More young families than ever are on the open road
While grey nomads are out living their dreams and seeing this magnificent country, they can scarcely be accused of being unadventurous.
After years of hard work, perhaps raising a family or paying off a mortgage, the joys of the open road are normally embraced with enthusiasm. If today’s grey nomads have one regret … it’s often that they didn’t do it earlier!
British research would seem to support this possibility. A new survey has found that around three-quarters of people over 35 regret the fact that they didn’t travel more when they had the freedom of youth on their side.
Travel company Contiki Holidays, which conducted the research, said 65% of those older than their mid-thirties would advise their younger selves to get out and see as many places as possible before life’s responsibilities – marriages, families and jobs – come their way.
Of those who had travelled extensively, nearly a third said that travel had boosted their confidence, while 23% agreed it had made them more tolerant.
Of course, the realities of having to support themselves and the different expectations of life three or four decades ago made long-term travel a much more unusual proposition for ‘youngsters’ way back when.
Today it’s different and it’s certainly not just grey nomads travelling long-term around Australia. There are increasing numbers of young families who are taking a year or two out to travel, and young, free and single backpackers can commonly be seen enjoying the good life in our magnificent camping areas.
Do you ever regret not travelling when you were younger … or do you just feel lucky to be out there now? Or, did you travel when you were younger and are glad you did? Comment below.
when we were young it was something that was not done much at all, this was in the 40s -50s when not much money was around, wages were lousy but life was good, people cared about one another, had good manners and helped each other out, doors were seldom locked and you could walk the streets safely, old people were respected, know what i would rather have, we are grey nomads enjoying what is left of our lives and would not have it any other way, we are not baby boomers with money to spare just a couple of pensioners with a little savings enjoying ourselves
no we didn’t travel till retirement but . as least our kids & grandkids are doing a lot of travel now as we have told them not to do what we did & miss out
done some travelling between 17–22 with mates+myself.
later after working 6/7 days a week to buy a house. then getting married {my worst mistake in my life} travelled a bit with 3boys around nsw. qld. vic.sa.a tad in nt. a trip to uk with my mum with a few$. she went to see family.