My last post was about the benefits of travel; I have since spent the last three weeks traveling in Colombia and would like to add one more benefit: Traveling reminds us to appreciate what we have! I write this post knowing that I run the risk of sounding like it was not a good trip or like I am complaining. I intend to do neither. We had a wonderful trip seeing new places and visiting family. I would not change a thing about the past three weeks, however that being said, as the saying goes, "There's no place like home." Over the past three weeks I learned to appreciate:
As much as I LOVE to travel, and will continue to travel, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!
Check out my personal Memoir: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/443897?ref=famchucho
- Having a bedroom that I do not have to share with my kids! I love my kids to death, but I do not love their random verbal outbursts while they sleep, Camryn's feet resting on our bed because she is being crowded out by her siblings, Zahara's teeth grinding and body thrashing, or Malekai's sound asleep crying. Three weeks is too long to sleep in a room with all of my kids, I have a newfound appreciation for separate bedrooms.
- A Double Bed. Some people have asked me how I can stand sleeping in a double bed with my husband...Isn't it too crowded? Don't we need space? I have always said that we like to sleep cuddled up, a queen would be too big. As much as I love to cuddle up at night, a twin bed is TOO LITTLE for two people to sleep in for three weeks! I love my double bed!
- Good Pillows. At first Pablo and I shared one pillow...That. Did. Not. Work. Next we took one from the kids (with all their thrashing about they don't stay on them anyway). Both pillows sucked! That. Did. Not. Work! Finally we broke down and bought two nice pillows...ahhhhhhh. Never underestimate the value of a good pillow.
- Spacious Cars! We traveled using a combination of taxi's, buses and cars. The buses were fine, except we tend to be cheap on our trips and did not want to buy a seat for Malekai, so he was constantly on my lap. The taxi's and cars are small in Bogota, so where ever we went I had at least Malekai, if not him and Zahara on my lap along with Camryn and a cousin or two pressed up against me. I began dreading any plans that involved getting in a car. It was so nice to get home and sit without anyone touching me.
- Short lines. We spent a large percentage of our vacation in lines...at the bank, at the grocery store, at the airport etc. We expected this and luckily the kids were very patient, but I will always from now on breath a sigh of relief every time I step into a short line.
- Country Living. Bogota is a very large city. There are definitely some perks about being in the city (every thing is very accessible, there are many parks, sidewalks to walk on etc.) However, being in the city reminds me how much I love the country. I love the fresh air, the uncongested roads, the green grass and trees, the friendliness of the people, the slower pace of life, the larger sizes of almost everything (cars, yards, houses, sandboxes, trees...), the quiet and darkness of night, the quiet of early morning. It is fun to visit the city, but I think I will continue living in the country.
- The Intimacy of a Nuclear Family. It was great to spend time with Pablo's family. We shared a lot of good memories and the kids had fun playing with their cousins. Maybe it is just me, but I cannot truly be myself and relax when we are constantly with other people. It is not the other people, it is me. It is nice to be home with the five of us.
As much as I LOVE to travel, and will continue to travel, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!
Check out my personal Memoir: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/443897?ref=famchucho