In my new jobs, instead of having a grand time taking the bullet train around China with Thom by my side, I’m flying to exciting places like Durham, NC.  Not to malign Durham, I just am having a difficult time embracing new places and finding joy in travelling.  Just coming off a week in San Antonio and leaving on Monday for a trip to Vancouver, BC, I’m reevaluating whether I enjoy this life of business travel on the road.  My peer who doesn’t get to travel said he envied me–seeing new places, racking up frequent flier points, enjoying an expense account eating out, etc.  Except that I don’t.  Well, eat out at least and most often I don’t see anything other than the office instead of sightseeing in the hour a day I’m not working hard.

My typical food budget is maybe grabbing a free bite at the breakfast buffet at the hotel, a Cliff bar/apple that I pick up at a grocery store when I first arrive and work while I send out my trainees to enjoy lunch and I catch up on my work.  Dinner is usually some awful crap from the hotel snack bar because I really don’t enjoy going out to eat by myself.  I know I SHOULD research where I’m working and go out every night to a wonderful new “foodie” experience.  Damn.  I SHOULD seek out the local landmarks and spend at least one hour a day exploring new places.  If Thom was with me, no problem.  Alone, BIG problem-it’s just not fun by myself.

I tried this week when I was in San Antonio and, after a really bad day, forced myself to check out the Alamo and River Walk downtown experience.  It was cool and I was glad I forced myself out of the hotel on the one night it didn’t rain.  People were in boats drinking and having a good old time on the canal.

Me not so much but I sat by the water and ate hot food prepared that day which was a nice change from the cold pizza leftover from lunch that was my dinner the previous night.  I got some exercise walking vs. sitting in bed watching reality shows so felt much healthier, though I didn’t achieve my 10,000 steps that my new Fitbit wants me to achieve daily.

So, new challenges for me on my work trip to Vancouver–eat hot and healthy food daily, get out and walk my 10,000 steps for my Fitbit to be happy, and find at least one landmark or “hot” restaurant and go at least for one hour.  The day will come soon when I stop travelling for work and I’ll probably miss it.  So, for now, it’s time to get off my workaholic butt and grab a few moments of personal time during my work travels.  Oh, and look forward to those times (mainly Manhattan) when Thom can join me and together we’ll take our usual walkabout adventures.  Now, that’s the life!