I am not big on New Years Resolutions. I am big on travel, though. It has been my long held belief that the best use of my money is to see and to do rather than to own. Many things can happen in life which can take away things, but memories and experiences are worth everything... and more.
While I have been many places in my lifetime, it seems that I have been spending too much of my time and resources revisiting a few I have already been to. This needs to stop. That is my resolution, then. This year I will endeavor to venture farther from my comfort zones and visit many new places and explore other cultures more thoroughly.
Although I live in Sweden, I have yet to visit Norway or Finland. Those are both on the short list now. I already have a trip to Hungary and Romania on my radar for this spring, I also hope to get to Egypt and Iceland within 2007.
This is a resolution that may hard to keep since my other endeavor this year is to help rescue as many injured and displaced Australian animals as possible by bringing them to Sweden and opening a small animal park so the folks here can experience petting and feeding roos, wallabies, and wombats. There are far too many that can never return to the wild for one reason or another, and the wildlife centers around Melbourne are over-run. I see this project as helping from all sides.
I think I'm gonna need some staff to watch things while I'm off in Romania or Egypt. Any volunteers?
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Comments: 22
I thought he would pick what we talk about, but his first love has been Dinosaurs and he wants to be a Paleontologist. Looks like he will be going to school for many years to achieve this goal, luckily UC Berkely or UCLA has programs for him.
There is this junior achievement group that he has been invited to and they go on trips each summer anx next one is Australia, but I think we will wait till he is in high school for that. Also in Chicago there is a system in place for the students at their school district to go on digs in Wyoming and he likes that idea.
PS - I have a new year resolution group as well that I started in Nov, although there are no prizes in that one, but there is also not 10+ pages of articles to weed through.
http://newyear.gather.com
I hope you good luck and success on your animal endeavors.
The reasons for everywhere I have been are varied. Some places I opted to travel to instead of buying a shiny new car that year, others were business trips, standard vacations... many were the result of early in my life having saved for a thing, then in the end realizing yet again that to see and do is way more important than a new TV or living room furniture.
One of my favorite trips of all time though was to Mexico about 20 years ago. I was simply bored and never been out of the US then. My family was like, "you're going to do what?" and admonished me to save and plan for it. I was gone the next day. Stayed all summer moving about that fine country with little cash. It is one of my best memories ever, and taught me more than I ever learned in college... for less money.
Also, with regard to your short list, let me offer you my humble opinion.
Norway: check
Iceland: check
Finland: no check
In all seriousness, this is an admirable resolution if ever there were any. There's more to the world than losing weight and attending church services regularly. But the average Joe Sixpack never looks beyond these pithy priorities, and that's a shame, because Beyond is where the rest of the world lies.
Godspeed!
Safe travels to you always
S.R... but Finland is so damned close. It would be silly not to go... and besides, then I could make fun of them from a first hand perspective rather than just following Swedish tradition.
I am not meaning to dis anyone by not giving all comments a personal response. It is just that it is raining like hell here. That means my hands are very stiff and achy. Ow.
Jaså! Will they allow me to bring my cane with the hidden sword inside on the ferry...?