To feel that people who constantly travel are just running from their problems?

[BluntGoldPoster]

Frequent travellers act as if they’re enlightened, but is it just escapism? AIBU to think it’s more about avoiding real-life issues?

The only people I know who travel a lot are not running away from problems but running towards Joy!

Running away from problems? If only it were that easy.
I think I would probably come within the category of frequent traveller.
I travel because I enjoy it and because when I am away from home I don’t have constant reminders of my husband who died last year.
It gives me a brief respite and has the added advantage that others think I am coping better than I actually am.
I don’t need to be judged for doing what I currently feel is best for me.

Let’s not give this anymore oxygen. It can’t be real.

I don't think it's good for anyone's mental health to stay in one country for their whole life. It's a big world

My sister has been travelling the world as a digital nomad for almost 15 years, not running from anything she just loves that lifestyle and why the hell not?

Me: i'm 40+, married, 2 kids, dog.....had my kids late and spent all my 20's travelling to far flung places (extended holidays rather than living there). I'd absolutely love to be one of these world schooling mums travelling the globe with my family but I haven't got the guts or finances to do it.

The only problems I'd be running from would be crappy cold weather and 50 years of the seemingly neverending daily grind.

Hi! Where is some places you went to that you liked?

I love getting travel inspo. I'm going to Slovakia for a weekend next week.

When we were younger we travelled widely, 4 continents.

It was fabulous. We weren’t running away from anything, we were embracing life.

Decades on, we’re limited now and can’t really travel far.

We have fantastic memories, though.

Doing a geographical is a thing in addiction terms. Difference is they're not going on holiday they are fleeing and don't come back. I love going on holiday / travel. It's what I chose to spend my money on.

Your premise is non sensical.

Isn't that what a vacation is? A break from the hard work of every day, school, work, cooking, cleaning etc?

Maybe, but it was still fun and the best times of my life so I'll take it

Have a wonderful time in Slovakia, that's somewhere I haven't been.

Stand outs for me were South Africa, New Zealand, Southern India, Turkiye and Italy but I've truly enjoyed every place I've been lucky to visit.

Our honeymoon was island hopping in the Philippines with our 2 year old who was an absolute superstar! Such great memories made through travel and still lots more of the world to see!

(I may not be doing as much as I'd like at the moment but it's temporary....i can't imagine a life completely devoid of travel)

yes I don’t get the not real life. What is it then a dream? It’s my real life when I am on holiday just like putting out the bins is my real life. I find people who are condescending about other people’s choices odd op, almost like they are doing it to avoid thinking about their own life and the inadequacies therin.

I get 28 days AL per year which I like to use for travel and other experiences that enhance my life

The other 337 days I spent at home or at work... hardly an escape from reality!

I get 32 days annual leave + 10 public holidays. My job also offers TOIL so I regularly gain extra time through that.

I spend most of this time away on trips ranging from 2 nights to a month in a capital city at a time.

I would be utterly claustrophobic sitting at home the whole time & find so many of the attitudes to travelling/ holidays on MN baffling.

As the saying goes: "Not all who wander are lost".

As seen in many hostels lol. Used to be my Facebook background

This is wonderful! Thanks for sharing :)

So many more of these ‘all people who are/do this (insert completely normal thing) are (insert negative label) at the moment. I don’t know why I bothered to engage, I should’ve recognised it at the start. Idiot. I regret it now but will learn from it.

I know a family like this, driven by the H who was unhappy with home life, always booking trips away and usually it would be with other friends and families joining them. He left his wife for a few months then they got back together and immediately back to the constant holidays, he is still not happy.

I don’t think that’s the case for all travellers though.

Maybe they are interested in the great variety of life on this planet ?

No, I don't. My DS and BIL travel constantly. They also go to concerts, the opera and ballet. They aren't running away from anything, they just have the money they need to enjoy life in the way they want to. No dependents, no children. They are both now retired.
I wish them joy (and am slightly envious!)

@BluntGoldPoster , my husband and I are retired; we travel a lot. This year so far we’re going to:- Costa Rica, African Safari, Andalusia and a Northern Europe cruise. There’s a few gaps which we’ll fill with a city break and UK travel. We worked all our lives and enjoy having the time to do what for many reasons we couldn’t when we were younger. Far from us running away from anything I see us as running towards experiences. 😃

I think people are being a little harsh. I have definitely known people who go away a lot as an escape from their everyday life. They openly say so. When I was having a difficult time at work, I went away a lot- even if it was just overnight. I just felt the need to be physically removed from home because that was where work was.

However, it's not necessarily true for everyone.

I actually know a few examples of this- people who say they have to find a holiday quickly and come back miserable thst they’re back and so go looking again

I would presume people travel to see things unless you are the type of person who goes from an airport to a sun lounge for a week or 2 and only see the hotel bar and to go all out and have fish and chips

I do wonder what is going on in your own life that you thunk this though