Thoughts on travel

Today I've been pondering the million dollar question... why do I love travel?

The thing is, whenever I live overseas I miss NZ.  I miss it so badly and have such fond, rose-tinted memories of home that it's a wonder I ever leave again.  But, when I get back and settle in, it just seems boring and I want to leave again.  It's like... NZ is utopia (for me, anyway.  I know not everyone is in my educated, financially secure position.  I'm not forgetting how hard life is for many NZ families).  But perfect and easy get boring. 

So I come overseas.  I put myself in these mentally and emotionally challenging circumstances... and then feel sorry for myself when I get homesick.  I guess it's a little like post-workout sore muscles.  They are painful, but they remind you of what you've achieved and you wouldn't actually wish yourself back to how you were yesterday. 

Because Jeff is doing his second year in his (fairly undemanding) job, he is feeling rather like moving on.  But I am only just starting my (much more busy) job, so had been talking about how much easier it would be doing this for a second year (lesson plans already done etc!).  These discussions got me homesick and got me to thinking about all that we were missing in NZ.  However, I just realised something... all the things that make me homesick when I think about them are (with the exception of Trudi's photos of Mission Bay on a lovely sunny day) to do with convenience.  It's the ease of replacing clothes, asking for directions and reading the fine print at the bank that I miss. 

And then... when I look on facebook and experience photo-envy, it's always from travel pictures.  Again, with the exception of Trudi's pics, it's everyone's travel photos that get me really jealous and wanting to plan to get there asap.  So... why am I even bothering to indulge in missing NZ when all I REALLY want is to see the other 179 countries in the world?  (Man... that's a lot.  It's going to keep me busy!)

Hope things are going well for you all - wherever in the world you call home!