I’ve started reading Andrew McCarthy’s book “The Longest Way Home:   One Man’s Quest for the Courage to Settle Down.”.  I haven’t gotten too far into it yet (okay, I’ve only read the dust jacket), but if it’s as well written as some of the travel articles he’s written, I’m sure I’m in for a real treat.

In comment to McCarthy’s statement about Americans being afraid to travel, I have to ask “why shouldn’t we be”?  One minute you’re on a plane flying from Boston to wherever and end up crashed in a skyscraper in Manhattan.  You can hop a train in Switzerland during your vacation and become a bombing victim.

Don’t get me wrong.  Traveling is a great thing.  I love to do it myself.  But it’s become a much higher risk for people today than even 20 years ago.  The world is a much scarier place today than it was back in 1992.  It’s enough taking a risk traveling to work every day, not much to a far off destination somewhere halfway around the world.

Aside from fear, another reason so many Americans, and people in general, may not travel so much anymore is financial.  When the airlines are charging $100.00 a bag, what average American family can afford to fly to Orlando?  With gas prices the way they are, driving there isn’t much cheaper.  And forget international travel.  It’s costly enough to travel within the United States; what average American traveler can afford to fly OUTSIDE the U.S.?

No wonder so many people are opting for “staycations” these days.  Besides, it’s a great way to relax and enjoy reading “The Longest Way Home” and dream of your ideal travel destination.