8. Travel makes the heart grow fonder
Missing a spouse is a great reason to travel independently. When I travel solo without my husband, I often think about him and about our life together. I keep a daily tally of things that I think will interest or amuse him … and there’s always Facetime and Skype. And, in the end, I enjoy being missed.
Women and men can choose to travel with their mates, with their children, with friends or any combination of these — and they can also choose to travel solo. Each way leads down a new path, with new discoveries and experiences. I’m a mother and a wife, but I — and we all — have our own dreams of where we want to go and what we want to do and learn about. It’s what makes us human, and, as Tally says about traveling without her spouse, “Our time apart energizes us for our time together.”

About the Author
Barbara Winard has earned degrees in English literature, journalism, and, later in life, gerontology. Although for the past 25 years she was a senior editor and writer of online encyclopedia articles for children. She began her solo travels in college, and after returning from a long trip to Asia, wandered off the street and was hired by the Asia Society in New York City to produce films and print materials for adults and children about Asian culture. She was also a producer and writer for New York City’s public television station, WNET/13. She lives in Jersey City.