What’s it gonna take for you to go?

I remember cutting out a magazine ad years ago. It showed an elderly couple, in their robes in recliners, with a quote: “Remember that time we almost went to Europe?”

My question to you: What will it take for you to go on your dream trip?

I’m as guilty as the next. My dream destination is Tibet, but I figure it should be visited at the same time as India and Nepal, which quickly takes it from the ‘manageable’ category to ‘big trip’ category. Suddenly, it’s more daunting and even easier to put off. Then again, few destinations are changing as quickly as Tibet, which means that I should head over, oh, yesterday.

It usually comes down to cost and time, right? You want to be responsible by waiting until the right time, so you don’t go into debt or abandon your obligations (believe me, I’m not bashing either). But let’s play devil’s advocate: what are the chances that you’ll get a sack of money, or that your boss will unexpectedly offer up six months of working remotely?

I could list all of the practical tips to make it happen, but somehow I think you already know them: set aside a little extra cash each month, get some of your supportive friends to remind you, break down your big goal into mini-goals on a timeline, etc. Probably the best thing is to keep conscious of your priorities—re-shuffling the trip towards the front of the deck, when other obligations are continually being added to the pile.

You know what needs to be done—make it happen. And do me a favor: remind me about Tibet, okay?

Posted by | Comments (1)  | November 19, 2008
Category: General, Notes from the collective travel mind


One Response to “What’s it gonna take for you to go?”

  1. Bob Holdsworth Says:

    Alison,
    I just faced the same dilemma – had a little extra time, could have found a lot of reasons not to go, but made a choice to do it. Once the choice was made, I was surprised at how much support I had from others around me and how gratifying it felt. Now in 4 weeks I’m off – and all the fears are gone. Good luck and go for your dream