Anyone else consumed by wanderlust?

[beneathhereyes]

I feel that wanderlust is consuming me and having an impact on my family life. I think it's a form of escapism from the daily grind, I'm a carer for dd12 and daily life can be very restrictive. Travelling with her is becoming increasingly harder and I'm starting to resent this 😢.
I want to go to large cities where there is hustle and bustle constantly, its not a case that I want to just go anywhere. I spend large parts of the day googling flights, accommodation, watching YouTube videos of the place etc. Someone recently thought I was very well travelled because I was able to tell her (non famous) street names of a particular city, which I only knew because I spend quite a lot of time on streetview checking out towns as if I was walking along the street.
I get so much pleasure doing all these things, but I realized it's probably not healthy as last night I found cheap flights to London, but the hostel where we've previously stayed has now doubled in price and I'm absolutely gutted 😢
I'm very aware we've been very lucky to travel as there are families who haven't been on holiday ever.
Not sure why I'm posting, but can anyone else relate? It almost feels like an addiction 😔

@DutchessOfMuck I hadn't heard of it but it looks amazing! I've just booked a tour, I think this could be a bit of an outlet for me.
@Acinonyx2 if it's not too outing, where did you live?

@DutchessOfMuck oh Heygo looks good I'll also going to look at that.
@beneathhereyes various, e.g. parts of Africa.

You could further your addiciton with an Instagram account. Credit the photo sources you use if taken from other accounts, write about the places you feature and build up a following of like-minded people.

@beneathhereyes @Acinonyx2 glad you both like the look of it. I found it really cool, went on some fab tours and the people on the chat were all friendly.

@ladybirdbirdlady thats an idea, you mean it's OK to use other people's photos as long as I credit them?

What is your current job op?

Do you have to factor in a partner?

@Doingprettywellthanks yes a DH and 3 dc. I'm at home all day as dd only goes to school for an hour a day due to her health.
I'm loving heygo, today I've been to John O'Groats, walked across the Tolerance Bridge in Dubai and I'm currently at Niagra Falls. This is definitely going to scratch the itch.

What makes your life “great” op?

It is great you are enthused with some of the ideas on this thread op but it is quite clear your dissatisfaction with your life is profound

Can you watch the Rick Steves' travel show?

I feel like this a lot too OP and will check out heygo too. I don't agree with pp it's a dissatisfaction with life, I'm very satisfied with life in general but I miss the spontaneity of being able to take off where I want. It takes so much planning and childcare arrangements! I also have a dc with SEND and a quite young dc and am a single parent and feel like my life has become a very strict rota to fit in with my children's needs, I know that's pretty much the standard when you become a parent before anyone has a go at me and have accepted they come first before indulging my wanderlust! But I think if you were a traveller pre-kids like me, then it's natural to feel a bit like you're champing at the bit to get away. My dc would not be able to do much on a city break so if I want to go somewhere it involves lots of childcare for them to stay at home, planning all that plus the facts it's obviously very expensive these days, takes some of the joy out of travelling.

I have serious wanderlust. I'm fortunate to have just been away but spent the journey back planning my next trip in my head. I've got longer journeys figuratively planned(relying on retirement

Can you do cities as day trips?
Earliest train there and last one back.
Admittedly I don't have caring responsibilities but yesterday I spent the day in Liverpool and it's a 5 hour drive from me.
Tiring, but doable, I've done the same with Blackpool, Leeds and Manchester, this year, London next week, though I will be spending 1 night this time but getting the travel/timing right gives me two full days, from 7am one day, to 10pm the next.
Also, off season, I paid £25 a night in Edinburgh City Centre last Feb/March, and plan to make the most of other city's cheap hotels this winter.
Once there I make the most of free things.

Sorry, just to add I do know what it's like, Dd is 21 but I brought her up completely on my own, no Dad/partner/family involved at all, also on disability benefits so no money for any sort of travel, plus said disability.

The op describes it as an “addiction”

”I literally got heart palpitations at the thought of not getting away”

That sounds like less of a positive desire to travel and experience and more that wants to get away.

and given she is carer for a profoundly disabled child and social interaction is the odd coffee - I don’t find this surprising

Sorry the above should have quoted @BigEnergy

You can indeed. Lots of accounts with a huge amount of followers just use other people's photos but make sure to credit their username in the blurb. It would allow you to be a bit of a travel journalist, and create a beautiful looking account filled with lovely and inspiring photos of places you'd love to go. Write as though you've been, giving tips of places to stay, things to do, where to eat etc.

@Doingprettywellthanks I don't think I'm profoundly dissatisfied in life at all. I have a good DH, great kids, no serious money issues. I don't miss work at all. I don't particularly want to see more of friends, but could if I wanted.
I was thinking about this since starting this thread and a big part of my issue is not liking strict routine, which dd's disability requires. We also have a lot of hospital appointments and when we travel obviously it's an escape from the stress of those.

DFDS look for boat trips, sleep on boat both ways, spend the day in a city.

Megabus overnight to city, spend the day in the city & overnight bus back. Cheaper the earlier that you book. You can do the same with train, but trains are expensive.

Most travel & accommodation are cheaper if you avoid all holiday times like Easter, half terms, summer school holidays, Christmas etc

I'm doing the overnight Megabus thing from Glasgow/London next week.
Haven't done it since I was in my 30's a v loooong time ago, but I can't wait.
Bus, one night hotel, show at the RAH, £150.
Everything else I'm doing is free.

I agree but presumably your daughter’s disability isn’t going to change? If she only goes to school for one hour day, the disability must be very serious? So if that is your issue ie the strict routine etc then that is going to remain an issue.

My point is - that using words like “addiction” and “heart palpitations” - not lightly ie you seemed quite serious in your OP - would indicate that your “wanderlust” is more than just that.

So what about improving your status quo however you can?

why does the routine and strict discipline lesson on holiday?

@Doingprettywellthanks things with dd are going to get worse, which is why it's so upsetting. The thought of not going away is very depressing, so perhaps that's why I feel a sense of urgency now.
Her routine doesn't really lessen whilst we are away, but being somewhere different somehow makes it easier.

An alternative may be to get a camper van & to get out & about. Lots of the campsites that I've stayed on have disabled facilities.
Or organise your own off grid camping
Plenty of apps, facebook groups to help you

OP I am getting the idea from your posts that it's not so much travel in general you are missing but being in a large City- you are specifically talking about missing hustle and bustle in London. Do you live somewhere that's very quiet and peaceful ? Any chance of a house move to a large town/City where your DH would still be close enough for his work, but you could maybe experience that feeling more often ?

@Mandala8Dreams @shinynewapple22 the issue is that we are not on mainland UK. I could buy a campervan but I'd be driving locally, which doesn't appeal to me. Yes I definitely crave big city life due to where we live. The MN dream UK holidays of Lake District or Cornwall would do nothing for me, I want to feel the underground rattling under my feet 😁. Obviously we have to get a boat or flight anywhere, no chance of taking a bus to the next big city.