Member-only story
Why Are People Still Traveling?
Take a seat — we’re still in a pandemic
The last time I traveled was January 2020.
I’m grateful I had the opportunity to do so. It was a wonderful trip to the west coast of Mexico. I drank lots of tequila and ziplined through the mountains and swam in blue pools. I walked by the ocean and reminded myself of how I am but a speck of dust in the vastness of this earth. It was sobering, and energizing, and beautiful.
And I yearn to do it again.
In fact, I was supposed to go back to Mexico this winter, in late December. I vowed to myself to save my money, to scrape by, if it meant I could get another ticket there and restore my soul once again. But in the summer, my friends and I made the decision to cancel it. We were cutting it too close with COVID. Airports were pretty empty, and airplanes were well-ventilated, but travel was just not a good idea. It still isn't.
So why are people still traveling during a pandemic?
Disclaimer: this doesn’t apply to people who are essential travelers, whether that be for college or for work or for a family member’s funeral. These are instances where there is sometimes no other option. I’m not talking about these people. I’m talking about completely voluntary, completely unnecessary, recreational travel.
