Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.

attributed to Mark Twain

As life passes by you start to wonder about what you’ve achieved and what you regret. Looking at the quote above I wonder if I have twenty years left to do more.

So, am I more disappointed by the things I didn’t do than the things that I did?

There are lots of things that could have worked out differently but I don’t see them as disappointments. A lot of stuff that has happened was not my fault, so they are not my things to hold. You can’t control other peoples actions but you can control your reactions to them.

If there is one disappointment it could possibly be down to travel. I’m not well travelled, the furthest I’ve been is Dublin, I guess that is abroad? I’ve never been in an aeroplane, though, but I don’t really want to either. It’s partly an irrational fear, partly a complete indifference to wanting to experience it. I have no desire to be in a metal box high up in the sky. I’d rather grow my own wings and float on the air.

If there was a way to see the world for me, then it would be on a cruise ship. Strange, I don’t want to be in a metal box in the sky but I’d be happy to be in one on the ocean. I guess the difference is the size and freedom of movement you would have on a ship. I do have claustrophobic tendencies.

Leaving it so late to travel has brought along extra difficulties. It would have been easier to do when I was not sick or disabled. Travelling to town in my wheelchair fills me with trepidation, how would I cope in another country? Would I even get travel insurance now?

I guess the answer is yes, I do feel disappointed that I didn’t travel more when I could. But it’s never too late is it? One of my aunties took her first holiday abroad when she was in her 60s, she went again every year afterwards.

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Dreaming of More

So in the time I have left my wish is to remedy this disappointment in my life and travel more. I want to sail away, I don’t really care where. I would really like to go North rather than South though, I’d love to see the Northern Lights, and visit countries like Norway and Demark, and maybe even down to the Netherlands.

We had been thinking about making our first family trip abroad by going to Disneyland Paris with the kids, but if I’m honest, we are lacking interest. We are not huge Disney fans and the kids are not that keen on Theme Parks. Plus, I doubt I’d get to see much from my wheelchair. We’d have to go by train or coach and I think the journey would break us, none of us are good travellers. I think that’s why a cruise appeals to me, you are travelling while you holiday on the ship.

If I can fit in a cruise then I can be satisfied that I’ve not been disappointed with anything in my life.

In the Family

My Dad travelled because he was in the army during the Second World War. (Yes, my Dad, not great grandad! But he was a lot older than my Mum, and they had me later in life too.) My Mum never went anywhere, I think her record was the Isle of Wight and she hated the ferry journey. She never regretted it, she had no desire at all to travel.

Both my older brothers have done plenty of travelling, my eldest brother even worked in croatia for a while. My younger brother managed to travel abroad too, before he died.

My Older children have been abroad many times. Their Dad lives in the South of France and they have been to visit him and he’s taken them to other countries too. My eldest daughter has been to America and wants to go again this year. She’s has also visited other European Countries like Germany. I think her dream trip would be to Japan.

Star went on a school trip to France last year. They went by ferry and coach and she coped really well, but they didn’t travel far from the coast line and stayed in Boulogne. I’m sure Boo will be looking forward to her chance to go next year.

So, despite my not taking them, my children are getting the chance to travel and see other countries. I believe that I never travelled because my Mum didn’t, she never took me away as a child, and I never had the opportunity with my school. I’m happy that my children are not being held back because of me.

Is there anything in your life that you feel disappointed about not doing? Are you well travelled?