Retirement travels and travails. Way back in the mists of time. In my teaching days in fact when we went on our summer holidays we were confined to the actual school summer holidays along with many others. True it’s been quite a while since we operated under such restrictions, educational psychologists could pretty much take their leave when they wished.
Now days of course, as retired persons, we have no such confines. Generally since retiring we have gone to Ireland in ether May or September (although October this year as will become clear as we get closer to that date), but of course we avoid school holidays like the proverbial plague.
We are aware of the current situation from the news in the papers and on our phones and what has always seemed tricky, this year has plumbed new heights or rather depths.
It’s true the flying parts of our American trip were quite stressful but nothing to compare with what’s happening at airports and on the planes themselves right now. Thank God (or whoever) we got our flying out of the way earlier in the year. Although I have to say BA did its very best to make our trips a misery even back then. Not to mention all the stress of getting tested for Covid, the results of which were never once required.
If we wanted to stay in the UK but still take some form of holiday then driving would not provide any great relief from the above stresses. At £2 a litre petrol / diesel hardly makes for stress-free driving. Not to mention traffic jams on our major motorways as the whole world (so it seems) dash for whatever destination they believe will give them a stress-free holiday.
Well, there’s always the train. I like trains although Archie is no big fan (Millie just goes to sleep on the floor). But Archie, as well as wanting to sit on the seat which is of course his divine right at home, so doesn’t understand why not on the train. But not to worry because the trains are on strike, so not a problem.
I’ve always thought the positives of being a retired person were somewhat ambiguous. So it’s a good thing to be reminded of one undeniable plus point – freedom to take one’s holidays whenever one wants. Not, note, wherever, because the doggies definitely restrict our options in that sense. But whenever, is a definite positive.
Of course the travel industry would have us old gimmers believe that there are many other plus points to being retired – special discounts and the like but they don’t mention the huge rise in insurance costs especially if you happen to be blessed with the odd medical condition as typically we old folk often are.
Of course many people who are not retired, probably take the view that if you’re retired you shouldn’t need holidays anyway. You’re having enough fun, so stay at home and don’t clutter up the pubs, cafes, beaches etc.
All this represents quite a humbling from the position I assumed in my early retirement days. In those days I used to imagine that I had my retirement pretty well worked out except for one thing. I used to call it ‘the missing link’. The link that meant my perfect retirement was somewhat less than perfect. Find that link, put it in place and bingo, the perfect retirement of my blog title.
And what did I sincerely believe was that missing link? Well, the above in fact. Yes, I believed that only long distance travel could provide that link. And look at me now, sitting at home breathing a sigh of relief that I do not have to be out in the big bad world of travel – flying, taking the train, even driving (I did take the bus into town last week to buy my birthday books but that’s about as adventurous as I get). Oh, how are the mighty fallen?
Retirement travels and travails summary
All this begs the big question – have I now developed a more sensible attitude to travel in my retirement years? Or am I simply losing my spirit of adventure, of challenge, that has seen me mostly enjoy my retirement years, thus far at least? I’m really not sure.
PS. I still have the Irish trip to organise for October so maybe that will restore my faith in travel for fun. Watch this space.