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That comment probably came off much more negative than I intended it to, so I'll elaborate. I think the grass is basically the same shade of green everywhere,
by pault 13y ago
That comment probably came off much more negative than I intended it to, so I'll elaborate. I think the grass is basically the same shade of green everywhere, plus or minus some superficial pros and cons, and excepting a few places that really do have serious social and economic problems. I'm still mobile, and I love it, but I no longer believe that changing location will do anything more than provide 6 months or so of new and unusual experiences--which is a great thing, don't get me wrong! However, I think people tend to conflate the place with the experience of being on vacation there, which leaves you with a totally unrealistic impression of a location and its culture. Once you stick around long enough to get into a grind, you quickly realize that you can't escape the mundane. I think it's important to embrace that, enjoy your holidays, and don't spend your working days thinking that everything would be better if you could just get away. It's a recipe for permanent misery and leads to some seriously irrational decision making. I now believe that the best place in the world is wherever is most conducive to doing whatever it is you love doing without being a burden on someone else/society.
- bonemachine 13y ago"Wherever you go, there you are." I thought this nothing more than a trite saying, for the longest time. But over time I've come to realize how universal and potently applicable this maxim really is.
- kirse 13y agoThis is why I will not travel with friends who just want to party-vacation in whatever country they visit. Bars, clubs, and people are bars, clubs, and people no matter where you go. Not a world traveler by any means, but it didn't take me long to realize this. What keeps it fresh is the unique aspects of the country/state... language, culture/history, sightseeing, etc. I spent time in Japan recently and was far more influenced by experiencing the rural way of life than Tokyo. I like to take the best parts of a country and integrate those habits/attitudes into my own life. Traveling around also makes you realize how (generally) blessed we are in the US, at least compared to all the complaining people do.