"My Suspended State Of Wanderlust" GenXVoice's Profile

I am an incorrigible bibliophile and am one of those nerdy kids who was reading Dr. Seuss by the age of 4 - predicting for me a lifelong curse of a thirst for knowledge. I had traveled to India, China, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Africa, Pacific Islands and the coast of Spain - all by the ripe old age of 8 - and all through books of both fact and fiction. My little brother and I would read through our World Book Encyclopedia Library like they were chapter books for children and we would draw pictures of our "adventures" and make our kid-version copies of the photos and trace maps coloring them in with colored pencils marking details such as language, attire, ceremonial traditions and foods. It was then that I knew I would never be content to remain "at home" so long as there were people and culture and countries to be explored and experienced.

Scouting out any opportunity to "leave town" whether it was a school trip upstate or a long weekend out of town with the family - my first trip away from home "alone" (without family/parents) was at the age of 13 to New York City to compete in a national sports competition. While I loved my sports (and still do!) - I couldn't wait for the downtime to wander and find the experiences about which I had read for years in books. Thus began my suspended state of wanderlust. What once had only existed in theory had now become a reality that would forever change my world.

I believe Thomas Fuller intended the above quote to explain that one who is widely traveled has a vast knowledge accumulated through experience. While this is true, I can also say that travel has been a study and exploration of "self" over the years. I have learned more about myself through my many years of travel than I could have learned in any therapist's office. Strengths that I never knew existed and weaknesses that have caught me off guard. My ever-evolving range of tastes and interests. The depths of my personality and exploration into layers of "me" that have at times left me befuddled in surprise of my own reaction. No matter the experience, I was left with knowledge. Knowledge of the how, the where and eventually...the why. I will forever be a traveler and although I call Florida home - there are those few places peppered around the planet that make me feel "at home" the instant I set foot and breathe in the air. Places that speak to a certain part of my soul. Where a piece of me was awakened or perhaps even where a piece was laid to rest.

Meeting people, spending time with them and getting to know them is one of my most favorite things about traveling. Making new friends. Seeing the world through their eyes. Being shown their little piece of the planet and why they love it (or how they tolerate it) gives you an experience no travel book can provide. I think that is the appeal of Virtual Tourist. A community of travelers who love to share their experiences with others and like you - make friends with a kindred spirit who understands their suspended state of wanderlust.

Friends sitting on a sidewalk in NY after dinner

I've noticed that no matter where I am in the world, I meet up with friends - many of whom I have known for years and live in the United States as a secondary home, but hail from Germany, Spain, Italy, Prague, or the mountains, the desert or oceanside - but of all these beautiful people - it is their hearts, their souls, their minds, their love of life and they each uniquely live their own lives which is what makes each and every one of my friends so special.

They are photographers, make-up artists, real estate agents, interior decorators, bankers, executives, creative directors, salesmen, carpenters and writers. A very motley crew, ideed. In fact, the only thing we have in common...is each other.

The gang at our 2009 Orlando VT meet

In traveling you have to roll with the punches. I love all the detours, cancellations, and unexpected quirks that tend to "ruin" a trip. Those always end up being the best stories and memories of any of my travels.

As the only girl out of 15 grandchildren in an Irish-American family (and that was just on my mother's side) I learned to make do with what I had and where I was at that moment - resulting in the ability to hang with anyone and everyone and enjoy a laugh with a total stranger - even if just while waiting for a bus.

I love making new friends and over my 36 annual journeys around the sun I have made the acquaintance of hundreds and hundreds of wonderful people who surprisingly still keep in touch from time to time. It's always fun to know that you know at least one person on every continent and that you could have company for dinner on your next business or pleasure trip.

I make it about the people...not just the places. Because the people are sometimes the one thing that makes the place so memorable. Rooftop parties with a local who shows us his secret spot for drinking beer while looking over his village and ending up counting stars like a 3rd grader and seeking out your favorite constellations. Shooting pool in a tiny, countryside English pub all night with new friends who make time fly so fast you would swear you were in a time warp. Laughing so much your face hurts while riding a night train to avoid wasting precious daylight for country-to-country travel with travelers from Austria, Latvia and France. Even the language barriers can provide entertainment because you somehow end up with your own game of charades and find yourself answering back as if they actually understand.

These are the moments in between the photos and the tours that stand out the most to me. Unfortunately, there are so few photos because I slacked on uploading them and then my laptop decided to commit suicide one afternoon in 2008 taking my travel photos and videos with him. Lesson learned from my costly procrastination. One day, I hope to revive him - until then - he is stored away in a closet hoarding evidence of beautiful times with beautiful people.

I am a native Floridian and have enjoyed the best that Florida has to offer. Adventurous...with a pinch of reservation...I tend to never say "no" to anything and will try most everything once. (So long as it does not include spiders.) I will try anything in any cuisine and have drank concoctions strong enough to peel the paint off your car. There are mornings where I will wake and whisper, "Oh thank God...I'm still alive" because the day/night before was just so insane and action packed that you feel grateful to wake up another day. Then, a smile will creep across my face and I can't wait to see what will happen today. Of course, you end up enjoying the best breakfast of your life as you and your friends review play-by-play highlights of the night before. Life is an adventure! Whether at home or across the pond. Of course, the older I get the more I notice that I am not as resilient as I once used to be. But, it only slows me a little - never stops me.

Then again, some of my best nights have been over a bottle of wine and the sharing of ideas and concepts intertwined with storytelling at its best. It is all in the company. You have your adventurous crowd who will do all the stupid things you want to do and you have your crowd who pulls you back down to earth and puts you back in touch with yourself and your ideals. It provides balance.

Me, Teng07 and Shohman at Nude Nite

I am an event marketer and have traveled nonstop on business for the past decade. Squeezing in pleasure trips in between gigs became an addictive hobby. Which is how I discovered VT. I was searching for the extraordinary and unusual for a few locations overseas and stumbled upon this incredible website dedicated to travelers all over the globe. Within minutes I had signed up and have been a part of the Virtual Tourist family ever since. It is always fun to tell someone new about the website. Especially when you are out with another VT'er and one of their friends will ask how you two know each other. We end up signing them up right then on the spot using my iPhone (can't wait for that new mobile app, G!) and of course, the VT family expands one more traveler at a time.

Although I have been unable to see and do all that I have wanted overseas - there is barely a square inch of the US that I have not explored. Sadly, with my tight schedule over the years a couple of weeks in Africa or Russia was simply out of the question. Now that things have slowed down, I am hoping to tackle my lengthy "to do" list. It's like I'm enjoying a working retirement since the pace of life has changed so drastically. But, I am adapting well and am enjoying being able to spend more time with friends and family.

More to come! This homepage will definitely be a work in progress. Some of you put my sad little homepage to shame!!!

Loving the new VT! For years I have snooped around the site for travel tips and ideas and am so grateful for all the great "off the beaten path" tips from you guys. THANKS for sharing! And, promise to make more of an effort to do the same. I read through some of the forums and tend to think why would I even need to rate any place at all or contribute any tips or ideas? Everyone else does such a fantastic job that it would almost seem redundant. But we'll give it a go sometime soon. No promises...but at least I might introduce you to my favorite hidden burger joint or the best place for mojitos. After all, who doesn't like a good mojito?

Happy travels to everyone! If you're ever in the Central Florida area - shoot me an email! There are a lot of great VT'ers who live in the area and we would gladly create a little meetup just for you! We like any excuse to get together...

Take care and thanks for stopping by!