why I’m not waiting until I’m retired or for my honeymoon to travel to my dream place

Have you ever been sitting around the table with friends and the honeymoon topic gets brought up, “Oh, I want to go to Fiji on my honeymoon.” (not sure if this happens as frequently when guys get together, actually I’m sure it doesn’t, but believe me many girls have planned out their wedding in their head and of course everything pertaining to it) This friend may not be engaged, maybe not even be seriously dating but has an idea of a perfect place to honeymoon.

I guess a few years ago if you asked me what my dream honeymoon destination would be I would have said, “the Grecian islands.” And I went on that trip earlier this year with a good friend. I’m so glad I didn’t wait until my honeymoon to visit. I’m not knocking anyone’s dreams or telling you not to make lists of honeymoon adventures you’ll go on but please also go on adventures now!

While of course it would be a wonderful experience to share with a special someone, I don’t want to wait around for that. When a friend couldn’t take time away this year I even did some solo travel. Solo travel is probably the greatest gift I’ve ever given myself. Timing is everything and if I waited for the perfect time, I may never have gone. I guess I realized you only get so many trips around the sun so why not see it from as many countries as possible…

I met many couples while traveling who were recently retired “empty nester’s”. One woman told me she’d been waiting her whole life for this trip and had been talking about it since high school. I was happy she was going on her adventures now although I couldn’t help thinking.. you’ve waited until you’re in your 60’s to travel. Looking back on my own travels, if I had been older I would not have had the same experiences, perhaps wouldn’t have been as happy staying in humble lodgings or been as willing to take risks or do that 6 mile hike.

These experiences have shaped me so much I’m encouraging everyone to travel and not to wait until you meet the perfect romantic partner or until you’re retired. It wasn’t until I experienced all these life changing trips that I realized just how important they are. The world is out there waiting and there’s oh, so much to see.

(T-shirt available on etsy. ) *update – I had to take the shirt down but will hopefully be listing some other fun things here soon!

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Published by sittingprettyinthequeencity

Hi, I'm Joanna. NC based. Lover of beautiful things. Will eat Ramen noodles to travel. This blog is a really fun creative outlet for me and I love interacting with readers so if you have questions or tried something out from the blog, please share! I always look forward to questions and comments. xoxo Jo p.s. follow me on Instagram: sittingprettyinthequeencity Twitter: JoSittingPretty https://www.facebook.com/SittingPrettyintheQueenCity For sponsorship opportunities or collaborations email sittingprettyinthequeencity@gmail.com

89 thoughts on “why I’m not waiting until I’m retired or for my honeymoon to travel to my dream place”

  1. That’s inspiring, Joanna. If travel gives you the most energy and enjoyment, that should be a high priority. Funny. I’m reading “Off Balance” by Matthew Kelly. It has made me consider my priorities and values to find satisfaction in work and life. You should check it out. Thanks for the Christmas entry.

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  4. <smile>

    Good on you, girl!

    I’ve already retired once. And so managed to get more years of retirement than my poor dear father, who retired young, but still had far too few years.

    Back at work now… hard at it, and I don’t know when I’ll get to retire again. But, I still make sure to get out on an adventure every opportunity I have.

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  6. Love your t-shirt. I have one like it and carry a photo of a sticker printed with that saying. “Never return,” the saying concludes. And it’s true! The woman who packs her bags and heads to a new place never does return. Someone with new experiences, new opinions, new ideas comes back in her place. Thanks for your post.

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  8. Great photos, and I definitely agree. Though I think there’s a place for prudence and good planning, I’ll never understand why some people wait forever (and sometimes so long it never happens) to do the things they really want to do. Carpe diem, I say!

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      1. 😉 I get you girl! Love your blog by the way, hope I can learn a thing or 2 from it, I wanna turn my blog into a bit of a travel one while at the same time writing about other things that interests me.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Good point! I don’t how I’d endure 36 h on the train to Turkey or 30h on the boat to Greece if I did those trips at 60 and not at 22!:)) I’m now over 30 and I already changed a bit my travel style, I don’t stay in hostels anymore and I usually travel by plane now:) Great post!

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  15. Thanks for visiting my The World’s Fare blog. So many things to see in this world, even right here in the U.S.

    Like your t-shirt, as I did quit my job, buy the ticket, and get a tan — though I did return. Quitting my job and going to Australia for six months was part of my plan to start life over, getting away from the corporate world and becoming a writer. So I had to come home to rebuild the career. But it worked. I’m a working writer — and I’ve never stopped traveling (so far, 37 countries on six continents — not record setting, but not bad). It’s not a road for everyone — because it’s not an easy road. But if you’ve got the determination and the desire, it is certainly a richly rewarding way to go through life.

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    1. That’s amazing. You’ve done far more traveling than I’ve had the chance to yet but I hope to live a similar life : ) Australia’s on my list and I’d hope to spend a few months there at least. What a wonderful life. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

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  16. So true about solo travel, very rewarding! I was away from home over Christmas this year and as much as there are people and traditions I missed, it really opened me up to seeing what I valued most. Interesting to see how Christmas is experienced in other countries as well. Can’t say enough nice things about how wonderful people in Prague were!

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  21. Excellent post! I have traveled over the years but I have been saving Hawaii for my honeymoon. I am finally going this Spring! Now of course I hope Dream guy shows up
    Before the trip! Too bad but girls get sucked into this thinking early lol!

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    1. haha that’s amazing!! I’ve not been to Hawaii yet but I have a friend living there so I hope to go soon! Love that you’re going now & not waiting. The funny thing is I feel like guys read the honeymoon part and they’ve never really given thought to it but I know girls and we “save” places for that special trip. Happy to hear you’re going have an amazing time!

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  23. Retired due to disability: arthritis in my wrists, feet and knees which keeps me from some of the hiking, canyoneering, rock climbing, and cycling adventures I’d love to have. You are so wise to explore the world while your body is still young.

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    1. I’m so sorry to hear this! Thank you for your comment. My fear in writing this is that I would be misunderstood or that someone reading may disagree with my statement so to hear to agree means the world to me. Thanks so much for the encouraging words!

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  24. Great work!I like your attitude and really can relate to there’s no excuse for being in charge of your own Happiness and seizing the day! Wonderful images of you & your adventures!Thank you for the inspiration.Cheers!

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  25. I love your blog! The quality of your pictures is absolutely stunning and I really like the way you write your posts. You’re living my dream! It’s so great to come across other like-minded people who love travel just as much as I do!

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  30. Thank you for your encouragements. Before I left Belgium for China in September, I didn’t know how life-changing this trip was going to be. One year in China. One year out of your comfort zone. New people, new culture, a language that is so different from anything you could have heard before. And people, oh, amazing people, you meet friends for life, as you said. Keep it up!

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  33. Yes! I just got motivated to start a blog about doing things and striving in that solo life. Your like of my recent blog post led me here, and I say 100 times “Yes!”. This is so motivating and inspiring to someone who has just had this revelation to live life to the fullest and have adventures now even if it is on my own.
    Thanks for the like on my blog and for writing such a wonderful post!

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      1. The blog is about striving solo. Since graduating college last year, I’ve been transitioning into this adult life where I’m figuring out how to stand on my own. From getting a job, taking on taxes, surviving single, and doing things on my own, I’m discovering a lot about myself and life. So hopefully, my blog if full of tips, inspiration, and insightful stories.
        I’m just discovering what you live each day by in my own life. For example, I bought a concert ticket just for myself last spring because no one else could go. Being the extrovert that I am, I was nervous about going alone, but ended up enjoying the solo trip immensely. Same with my trip to Chicago. Anyways, I feel like I’m rambling now. Thanks for asking 🙂

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      2. That sounds incredible!! I want to do more traveling but sometimes it doesn’t work out to go with friends who don’t have the time/budget or just don’t share the same interests. And being single is a big part of that. I’ve been exploring my single-hood if you will more & more because I figure what if this is the last time I can really go do all these things I want to do? Good for you! Sounds like we are in similar places

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  34. I found you just a few minutes ago by chance and I’m delighted with what I read… you go girl! I’m definitely following you, I love what you do and what you believe, the little that I know so far and I’m planning to come back for more. What a treat you are, girls now are so different and have found their voices and their legs and are now running around the world making their dreams come true instead of waiting for somebody to do that for them! Keep them wings spread wide!
    Two questions: Why did you have to take that awesome t-shirt down and, I don’t know if it is ok to ask this… how can you afford all that traveling?! I would love to be the same! xx

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    1. Thank you thank you!! Love your encouraging words I’m so happy you found me 🙂 Thanks for following! I made the T-shirt myself and planned on making more for friends & anyone who wanted to buy them but there’s a company with a shirt that is similar who copyrighted the phrase? So to avoid any issues I took it down 🙂

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  35. I absolutely love this post and I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog!! I love to travel as well and I believe everyone should do it whenever they get the chance! Why wait?! 🙂 Loved your pictures as well! Can’t wait to see more! I’ll actually be traveling to Romania soon and have created a blog to share my volunteer journey. Feel free to check it out at http://www.misskissvolunteers.wordpress.com

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  36. Life has taught us – unfortunately in not the kindest way possible – that if you have a dream and you have the health, time and money to do it, do it.

    Do not wait, Go do it.

    Not only, as you say so rightly, does it help develop you and make you a better, richer person (in experience and self, not money). It also means that you get to do it. Which you never may if you wait.

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  37. Thanks for the like on my blog! I love yours and want to go to Europe for an extended vacation really soon. You definitely inspire me. I’m following because I know I’ll learn more things in the future from you!

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  40. Good for you! Travel and see the world. Then when someone comes along you can share it together. Travel is an important aspect of my life that really has helped to define me. I’m very happily married now so we share those experiences together. No one should live with regret.

    I love the t-shirt….

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    1. I love that!! I’m so glad you agree and you can share my thoughts and you’re a perfect example of finding someone who can relate to your passions. I’ve actually had people tell me it almost seems undesirable to some that I’m so independent and enjoy travel so much and my thoughts are I hope to find someone with a similar outlook on travel & living life. Thanks for your comment! x

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