As we age, a great many of us find that we have more freedom. That could mean many things… perhaps the kids are grown and out of the house. Or perhaps you have just retired, and while you have a few hobbies to keep you busy, you still have a ton a free time.
Or maybe you’ve recently divorced (like me) and are single and fancy free once again. And dare I say…feeling frisky? I’ll come to this point a bit later.
An even greater number of us find that we are just hitting our stride at this age. We are finally comfortable in our own skin. We’ve lived a lifetime (or three) and have lived to tell the tale. Those small lines around your mouth and eyes? Those come from wisdom.
Don’t laugh…it’s true.
Perhaps the travel bug has hit you dead on, but you’re wondering how you’re going to pull it off. Your friends, for whatever reason, cannot go with you, and if you’re single (like me) you don’t have a significant other to join you in your wanderlust.
I’m guessing you fit somewhere in this mold, lest you would not be reading this blog.
Solo travel, in particular female solo travel, has been on the rise for years. In fact, it’s become an entire niche in the travel space. And yet the 40+ solo female traveler is sorely underrepresented. There are many travel companies that host groups of solo travelers for those who want to dip their toe in the solo travel pool. Who are not quite sure it’s really for them.
These solo group tours are all well and good. I’ve even been on a few. You get the luxury of traveling on your own, yet get to meet new people who are experiencing the journey with you. It’s a great way to meet new friends. But is this REALLY solo travel?
Society expects people over 40 or 50 to start slowing down. For me, the opposite is true. I’m just getting ramped up. I’ve got a ton of energy and curiosity about this planet and its people. And now that I’m single again, I have the freedom to get out and explore it. I simply cannot wait for someone else to decide they want to go. Times a-wastin’.
To really be a solo female traveler, you need to go all in, baby. Nothing says you’re alive like walking alone down a busy street in a foreign city where you don’t know the language and all you have is your passport, your wallet, and your wits. And maybe Duolingo?
And then there’s the lonely nights, alone in bed in your 3-star hotel, when you feel a certain rumbling…down there. It’s been biding its time, holding court in the dark recesses of your brain as you run to catch that next train or contemplate a piece of art in a museum.
But now, alone in the dark, it hits you head on. Yep, that’s right. It’s your libido. You haven’t satiated mother nectar for quite some time and now she’s chomping at the bit.
That’s why you should always pack a vibrator, ladies. We’ll dive deeper into the conundrum of dating while traveling in a future post, but for right now, you need instant gratification. There’s absolutely no shame in it. In fact, it’s healthy.
All I’m saying is, don’t be afraid to scratch that itch whenever it hits you on the road. If you happen to meet someone you fancy and they reciprocate, then great! I don’t have to tell you that you need to be super careful in this area, so go with your gut. This is a great article on safety precautions when hooking up on the road.
But if your temporary Prince (or Princess) charming doesn’t materialize, then get out that vibrator, or whatever you do to bring yourself to completion, and let ‘er rip!
If anything, you’ll get a decent nights’ sleep.
