slow vs. fast travel
July 2nd, 2022 Looking back to our first overseas vacation as a couple to Edinburgh, Scotland, Drew's and my versions of travel were very different. Our first day there was chocked full, with me as our travel agent. We were strolling the city by 8 am, visiting the National War Museum by 10, had a whiskey distillery tour scheduled for noon, followed by a walk to the Nelson monument, an early dinner of a parcel of haggis and a pint, with a nightcap over live music before heading back to our hostel. Suffice to say, we had a great time, but Drew was exhausted! Over the next two years, including multiple long weekends around Europe, I learned to slow it down a bit for his sanity and our marriage! He would emphasize a bit. Regarding travel or our day-to-day lives, Drew and I both struggle in our own ways with sitting and savoring the moment. There's always a checklist, a project, a goal. With two little ones now, we see how busyness is stealing from our precious time with them. The days have too quickly become months and years, and we now have a 6 and almost 4-year-old. Our jobs have required living apart, weekend and overnight work, regular travel, and irregular schedules. Through the help of a fantastic friend and nanny and her family, plus our family, we have survived a hectic season and are now on the other end. At least at this point, we can choose the type of schedule and work-life balance we want. I laugh as I have had more than one person tell me they are happy for us about our plans to spend months overseas next year, but the thought also sounds dreadful with two young ones in tow! I can understand their feelings! Anyone who has traveled with young children knows that a 12-hour day on foot to multiple locations at home or abroad seems daunting! In addition to the problematic logistics of fast travel with kids - going from one must-see to the next and filling days from morning till night - moving too quickly in any environment does not allow for small-talk, new relationships, or unscheduled experiences. In my volunteer work with Street Medicine, I have learned first-hand the value of slowing it down to learn and connect. It's a part of the organization's culture that I yearn for in other areas of my life. And so, when we began discussing our plans for next year, Drew and I agreed we would embrace slow travel. To us, slow travel includes keeping our family on a gentle schedule of a maximum of one to two sights per day. The kids will have a routine so that no matter where we are, they have consistent expectations regarding schooling, reading, and chores. An abundance of empty space will be filled with play, walks, and spur-of-the-moment activities. In addition to having light daily itineraries, we intend to slow travel through our means of transit and lodging. We will primarily stay in walkable communities and choose local hotels or rentals to interact more with small business owners. We also plan to linger in each locale for several days to create a better opportunity to meet and get to know the locals. The ultimate goal is to teach our kids about the beauty of all different cultures, histories, and peoples, and to relish this opportunity we have to slow things down. So, I have a confession to make...Despite all these plans, one recent night at about 2 am, and after 5 hours of searching for ideas, must-sees, and price comparisons, I had the first month planned for our upcoming trip to Vietnam. We had discussed leaving our timeline more open but realizing we were going during the busiest tourist season, I didn't feel comfortable without the first hotel reserved. Before I knew it, I had our trip planned from the north to the central part of the country, including planes, trains, and automobiles. Walkable communities – check. Local hotels – check. Longer stays - check. I proudly let Drew know of my progress the following day, and he replied, "So, how's that slow travel going?". Touche, I thought. The scheduling stopped there as I resolved to leave the remainder for when we are boots on the ground, as the saying goes. Slow travel may not be intuitive to me, but it is a worthy struggle I will not give up on!