Back when I first learned to drive, “Crusin'” was what we did in the evenings – up and down Main Street from the A&W Root Beer stand to the Post Office. It was back and forth – forth and back, hoping to meet the girl of my dreams. In the words of Huey Lewis and the News,  “You’re gonna fly away, glad you’re goin’ my way. I love it when we’re cruisin’ together. Music is played for love, cruisin’ is made for love. I love it when we’re cruisin’ together.” I rarely get in the car any more for entertainment purposes, and have moved on to a different form of “Crusin'”

I was admittedly bored yesterday with little to say and a “blank page” to show for my daily post. I’m in the midst of a 45-day stretch at home after the decision not to travel with my wife to L.A. I missed having her around in the evening and it made each day feel especially lonely. As a result, I felt that all my friends and companions had travel plans without me, while I was home stuck with the dogs. Normally, home where I like to be, but there were definite pangs of retirement restlessness. Out of frustration, I booked an ocean cruise for two years from now. It felt good. 

The first time I ever stepped on a cruise ship was a Valentine’s weekend Carnival trip from Galveston, Texas to Cozumel. I was always afraid I would get seasick, so it was a trial run. Next was a Viking River Boat cruise of France and then an ocean cruise from Venice to Athens. I found each boating adventure to be free from the hassles of car rentals and hotel changes that are normally associated with travel. I enjoyed waking up at a new location every day and running on the deck or on foreign soil. I’m looking forward to our Nile River cruise next October and seeing the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

The cruise I booked yesterday was impromptu and the longest excursion away from home I’ve ever planned. It starts with 2 days in Barcelona, Spain and concludes with 2 days in Oslo, Norway, two yet to be explored countries on my growing list of conquests. For 15 days in-between, Viking will take us down the Trade Routes of the Middle Ages, exploring Amsterdam, Bergen, Paris, and Porto. We’ll circle Spain and make stops in England, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Norway. It will take my total country visitations to over 30, a long way from my overall goal of 100. (See Post #467). There are currently 195 total with 54 in Africa alone and 44 in Europe. I have a lot of “Crusin'” to do and maybe a few safaris. 

It’s not like collecting Coca-Cola Tour The World bottle-caps like I did as a kid. I had my game folder with 100 locations to find, as I searched sticky vending machine collection boxes to fill the missing spaces. This was a lot cheaper way to see the world than traveling to each one via planes, trains, and automobiles. I’m playing a new form of travel game in retirement that is similar to spotting licence plates. Fortunately, I’ve already covered most of the U.S., except Alaska and Maine, so that quest is nearly complete. My life has now taken me from Main Street to Crusin’ The World with my wife. “I Love It When We’re Crusin’ Together.”