

So, I've discovered an musician named Ingrid Michaelson and I've fallen in love with her song called "Far Away." It's so endearing and it makes me think of your blog entry. Don't we all wish to go far away sometimes, even when we're very happy! Here's a link to her singing it on You Tube. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9b_ioscWeA&feature=related

L.L. Barkat said...

Creating beauty in the every day is probably our ultimate hope for being happy, as we feel gratitude for all that God has given, right here, right now.

Anonymous said...

Bravo, what necessary words..., a magnificent idea

Anonymous said...

It agree, very useful message

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