Is it ok to admit.....

Absolutely ok. There's a frisson of excitement before every trip. That feeling of the leap into the unknown which combines anticipation with that small voice which says 'what if I don't measure up?;

And then there's the first day, when you always spend too much...
And the second day, when you suddenly realise you know more about this travelling lark than you thought...
And the third and subsequent days when you really, really begin to enjoy yourself and wonder why you were so foolish as to question, to ask why. :>))

See you soon, in London, World Traveller.

Thanks go_2 for the reassurance. :)

I know I have come far from the timid traveller back in 2010 when I was grieving for the loss of a job. I had to resign for health reason but this time, it is out of my own choice and that is always a good thing.

I am going to focus on what I love about travelling, the sense of adventure, the sense of waking up and having choosing what to have for breakfast and where to go after b'fast. Stupendous.

There will be frustrations, there will be doubts but above all, there will be fun and adventure. :)

What a cheery thought!

Hi Lee 52,

Congratulations on your retirement. In 2006 whilst climbing Kilimanjaro I realised that work was interfering with my major passion - travel. I returned home (Australia) and 6 weeks later I retired, or as I prefer to say I became a 'LIP' Lady of Independent Pursuits. I have had an absolute ball since I liberated myself from the workforce. It has now improved enormously as husband took the same step 2 years ago. Like me absolutely no regrets (and we both had extremely interesting careers which we both enjoyed).

We do have a routine - of sorts- when not traveling I do volunteer work with AMES - teaching English to migrants and refugees. We also have several cultural and other interests.

Sensible decision on your part to stop over in Singapore and KL. Now with our long flights we break them up eg Singapore, HK, Bangkok and now will include Dubai with the Qantas/Emirates Alliance.

good luck and have fun

Hi,

He he Lee, When I started travel some 50+ years ago I never doubted my sanity, and have not done since. Went on gut instinct and never regretted it. Strange thing I travelled and travelled and always ended up back here - Home. Planning next sojourn now.

You have made all the big decisions, gained all the hard yards and now there is just one thing left to do. Enjoy your travels.

or you could just stay at work?

#5 Nah! sounds too much like hard work!

2 minutes after you are gone it will be Lee who.........enjoy

A formal announcement was made a couple of days ago about my impending departure. I was really flattered that quite a few colleagues came to express their sadness of my resignation. Which is quiet, quiet nice. lol

don't worry about what you have left behind, focus on what is to come and enjoy it. if you are lucky enough to travel, do it. you miss people from your job, and thats how they knew you, friends from work, escape that and be yourself, doing what you want to do, if not travel, take up a hobby or hobbies: learning how to play the piano, watercolour, pottery being a CPA, you can still have routine, just in a way that suits you, not your employer.