2015 New Year Resolutions

As the New Year is here, it’s interesting to ask others about resolutions. I’ve had friends that faithfully pen a list and carry it throughout the year. A clean calendar and the opportunity to make a change is kind of exciting. I thought I would share, from a Professional Group Tour Leader perspective (imagine that!), what my resolutions are regarding travel for 2015.

• I resolve to spend more personal time learning about the places we’ll visit before we go. Yes, I do a LOT of research regarding locations, vistas, monuments, hotels, restaurants and restrooms, but every Good to Go traveler will tell you that some of the most memorable places we’ve visited had to do with the instead of the incredible sights we saw. I want to learn more about the and the . When husband Doug and I visited Machu Picchu in Peru two years ago, one of the most incredible memories are the people who live on Lake Titicaca on floating reed islands. As the bottom layer of reeds rots and falls away, they must constantly add a top layer of reeds to replace it. Talk about your home maintenance!

• I resolve to be a more responsible consumer in my impact on the planet. Being out in the world gives one a chance to be humbled by those that live with so much less. The world gets smaller as we explore, meet others and build even basic relationships. We care. I want to think about my purchases and my excess. I want to find more ways to be resourceful for others. Whether it’s taking school supplies to Africa to benefit a girls school or putting my piles of magazines in the recycling bin, I want to do what I can.

• I resolve to travel more. I know, I know. “Patti Beth, you travel the time!” While it’s true that I am blessed to be able to travel frequently, there’s a multitude of details that go in to making a trip happen successfully that doesn’t allow for “full-time travel”. We have a Big Beautiful World to choose from and there are still hundreds of places I’ve never visited. You know my motto “If you think you’ll be in better health, or be better able to afford to travel later… then wait. Otherwise, go. Now.”

I want to thank you all for your tremendous support over the years. It means a lot to me, more than you can ever know. We’ve had some great adventures together, traveling this world of ours. It means more to me that we shared these experiences together. We’ve laughed; we’ve been moved to tears. We have tasted and touched. We have been amazed by the tiny and the tremendous so many times. Memories etched forever of the good times. Thank you for being a huge part of it and, as always, for being Good to Go!