The Travelers

Today I want to talk about a prevailing motif on this show which is the idea that adventure is relative. You don’t need to go far, like Jodi Ettenberg said in episode 10, “What does off the beaten path really mean? This idea that you can only satisfy the new by going to far flung places, I don’t think it’s very accurate… You can have really meaningful, messed up experiences right in your own backyard if you’re open to experiencing them. The only difference is the cultural gaps are smaller.” And what she means is that it’s the curiosity, the openness, the freeing of the mind that’s more important to exploration. Travel assumes distance, but exploration can happen anywhere - and wherever you explore there is adventure waiting for you. It’s an easily dismissed idea, this one that you can localize your travels to find adventure - but it’s realistic and actual. And you’re doing it. So I want to explore what we really mean when we say you can find adventure in your backyard, you can explore the world nearby, and st