Our next door neighbour at the first home I bought in around 1970 (in Wales) was an elderly lady. Her first experience of travelling was about 10 miles away on her honeymoon; since then she'd hardly ventured more than about 5 miles from her village, to her local market town probably once a month. She was what one might call 'not very well travelled'. (This is not actually her, above)
Last night we were five at table, and amongst the countries we'd lived in were The UK, Barbados, S Africa, Russia, France, Venezuela, Canada, USA, Puerto Rico, and possibly one or two others that I may have forgotten.
Today, it's no big deal for our children to move from country to country; looking for that ideal spot. In the days of my Welsh neighbour, just 10 miles away probably seemed very exotic. Things have certainly changed, and we take it for granted.
There is much to be said for both ways of life. The idea of being rooted to a spot, with all one's family living just down the road, is very appealing, but for most of us life without travel would be very tedious.
Personally I'm not particularly well travelled. I've not ventured much beyond Europe; other than a couple of months in the Caribbean, and I do rather like to stay at home. Lady Magnon, however, thinks nothing of swanning around the world on long extended trips.
It takes all sorts.
I haven't been anywhere for ten years, very different from what I used to be.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good excuse; I stay at home because it's the place I love more than anywhere (regardless of some of my dodgy neighbours).
DeleteIn a couple of weeks we are off to see my old neighbours in the far north of Scotland. Two brothers, one brother has been in the Army and travelled. The other a shepherd, the furthest he has been is to Dingwall fifty miles away. He is content caring for his sheep and cattle. Both of them live the simplest life in a croft perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Minches.
ReplyDeleteLX
There are plenty of small peasant farmers around here who have never ventured far; let alone gone abroad. Very few of them know how to swim either!
Delete43yrs ago when we married I would never have guessed that we would end up - as I fear that this will be our last port of call - where we are today. I should have been used to moving!
ReplyDeleteI meant to add that we moved where the work was.
DeleteI moved here for my children to grow-up in a nice old farmhouse with plenty of open countryside around. They loved it; I still do.
DeleteI was 35 before I boarded an airplane or travelled abroad, it was a huge adventure at the time.
ReplyDeleteNow a trip to Holland, France or Belgium just for shopping is just about routine, and longer sojourns to Canary Islands or cruising are regular events.
But I still have friends from school days who have never ventured out of the county and have no desire to do so.
It takes all sorts; Jack Sprat etc. I think people who are happy with their native environment are very lucky. Most of us have expensive itchy feet.
DeleteI have travelled a lot - first husband liked to go East - often to countries where he himself had lived (Russia and all the offshoots in Communist days; Thailand; China and the like. Second husband West - US, Canada, Caribbean and so on. Luckily that meant a good traverse. Now I am a home bird.
ReplyDeleteCan't find what you are telling me on my blog Cro.
Don't worry about it Weave, it's probably something that just comes up on my old laptop; it doesn't change anything.
DeleteI used to love to travel but not so much anymore. My children all travel often in their work life and also for pleasure but I am fortunate that three out of four of them have their homes near us. Travel is fun and adds so much to our lives but there truly is no place like home.
ReplyDeleteMy three travel a lot. I think they got the bug from their 'gap years', when they all did a world tour, of varying lengths
DeleteMy first trip abroad was canoeing down the Ardeche when I was twenty years old. The start of a long love affair with France.
ReplyDeleteMine was an exchange visit to Dieppe when I was about 8. I was probably too young to appreciate it fully, but it left me with wonderful memories. I don't think I learnt any French.
DeleteI left England 40 years ago because I HATED the weather. But I suppose growing up on a Birmingham council estate doesn't exactly make you want to stay put either does it. I will never move back but over time I have come to really appreciate how beautiful the UK is and how much it has going for it. That being said, it's here I stay in France. My kids are also inveterate travellers and I think that's great, but there are some older folks round here who have never even been to Geneva and it's only 20 km away! I suppose one day I won't want to travel any more but when that day comes I'll be perfectly happy in my little corner of the world! I guess home is where your heart is isn't it!
ReplyDeleteWhen the French still had 'National Service' the farm sons used to really look forward to it, as they were guaranteed at least 6 months 'abroad' in some overseas territory. Usually that was it; they returned to the farm, and never travelled again!
DeleteI think it is very possible to be rooted to one spot like your old neighbour and to be wiser than somebody who is well-travelled. Some people travel without really seeing. The notion that travel broadens the mind is often fallacious.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting notion, but I doubt if it's ever true. Even if one doesn't absorb foreign cultures, at least one has been there, seen it, and experienced travel.
DeleteI had started a comment but then realised that, taking your post and the comments, particularly the one by YP just before this one, my comment was going to be as long as your post. So I shall spare you and use my thoughts for a post on Eagleton Notes.
ReplyDeleteWell, I've only just replied to YP. I didn't really go along with his notion.
DeleteWhile they only seem to all catch up when we visit, my partner's family in the north of England all live within a couple of kilometres of each other. My family members are one hour's drive away or more.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid most of mine are all over the place, which is why it was so good to have them all together here this summer. It may not happen again.
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