Perhaps one of the surest signs of getting older is when you realise you would prefer a rural retreat over a city scene. Whilst I’ve always felt both those scenarios as magnetic pulls, the idea of leaving behind noise, traffic, buildings, the internet and people, is something that appeals to me more and more.
In my mind’s eye, I can picture my idea of Utopia: sitting at a small table on a balcony on a mountainside and overlooking a pristine valley below with trees and grass and a lazy river running through. Not a car or person in sight and all that wonderful country air to inhale. Nature is king here. For those people who already have the privilege of waking up to such a scene every day, I envy them. But I also know the grass is greener on the other side. (Excuse the pun). There are surely challenges of living in such places and for those people, ‘Utopia’ may not be the word that comes to mind when describing it.
However, I yearn for a few days every so often to be disconnected from my reality. It’s not that anything negative is going on but the need for some respite is beoming greater with age. Whilst I relish the chance to travel to any new place, my ideal getaway destination these days would be as described above. InshaAllah, I hope to transform this dream into a reality soon.
Meanwhile, I strive not to be distracted by my phone but I succumb to that vice more often than I’d care to admit. I have to confess that it’s been ages since I read a book from cover to cover and I miss that. I was the proverbial bookworm many years ago. I can understand why people take a good book to read on holiday although I still would feel that my time away from home should be spent exploring a new place. Reading would be reserved for the evenings when relaxing. Daytime is for being out and about and discovering new things.
With that in mind, I am toying with the idea of solo travel abroad. Even just once. It has been many years since I did that and I’m not sure I have the confidence any more. Also, it’s always nice to share encounters and experiences with a fellow companion. And yet there’s a part of me that wants to travel alone simply to prove to myself that I can. I have nobody holding me back. I know that I will work towards overcoming my fears and moving outside of my comfort zone. So I hope to report back here in time to come, inshaAllah. Though I have made no plans whatsoever, I feel it is something I need to do.
In fact, the last few years have all been about solo ventures of sorts and being independent. I have a zest for new experiences which I hope will continue till it’s time for me to leave here for good. Maybe I’m making up for lost time. But with my sons now all grown up, what better time to explore new opportunities than now?
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