Comments on: I’m A Travel Addict – But Is It Nature or Nurture?

By: Shirley edwards

Shirley edwards — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:36:58 +0000

Well I think I was born with a travel gene! my mother dreamed that i was running awyy from her just afew hours after i was born She awoke in tears knowing that she would never keep me at home. She was right. I spent my childhood wandering the fields nad lanes of Cornwall, UK, gettting lost and having to be brought home by farmers nad even on one occasion, the police.
We were a poor family and never travelled, though I pestered constantly to migrate to Australia when i first saw the signs in the post office for assisted passages. At te age of 13, there was an opportunity to host a French student for the summer– of course, I pestered until my parents agreed to us oarticipating, We had not realised that the French family would want to reciprocate so there we all were trying to raise money so that I could go. That was what turned on the travel switch which seemsunable to be turned off.
having little money for travel. I took to walking in earnest nad started hiking all over Britain and Europe as a teenager, youg twenties. As soon as able I migrated to Australia where I have travelled on foot and by 4Wd throughout all the deserts, sometimes for months at a time. My husband and I spent every break, most weekends going places. Now that we are retired, almost 5 years we have been travelling continuously- backpacking, staying in hostels, camping, hiking. – A year in south America, another exploring Africa . Alaska and indo China. Now we are off to the Silk route, China and mongolia.
I will add that none of our children have the travel bug. Did they just miss the gene or am I a freak of nature/ It certainly was not nurture.

By: Cornelius Aesop

Cornelius Aesop — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:15:51 +0000

I would have originally thought Nature because I didn’t discover travel (especially outside the US) until college. Yet recently my mother has made a few trips outside of the US herself, and while she is more on the hotel rather than hostel side of travel I think she is becoming addicted. So maybe there was an innate travel aspect that wasn’t necessarily nurtured directly but present.

By: David AM

David AM — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:54:37 +0000

This is an interesting article. These days it’s hard to tell what is nature and nurture because everything is so intertwined and ingrained because of society.

For me, I’d probably say it’s nature, if it isn’t both. Since I was little, I was always fascinated by airplanes and being in a car driving somewhere. Looking out car windows and up into the sky seeing planes, I always wondered what the next stop was and what was going on there. The farthest back I can remember looking at a plane and thinking all this was sometime around 3rd grade.

At some point during 6th grade, there was a lot of talk of travel in my house. That was when we first traveled as a family and drove down to Orlando, Florida for a week long vacation at Disney. It was my first experience with a roadtrip as well. We did that three more times in the following years. Vacations practically became a tradition for a while.

During my Junior year of High School, I was selected by my music teacher to travel to London and Edinburgh to participate in the Fringe Festival. That was the trip that truly changed me. The trip was jam packed with activities, but there were times when I could walk around for a few minutes and I’d look up at the sky. It felt odd to be so far from home, but somehow it was comforting at the same time. Maybe I was a nomad in a past life. Now I’m 20, and that urge to travel is greater than ever. I met my girlfriend senior year and she had the same dreams and goals as me. We’re both currently working and saving up money to backpack the US and volunteer on organic farms and we couldn’t be more excited.

No one in my family sees traveling the same way that I do. An opportunity to learn, experience, and witness something truly great about different cultures and the world in general. They go on vacations to relax, which we all need from time to time, anyway. And I can’t say I have those same traits of restlessness and curiosity, but I’m very open to trying new things. I don’t get restless and my curiosity is actually very tame. I’m not even a thrill seeker. I’m just an uber chill guy who wants to find a nice open field to lay in and look up at the sky from a different part of the world. These last two gap years have given me a lot of time to think. My perspective and views on life have changed A LOT. But my love for travel hasn’t and I don’t think it ever will.

Wow… didn’t mean for such a long comment. HAHA!

By: Fafah

Fafah — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:14:57 +0000

HI guys,
I think that it dependds on you whether nature or nurture;
but I like the fact that Amanda was risen up with travelling !me too I want to travel abroad
That’s cool !I can learn other’s culture and so on I like that

By: Enduring Wanderlust

Enduring Wanderlust — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:54:42 +0000

Interesting article, Amanda.

I land in the camp of nature and nurture. No doubt some are born with a greater need to explore, but without an environment that lends itself to the ability to take advantage of travel opportunities the need may not be realized.

By: Denae

Denae — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:55:30 +0000

I’m just not sure where the need to travel comes from. My parents took my brother and I all around the Western United States in road trips when we were kids. They did a few trips abroad but when I was an adult I made my own decision to see the world. For me, it might have to do with my family because they are always striving for new experiences and a better life so my translation of it is to see the world I guess.

By: Turner

Turner — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 10:39:30 +0000

Eh, they’re theorizing more and more about our psychology is related to genetic memory. Who knows? If it turns out few of us have the travel gene, we could design a gene therapy.

By: Caz

Caz — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:54:31 +0000

Total, 100%…nature.

By the time I was born, I was the last of several kids and essentially raised as an only child. I guess after being in so many wars, my parents had absolutely no interest in travel. I spent most of my childhood spinning a National Geographic globe, dreaming of going to faraway places. I watched Charles Kuralt wandering in search of random stories in his RV and was horribly jealous!

I grew up on the East Coast, and it wasn’t until I was 20 when I finally got west of the Mississippi River. Got my first passport at 22. Ten years later, I’ve hit 4 continents and 22 countries…but trying to make up for lost time completely burned me out.

Interestingly enough, about half the time I want to stay “home” (wherever that may be at the moment) and be bored. It’s good to give the body and mind some rest and time to process all that I’ve experienced. So I’d say I’m 25% restless, 50% curious, and 25% open-minded

By: Paul Murray

Paul Murray — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:00:42 +0000

Wow Amanda, it’s like you’re me but in an alternate universe!

I grew up in Brisbane, Australia, but spent 6 months in Fiji when I was 9, and all those traits you mentioned (curiosity, boredom etc.) sound like me…

I’ve been to so many different places since then and am currently halfway through a 12 month world trip with my wife.

I don’t think you can really say for sure – everyone’s different. For those like you and me, it’s both, for some it’s one or the other, and for someone like Eva (first commenter) it’s neither! Just one more thing to add to the list that proves the world is an amazing place

By: Hal

Hal — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:22:32 +0000

I agree with Ahi’s comment that genetic makeup, or instinct, could play a role. After all, our distant ancestors spread from Africa to cover the globe (albeit rather gradually).