I was once a wanderer

There was a time when I wouldn't say no to an adventure.  If I wanted to go I would somehow find the money to fund the trip - even though I made a pretty meger living as an artists assistant I made travel a priority and was able to go where I wanted.  Sometimes my friends would invite me along to wherever they were going for whatever reason, and sometimes family would ask me to come out and stay, and somethimes I just needed a trip, needed to get away.  For whatever reason I went I always tried to enjoy the getting there as much as possible.

The best possible way to enjoy a trip is to just go with it, don't get upset if you miss your plane or train or bus - look for something interesting in the terminal, make a new friend with the person next to you, or if you have the time or the inclination take a later flight and get out to explore the city you are "stranded" in.  If I hadn't missed my flight out of Orlando that one time I never would have gotten a hug from the Easter Bunny in the Baltimore airport. There is no use getting upset at the people trying to help you since if you are rude and disrespectful to them they are going to stop trying to help pretty quickly, but if you are nice and understanding you may find yourself in a better position than you started out in.  I often gotten free food or drinks and upgrades just for smiling, saying please and thank you and being patient.

Take advantage of every opportunity given to you, there are still a couple I regret not taking - like the free trip to Italy, but that one came with strings.  Deviating from your plan often means seeing something that you would never have known about otherwise.  Once at the suggestion of a fellow traveler staying in a hostel with me I took a small company tour of the Orkney Islands - he had no set itinerary for the tour he just looked to see where the big bus tours were and went to were they weren't , I made many friends and memories on that tour and it was not in my original plan.

 Always remember that once there the best way to get around a city is to walk - otherwise you might miss some of the most interesting moments and places.  My friend and I walked everywhere we went when we were in Montreal (sometimes we took the subway back as our legs were so sore we couldn't walk), that is how we found the tiny little Jazz club and many of the little shops we went in.  Though if you stop into a pub for a drink on the way back make sure to use the facilities before heading back to your hotel as if your legs are very sore and there is no elevator in the hotel then it could be a very painful four flights of stairs to your room.

Yes, I was once a wanderer, but now I have more than myself to consider and a secure home to make for my daughter.  I still say yes to adventure just not as often and I usually have my family with me, and I look forward to telling my daughter where I have been and taking her to new places.