How I Decided to Repurpose My Travel Money
I love traveling, especially to major cities. When contemplating a trip to an urban area with its requisite museums, sculpture parks, cafes, and rococo/classical/art deco architecture styles, I’m as excited as a dog gets when its owner jingles the car keys.
And Speaking of Dogs…
I recently bought one. A bougee dog that cost in the four digits (and the first number isn’t 1). We had a hole in our hearts from the departure of our beloved Jozy (hard to use the word death in conjunction with our Jozy). So, we did the only rational thing possible. We bought another labradoodle.
While Jozy was considered large, Rosie is considered mini, meaning her max weight is 35 lb. While Jozy was black, Rosie is apricot. Both females, and yes, I know their names sound like they rhyme but the spellings, as you can see, are different. So, see, very few similarities.
Owning a Pet Is a Lot Like Owning Children, Full of Paradoxes
And yet… I’m in love again, though different than my love for Jozy which filled my heart for 13 years. This love is five months old and very fulfilling. Owning a pet is a lot like raising children, full of paradoxes. As author/journalist Jennifer Senior wrote in her book, All Joy, and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood, “children are economically worthless and emotionally priceless.”
The same can be said for pets. Friends who have had pet losses hesitate to repopulate their empty nests with new furry friends. “You won’t be able to travel without the hassle of finding a pet sitter and pet sitters are pricey!” They will tear up your furniture and make your 70-plus-year-old skin bleed from their needle-sharp teeth; they will keep you up all night; they’re expensive! The vet bill and bougee dog food alone will cut into your retirement budget.
Yes, yes, and yes. All true.
But, I would argue – worth it.
Values, Priorities, and Goals Shift as You Age into Your 70s
I don’t think I realized how much one’s values, priorities, and goals shift as you age into your 70s. Although I still value travel and varied experiences, I’m realizing I want to stay in a destination longer and delve deeper into the fresh environs.
I want to explore and form deeper relationships within a new neighborhood. I want to use my temporary home base as a launching point for travel to adjacent destinations. Both of my adult children and their families live in Illinois, so it is highly likely our temporary digs will be in either the northern or southern part of the state.
My Travel Dollars Are Limited
I’ve had a craving to visit Arches, Redwood, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Yellowstone national parks. It is easier to explore the west and its requisite national parks from Illinois than Orlando. Plus, I’ll have free dog sitters in the form of kids and grandkids.
Speaking of family, I want to spend more time with people I love instead of those I would only superficially get to know on a 10-day cruise. Now, don’t get me wrong. The thought of a 10-day cruise is intoxicating, and I can feel my blood pressure start to drop just thinking of such a relaxing venture.
Realistically, however, my travel dollars are limited. And my husband’s recent scary cancer diagnosis has made us re-think international travel. We need to stay closer to a home base and consistent medical care.
But Back to the Dog…
The other cool thing about getting a longer-term rental in the Chicago/Southern Illinois areas (with access to children and grandchildren) is that I can bring my dog! I can have the fun, comfort (and responsibility) of being with our furry family member in a new locale.
I look forward to exploring more of the Midwest about which I know little and spending extended periods cultivating relationships I really care about. Novel experiences are invaluable for brain health and a good quality of life, and travel fits that bill perfectly. Travel, however, comes in all sizes, shapes, and locations.
Here are photos of people I really want to spend my travel dollars on.
So, I guess I’m saying, at this point in my life, I want to use my hard-earned travel dollars differently than I used to.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What are your priorities in your 70s? Are they different from those you had set in your 60s? What is your take on the issue of using travel $$ differently? How have you adjusted your travel based on your priorities, values and goals?
Shame on all of you for never giving a thought about women who are childless-not-by-choice. It’s all about you in your privileged worlds.
Fabulous article with lots of food for thought. We wrestle now with what to do with our cats when we travel. Before a neighbor could come in and feed them. Now one is older and needs injections so it’s not so simple. We took him on a road trip recently while the other one stayed home. But I wouldn’t want to take him on a plane. Too stressful for us both!
I am still able to travel so I want to do more exotic trips while I can, although I have to factor in how much walking there will be. But one of us has to stay home for our senior cat unless we want to take a chance on a stranger cat sitter willing to give injections. So lots of pieces to consider now.
You can’t have it all. There are tradeoffs. Americans think they can have it all: voracious greed.
Pets require long-term commitment. Furthermore, exotic travel pollutes the planet.
Americans are major polluters traveling all over to countries that are impoverished and they don’t even bother to learn other languages or uplift the poverty in these “exotic places.”
Stay home with your pets and volunteer in your community!
Our 8 year old cavapoo, Beau, has brightened our lives beyond words. We call him our “5th Child” and even bought a minivan so he can comfortably travel with us … helps with nine grandchildren too. We travel internationally at least once a year. My husband and I are truly blessed and grateful!
Love this article and I can so relate – there is something about aging up that brings beautiful new perspectives as you pointed out! I thought I would work forever – the pandemic brought me a new perspective- of seizing the moments with the loves of my life – 7 grandchildren and their parents (my kids :). My husband and I were aligned with this – found a buyer and sold our business – by by and hello to freedom.
I made a list of my priorities- heath and wellness being my overarching priority and started shaping my days around that. I now ease into my days, I am so available to my family – my grandchildren- who will -too soon- be much busier with their own lives. I have a few close friends – I’m not looking to build friendships. Ive traveled the world -next – I’m looking forward to traveling to as many beautiful national parks as possible – right here. I’m enjoying less is more – and the simplicity life has to offer – for me.
Thank you Gayle. I love your perspective and so appreciate your sharing
I am not sure of the point of your article. The title was about repurposeing your travel money. I guess you used your travel money to buy a dog. Now..your money is your money. However; is it necessary to say that the dog cost four digits and the first number was not 1? Is this your way of making the dog a status symbol? You love the dog- but are already thinking of how your children and grandchildren will “babysit” while you go on your journey. The dog is yours and your responsibility…why can’t the dog go with you? Other women who responded wanted to validate your decision to “buy” a dog and to one up each other. Goodness…what have we become? I have always enjoyed Margaret and Me and most of the articles she publishes -but this article was very shallow. I hope with spending four digits and the first number not being 1….that you are also able to give once in awhile to shelters. Not all shelter dogs are “broken”. Most are the best dogs ever. Broken dogs are because of awful humans. Yes..I have a shelter dog..one of the unwanted pit bull types who is the best dog in the world and also two shelter cats-who the dangerous pit bull loves. Your article would have met the mark without saying you bought your dog and how much it wasn’t. You decided to spend some money on a pet companion – that is it in a nutshell.
Nannette McDonald, some of these stories do not belong on this site. The owner needs to be more selective. As a gerontologist, I am taken aback by what these authors are allowed to print in their stories. Some have no idea what they are talking about. People like me spend their careers educating people about the aging process. I rarely come here any more because of this.
Naw, there’s no one-upmanship here. Only women sharing their lives in response to Liz telling a story about making the best of life’s circumstances. Story includes cute dog. Nothing wrong with this story. I could relate to what Liz said.
I didn’t say anything about pit breeds being unlikeable or dangerous. I said they were inappropriate for my situation. Because of the rules I’ve agreed to live under in my building, I must have a guarantee before I purchase a dog, whether from a breeder or from a shelter, that the dog will always meet my community’s pet criteria. Nothing wrong with this. That’s what I have to work with. Sounds like your circumstance is different. You purchased a shelter dog and it worked out. Maybe you don’t have a tiny apartment or HOA rules or whatever. Great!
I just don’t understand why you would need to trash me and Liz and the other women who shared a comment. I mean, if the story disappoints in the fourth sentence, why not move on and leave the rest of us alone?