8 Years Later

When Matt mentioned it had been 8 years since our last update, it was both hard to believe and yet made perfect sense. I was 27 when we published our first entry and had been married for 3 months. Life looks a lot different on the other side of 30. I’ve changed jobs twice, as has Katie. We have a house now as well as a dog and occasional travel companion. Dingman’s, the hole in the wall bar I wrote about in one of my last posts has since burned to the ground. Baby Yoda is a thing now. We might be living through the apocalypse. Lots of big stuff!

Still, I think the purpose of this blog was to highlight small ways in which travel was possible some of the time. Life certainly intervened, but I think we’ve still continued our love of travel. In the past 8 years I’ve been to Florida, California, and Nevada for the first time. I was finally able to return to Toronto. I’ve been on so many different camping trips and have explored new parts of Michigan. We might look at traveling differently than we did 8 years ago (Future Blog Idea: Why I Fucking Hate Road Trips Now - Always Fly) but it’s still very much a part of our life.

I figured a good way to jump back into things would be for Matt and I to have a conversation about what the hell we’ve been up to for the last 8 years, so here’s that!

Paul: So, Matt, what the hell have you been up to for the last 8 years? 

Matt:  Well like you said, life definitely looks a lot different this side of 30.  I've had my share of life events as well.  I'm not married yet, but have been with Kristen and the kids for more than 4.5 years which has definitely made traveling a little more interesting, I've changed jobs a couple times (mainly within the same organization) I've moved and have gone back to school.  I also got to cross off Florida from my list (crazy we were in the same area for a minute), which was also my first two-week vacation, and have been back to NC multiple times since our last big group trip in 2015.  I know it's going to be a while before any future travel plans are made, but I'm looking forward to future guys weekends and Vegas at some point.  I think it's important, especially right now, to have something to look forward to.

As for you, I know we did Asheville, OBX, and a couple of guys weekends together (we need to go back to that house in Traverse City), but you have definitely been more active including California, Florida, Nashville for Tim and Nathan's wedding (one of my biggest regrets was not being there for that) as well as your business trip to Vegas right before COVID reared its ugly head here in the states.  I know we've talked about Churchill Downs and Vegas, and you have your camping trip coming up, but any other travel goals?  Also, on a scale from 1 to "Cranky Colin" how is Bella in the car?

Paul: Well, if we're talking about ultimate goals, Europe is definitely high up on the list. I guess one of the positive things about being on this side of 30 is having enough financial freedom that international travel doesn't seem so unrealistic these days. My ideal location at this point is definitely Italy. Ever since I fell in love with Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels and the subsequent HBO series, I've really want to visit Ischia, though I'd love to spend time in some of the bigger cities as well.

I think that's another thing that's really changed since we started this blog. We called it Part Time Travel, but I think what we were really doing was Part Time Vacationing. One of my biggest goals is probably to actually travel and really try to experience different cultures. While there is some of that in regional differences in the US, I'd really like to get outside my comfort zone and experience something new.

Of course, I have no idea what travel is going to look like in 2021. We were initially planning to head back to OBX this year with Nathan and Tim but COVID certainly put a stop to that. I would love to head back to OBX or even somewhere else on the coast for another beach vacation. I'm definitely due for a week at the beach.

You mentioned that you've gained several travel companions. How's your perspective changed since traveling with kids? What's the planning like as opposed to when it was just a bunch of friends that were content with drinking on the beach for a week?

Also, Bella is an angel in the car. She mostly just sleeps.

Matt:  I definitely agree with you that it's important to experience different cultures.  You can pick up bits and pieces from reading and tv/movies, but it's different experiencing it first hand.  As far was ultimate goals for me, first is Weybridge, England to see where my grandfather grew up, and then France or Germany or Japan.

Traveling will be different in the coming months/years and we were planning on going down to visit Kristen's sister in Wilmington again, but we'll have to wait a little bit.  And who knows, maybe by that point I'll be done with school and can line up some job interviews.

As far as traveling with the kids, we're pretty lucky because they're pretty easy going.  There's the typical sibling crap during long car rides (I mean, I'm an only child, but I get it) but they have their portable dvd players and Nintendo Switches and drawing stuff to keep themselves occupied.  Lilly is more adventurous than the boys, who are content sitting in front of the tv all day, but they don't argue too much when we go out to do stuff as a family.

While the booze budget is a lot smaller traveling with the kids, it's mostly funneled into the souvenir fund.  Plus the kids don't have jobs so they can't contribute monetarily, but it's fun getting to be a part of the experience with them.

My perspective hasn't really changed, just my role.  When we went on our group trips we all kinda did our own thing when we wanted to because we're adults.  Now that I'm responsible for other people, it makes it a little more exciting in some ways.  Traveling for me was always about getting away for a bit, experiencing something new (even if it's just trying a new food or something), and just appreciating the little things, and now I get to hopefully pass that appreciation on to them.  Lilly is already like that, like the time we were on our first trip together in OBX and she conned an older gentleman into letting her fish with him (he actually wrote a real nice post about it on his Facebook and they shared it with Kristen, I'll have to try to get that from her) and since she's deaf, she just has to watch you do something once and she catches on faster than most hearing people.  We do have to reign her in sometimes, but it's fun.

How is your Italian coming along?

Paul: I would be hard pressed to have a conversation with someone beyond "You are a boy" or "It is an apple" but it's still been a fun challenge to take on. Maybe by the time I actually get to visit Italy, I'll be slightly more fluent. Duolingo did teach me how to say "You are mine until you die" today which I thought was pretty creepy. Sei mio finché non muoio, in case you were wondering.

What shape would you like this blog to take going forward? Obviously it's going to be heavily geared towards reminiscing right now since we can't actually go anywhere. I'm not entirely sure how to make this interesting but possibly planning some sort of trip, like Guys Weekend: Vegas. Detail the process and then chronicle the experience.

Shit, it's just occurring to me that interviews like this with random people, talking about travel might be an interesting approach to take.

Matt: In our first entry, you highlighted our mission statement as outlining the travel planning process (in a humorous way because we're hilarious, or at least you are) as well as looking back on previous trips.  I think we've done a good job sticking to that, though I don't think our intention was to pile up 8 years worth of trips to reminisce about before we started writing again, but alas here we are.  Also, I love the idea of interviews.  I think start small, like some of our friends and then maybe branch out to some of those travel people on twitter that we've briefly interacted with?  I'm excited to get this going again and hear other peoples' stories, as well as getting caught up on ours.

Speaking of how travel will look in the coming months/ year, when will you feel comfortable flying again? Or would you now?

Paul: Katie and I had initially talked about saving our vacation time and making a trip to Florida or somewhere warm during the winter. But the way COVID is playing out here, we definitely decided against that. I won't really be comfortable getting on a plane with strangers for a long time. That's why we're committed to taking shorter, local trips for the time being. If we can do so safely. What about you? Anything local you feel comfortable venturing forth to see?

Matt: Kristen and I have talked about getting the kids out of the house and just driving somewhere.  We didn't get too far into the planning process but we'll likely figure something out.  We plan on going back to the cabins we went to last Christmas in Maumee Bay, Ohio, but that's not until later this year.  And, like I said before we'd like to plan a trip to see her sister again, but we're going to wait a minute on that one.  Camping seems like the ideal isolation get-away, but it's been a minute since I've been camping and I'm not sure if Kristen and the kids ever have.  Camping and hiking excites my inner Teddy Roosevelt but I haven't done much to scratch that itch.   Speaking of camping, I know it's mostly been within Michigan, but what sites are your favorites and which ones do you have on your futures list?

Paul: I'm not a huge fan of roughing it. I prefer my campgrounds to at least have a real bathroom and the risk of bear attack to be very minimal. That's why we've spent most of our time at Sleeper State Park in recent years. The state parks can definitely get pretty packed which is why we were lucky enough to go the week of Labor Day last year. Schools were back in session so during the week the campground and beach were mostly empty. I think there were maybe 5 other occupied campsites while we were there? And I love Sleeper because it's just a two hour drive and being right on Lake Huron is amazing.

That being said, we've taken a few trips to different rustic sites and Pinckney recreation area is always nice.

The next park on my bucket list is probably Warren Dunes State Park because it would be nice to swap Lake Huron for Lake Michigan for a few days.

Is there anything you don't necessarily want to do again but still kind of miss? As I already pointed out, I'd much rather fly than ever have to endure a 16 hour road trip again. But there was still something about being awake at 3am, sustained only by Mountain Dew, beef jerky, and Coast to Coast that I will always love. 

Matt: Sixteen hours?  What about the 21 hours it took the first year to get to OBX?  That's not something I want to do again.  I do miss volunteering to be the one driving during the sunrise hours.  It was always so peaceful, listening to 90's on 9 while everyone slept, the sun coming up over the rolling hills of whatever state we were in.  I do agree that one of the best times driving (but also the scariest drive) was when we were driving through Hurricane Irene in the middle of the night and I couldn't see the lane markers on the road.  Luckily we had your master navigation skills and Coast to Coast to keep us entertained.  I appreciate those moments for what they were, and they were perfect for the time, but I might look for alternatives for long distances now.

Also, I'd have to say I enjoyed the large groups we usually had, but, as we experienced, that left more room for people to flake out and not pay their share of things.  The last big trip we did to OBX in 2015

was neat in that we had Tim and Sarah coming down from Philly, Tim and Nathan in from Nashville, and then the rest of us from Michigan all meet up for a week of fun.  Again, great for the time, but maybe not my first choice these days.

And I know we focused on the east coast because it was within driving distance, but I feel like if we had broadened our scope to the west coast, we would've found a way to make it work.  I know we were younger and didn't have as much money, but we always seemed to figure things out.  The pacific northwest would've been fun.  Perhaps one day we'll still find a way to get a group out there.

Food is usually a highlight on the trips, and I try to make a habit of trying one new food during a trip.  Is there anywhere you'd want to go just for the food?  I want to take a moment here to recognize the awesome job Anthony Bourdain had/did with Parts Unknown.

Paul: Within the US, I would say New Orleans, Kansas City, Austin, and probably Portland would be pretty high on my list as far as food destinations. I also wouldn't mind somewhere in New England that specializes in fresh seafood. I'm not much of a seafood eater so forcing myself outside of my comfort zone to try something new is always a good bet while traveling.

Internationally, there are probably so many amazing places to choose from. Obviously Italy would still be high on the list. Mexico City. Or just heading back to Toronto for more poutine.

What are some of your favorite food memories from your travels?

Matt: To me, the atmosphere is as important as the food, which is why a brat at a Tigers game is one of my favorite things.  Like I mentioned in the Louisville episode, Hammerheads was a wonderful experience.  The food was amazing, I had never had a venison burger or fries fried in duck fat, plus the fact that it was in the basement of some house really added to it.

On the last big OBX trip when some of us went to the seafood restaurant that was right on the water, that was very enjoyable.  Like you, I'm not much of a seafood person, but I tried fish tacos for the first time, and getting to hang out with friends and watch the sun set over the water was awesome.
In years past, we would always crack funnies at the Dirty Dicks crab shack, but never actually went.  I got to go the first year Kristen and I went with the kids and tried crab for the first time.  And of course I got a t-shirt.  We also went to their location in Panama City Beach when we were there for Kristen's sister's wedding.

The last place I'll mention so we can wrap this up was Winnie's Tavern in Wilmington, NC.  It's located in some back-woods neighborhood and unimpressive from the outside, but it's cozy on the inside and food was amazing.  I'm horrible at documenting these meals with pictures, though I'm sure Kristen has some somewhere.

Well, if you don't have anything else to add, Paul, I think this would be a good spot to wrap-up our grand re-opening so we can get back to business.