Money, etc.

With the dollar decreasing by the day, something I am facing when dreaming about the next trip I will be able to take is money. Traveling is expensive. I consider my Europe trip to have been a "budget" one, at least a semi-budget, but it was still expensive, nearly $2,000 a week eating cheap meals, staying in reasonably-priced hotels largely under $150, skipping a lot of sights, taking all public transportation, and not buying much.

So my first plan of attack is that I have opened a savings account at my bank, which is linked to my checking account. It will earn a little interest and keep money separate and ear-marked. I started with $300. When I get a job (currently looking), I can set aside a certain (albeit small) amount from each paycheck and transfer it to the savings account. Soon, I should have enough to take a trip. Not a 6-week grand once-in-a-lifetime trip, but somewhere. And during the off-season. That should help a lot!

Also, something I notice is that a lot of people want to travel overseas - to Australia and Europe and South America and Asia and even Africa. And all these places are GREAT. The world is GREAT. But what about the US? There are beautiful and amazing things right here. Sedona, Arizona is almost as magical as Venice. We have pretty lakes and mountains and old cities and quaint towns and great food and nice people all the same. And traveling in the US is a lot cheaper.

I sure as hell picked an expensive hobby!