I am very much a planner and find it hard to change at short notice. I think this is due to some autism spectrum tendencies and can be difficult for me in some situations. I always say I am very flexible but with a bit a notice ;)
Having said that my husband likes to be more spontaneous and so I am trying to embrace that, but it's a slow process and doesn't come naturally so I read your piece with great interest. Must try harder!
“Flexible with a bit of notice”—my husband will like that one! 😊
I have to say that this is truly the most unplanned I’ve been. The only things on the books a dinner for our first night in Rome.
What I will have to let go of is the fear of missing out, knowing that not everything will be perfect. But how lucky are we to have the opportunity in the first place?💕
I devoured this post and want to read it again, Elizabeth, more slowly and with coffee. As I get older, I have become more of a planner when it comes to travel, but in my 20s I had a “let’s go and see what happens” approach. But it was also the 80s and only so much advance planning could be done, lol. So the serendipities that happen along the way were often the best part of the trip. Have you read Lisa Abend’s newsletter, Unplugged Traveler? She takes this approach when visiting a new town or city, doesn’t do any advance research, and doesn’t look things up on her phone (not even for lodging). I laugh because this is exactly how my best friend and I traveled when we were in college because there was no other way in our eyes, but it’s fun to see someone today choose to travel this way. Have a marvelous time in Italy, my friend! 💞I look forward to reading about it in a future post 🇮🇹
I’ve been aggressively planning a summer trip to Toronto (!) and along comes your reminder; perfect timing. Leaving some—a lot, actually—white space in last summer’s PEI haunt made that vacation extra special.
You flanneur, you! :) I hope you have a fabulous trip to Puglia. I have a trip coming up planned by my son and family, who are way ahead of me in the planning dept. Thank goodness bc I am not that! But we always leave room for those serendipitous moments. I have so many wanderlust impulses and can hardly stay in my seat just thinking about the trips I want to take. Bon voyage and bon courage!
Liz, this post, surprisingly, made me rather emotional. My yearning to travel more and this invisible time clock ticking away that time is getting shorter…opportunity is dwindling. Your impromptu act of spontaneity that lead to meeting THE Fleming… (another assurance that we are soul sistas. )😂
Your messages shares so beautifully the struggle we have between “just celebrating life as it comes” and mitigating potential issues that may mar the treasured experience. I am a planner within a Bohemian brain… trying to eke out the best of both worlds.💗
When Colton was in his 20s his travel plan consisted of buying a flight (last minute) to a country he’d never been, having a few dollars and purposely NO PHONE. 😵💫. Those were sleepless nights for me😂. But God, I’m so glad he had that experience. I envy that freedom. 💗
My best travel energy headed to you, filled with love and magic. Cheers!🥂
I love this theme, Elizabeth. Cannot be stressed enough in today’s age of social media-induced travel. You went to Jain temple during Paryushan? Amazing. I grew up with Jain people & their lovely food
The story was that I was in Bombay for 36 hours and the hotel arranged for a whirlwind city tour for me and a colleague. Our tour guide was lovely but definitely on a mission to keep to our prescribed schedule.
When we got to the temple, it was thronging with people and activity, and our guide either didn’t know or didn’t want to get into what was happening. After our tour of the temple and as we were putting on our shoes to leave, a woman came up to me and asked if I knew what was going on (I’m sure she could read the curiosity on my face!). When I told her I didn’t, she explained the meaning of the festivities and invited us back to have some food from the community feast.
It was wonderful! Of course I don't remember what we ate (this was nearly 20 years ago), but I felt so welcome and could feel the happiness of everyone there. The guide was a little disgruntled that we got off track, but I wasn't missing that for anything 😊
Beautiful post. I definitely lean more towards the planning side of the spectrum (def not too far in advance), but have also recently found myself embracing those moments of spontaneity more (many initiated by Gary, but it’s a start!). 😉 And I will be trying those pesto beans and greens this week with a nice can of tuna! Have an amazing time in Puglia!!
Ha! When we got married we were at opposite ends of the spectrum. Now, after nearly 36 years, we have drifted closer and closer to meeting in the middle. It makes for a great balance (and it's an achievable goal! 💕)
I am a planner. But, not too far ahead. A week, or a month or so. But beyond that, it gets rather murky. I really related to your first par when your heart sank when you were asked about thanksgiving!
I think it's because I know my own brain. With my stack for example, I have written detailed content plans. And then my mind has got distracted by the next sparkly food trend or a flavour idea I've had and it all goes out the window!
I am the living embodiment of “bright shiny object” syndrome! It’s quite comical actually, as my husband watches me walk from one end of our flat to another, and will finally say, “weren’t you going to…. (fill in the blank)?” Oh yes, but I got distracted several times getting there.
It’s really a minor miracle I get a newsletter published every week. A content calendar is the stuff of dreams (and this from someone who makes a living marketing and creating content! 😊)
What a lovely post Elizabeth, you’ve made me feel like packing my bags and heading off exploring somewhere.
One of the things I do when preparing for travel is to read novels by authors of the country I’m traveling to. It’s amazing how much it prepares me for finding my place in a new land.
I wish you a holiday of serendipitous delicious delights Elizabeth.
I so agree Lisa! I have a wonderful "reader" about Tuscany that is a collection of fiction written about the region. It's lovely to see geography through the eyes of another world.
I resonated with everything from start to finish, Elizabeth. I plan plan plan, because that’s how I also grew up. I chose an industry that even has a term ‘mise en place’. God save a cook without a prep list… Then the travel plans. I would also buy all of the travel books prior to travel, and relentlessly watch travel videos on every detail of the destination. My wife is opposite of me- who doesn’t like to ruin the surprise of a new destination. She doesn’t not like to micromanage her every move- and certainly doesn’t like to be told what to do/where to go. Her organic, relaxed approach has influenced me more, and I don’t get too worked up on a list of to-do’s at destinations; just an idea of which direction the sun rises and the sun sets. The rest? Make it an adventure. Love that trout salad too. Yum- thank you for sharing!
It's so great when we can take the best from our partners and adapt our ways of thinking. It doesn't make our innate nature change, but it does open our eyes to so much more than a myopic view 💕
As a high P on the Myers-Briggs, I love adventure and spontaneity. I have developed uber-planning coping skills that allow me to relax into every trip knowing the endpoints and a few anchor spots along the way are already set. Leaving for Budapest and Prague for my 65th in a few weeks if you have any recommendations from your prior trips. Doing a flow/mapping exercise this afternoon for the week in BUD and will move on to PRG later on…
You and I--ENTPs to the core! 💕Send me a photo of your mapping exercise--that sounds like it would be right up my alley.
I love both those cities, although it's been quite a while since I've been to either. Let me ask my friend Rene, who was the GM at the Four Seasons there for some time. Have the best time for this milestone celebration!
As always; it is such a pleasure to read your writing EP! Jordan will happen when the time is right; and I shall very much look forward to it ! ❤️
As are we! Although I can highly recommend Puglia to add to your list if you haven’t been 😊. Very happy to have you as a reader here, Huda 💕
I am very much a planner and find it hard to change at short notice. I think this is due to some autism spectrum tendencies and can be difficult for me in some situations. I always say I am very flexible but with a bit a notice ;)
Having said that my husband likes to be more spontaneous and so I am trying to embrace that, but it's a slow process and doesn't come naturally so I read your piece with great interest. Must try harder!
“Flexible with a bit of notice”—my husband will like that one! 😊
I have to say that this is truly the most unplanned I’ve been. The only things on the books a dinner for our first night in Rome.
What I will have to let go of is the fear of missing out, knowing that not everything will be perfect. But how lucky are we to have the opportunity in the first place?💕
I’m sure you’re going to have a wonderful time! I love Rome.
I devoured this post and want to read it again, Elizabeth, more slowly and with coffee. As I get older, I have become more of a planner when it comes to travel, but in my 20s I had a “let’s go and see what happens” approach. But it was also the 80s and only so much advance planning could be done, lol. So the serendipities that happen along the way were often the best part of the trip. Have you read Lisa Abend’s newsletter, Unplugged Traveler? She takes this approach when visiting a new town or city, doesn’t do any advance research, and doesn’t look things up on her phone (not even for lodging). I laugh because this is exactly how my best friend and I traveled when we were in college because there was no other way in our eyes, but it’s fun to see someone today choose to travel this way. Have a marvelous time in Italy, my friend! 💞I look forward to reading about it in a future post 🇮🇹
I’ve been aggressively planning a summer trip to Toronto (!) and along comes your reminder; perfect timing. Leaving some—a lot, actually—white space in last summer’s PEI haunt made that vacation extra special.
When???
Last week of August. Hope you have time to meet up?
YES!
You flanneur, you! :) I hope you have a fabulous trip to Puglia. I have a trip coming up planned by my son and family, who are way ahead of me in the planning dept. Thank goodness bc I am not that! But we always leave room for those serendipitous moments. I have so many wanderlust impulses and can hardly stay in my seat just thinking about the trips I want to take. Bon voyage and bon courage!
Merci mon amie! Me too--I am always planning the next trip even as I'm on the current one 😊
Love this - the WuWei of it all! And the smoked trout and pesto sound delicious together.
Thank you Janet! 💕
Liz, this post, surprisingly, made me rather emotional. My yearning to travel more and this invisible time clock ticking away that time is getting shorter…opportunity is dwindling. Your impromptu act of spontaneity that lead to meeting THE Fleming… (another assurance that we are soul sistas. )😂
Your messages shares so beautifully the struggle we have between “just celebrating life as it comes” and mitigating potential issues that may mar the treasured experience. I am a planner within a Bohemian brain… trying to eke out the best of both worlds.💗
When Colton was in his 20s his travel plan consisted of buying a flight (last minute) to a country he’d never been, having a few dollars and purposely NO PHONE. 😵💫. Those were sleepless nights for me😂. But God, I’m so glad he had that experience. I envy that freedom. 💗
My best travel energy headed to you, filled with love and magic. Cheers!🥂
I love love love that Colton did that--despite the premature aging of your heart it may have caused you!
You are young and full of energy my friend, with many miles to go before you sleep. Travel on and thank you for the well wishes 💕
I treasure you my friend.
I love this theme, Elizabeth. Cannot be stressed enough in today’s age of social media-induced travel. You went to Jain temple during Paryushan? Amazing. I grew up with Jain people & their lovely food
It WAS amazing.
The story was that I was in Bombay for 36 hours and the hotel arranged for a whirlwind city tour for me and a colleague. Our tour guide was lovely but definitely on a mission to keep to our prescribed schedule.
When we got to the temple, it was thronging with people and activity, and our guide either didn’t know or didn’t want to get into what was happening. After our tour of the temple and as we were putting on our shoes to leave, a woman came up to me and asked if I knew what was going on (I’m sure she could read the curiosity on my face!). When I told her I didn’t, she explained the meaning of the festivities and invited us back to have some food from the community feast.
It was wonderful! Of course I don't remember what we ate (this was nearly 20 years ago), but I felt so welcome and could feel the happiness of everyone there. The guide was a little disgruntled that we got off track, but I wasn't missing that for anything 😊
Beautiful post. I definitely lean more towards the planning side of the spectrum (def not too far in advance), but have also recently found myself embracing those moments of spontaneity more (many initiated by Gary, but it’s a start!). 😉 And I will be trying those pesto beans and greens this week with a nice can of tuna! Have an amazing time in Puglia!!
Ha! When we got married we were at opposite ends of the spectrum. Now, after nearly 36 years, we have drifted closer and closer to meeting in the middle. It makes for a great balance (and it's an achievable goal! 💕)
Love that! A happy middle is definitely the ideal! 💕
Oh a lovely read as always Elizabeth.
I am a planner. But, not too far ahead. A week, or a month or so. But beyond that, it gets rather murky. I really related to your first par when your heart sank when you were asked about thanksgiving!
I think it's because I know my own brain. With my stack for example, I have written detailed content plans. And then my mind has got distracted by the next sparkly food trend or a flavour idea I've had and it all goes out the window!
I am the living embodiment of “bright shiny object” syndrome! It’s quite comical actually, as my husband watches me walk from one end of our flat to another, and will finally say, “weren’t you going to…. (fill in the blank)?” Oh yes, but I got distracted several times getting there.
It’s really a minor miracle I get a newsletter published every week. A content calendar is the stuff of dreams (and this from someone who makes a living marketing and creating content! 😊)
Me too, Elizabeth! what is a content calendar???? 🤣
Elizabeth you have such a talent - you really do write beautifully and thoughtfully. That oyster knife looks gorgeous- what a memento from Cork.
Thanks so much Caroline—a really lovely comment to start my day 😊
'It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan' and many other excellent lines. Happy travels Elizabeth and thank you
Thank you dear Mark! I’m happy to have you as a reader here 😊
What a lovely post Elizabeth, you’ve made me feel like packing my bags and heading off exploring somewhere.
One of the things I do when preparing for travel is to read novels by authors of the country I’m traveling to. It’s amazing how much it prepares me for finding my place in a new land.
I wish you a holiday of serendipitous delicious delights Elizabeth.
I so agree Lisa! I have a wonderful "reader" about Tuscany that is a collection of fiction written about the region. It's lovely to see geography through the eyes of another world.
I agree. The best moments (in life) aren’t planned.
Such is also with food. Some of the most memorable dishes aren’t designed - they’re assembled from what’s there, in response to time, place, and mood.
That kind of spontaneity isn’t the absence of structure - it’s another kind of structure.
So well said Elli--I love that. Structure is a word that we can define in so many ways, isn't it?
I resonated with everything from start to finish, Elizabeth. I plan plan plan, because that’s how I also grew up. I chose an industry that even has a term ‘mise en place’. God save a cook without a prep list… Then the travel plans. I would also buy all of the travel books prior to travel, and relentlessly watch travel videos on every detail of the destination. My wife is opposite of me- who doesn’t like to ruin the surprise of a new destination. She doesn’t not like to micromanage her every move- and certainly doesn’t like to be told what to do/where to go. Her organic, relaxed approach has influenced me more, and I don’t get too worked up on a list of to-do’s at destinations; just an idea of which direction the sun rises and the sun sets. The rest? Make it an adventure. Love that trout salad too. Yum- thank you for sharing!
It's so great when we can take the best from our partners and adapt our ways of thinking. It doesn't make our innate nature change, but it does open our eyes to so much more than a myopic view 💕
Well said, Elizabeth.
As a high P on the Myers-Briggs, I love adventure and spontaneity. I have developed uber-planning coping skills that allow me to relax into every trip knowing the endpoints and a few anchor spots along the way are already set. Leaving for Budapest and Prague for my 65th in a few weeks if you have any recommendations from your prior trips. Doing a flow/mapping exercise this afternoon for the week in BUD and will move on to PRG later on…
You and I--ENTPs to the core! 💕Send me a photo of your mapping exercise--that sounds like it would be right up my alley.
I love both those cities, although it's been quite a while since I've been to either. Let me ask my friend Rene, who was the GM at the Four Seasons there for some time. Have the best time for this milestone celebration!