I travel alone, with nobody else. I may not be “Bad to the Bone” like George Thorogood, and I do sometimes travel with others, but when I need to really rest and recharge, I go it alone.
I know some people are very uncomfortable with sitting in a restaurant by themselves. Or walking a new trail solo. Or exploring a new city or country unaccompanied. For me, it’s a true joy.
When I travel solo to new places, I stretch and grow. I am forced to move out of English into my broken, nearly non-existent Spanish. I am able to interact with others with curiosity around a shared humanity. Last night, in a funny encounter in an outdoor outfitter, a new “friend” and I bonded over having size 10 feet in a size 8 world. I became Shirley and she was Ethel as we introduced each other to our helpful salesperson. If I had been traveling with someone, sharing that little slice of commonality and humor probably wouldn’t have happened.
Most of my time in solo travel, is on my own, though. I get to sleep, eat, play, walk, create, etc. where and when it works best for me. I can make decisions about these things, or just let them happen. I don’t have to check in with anyone else except me.
When I am by myself, I tune in to smells, sounds, colors, light, and all the senses around me. I people watch without passing judgment or sharing observations with anyone. My mind can -and does- wander. All the thoughts that have been bouncing around my head for the past days or weeks or months, find a home and settle themselves, resolved in some way or other. I can breathe.
That settling doesn’t happen immediately. It can take a couple of hours or longer to be able to move out of the momentum taking me to the next task and the one after that. But when away from home, I am forced to forget about the projects lying all around waiting for me to complete, and instead, let my energy rest in my internal home.
An added benefit of traveling solo, is going home again. I am ready once again to be in shared spaces, to pick up the projects, and to consider the preferences of others in my day.
Actually, now I think about it, when I travel alone, with nobody else, I am actually LESS “Bad to the Bone” and it’s better for us all. You're welcome.