Living life to the fullest
Two local baby boomers embrace travel and adventure as a way to experience life and satisfy their curiosity
For some baby boomers who have a penchant for travel, a sunny beach and a pool will suffice; others, like Montrealers Gary and Greta Ephraim, are seeking something a little more adventurous. Or a lot more adventurous.
The Ephraims’ passports are a colourful testament to the lengths they’ve gone to explore the world.
“We’ve been trekking in the Himalayas in Bhutan; to the Galapagos to photograph animals in their habitat and understand Darwin; to the Canadian Arctic following the trail of the early explorers looking for the Northwest Passage; on a small ship cruise across the North Atlantic from England to Newfoundland via Iceland and Greenland, following the path of Leif Ericsson; on African safaris; and to a photography workshop in Venice,” 70-year-old Gary said, when asked about their most daring vacations.
“We have both always enjoyed travel. We enjoy meeting people, and exploring new places and cultures.”
These baby boomers find time for travel throughout the year, but prefer to plan certain trips around the winter months (for obvious reasons).
And despite their extensive travels so far, these explorers still yearn to check out a number of hot spots. South America is on their travel bucket list, as are India, Antarctica, Seychelles, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Mauritius.
In a Forbes article last year titled The Hottest Trends in Boomer Travel, Adventure and Bucket List were among the trends listed. The article noted that baby boomers are not only healthier than in generations past, they seek to achieve various wish-list items — many of which revolve around adventurous activities (kayaking, hiking, mountain climbing, etc.) and visiting exotic destinations.
For these globetrotters, travelling has had the added benefit of delivering a number of valuable life lessons.
“Travel has satisfied my own needs to explore and experience the world,” Gary said, adding: “I do not rely on mass media to satisfy my curiosity.”
Fifty-five-year-old Greta’s assess- ment: “If anything, travel and adventure-seeking has confirmed my attitudes towards life — live each day and do not be afraid to experience new things.”