Travel Restrictions

I have several trips in mind. I think of them often. One I have never been on, the one to Glacier National Park in Montana. That is a long trip to unfamiliar territory. Also unknown, expenses. How much to budget such a trip is difficult and likely not possible on that basis alone.

Other trips are back to New England, this time to Vermont and New Hampshire with a few other stops along the way. Easy peasy. Familiar region and known expenses, timelines and driving conditions. Another trip is back to New Mexico and Arizona. So many favorite sites on that trip!

Restrictions on travel for me are more than money. Stamina, balance, ability to walk and stand, and the danger of falling. All of those conditions apply everyday wherever I am, not just travel. The addition of travel, however, expands the opportunities for falling – in and out of the car for gas, meals, motels and so forth. Getting settled in a motel room is hard enough even with an elevator. Imagine dealing with the variables of restaurants, gas stations and simple sightseeing.

Actual travel is OK. Driving a car is fundamentally sitting on a seat and steering the vehicle. Looking out the window at the passing scenery is a simple task, too. Ah, but so much is gained from these basics. The smell of the environment, the sights of different flora and fauna. Topography, too, provides many attractive sights. Experiencing the trip is so much more than simply driving miles or seeing things. Traveling by car to out of the way places is more than half the fun and reward.

An open road trip has been special for me since I was a kid. Our family back then traveled often and long. Mostly throughout the western states, we covered most of the states west of the Mississippi River. Later adulthood filled in the states east of the Mississippi. I still need to visit North Dakota and Montana to complete the lower 48. Clearly, I will not make it to Alaska or Hawaii.

Going it alone would be tricky for me. Should I fall or have a health problem, I think I would be in trouble getting the proper attention and managing a return home quickly. This is a reality provided by the simple act of aging. My health is stable and good. Meds provide that stability. No criticality exists except for falling. Tripping is not the issue. Maintaining balance and footing is the issue.

I wonder if a solution is at hand. Funds is one thing; companionship another; still another is timing of seasons. Factoring in health limitations only complicates things more. Sheesh!

June 24, 2024

 

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