Bermuda
Located in the western North Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda is a British overseas territory with its own government. It is an archipelago consisting of seven main islands and approximately 170 additional (named) islets and rocks, and it is located approximately 650 miles (1,050 kilometers) east of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (North Carolina, U.S.). Neither geographically nor geologically, Bermuda is connected to the West Indies, which are located more than 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) to the south and southwest of the island.
A family affair
My family and I just returned from a trip to Bermuda, which took place a couple of weeks ago. Including my wife Frances and our sons Alexander and David, along with the four of us who make up the Hodge family, my sister-in-law, Ruby, came along with us this time. We have only recently begun the tradition of traveling during the Christmas season. There were a couple of factors that led to this. Christmas has taken on a different meaning for me this year. My Christmas wish list is extremely short, and our two sons are no longer considered "kids," so Christmas is no longer about them. The other reason is that I enjoy traveling whenever the opportunity presents itself.
We traveled to Orlando around Christmas time last year so that my wife, who is a huge Harry Potter fan, could visit Potterworld. This year, we traveled to Bermuda, a destination that had been on my bucket list for years and that I had finally had the opportunity to visit.
One of the reasons I enjoy traveling so much is that it allows me to take a break from my everyday life. You will be able to break free from the 9 to 5 Matrix. You're familiar with the matrix, aren't you? That artificial construct that keeps us all imprisoned, walking through a half-dream life that we mistakenly believe to be reality? (By the way, the Matrix is one of my favorite movies of all time, so you will see references to it throughout this book.)
Remote Worker
I'm not a person who works from 9 to 5. I've spent many years working in a variety of office settings. Because I am a Drupal developer, I am currently able to work from home on a full-time basis. Believe me when I say that it is wonderful. When I work from home, the conditioning of the 9 to 5 matrix begins to wear off a little bit. My brain isn't completely locked into the 9 to 5 workday routine. There is a certain amount of adaptability and fluidity. This, on the other hand, is when you start to get those little flashes of realization that the 9 to 5 matrix isn't real. You're still inside, but you can get a glimpse of the outside world every now and then.
Getting away from the 9 to 5 Mentality
When you travel, you have the opportunity to get away from your everyday, mundane life. To put it another way, you manage to break free from the matrix. You will be able to take a break from the 9 to 5 mentality that you must maintain in order to avoid going completely insane while working. It was especially important for my wife and me to get away from the 9-to-5 grind for this trip because we are currently caught up in the government shutdown that the United States is currently experiencing. She is a government employee, whereas I work for a company that provides services to the government. As a result, we were able to spend four days away from the madness, taking in the sights and sounds of Bermuda while meeting some interesting people.
I had paid for this trip earlier in the year and had wondered at times whether I should have chosen a less expensive destination within the United States rather than one outside the country. When it all comes down to it, I believe things will turn out exactly as they should. I enjoyed getting out of the country and to a place where I could gain some perspective on the events taking place at home. I would recommend it to anyone. There's nothing quite like getting away to a nice new, fresh environment to get away from the craziness that is going on at home.
So, to make a long story short, here is what happened. It's too late! (Another movie reference comes from the film Clue.) This is one of the reasons why I enjoy traveling. Change is something I enjoy. Oh, sure, I'm just like everyone else in that I like to follow a schedule. Making my coffee is the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning. Each and every time. Routine provides a certain level of security and comfort for the individual. Change is what keeps life moving forward. Change is inherent in the very nature of the universe. Nothing remains the same, and it is critical to embrace change. It jolts you out of your gloomy state of mind. Not only do I enjoy change, but I also enjoy trying new things and having new experiences. When you travel to different countries, you have the opportunity to see how other people live. You have the opportunity to learn about different cultures and to sample different cuisines. When traveling outside of the United States, it is important to remember that other countries have different priorities than the United States. Going to different environments is something I enjoy doing. I'm from Maryland, and I adore my home state. Even though it is a beautiful state, and we have beaches there, nothing compares to the beauty of a tropical beach. It's good to get away to the mountains once in a while to recharge your batteries. Every year for Thanksgiving, my family and I travel to Massanutten Resort in Virginia. It's only a three-hour car ride away, but it feels like you've escaped from the matrix for a while.
Traveling is something I enjoy doing, and I make an effort to do so as often as possible. Traveling with my family and friends is something I enjoy doing. I've made a firm commitment to myself to travel as much as I possibly can. At the moment, I'm trapped in the 9 to 5 Matrix, but I'm also suffering through the interminable federal government shutdown. I've already started planning our next vacation, which will be to Costa Rica for our 25th Wedding Anniversary this summer. In the interim, there may be additional opportunities to flee the situation. Eventually, I will figure out a way to remain completely disconnected from the 9 to 5 workday. My story will continue outside the matrix, just as it has for Morpheus, Niobi, and a slew of other characters. And perhaps, just perhaps, I will be able to make a living from writing about my travel experiences. It would be fantastic to be able to disconnect from technology and explore the vast and beautiful planet earth. While I'm at it, I'll see if I can free others, such as my family and friends, from the 9 to 5 matrix as well.