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When you become a senior, a lot of things tend to slow down. You can’t move as fast as you could when you were younger. Then you think about what your responsibilities are now that you are retired and don’t have to get up at the same time, Monday through Friday. A smile replaces the frown on your face, your heartbeat picks up a little bit and you feel a tingling sensation go through your entire body. You are now FREE to travel wherever and whenever you want. After you read this, contact a travel agent and get started. All you need are clothes, your medicine and a passport! Happy trails ladies and gentlemen.
There are many benefits to traveling. One is being able to explore the world around you. You may want to travel locally, stateside or even internationally. Wherever you decide to go, make sure you pack accordingly to the weather. You don’t want to end up in Alaska with your shorts and flip flops in December and in Florida with your fur coat and boots in January. Before you plan your trip or trips, make a list of places you want to see and explore. Can you do some in a day, a week, a month or even a year? No matter how long you decide to stay, make sure you know what to expect when you get there. Will you need any shots before you can travel? Do you need to mail anything ahead due to aviation rules?
Here is a quick rundown of what you will need to pack in your luggage and your carry-on bag. In your checked luggage, you can put all your clothes, toiletries, shoes, blanket and pillow. You may not have room at your seat if you are flying for a full-size pillow and comfy blanket. You won’t want to overlap your neighbor’s seat. That may make for a long, awkward flight. In your carry-on bag, you will want to put your passport, your boarding pass, the itinerary of your flight and trip, insurance cards, emergency contact information, medical information to include a list of your medicines taking and whatever you are allergic to, your actual medicine in the bottles they are prescribed to show they are your medicines, and lastly your wallet. You won’t need to buy anything on the plane, but you will want your wallet and all your money within a safe distance of you.
Statistics show that taking a vacation has a positive impact on your overall health and well-being. Men are about 30% less than likely to suffer and pass away from heart disease. Women are less stressed and don’t suffer from depression as much if they vacation at least two times a year. Women are even less stressed after the vacation ends for about three to four more days. If you decide to do some international travel, you will feel more open-minded due to everything new you see, smell, touch, taste and hear. You don’t see the Louvre every day. You want to hold onto that experience as long as possible.
When you go on vacation, you could lose a little bit of weight. This is not the case for everyone though. When you are on vacation, you are trying to take in as many sights and experiences as you possibly can. You want to see every museum, every historic town, soak up the sun at the coastal cities and of course try the local cuisine. With being so active and trying to soak up the culture, you are being more active. You gain confidence because you see you can take a longer walk. You can stay up a little later than usual. Your heart isn’t beating as hard as it used to. You are more relaxed, and you are no longer stressing over the small stuff. Vacationing has a positive effect on all areas of your body. Whether you are traveling with your spouse or traveling by yourself, you are guaranteed to have a great time and come back with your mind, body and soul at ease.
Not everyone is able to take a vacation. Retirees can enjoy them more often because they have the time and hopefully the finances to take them. Many seniors have been saving for years to be able to go explore what the world has to offer, but many can’t afford to. There are options such as the value of their life insurance policy that could be sold for a cash through a life settlement. By selling their life insurance policy, seniors may have receive the money they need to travel…now that is freedom. Visit family and friends or simply explore the wonderful places you have been dreaming about. Learn about their ancestors that roamed the earth many, many years before them. Other seniors take vacations to learn and experience something new and adventurous. No matter what your reason is for taking a vacation, just make sure you enjoy it. See as much as your body will let you. Taste as much new food as your stomach will let you. Try not to say no to anything on your vacation (within reason). Make a checklist of all the things you want to see in your planned destination. Do every single one of them.
As a senior, you have seen, heard, smelled, touched and tasted a lot of things in life. They range from fights between your kids when they were little, seemingly endless diapers, arguments over what to watch on television, and the tears you have wiped from your kid’s cheeks to comfort their broken little hearts. You have done your job. The kids are now grown and “responsible” for themselves and now you can enjoy your grandchildren. It is your turn to pack your bags and see the world! Embrace it and welcome it with open arms. It’s been waiting for you and with a life settlement you may be able to afford to go wherever your heart desires.
