I have about 15,000 photos from my world travels. (I never made it to Asia, Africa, or South America.) I enjoy looking at that them because that’s all the travel I can afford to do anymore.

My infrequent flyer miles would get me nowhere. I couldn’t get through security because the TSA wouldn’t allow me to carry the long shoehorn that I would need to get my shoes back on. My passport has expired, and I might have died by the time I can get a new one. RDU charges more for parking for one night than I spend to eat out. The hotel bill for one night in a major city would cost more than my grocery bill for a month.

The “little-known” interesting places have been discovered and are just as crowded as Venice. It limits the number of tourists into the city now. I’m too old for karate, and a stiff wind could blow me over. I don’t use a cane, and I don’t climb stairs either. A moving sidewalk would probably require a Dramamine pill.

I have as many cultural activities and live performances as I can afford so I don’t need to go to New York. Why go somewhere where the traffic is even worse? I also found that I can watch lots of free concerts on YouTube if I will tolerate a few ads. I’m on Zoom 2 or 3 times a week. I used to think zoom was when you went really fast in a car. I’m streaming so much that I feel like there is a creek running through my apartment.

With the kidnapping and attacks on tourists I can’t think of any place safe where I would like to go. I have a few places on my bucket list that I never made to, but it’s too late now. They are not safe for Americans anymore. I always wanted to go to St. Petersburg, Russia, or to cruise down the Nile in Egypt. Putin might hold me as a hostage, and Sisi might make me disappear completely. I can visit the sites virtually from the comfort of my recliner.

Travel used to be exciting, uplifting, and a lot of fun. Now it has become just a pain. I wouldn’t like spending three nights on the floor of an airport terminal because of cascading flight cancellations. Travel was an adventure; now it’s an endurance contest.

People used to get dressed up to fly. Now they curse the steward and open the doors in flight. The coach (economy) sections are so cramped now that you can’t even sneeze. Children run wild up and down the aisles, and nobody does anything about it.

Let’s face it. I’m just too old and cranky. I’m not looking for “new experiences” anymore. I’m just trying to retain the ones I already have.

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