Solo Travel

I have been encountering some fairly alarming responses from friends and others when I tell them I am going to Costa Rica alone for three and a half months (too late to change my blog name :). The responses range from "why would you want to go alone?" to "aren't you afraid of being raped?" to "what are you running away from?"

In answer to the first I usually respond by telling them that one of the main reasons I'm going in the first place is to be alone and not distracted. I tend to feel very inspired when I take myself away from my friends, family, culture, language, any romantic entanglement, job, tv, cell phone, various social obligations etc. Since I'm not just going for an extended vacation but to channel all of my energy into a couple of important writing projects I intend to use the alone time to be alone. Upon hearing this some are slightly hurt that they are grouped into something that I want to get away from and others are confused further that I don't want to just party the whole time I'm there and some are impressed at my "independence."

In answer to the rape question I remind them that I have gone to various foreign countries alone before and I am smart about it and take all the proper precautions that solo female travelers should take and I really feel quite safe about the whole thing. I will have contacts there to leave messages with not to mention Costa Rica is wired.

And in answer to the "running away" diagnosis I usually respond with a laugh but in truth why not run away? When we are children we don't dream of staying in one spot our whole lives, instead we dream of "lands far far away" or "galaxies far far away." At some point in the transition into adulthood it becomes necessary to "root" ourselves and to only dream of tropical vacation spots and inhabiting a hotel room for two weeks out of the year. Some would argue that if you work really hard during your younger years you can retire in style and do your more extensive traveling then. However I haven't seen any hard evidence to indicate that spending savings now (in your twenties) will give you less of a chance to enjoy your later years.

The majority of people who hear of my trip are very suportive and even those who question only mean well and are concerned for my safety, I just want to encourage those people to dream a little too.