10 Years of Opportunity

The blog was first posted March 5, 2014. 

So I’m traveling again… but I’m sure this doesn’t surprise you one bit.  You know what may surprise you?  The #1 comment I heard when I told people I was headed to Europe for a 2 week visit/vacation. 

“You’re so lucky. I’m so jealous.”

Lucky? Hunny, luck has nothing to do with it.  Planning and saving, that has everything to do with it. Jealous? Okay- my first question to you, “Do you have a passport?”

What do you mean you don’t have a passport?  Why don’t you get one? Okay- call me “privileged,” call me “advantaged,” call me whatever it is that you feel necessary, but I just don’t understand the hesitation I get when I ask why.  I mean seriously, unless you are in hiding from the government (and in that case, you have a WHOLE different set of issues I can’t help you with), passports are awesome.  Not only can they get you cool places, but they are the “ultimate” ID.  That’s right- no more 37 forms of photo ID.  Got your passport?  Done.

Not only that, but they are literally the only thing stopping you from claiming that all-expenses paid trip to London you won when you were the 17th caller on the radio.  Okay- I’m exaggerating, but do you get my point?  Once you have your passport you have the ability to go when you want.  Your passport is the first step of doing out-of-country traveling (for us US citizens anyway.  You EU people have your own rules…).   However, Passports do take time and planning, because you don’t get them overnight.  There are documents to find, paperwork to fill out, pictures to take, and a post office line that generally takes forever even if there is only one person in front of you.  Not to mention it takes 4-6 weeks to process.  Of course, you can pay the extra $60 to expedite it to 2-3 weeks, but that’s $60 you could be spending touring the Highlands (Beautiful. Do it.).

So okay, this process will set you back $135… but as long as you are over 16 years old your passport is good for 10 years.  TEN.  That’s 10 years of opportunity.  And I promise if you have a passport for 10 years and never go anywhere, I won’t ever bug you again.  But I’m willing to bet a nickel, that just having that passport- makes you more likely to travel abroad.

It’s your first step.  In almost every part of your life (health, nutrition, travel…) the first step is the hardest.  You’re more likely to fall down; you’re more likely to give up.  But if you accomplish that first step, the arms of the world are open wide.

Inspired?  Find out what it takes to get your passport: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english.html