It sounded so glamorous – work hard, travel on business, make good money, be in demand.
I learned early on that traveling alone means not having to compromise, but you’re alone. Sitting in airport lounges – even VIP ones – is comfortable, but even in a crowded room, or especially in a crowded room, you become aware of how alone you are.
I’ve always found other people to be energizing. For me, this is strangely true of my meetings with people I hardly know, where there are no obligations, no ruts, no expectations. There’s only upside. It’s easier to be “friends” with people we have no personal involvement (or entanglements) with.
In business or in private, sometimes it’s with the people we know best that we feel most alone.
I see your point.
One of the things that kills camping for a lot of people is a weekend in a 5 star hotel with room service.
I think the expression is “Nature is what you go through from the limo to the hotel.”
I know where you are coming from… I was a corporate trainer for a large, national, retail corporation and traveled way too much. And after a few years of that, when I finally got back to attending family events and social gatherings with old friends, I found I was a stranger to them. Personally, I had to stop that lifestyle of business and get back into regular social situation. Great post!