Wanderlust

It's my first real day of spring break for the preschool. It's one of the perks of working at a school - you still get things like spring break. Chicago has finally decided spring really is coming and I'm sitting here at my kitchen table looking at the sun shining through the window and buds growing on the trees.

Around this time is when my wanderlust starts to kick in. Maybe because I've spent the last five months inside as winter took over the Chicagoland area. I'm ready to venture out and explore new things.

For years spring break meant traveling. In high school it was usually a big choir or band trip for a tour our directors had planned for us. In college it was going down to the Appalachian mountains to do service work. When I graduated, while I didn't have a spring break anymore, it was during this time of the year I was knee deep in preparations for all of the summer trips I would be taking the youth on. Getting ready for camp, finalizing plans for going to New Orleans or San Antonio, putting together a summer retreat, or training for a mission trip.

On occasion, I even got to go somewhere and it wasn't for work. Like, the time I went to New York. Or, a couple of years ago at this time I was still riding the high from going to Orlando and meeting some of my blog friends.

This past year I didn't have any trips planned, and I don't have any to look forward to now either.

Other than perhaps driving over to Indiana to see family - which is always nice for a little break in the routine.

I'm feeling that wanderlust pull to jump in my car and drive for hours at a time or to catch the next plane to anywhere. To try new foods and meet new people, see something I haven't before, and go on an adventure where I could look back and say "I didn't know I could do that."

Lately, I've been seeing posts from people on the Internet about their vacations and their plans to travel later this year. Friends of mine are telling me about the vacations they are planning with their loved ones. I can't help but feel a little envious.

I shouldn't have anything to be envious about. I've been able to go from coast to coast and seen beaches and forests and mountains and theme parks and Broadway shows. While I say I feel like I haven't gone anywhere, that's not true. There are just so many more places I want to go.

But for now, those ideas and places will have to stay on hold. Unless I decide to be irresponsible with my tax refund and blow it all on a trip. Which, probably won't happen, and that's okay.

Eventually, I'll get back on the open road or hop on that airplane. I'll just have to be paitent until that time comes.