I awoke yesterday morning, just like every other. I headed down to start the coffee. I took a sip and began writing away the morning. By noon, I figure I should join the human race and shower. I had bought a shampoo I also brought to Italy last summer. Lathering up, I was suddenly transported to that turquoise and yellow bathroom in Florence. It is amazing how a simple smell of recognition can bring you back to a time, to a place and most importantly to a state of mind.
The smells of travel are what remind me to get out of my routine. I might put on a certain perfume or lotion I brought to some country. Instantly, I am there. That morning however, I needed this reminder of travel more than ever.
Last summer, I was a traveling machine. It seemed like every weekend and week, I was heading to a new place. Switzerland. Southern Italy. Denmark. Portugal. Spain. I saw so much in just three months of summer. This summer has been a little different. Instead of non-stop traveling I have been somewhat stationary. And I do have my reasons.
Those unexpected yet necessary purchases in life decided to plague me a few weeks ago. My computer crossed over to the dark side. Without a computer, I am essentially jobless. A few thousand dollars spent on a shiny new computer is worth it for my career, but it takes away money I could be spending on travel. These unexpected yet necessary purchases are ones you can’t live without, but sadly, they delay travel when hopes are high you can make it possible. Then, the bill arrives.
I also constantly wander back to Italy. I know I should go somewhere new, but I look around my apartment and all I see is Italy. Posters. Coffee-table books. My Italian is so rusty. I am contemplating checking myself into a language school where I can live, write and improve on a language I spent years learning and perfecting.
A travel writer should be traveling and writing. Articles past due, a website in dire need of some updating, I know travel will just detain my procrastination even more. Then again, I’m not living up to my job if I am stationary.
I recognize these aspects might appear to be excuses. Big purchases, too much work and confusion on where to go shouldn’t detain my travels but they do. I guess what I am suggesting is that it is normal to not always be entrenched in an exciting day-to-day routine of travel, but not for long. Some smell must come along to give you a whiff of what you had and what you were doing not too long ago.
And with today’s shower, I know I will be reminded of that summer of travel, the antithesis of this summer. There are life events and moments that get in the way, confusions and ideas you can’t shake. A simple smell however can change that routine around in an instant. In the meantime, I’m off to shower in Florence.
Do you ever feel like your travels are delayed?
That is funny, just the other day I smelled some flowers/plants walking by a building and the smell brought me back to Spring in Italy. The link between smell and memory is amazing. And yes, it is easy to feel like you have not traveled for a long time, always with something coming up to block your way. Sometimes though these olfactory reminders can be the motivator to push past it all and jump on that plane.
I feel just like you. I feel like I’ve done so much traveling in the past year…is it possible that I’m so burned, but I still haven’t been able to write anything. I keep building up stories, pictures, travel experiences, but I can’t compel myself to write…..and I’m pretty much stationary now. Is this a travel writer sickness?
Ugh, this year especially! May is our normal vacation month, but this year May passed with no hint of any travel. I have plenty of reasons – going back to school, working only part-time, wedding planning, ect…but I still wish I was traveling. We’re going to Japan in January for our honeymoon and I am literally counting the days until we leave.
I feel like my travels are always delayed. Either get caught up in the daily grind (between work and school) or I’m depending on someone. I really should try traveling alone, but I keep making excuses.
A nice contemplative post. I’ve often felt my travel plans have been delayed for a variety of reasons; however, sometimes just the anticipation and planning of travel is enough to thrust me into travel mode.
My travels were delayed for the first half of this year as I hunkered down to save money since I spent so much traveling much of last year. Now that I’ve met my financial goals, I have several trips planned and it feels like I’m “back.” I think we all go through those ups and downs, and sometimes you do have to lie low for money, work or personal reasons.
You did travel a lot last summer that’s for sure!
I am a bit stationary right now too, although it’s a weird feeling because I am at the same time homeless. Being home for me now doesn’t mean that I have a bedroom and a car but it does, thankfully for my website’s sake, mean that I have free time.
I definitely think there are so many little things that remind you of places you’ve been. Just being back in the States I see so many Italian words and it makes me reflect on my year in Italy in a positive light because I know the significance of what is just another word to someone else.
Great post Suzy, I think every traveler needs a little break. Even if it may be against what you really want at that moment. For now you have the shampoo. 🙂
Suzy, completely agree how the senses evoke powerful experiences of memories past. I also understand the desire to travel, the limits on doing so, and the yearnings to get out there. However, I think most people with 9 to 5 jobs feel this way. And let’s face it – that’s the majority of the people out there. So going through these struggles is a way to relate to others who feel the same way. However, exploring areas close to home is a great way to fuel that travel passion while soothing some of those travel yearnings. And even memories of these new adventures will enhance the power of those senses even more.
It can be so hard to know when to sacrifice travel or anything you love for the necessities of life. I always like to try to squeeze everything in financially. Saving money is one of the biggest benefits of settling in somewhere long term rather than just traveling and traveling.