This is the third in a mini-series of posts about travel, primarily traveling alone in a busy, crowded world, and about what is great and not so great about solo travel, or about traveling in general.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I have spent a lifetime traveling. I delight in telling newfound friends that my first cruise was at the age of nine, aboard a military transport ship. It was by no means a form of luxury travel, but to this day I have fond memories of the small round porthole in our family cabin, and of trying to sleep as the ship pitched through the waves of the north Atlantic. I also have vivid memories of dishes and glassware sliding across the dinner table as the ship rolled in heavy seas one evening. Despite all of that, I was hooked on cruising.
Not long after that, I was on an international flight — in those days, it was not a jet. Between Germany and New York City, there were two refueling stops, the first in Keflavik, Iceland, and the second at Gander, Newfoundland. Although I had flown before, this was definitely a long and, at the time, exciting trip!
As a food and travel writer, I was away from home for a total of 91 nights in 2023. Even for me, that’s a lot of time “on the road.” Note that at least a third of those nights away were aboard cruise ships, and a fair number of days included “road trips,” my second love — born from a childhood spent traveling by car across vast stretches of the western United States.
I do not write fiction. I simply strive to tell the truth about the places I go, the sights I see, the food I consume, and the people I meet. Most of my experiences have been positive. I think it’s all too obvious that I love traveling.
However, I cannot say that I’m never lonely, tired, hungry, or distraught when I travel. Especially when I am by myself on assignment. What I can say is that, no matter what the circumstances, I consider myself fortunate to be traveling at a time when so many options exist to see the world. The people, the places, the tours, the memories that I bring home from every trip — those are the reasons I keep a bag half-packed and am able to leave on short notice. I travel whenever and wherever I have a chance. I have no intention of “retiring,” and it’s my travel experiences that become the “soul” of my writing and lend credence to my words.
Travel keeps a person delightfully off-balance. I have no idea who first expressed that thought, but it’s true. And it’s that “off-balance” perspective, I think, that allows new ideas and perceptions to take hold, flourish, and grow. Traveling puts the world in perspective. It provides a wealth of beginnings with endings yet to be written. That’s what makes each trip distinctive. No, not every one is wonderful, but all are memorable.
What’s it like being constantly on the go? For me, it’s the realization of possibilities. I have to admit that these days I am not always on the go. But I also must say that when I am not traveling, there is invariably another trip on my mind. Planning a trip can be almost as much fun as the trip itself. The next best thing to traveling is thinking about traveling!
I like not knowing what will happen next. I like being surprised, and I like taking unexpected turns along the path of life.
What about you?
Note: If you missed my first two posts in this mini-series, you can read them here: https://rightoffmain.com/2023/11/29/solo-travel-just-go/ and https://rightoffmain.com/2023/12/21/travel-tales-when-plans-go-awry/
About adriennecohen221
A full-time freelance writer for more than a decade, Adrienne Cohen writes extensively about travel, food and drink, cruising, road trips, farm-to-table dining, alternative agriculture, and entrepreneurship. A classically-trained journalist, she is always in search of a good story, and her bylined work has been published extensively both online and in print media.
Right Off Main 
Are you leaving again?
This is the third in a mini-series of posts about travel, primarily traveling alone in a busy, crowded world, and about what is great and not so great about solo travel, or about traveling in general.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I have spent a lifetime traveling. I delight in telling newfound friends that my first cruise was at the age of nine, aboard a military transport ship. It was by no means a form of luxury travel, but to this day I have fond memories of the small round porthole in our family cabin, and of trying to sleep as the ship pitched through the waves of the north Atlantic. I also have vivid memories of dishes and glassware sliding across the dinner table as the ship rolled in heavy seas one evening. Despite all of that, I was hooked on cruising.
Not long after that, I was on an international flight — in those days, it was not a jet. Between Germany and New York City, there were two refueling stops, the first in Keflavik, Iceland, and the second at Gander, Newfoundland. Although I had flown before, this was definitely a long and, at the time, exciting trip!
As a food and travel writer, I was away from home for a total of 91 nights in 2023. Even for me, that’s a lot of time “on the road.” Note that at least a third of those nights away were aboard cruise ships, and a fair number of days included “road trips,” my second love — born from a childhood spent traveling by car across vast stretches of the western United States.
I do not write fiction. I simply strive to tell the truth about the places I go, the sights I see, the food I consume, and the people I meet. Most of my experiences have been positive. I think it’s all too obvious that I love traveling.
However, I cannot say that I’m never lonely, tired, hungry, or distraught when I travel. Especially when I am by myself on assignment. What I can say is that, no matter what the circumstances, I consider myself fortunate to be traveling at a time when so many options exist to see the world. The people, the places, the tours, the memories that I bring home from every trip — those are the reasons I keep a bag half-packed and am able to leave on short notice. I travel whenever and wherever I have a chance. I have no intention of “retiring,” and it’s my travel experiences that become the “soul” of my writing and lend credence to my words.
Travel keeps a person delightfully off-balance. I have no idea who first expressed that thought, but it’s true. And it’s that “off-balance” perspective, I think, that allows new ideas and perceptions to take hold, flourish, and grow. Traveling puts the world in perspective. It provides a wealth of beginnings with endings yet to be written. That’s what makes each trip distinctive. No, not every one is wonderful, but all are memorable.
What’s it like being constantly on the go? For me, it’s the realization of possibilities. I have to admit that these days I am not always on the go. But I also must say that when I am not traveling, there is invariably another trip on my mind. Planning a trip can be almost as much fun as the trip itself. The next best thing to traveling is thinking about traveling!
I like not knowing what will happen next. I like being surprised, and I like taking unexpected turns along the path of life.
What about you?
Note: If you missed my first two posts in this mini-series, you can read them here: https://rightoffmain.com/2023/11/29/solo-travel-just-go/ and https://rightoffmain.com/2023/12/21/travel-tales-when-plans-go-awry/
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About adriennecohen221
A full-time freelance writer for more than a decade, Adrienne Cohen writes extensively about travel, food and drink, cruising, road trips, farm-to-table dining, alternative agriculture, and entrepreneurship. A classically-trained journalist, she is always in search of a good story, and her bylined work has been published extensively both online and in print media.