From the most locked down city in the world to Europe for 13 days – why did I need an excuse?
My time had finally come. I had scrounged up some leave, managed to save up enough cash and all Covid-19 entry restrictions into Italy and Switzerland had been dropped. After almost three years stuck at home, I was going to TRAVEL again. Who cared if it was only 13 days in Europe?
It turns out, a lot of people cared. There were those who were absolutely all for it – mostly close friends and co-workers (especially women with children, no surprises there) who expressed their envy, their certainty it would be an amazing experience, and their admiration that I was travelling solo.
They understood my need for a change after the tedium of the previous two years, and, at three-quarters of the way through the working year, we all felt like we needed a break.
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One co-worker, who had just returned from maternity leave, told me, “you’re living the life I want to – you have to go!”
But more surprising were the lacklustre responses, and even some outright objections.
“You can’t go to Europe for just two weeks!”
“But it’s so expensive right now.” “Why not go next year?”
“Wait for things to settle.”
Some, though clearly doubtful, were more tactful about it. Relatives and in-laws, for instance, may have looked at me quizzically at first, but accepted it.
After several of these reactions, I found myself justifying my trip, even though I knew I didn’t need to.
Of course, I was lucky to be able to travel. With the cost of living surging, many were not in the same position. But it wasn’t just a holiday; my main purpose was to join a creative writing retreat for a week, something I had always wanted to do, and it suddenly felt important for people to understand this.
“Yes, to Italy for a writing retreat. It’s an amazing opportunity,” I began saying.
“I finally have enough leave.”
“I’ll travel with my partner next year, so it’s a good time to do this for me.”
“I need a break from work, so why not go now?”
Feeling the need to suddenly justify my travel was frustrating, and I was a little surprised to hear negative responses coming from fellow Melburnians – residents of the most locked down city in the world. Had they forgotten the previous two years? The mind-numbing days at home that bled into one another? The yearning to travel more than five measly kilometres?
It became apparent to me that two very different attitudes to travel were
emerging post-pandemic. Firstly, there were those who were “happy to wait”: people who, either out of necessity or choice, were more tethered to home, or cautious about the risks of overseas travel.
Then there were those like me who, because of good fortune and a sunnier outlook, thought: “I can, therefore I will”. There were people like me who realised just how much we had taken travel for granted; who as soon as we
could go, couldn’t wait any longer.
The stats so far seem to support this theory; in August, short-term departures by Australian residents were at about two-thirds of what they were in August 2019 (608,190 v 958,520 respectively) – so a solid third who seem happy to wait.
I was curious to see if overseas attitudes would be any different, but speaking mostly to other travellers set a definite bias. Except, of course, for the middle-aged American couple I got talking to on the train on the way to the retreat. “Oh you can’t do that” was their response when they found out I was travelling for just two weeks. Even as I was doing that very thing. Needless to say, the conversation didn’t go much further.
At this point, you might be wondering – was the trip worth it? And the answer is: Hell yes! My reasons for going were so much more compelling than any reason to wait, and the experience and memories were worth every cent. So, if you haven’t travelled since the pandemic, have somehow managed to put aside some money, and are looking for an excuse to hop on that plane, my advice is this: You don’t need one.