Having recently returned from my second trip to Mexico, I thought I would try to pull together some random thoughts that kept coming up.

For me (and my partner Jen) travel is not about comfort or relaxation, but experience. Frankly, I get enough (if not too much) relaxation and comfort at home. For all that we bitch and moan, I think most westerners are pretty coddled. I tend to work and stress too much in terms of actual hours in the day, but I have no shortage of leisure time and no real serious wants that I couldn’t find a way to accomodate.

Travel is a fantastic way to learn about yourself. Every time we go away, I learn what I take for granted. I learn empathy. I tend to have more real human interactions with strangers in a week of travel than in three months at home. Not sharing a language (because until we hit Puerto Vallarta we encountered virtually noone who had any english) really pulls you out of your “social script.” It’s humbling. you get used to being looked at as a gringo at best or a moron at worst.

I also loved this trip because we were constantly reminded of how much different things are when they are driven by common sense and practicality rather than rules and expecations of propriety. I’m sure it has its down sides, but all I noticed was how much smoother and more sensibly things worked. Want to hold a parking space? Put a big rock in it. Have a customer who wants something you don’t sell? Buy it from your neighbour and keep them in your place. No big.

Finally, travel time is always a great reminder for me that I am lucky to be sharing my life with a wonderful woman who shares my humour and my values. The world’s a big place, and full of great people, but not many that I would want to spend ten days with.