CommentaryThe Sneeds are hitting the road. Where should we go?
Had an email conversation today with Mrs. Sneed* about something and wanted you to weigh in. We're taking a trip around Christmas, and need to hear the best places to go and best ways to get there. (Bear in mind, we're young, broke, married couple.)
*(Wow. Mrs. Sneed? Misses Sneed? Misses Sneed? As in, Misses Katie Sneed? WHOA, have not thought about that that much. And we've been married more than a year!)
We've always talked about traveling. That's nothing new. I'm sharing the conversation we had about it because it touched on some important issues, and some major thoughts I've had lately, about life, and wanted to see how you fine folks felt about it all.
Here's a [slightly edited] transcription of the conversation. Not telling who wrote what part of the conversation, but feel free to take your guesses.
"Is life meant to be lived the way we in American society live it? Working our butts off most of our lives, with only small doses of downtime here and there? If we're meant to know God, seems like the best way to do that would be spending as much time focused on him as we can. Not that all our lives have to be spent like monks or nuns, but it seems we should live in a way that frees us, frees our minds and spirits, to see him. I worry that our busyness detracts from our vision. But what is there to do? Dare we leave all this behind? And where would we go, anyway? What would we do?"
"I'd love to escape it all. Move to some country far away, or go live on a boat or something. We work too hard. We don't get to enjoy life like we should. I'm hoping--which, I'm afraid, is everyone's hope--is that if we work hard now then we won't later. But I want to travel, I want to enjoy life and what God has blessed us here and now...To be honest, this is why the fact that time is flying by so quickly is freaking me out. I feel like our lives will be over before we realize it, and I don't want to miss out on it. I'm starting to see where the cliches come from."
"I still want to contribute to others' lives and such, and I feel like that's what we're doing with the publishing company and the book stuff and...all of our visions for that. But yeah, I really want to do some traveling now, before we have kids and get too busy to turn back. Because right now we're free to do just about whatever we want.
"Our lives do fly by...Working toward a career, like 99 percent of Americans do, or aspire to do, seems so pointless sometimes. I love what I do and know that I'll be great in my field one day, but I don't want to live for that. I do want to pursue that because I believe God gives us all talents, abilities, visions, and dreams, and we're meant to chase them. Chasing them shows us how to trust him. But I also want to make sure to take time away from the hustle, to just....be. And seek him. And relax with the people closest to me. And things like that."
"I'm glad we're talking about this now. We should take some kind of trip sometime soon.""We'll discuss it further when I'm not slammed with work."
No, the irony in how the conversation tapered off--we'll talk more about how we shouldn't be consumed with work when not slammed with work--wasn't lost on me.
Worry not. We love our lives. But there is a sense that we've lost the simplicity with which the world began. We don't want to completely forsake all we have. Good people and good parents have worked hard to make it all possible, and we know we're living exactly the lives we should be. Still, there persists a sense of longing, a desire to experience something different. Not permanently. But some.
Here's the deal: we're thinking of taking some kind of a trip during Katie's Christmas break from work. It's from Dec. 17 to Jan. 2. We're only looking to leave for a few days, but we want it to be a good trip.
Here's where you come in. In the comments of this post, tell us:
1. What are two or three of the best trips you've ever taken?
1b. What's the most cost-effective way of taking those trips?
2. If you haven't been on any crazy trips yet, what's one you want to take?
All right, lay it on us.
BONUS MATERIAL: Some sappy material that didn't fit in there that I just had to include, anyway....
"Saw a good quote today. 'You are the average of the five people you spend the most time around.' I don't believe it's strictly five people, but you are the average of the people you spend the most time around. I know that the people you spend the most time around define you the most, but I'd never heard that term before, and I really, really like it: The Average."
"Yeah. I've always been a big believer in that you are who you hang out with...that's why I care so much about who I do and don't spend my time with. God blessed me with some pretty good friends...and more so, he blessed me with you. I love you so much!"
Had an email conversation today with Mrs. Sneed* about something and wanted you to weigh in. We're taking a trip around Christmas, and need to hear the best places to go and best ways to get there.
Reader Comments (6)
Definitely Texas. Roommates need to be reunited, and well, Texas is awesome. =) But seriously... Texas.
Texas is definitely on the list of options.
If there's a way for you to get there, go to colorado.
It's beautiful. It's fun. It's amazing.
The mountains. The fresh air. The many places you could see while you're there.
It's just awesome. I think you would like it.
It's very outdoors and beautiful.
Sure...I did go in the middle of May, but I'm sure it's still majestically beautiful in December.
Just a suggestion.
Or...I know that if I could take a trip right now, I would try to find a ranch.
A ranch with a lot of horses and a lot of open land, something serene and beautiful.
Like, I don't know...I imagine it in Colorado maybe, or Texas, or Tennessee, or somewhere.
But I think that would be fun. Yet again, it would be an outdoorsy trip, but it would be beautiful!
Those are just some of my thoughts on that.
I think it's awesome that you are gonna take a trip. That sounds fun! :)
Honestly, WHERE you go doesn't matter as much as how you go about it. My husband and I have varying interests, and we have the most fun when we line up a vacation that addresses multiple interests. We also try to work a visit with friends we haven't seen in a long time somehow, even if it's just a meal (although staying overnight one night does help reduce traveling costs!). It's a two-birds-with-one-stone kind of thing. That said, we really enjoyed visits to the Annapolis/Chesapeake areas, Boston and environs, the Grand Canyon, and the San Diego area. San Diego is great in the winter - the weather is amazing and there is a lot to see and do (see above re: multiple interests).
Idaho is pretty great, especially the sawtooth mountain area. We love going on cruises because they are really affordable (less than 100 dollars a day. Have a great time wherever you go together. :)
I hear Saskatchewan is really nice this time of year...