Tuesday, 3/2

 I have no idea. I really don't.

Any time two different people ask me the same question over the span of a few days, I have to wonder if there's something in the air, or if I'm giving off some kind of vibe I don't even realize. I'm mean, I know it's probably just a coincidence, but still--

You have to wonder.

Both Saturday with a friend and yesterday when someone came into the station to drop something off I was asked when we're going to start traveling again. Both times, sadly, I had to give the same answer, if only because it's true—I have no idea. We literally can't go to any of our favorite places outside of the US, and until we're vaccinated (and because of our jobs, both Loraine and I are in line after elderly people and those with pre-exisiting conditions are taken care of) I don't know that I want to go anywhere in the US, especially a place that's lax on things like masks and social distancing.

That's why I have no idea.

We're actually looking at it from two different perspectives. One is that we may go somewhere in the US this fall, a quick weekend getaway to some place that's, well, different. Not that we both don't love where we've been the past year—we both really do—but we're both also stuck with this gene that somehow contributes to an increased proclivity for wanderlust.

We need to go to places other than where we live our lives.

More problematic, of course, is returning to our favorite stomping ground across the ocean. We have no idea when we're going to be able to go back. Americans aren't even allowed into the EU right now, and there's no indication that's going to change any time soon. And unlike jumping on a plane and getting away for a weekend in the US, going to Europe for a week or two takes a lot of planning and lots of work beforehand. If we had to guess, maybe the fall of 2022? Spring of 2023?

But that's just a guess.

In a way, people asking us about our plans is a good thing. After all, it shows we've developed a reputation for going interesting places, and I do know there are a lot of people who like to travel virtually with us. But when they ask about our plans and what we have coming up, I just wish I could give an answer anything other than “I have no idea”.

Sigh...

(jim@wmqt.com)