Travel is . . .

Time passing. . .

Maybe it's because I am on the eve of a birthday, but it seems to me that time is passing way too quickly.

Yes, I know it's winter - but winter is less than a month old. Florida is the only state in the continentatl U.S. where we haven't had to shovel snow. But as I write this, the temperature is 48 degrees. It is sunny here in South Florida today, but 48 degrees? That's winter!

In the let's-plan-ahead department, I've been inundated - these first two weeks of the new year -- with story ideas on vacation ideas for spring and summer. Romantic Valentine's day getaway stories I understand. They are a staple of January vacation writing, but didn't we just do holidays at sea and Thanksgiving specials? Maybe when you are confronting three feet of snow it is fun to write about Caribbean island vacations or visiting historic ports in the MidEast in July and August.

I am in the midst of planning a couple of trips myself. I will revisit some places I know and discover new vistas. Half of the fun of travel is in the planning. And the joy of returning to my home is also something I look forward to.

Maybe in my case it is because I know I will be hitting the road again soon.

But I do know one thing, from this vantage point time seems to pass very quickly. Let's not rush things.