I’m glad you stopped by to learn a little bit about me and why I started this wonderful website. Most of us can probably agree that “if we knew then what we know now” we would have made different choices. I can say without a doubt that my choices are certainly different now than my choices of the past.
Back in the days of youth and ignorance, one of my greatest choices is joining the Marines. The training you receive, independence, and the opportunity to see the world is enticing and mesmerizing. I mean, who doesn’t have a desire to see the greatest sites of the world? The military is a great opportunity to have adventures and see things you may never see.
That is just what the Marines did for me. From my time at Parris Island to a deployment to Iraq, adventure and travel never let me down. While I have visited many places in my past, there are still so many to see and talk about.
Traveling Is Not A Vacation
How many time do you remember saying you need to go home from vacation to get some rest? Well, if it’s a vacation, then expectations are that you do nothing. The goal of vacations is to get some rest and relaxation. Let your body recharge from the daily struggle we call life. Personally, we like taking mini-vacations each quarter of the year, and one big vacation once a year. Right now, our big vacation of choice is the white sand beaches of Jamaica. No other place on earth is a relax and chill as the island of Jamaica. Most of our mini-vacations are somewhere in the mountains of western North Carolina.
Traveling is much different than a vacation. When you travel, you are out there to see the world, find adventures, and experience cultures you cannot in your home country. Traveling is about having fun, letting go, and getting outside of your comfort zone for 7-10 days. Traveling introduces you to so many culture differences, people of the world, and sites you only dream of in movies. Also, if you are a nomad, then traveling allows you to work from anywhere in the world.
Traveling Improves Your Life
Aside from my adventures in the Marines 25 years ago, traveling typically isn’t high on my list of things. Life was always too expensive and traveling is something that I don’t think I can do a lot of. One thing I did not understand is that traveling doesn’t have to be grand to improve your life. You can travel to so many sites and fun things near your home. No plane tickets, no expensive resorts, and so many adventures are free. Think parks, natural phenomenons, hiking trails, city landscapes, or even trying a unique eatery. All of these things are at our finger tips. All we have to do is reach for them and they are ours.
After Robyn and I met and our relationship became established, we sat down to discuss places we’d like to go and adventures we want to be a part of. Sitting down allowed her to know more about me and for me to know more about her. The time we spend planning our destinations tells us what our dreams are, things that interest us, and what we consider important.
We Have The Bug
In December 2023, we took a nice relaxing five day vacation to Couples Negril, Jamaica. This trip is in part due to I have always wanted to visit the Caribbean and I needed to use an expiring plane credit. Plus, this is our first major vacation together. I wanted it to be amazing.
While sitting there on the beach drinking unlimited cocktails, we discuss our future travels. Basically, we want to see as many places as we can while we’re able. The last thing we want is to be in retirement and unable to travel.
As the saying goes, the world is our oyster and we want to discover all the gems. You only live once.
Our Bucket List
If you know a little bit about me, you know I’m a huge fan of nature and seclusion. While some of these may not be secluded, the beauty makes it worth the sacrifice. Here’s our list as of 2025.
- Jamaica (again)
- Panama
- Poland
- British Isles
- Turkey
- Romania
- Croatia
- Greece
- The Alps
- Spain
- France
- Iceland (this time with the kids)
This is not an exhaustive list but it’s the ones with the highest priority. Seems impressive but some of these locations can be seen when visiting neighboring countries. We just need to make it to the area!
Aside from the relaxing trip to Jamaica, the bug really hit while visiting Iceland in January! The adventures in Iceland are second to none. From the polar caps and glaciers in the highlands to the black sand beaches, there is not greater adventure than Iceland. It’s almost like you’re visiting an alien planet.
What Is Your Adventure
I think most of us agree that having a vacation is essential to relieving stress and helping us feel happier. Most American’s never take enough time off from work. So, we either roll vacation days over from year to year, or we just lose them. Regardless, this practice is not good for us. You don’t need an expensive destination to rest and relax or find an adventure. All you need is a few ideas and a bit of planning!
I appreciate you stopping by to learn more about me and our travel bug. Hopefully, you will find the information on my site useful. Be sure to subscribe to my blog and follow me on social media!