Decision Paralysis
This is not intended to come off as a humble-brag - I clearly recognize our privilege. However, frustratingly, I am finding my anxieties more and more of an issue as I age, and they recently rendered me sleepless for two nights in a row as a result of struggling with which decision to make for our big 2027 international trip.
If it seems a bit crazy to be already working on 2027, I think its notable that we were not first out the gate on the trip we were trying to put together. We did not have our pick of rooms on the lengthy cruise we were interested in - already, even 18 months ahead of departure, the Cabin pickings were getting slim.
There were so many things I was wrestling with, mentally - Could we get a direct flight? Could we easily get from the airport to our hotel? Could we easily navigate trains for day trips from the hotel? Could we easily get from the hotel to the cruise ship on embarkation day?
None of these in and of themselves would I have considered remotely challenging 10, even 5 years ago. But the stress of aging is real, and what used to be fairly simple issues are now increasingly stress-inducing.
I don't like that this is occurring, but am trying to accept it as my new reality. So, increasingly, I find we are paying more to reduce stress. As an example, we select nonstop flights, we pay for easy airport to hotel transportation via a taxi, we select centrally located hotels, we prefer larger cruise cabin accommodations.
The tradeoffs we are making are we are traveling less than in years past, but more comfortably when we do. And I'm really fine with that, because I genuinely love where we are now living. We've gotten much more heavily involved in our community since moving to our new home two years ago, and I find that I miss my community groups and activities when we are away too frequently, or for to long.
What a change from when we first retired some 15 years ago, and went-went-went every single chance we had. I am so very thankful we were able to retire as young as we did (late 40's for me and mid 50's for my spouse), and would encourage anyone else wrestling with a similar situation to do same. The change in energy as we age is real, quite shockingly real.
I did finalize our 2027 big trip this morning, a relief, and I can now put any more thinking on it to bed until early next year.
So, after all that, here is where we are going - We are doing a 40 Day Cruise into the fjords of Norway, the coastline of Denmark, a few islands in N Scotland, a circumnavigation of Iceland, some stops in Greenland, and then stops along some of Canada's eastern Maritime provinces before reaching our disembarkation in Boston, where we'll have an easy flight home.
Lots and lots of research in my future, which I do very much enjoy.
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The planning of the trip is 'almost' as much fun as the actual trip! What a lovely itinerary you have chosen, so many lovely places to visit.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the planning can be almost as fun as the doing, Debs14! I generally prepare very, very detailed itineraries that include where we can find great coffee, great food, and great wine and beer. And the best regional gift shops. We are definitely of like-mind! 😊
DeleteWhat a fabulous itinerary for your cruise! As lovely as it sounds, I don't know if I could spend 40 days on a ship or be away for that length of time. I'll keep following you so I can enjoy the trip when you post about it. Wow! (Maggie, who can't seem to post as my Google account)
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie, I do understand about the pull of not being away from home too long at this point in my life. Back when we first retired, we regularly traveled for 6 - 10 weeks at a time. Now, I do think I'd miss too many things about our lovely life here along the coast. However, being on the ship for 40 days is not a problem as it is a very Port intensive itinerary, and the Sea Days look like they'll be needed for recovery purposes in between days of heavy sightseeing.
DeleteWe are a similar age to yourself, and after years of heavy travel our focus now is on quality vs quantity. We are willing to pay to remove any bumps in the road that may cause us issues. We tend to book cars via the hotel to collect us from the airport if we are arriving into a new city. We don't try and use public transport dragging suitcases. We travel with less luggage but pay the hotel to wash rather than rinsing in the sink. All flights, international and domestic are business or first class. It's not so much now about measuring value but removing stress and being able to focus on what is important.
ReplyDeleteVicky, firstly, thank you for taking the time to comment! Secondly, I am so happy to hear that your travel is changing as you age in ways that are very, very similar to what we are now finding to be our preferred ways to travel. I am not, however, quite yet willing to pay for Business or First Class, though I think that is very likely going to change in the next couple of years. (For the record, my husband thinks we should start doing it now, lol.) Like you have so aptly said, 'It's not so much now about measuring value, but removing stress and being able to focus on what is important.'
DeleteI will only fly nonstop from Atlanta. Atlanta is a large international and domestic airport and if it does not have a nonstop flight, I am not going. I refuse to change planes.on long flights I also will only fly on Delta, will only do aisle seats bc I am always having to go to the bathroom. I also will spend for business or first class across country. I hate flying but I am going to be comfortable and not put up with nonsense. I am very frugal and quite cheap in my normal life but not when it comes to flying. I am also not going to stay in iffy accommodations, so Marriott is a go to or perhaps a Holiday Inn but only if I can verify it is a safe location l. I won’t do air bnb again because it is unpredictable. I will not be adventurous in eating street food either. I am too old for stomach issues. If I take a train it is always a sleeper car. I also try to be with a known local. In New Orleans I will stay with my cousin but will only eat at places where she takes me because she grew up there. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteI am so with you on the pain and stress that having to connect flights can cause, Cindy in the South! Some of our best (or worst!) travel stories were created as a result of connecting flight chaos!
DeleteAnd between you and Vicky above, I guess I do need to stop being so resistant about the cost of Business/First Class. As someone wiser than me once said, if we don't do it (fly First Class) someday our kids will. Ouch! And a good reminder to stop being frugal in areas where its a hindrance, not an assist.