The holidays can be a tough time to be a round-the-world traveler. If you’re already on a long-term trip and you aren’t planning to be home, it might be more challenging than expected to be far away from family and friends during what is traditionally such a family-oriented time of year. If you’re in the planning stages, it can be a bit annoying to be gifted more “stuff” when you’re trying to get rid of what you already have.
Now that another year is behind us and we have almost another 12 months before the holidays hit us again, we thought it was a good time to give you some ways to prepare for the holiday season as a traveler.
If you will still be in the planning/saving/downsizing stage when the holidays roll around, it’s a good idea to plant the “I really don’t want any more sweaters” seed early and often. You might be fortunate enough to have a family that understands your need to purge, but for those of us whose families need a little more coaching there are plenty of unique travel gifts you can drop big hints about.
Among those gifts that can be ideal for travelers are moleskin notebooks – even though they don’t last forever, they come in so many sizes that you’ll likely find one that suits your needs. Personally, I love the little pocket/purse-size ones for jotting down quick notes when I’m out and about and away from my laptop.
If you will be away from family at the holidays, it’s important to pay attention to any of the “aww, shucks, I wish I was home” feelings you might encounter. It doesn’t mean you should quit your trip partway through and hightail it home for Mom’s cooking – it just means you’re experiencing a little homesickness at an expected time. Try making a special effort to connect with family during the holidays – have them all get around the webcam at home for a big family chat, or (if your connection is good enough) prop the computer at the holiday table so you can share the whole experience! And whether you consider yourself a “journaling” person or not, this – processing feelings of homesickness – is one of many great reasons to keep a travel journal whether you’re gone for a week or a year.
photo by pittaya