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Reluctant Traveler The push of adventure, the pull of safety by Don Akchin
I know I am not a good traveler and I know I am getting worse as I age. I once derived great pleasure from visits to new places, encounters with new people, and plates of exotic new foods. But these days travel isn’t even mildly tempting. When I weigh the realities of transporting myself and luggage across unknown terrain against the familiar comforts of domestic bliss, bliss wins hands down. And that’s before even considering the indignities of airport security! Not that any of that matters. My wife was going to New York City on a Monday to meet a business colleague. She suggested we both take the train up the Friday before and have a weekend getaway and, by the way, visit our daughter. The first time she suggested it, I resisted. She sweetened the deal by pointing out exhibitions on display at two museums. I couldn’t deny that one of those exhibits interested me quite a bit, but still I resisted. Eventually, however, bowing to the inevitable—and having no credible rationale for begging off—I finally caved.
Emerging from the Cave I also suspected, deep down, that it might be good for me to emerge from my cave once in a while. I’ve read enough to know that leaving one’s comfort zone and taking on new challenges is good for mind, body, and likely, lifespan. Easy to say, hard to do. We set out by train. Just to make it more interesting, we picked a weekend that coincided with a major snowstorm. Based on the predictions, we thought we could arrive and settle in before the blizzard struck. We were right. By all outward measures, the trip was a great success. Our daughter, who has lived in New York for 10 years now, is a bona fide subway sherpa. Through the twisting underground caverns beneath Manhattan and Queens, she guided us skillfully to the museums, a movie theater, and two ethnic restaurants. Our accommodations, courtesy of a longtime friend, were convenient and comfortable.
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3rd Act magazine | fall 2022
www.3rdActMag.com
