Often when we leave the house for a while, Steve will turn on a YouTube channel for the dogs to keep them company. The channel he usually chooses shows scenery from all over the world with peaceful music in the background. Tinker and Belle probably ignore it altogether, but at least it makes us feel less guilty about leaving them alone.
When I get home, I’ll sometimes sit and watch for a little while, and although I enjoy seeing the magnificent world God has made for us, it makes me a little sad because I think all the places on this earth I will never get to see in person.
And then I think that if a few million dollars just landed in my lap tomorrow morning, here’s what I’d do with it. (After, of course, giving some of it away to worthy causes.)
First, I would quit my job. And then I set up a travel schedule.
I would take a month and travel in the U.S., and then, three months after that, I would take a month and travel overseas. Three months later would be U.S. travel again. The two months in between each jaunt would be used to rest and plan the next adventure. I would repeat that pattern until the day when I could no longer climb aboard an airplane.
I haven’t shared this plan with Steve yet, but I know he would be happy to join me on my see-the-world-adventures.
Let me just add that I know I am very blessed that I have already gotten to do some travel in my life. Here are a few photos from my travelin’ days.
If you had all the money you needed to do whatever it is you wanted to do–and after you had given away whatever portion you wanted to give–what would you do with the rest of it?
What would your life/dreams/goals look like if you had enough money to make them happen?
Share in the comments and then take a moment to comment on someone else’s comment. It will be a fun way to get to know each other better.
This is a great question! One that I have dreamed of. ☺️ So after paying off all of our family and extended family bills, we would buy a ranch out west with a lake. And with mountains in view. Maybe even buy a mountain range! Ha!! We would have 4 wheelers and motorcycles and every toy we wanted. A nice, beautiful place to take walks, then sit and relax in a perfect temperature year round. We may need a huge globe over us in the winter. We would have the best motor home a person can buy and putts around the whole USA. Maybe have a full time driver and cook. If traveling overseas was in the picture, which it’s not, I would go to Norway/Sweden, my Mom’s heritage.
So fun to think about. Thanks for this!
I would definitely travel the world. But first I would buy a huge piece of land and build enough houses for all our family to live on the land together!
Lizz,
That sounds like a great plan. A piece of land big enough where everyone has their own space but small enough that you could all hang out whenever you wanted.
And then take off and travel whenever you’re in the mood. 🙂
I too would travel! I would love to see Iceland and Australia. I’ve been to many other countries as a daughter of a former airline employee, I was blessed to see much of the world as a child and teenager. But as an adult, I would like to do it all again from a different perspective. My husband and I are doing a bucket list trip this summer and going down the Rhine River on a Viking cruise. I did this with my stepmother in 2019, but I’m now doing it again with him. I’m so excited.
Lisa,
Hooray for traveling! I agree that traveling as an adult is so much different from when you are a child or teen. Even going to the same places, it all looks different.
I would love to go on a Viking Cruise. I know you’ll have a fabulous time!
Lovely pictures! What a great idea for the pups, I am sure they like it. The travel/rest pattern sounds very organized and doable.
For me, I would build a large accessible house on Cape Cod to accommodate my daughter and the nurses I would hire to be there rotating 24/7. It would have wings-one for the care givers, one for my girl, another for me, another for visiting family. Lots of rooms, windows and cameras to keep her safe. It would have a large wrap around porch for her to feel the sea air.
Then traveling stints would happen. I would fly by private jet for minimal travel time and to get back home quickly when necessary. I’d definitely go to a Cold Play concert. Destinations would be Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland and Austria (Sound of Music Tour). None of these would be city visits-I much prefer the rural greenery and also the Alps. I would take photographs to my heart’s content.
When home I would drive a black Lincoln Town Car with tinted windows, 2000 edition. In the evenings I’d sit with a cat in the silence of the foghorn. Probably paint, draw or write. Oh..one more thing, I would find a way to be around horses.
Well, that was fun! Love reading everyone’s dreams.
Lesley,
I love how specific you are in your dream, right down to the black Lincoln Town Car with tinted windows, 2000 edition.
Your house on Cape Cod sounds fabulous and very well thought out. I love the idea of “sitting with a cat in the silence of the foghorn.”
Traveling by private jet would definitely be the way to go and I really like your list of destinations. If you only see the rural greenery and the Alps, you’d have plenty of photographic opportunities.
Every part of your dream is wonderful; thanks for sharing it with us!
I too would do a lot of travel – there are so many places in America I want to see. And also my husband and I would like to attend LOTS of college sporting events – especially the Arkansas Razorbacks including going to ALL of their football games so we could watch them in all the stadiums. We’d also buy property to build on with lots of room for our middle daughter to open her dream of a dog rescue.
Sue Ellen,
Okay, you’ve lost me on college sporting events but have gotten me back on lots of travel in America. 🙂
Going overseas is great but there is so much to see here.
I love the idea of a dog rescue. What a joyful, rewarding thing to want to rescue our canine friends and find them happy homes.
Am very thankful we can still travel. Hubby will be 82 in a week and in 3 months – 82 for me too. We will be going to about 3 different places this year and next year in January – riding the train to Florida. The money – wellll, probably would go first class on the plane to Ireland and maybe Scotland – where I have wanted to go for years. My husband is of the thought that there are so many places to visit in the US, that we should continue to visit places here. But if we had that extra money that’s where I would go.
To Melissa, I would suggest, if financially able to find a memory care place for your mother-in-law. or find a friend or relative to take care of her for a short while so that both you and your husband can go on a trip. Both my mother and older sister had dementia and eventually Alzheimer’s. It is noble what your husband is doing, but don’t want there to be hard feelings, eventually, against your MIL for taking your husband’s time. I know, “it’s family” but traveling alone is not fun for you. Have a friend whose husband does not like to travel so she goes by herself, but there are some hard feelings there because he will not make the effort to even go short distances with her.
Sharyn,
You guys are an inspiration to me still traveling and being so active into your 80’s.
Ireland and Scotland are definitely on my Bucket List and to fly first class? That would be so fun. I’d love to fly in those planes where you have a space to lie down; how luxurious to sleep through the night miles above the earth.
Thank you for your compassionate words to Melissa; that is a tough place to be in.
I would like to travel and see historical places like Civil War battlefields. I want to tour Ellis Island and find my great-grandpa’s information. He immigrated over 100 years ago. I would also like to visit Seattle, Washington and see the historical stuff.
Rachel,
It would be so meaningful to find your great-grandpa’s information and visit the actual spot where he came to America. (And where your life in America got its start.)
I don’t know if you’ve looked through anything like the site I included: might have some interesting info.
The northwest is so beautiful; would love to visit there, too.
I love to travel. It’s my favorite thing to do. Unfortunately I’ve had to learn to travel alone or with a friend, for years my husband had a fear of flying and wouldn’t get on a plane. Just when he was ready to try and conquer that fear, his mother got dementia, and now he’s her sole caregiver and won’t be able to travel for the foreseeable future. So off I go on my own or with my traveling friend and coworker. We’ve gone all over the world, usually hitting offbeat and unusual places like Chernobyl and Easter Island. We’re headed to Australia in September. I can now say that I’ve seen both the northern lights and the southern cross, but there are so many places I know I’ll never get to. If I had unlimited funds, I’d travel first class to all the places I want to see, would probably be gone for the better part of a year!
Melissa,
I had to look up the Southern Cross to see what it was. Somehow I have never heard of it. I love your plan of traveling to offbeat and unusual places. I have to say I’ve never met (online or in person) anyone who’s been to Chernobyl!
I admire you for continuing to travel even when your husband is not able to go. Hopefully, the time will come when the two of you can go together but in the meantime, you are not putting your life on hold. I do hope he can find some outside help to assist him in getting some breaks, as well. I know his mom feels blessed to have him near.
I
I can only agree on the travel plans. I would plan some trips, but I have always want to pack a bag and go to the airport and get a ticket on the next plane out and just see where it takes me.
Patti,
I love that idea of getting a ticket on the next plane out. You’d be going on all sorts of surprise adventures!
I use YouTube videos as company for my cat all the time! She doesn’t watch them much but I’ve heard the soft background noise is comforting to your pet when you’re gone for several hours. So I bet your two doggies appreciate it!
I’m so amazed by your love for travel and adventures. I know you love to be home too so it’s interesting to me that you seem to equally love to do both! I’m a true fuddy duddy and would prefer to stay home with perhaps a few shorter trips here and there or day trips. No world travel here but you go, girl! 🥰
I’ve often told God that I’d make a great rich person, although He has yet to take me up on it! 😁 I’d have a blast secretly paying off mortgages or hearing of someone in great need and quietly swooping and paying the bills. But I’d first probably pay off our house and the houses of all our family members who had a mortgage and help take care of any needs our family may have.
I’d buy a big beautiful lodge by a lake and have family and friends come and enjoy it all and have great family gatherings! And I’d open an animal sanctuary. And you bet I’d hire a personal stylist and figure out what clothes and hair and make up are right for me. All my life I’ve never figured that out. And the list goes on! There’s too many people to help and so many good things that could be done. It’s so much fun to dream about it though!
Love, Deb
Deb,
Yes, dreaming is so much fun!
I love that you told God you’d “make a great rich person.” And it sounds like you really would, with all of your wonderful plans to help other people. I’d be the first one there at your lodge on the lake!
You’d have plenty of room there for an animal sanctuary, too.
And yes, a personal stylist would be fab. She could style us both at the same time!
Nothing wrong with not loving to travel; as long as you get out there and see a few things here and there–like coming to our house!-that’s what counts.
I have a now adult son with special needs. His whole life has been one challenge after another and very few opportunities. So, I would start some kind of camp or rec centers all over where kiddos with special abilities could come be themselves. After that is up and running, also near and dear to my heart are animals. I see so many senior animals dropped at shelters or being sold at sales. I would start a huge retirement ranch for them so they can enjoy their senior years.
Shannon,
That’s interesting that there are several commenters who would like to start an animal shelter. We have a lot of tender-hearted animal lovers around here!
It’s cool that you are even more specific in your dream in that you want to provide a place for senior dogs to enjoy their retirement. Tinker and Belle are senior doggies and I love that we are giving them happy years.
I also really appreciate your idea of camps and rec centers for children/adults with special needs. They would appreciate those experiences more than most people because they are so few and far between. Think of the joy on so many faces!
Those are some pretty pics!
I am pretty satisfied to be an arm-chair traveler- so easy to see the world now thru internet. I think often , that we have all we need and more, so to give to others in need-
Is an exciting thing!
I plan on having a grand world tour from heaven’s view when I get there!
Ruth
Ruth,
I know what you’re saying about being armchair travelers. Such a privilege to get to see sights from all over the world at the touch of a button. Our great-grandparents would have been amazed!
A heaven’s view tour is a grand thing to anticipate, for sure.
I would start a farm and retire.
We have a St. Bernard and 3 days a week he goes to daycare and 2 days a week he hangs at home and I turn on the YouTube “DogTV” for him. Not sure if he pays attention but at least there is something in the background for him 🙂
Lynne,
Start a farm? Wow! That is an ambitious plan and one that I would have no clue how to do. I love it that you want to do that!
I’ll have to check out DogTV. Never heard of it! We sure do love our dogs, don’t we? 🙂
Oh Becky, I’d be setting up travel plans too! Alaskan cruise first. Then a trip to Iceland to see the Northern lights. Staying in one of those dome type things would be awesome! Then off to U.S. destinations. We’d like to visit every state. Next up, international travel. As many countries as possible. Germany, New Zealand and Australia are especially at the top of the list. And any time we could steal the family and include them, would be the icing on the cake! It’s so fun to dream!!
LeeAnne,
Well, it sounds like you and I are cut from the same cloth–we are Travel Lovers!
I agree that seeing every state would be fabulous and going to Alaska and Iceland would be amazing. (Especially staying in a dome.)
There is so much beauty out there to be appreciated.
I think it would be so neat to see the Northern Lights…they look so amazing in pictures, I can’t imagine how spectacular they must be in person.