You Don’t Have To Wait For Someone Else To Be Available To Travel

Things I Wish I Knew Sooner: Episode 4

Recently, I found myself with a little time last minute time off and no one else available to go anywhere. My husband had work commitments and my kids were all living their busy lives.

And I could have done what I think a lot of us do.

Cleaned the house. Went to Target. Waited.

Waited until my husband could get away. Waited until one of the kids was free. Waited until a friend happened to have the same few days open. Instead, I booked the trip to Florida and went by myself.

I knew almost immediately that I had made the right decision, because somehow, I got on the plane and ended up with the entire row to myself. Is there any better feeling that realizing the doors have shut and no one else is coming down the aisle? Honestly, that felt like the universe saying, you’ve made the right decision. I stretched out, put my things wherever I wanted, settled in and started the trip without having to accommodate anyone but myself.

And that pretty much became the theme of the whole trip. Once I got there, my days were completely mine. I could wake up when I wanted. Walk on the beach when I wanted. Read for hours if I felt like it. I didn’t have to plan meals around anyone, work around someone else’s schedule or have that constant conversation of, “What do you want to do next?”

If I wanted a long morning walk, I took one.

If I wanted to sit on the beach with my book until I lost track of time, I did.

If I wanted to go to bed early, sleep late or pick up something simple for dinner, there was nobody else’s schedule to consider.

One morning, I went to Benny’s on the Beach, one of those places that I have been visiting for almost 30 years. I have NEVER gone by myself. But this trip, I did it. I sat there by myself overlooking the gorgeous ocean, ordered breakfast and a mimosa, read my book, and just enjoyed it. And honestly, it was pretty perfect.

No rushing through the meal. No checking whether everyone else was ready to leave. Just breakfast, a mimosa, a friendly waiter, the glistening ocean, and nowhere I had to be. It sounds like such a small thing, but that was one of those moments when I thought, why do we sometimes make doing things alone seem sad when it can actually feel this peaceful? Books are such good company, but that morning reminded me that I don’t need to wait for someone else to join me before I start to enjoy my own life. Sometimes the best lesson is to just turn the page and go.

I did end up with one rainy day, but even that worked out in my favor.

Instead of feeling like the beach day was a bust, I used it to explore places I had been wanting to see — including a few that I know my husband probably would not have been nearly as excited about. 😂

I wandered through The Breakers, took my time exploring Palm Beach, browsed the shopping area, and just let myself stop wherever looked interesting.

And I ended the day with a stop at Palm Beach’s famous Buccan Sandwich Shop, a place that has been on my list to try. I even ordered the famous Beef Carpaccio sandwich. And WOW is all I have to say about that!

I could just go.

And that may have been the biggest lesson of the trip.

Traveling alone doesn’t mean you’re alone. Sometimes it simply means you’re free.

Free to move at your own pace. Free to change your plans. Free to eat where you want, sleep when you want, read as long as you want and explore the places that interest you.

I love traveling with my husband and I really love traveling with my whole family.

But I’ve learned that I don’t always have to wait for someone else to be available before I go somewhere I want to go.

Especially in this stage of life, when the people we love have their own jobs, classes, responsibilities, and plans.

Sometimes the answer is simply: Go anyway.

Book the flight.

Enjoy the empty row.

Order the mimosa.

Bring the books.

Walk the beach.

Get the sandwich.

Because your life doesn’t have to sit on hold while you wait for someone else’s calendar to match yours. Just turn the page and go. 📚

And that is definitely something I wish I knew sooner. ⭐️