In a word? YES you should travel, be happy, gather memories of the places you have seen! Just my humble opinion, but like in another thread that talked about meeting people, and another talking about What matters? How we enjoy the time we have here, the experiences we can have? Especially if we are free to go and do them?

Like they say. Today is a gift. That's why they call it the present.

I read a book years ago, and still go back to it from time to time. It's called "Who moved my cheese". The book deals with huge cahnce in life, circumstances like jobs, divorce, and loss of anykind where you feel fearful of doing things. all kinds of things. The one line that I remember always, is 'What would you do if you were NOT afraid?"

Boy I do understand feeling uneasy being alone and doing things alone. I have started to do those things too, after my divorce before i met Greg, and I was a bundle of fear...of everything! I am confident in what I want, but the no safety net issue was one i had to tackle then as well as now with the emotional. I got myself a cell that had 911 programmed and would keep it in my hand. In the other i had my keys, prongs turned up, through my fingers, on a just in case basis. I really don't do that as much anymore, but remember going to parking lots after meeting people for dinner and stuff, and feeling fearful. Once I did these things I felt better. Some carry Mace with them also.

All you can really do is be aware of your surroundings, and know that you are strong and capable. And YOU ARE. And if you are like me, think always "What would I do if I were not afraid?" and then go do that travelling, see sights, learn new things, and when you do? WOW the memories you will have!!!

I don't want to sound as if i am giving advice even though I know it sounds it. I am going to Vegas for the first time alone. Flight, Hotel, all of it, but I'm meeting my 'family" there, and that makes me really unafraid! :-)

Hope anything I said helped, and hope you can travel, and tell us all about it!

Love, and hugs, and hopes! Diane

I travel alone most of the time. you just need to be aware. Park in well lighted areas, have your keys in your hand and I carry pepper spray also, it doesn't do you any good to have it in your purse. I never leave my motel room open, even if I'm just going down the hall for ice. Never open your door to anyone,unless youve ordered room service. Most of my adventures are in the Spring and Summer and with daylight savings time. I'm usually in my room before dark. Oh and I use valet parking when it's available.

My job requires travel and for years I traveled alone spending a week in the big city all by myself. It never bothered me. I would shop and go somewhere to eat after my business for the day was finished. Sometimes I knew other people who were traveling for the meetings, but sometimes I did not.

When Brian became ill, our company changed a lot of the travel procedures because of the economy and I stopped traveling. It worked to my advantage because I needed to be close to home because of him.

In my profession, I can get my license and make some more money which would require travel. I've put it off for a number of years because of Brian. Now that my first year is behind me, I'm starting to think about doing things for myself again. I'm thinking about stepping out of my comfort zone and start traveling again. I still haven't made a decision, but I will probably make a decision about it sometime this year.

Now, enough about me and back to you. Maybe you could try a weekend at a local resort that isn't too far away from home and see how you enjoy it. The hardest part for me is eating alone, but I will do it because I like to eat. LOL. I sometimes take a book with me or search the internet on my smart phone while I'm at the table by myself. That takes the pressure off of me.

Good luck to you and let us know if you decide to give it a try.

Nessie from KY

I understand how you feel. I have never traveled alone before. This trip to Vegas will be my first. But then again I guess the travel part will be the only thing I'll do alone as I look forward to meeting all the people I have read or conversed with) It is taking a lot of courage for me to do so but I am determined. I am usually not afraid going places such as meetings etc alone, I am usually very cautious and aware of my surroundings. When it comes to venturing out and doing things alone I am very shy about that. I am determined though to try to move past that. If I don't I will find myself sitting and waiting for others to do things with me and be disappointed when they cancel. Its new and scary but I believe once you try it it will become easier. Like Diane (Moonflyer) said you have to enjoy the time we have left which may mean venturing into the unknown sometimes. Remember the bravest thing you have already done and that is surviving without the love of your life. Hugs, Anne

I think it always pays to be careful. Have your keys in your hand and if you have pepper spray have it handy as well. Best not to park too far from an entrance either - you can get your walking exercise in the mall, not by parking at the outer edge of the parking lot. The malls in NE Florida all are places you have to be careful.

As far as traveling out of state or out of country, it's kind of the same thing. I've done both, and I just try to use some common sense while I'm traveling. I would never travel, for instance, in high heels or any kind of shoe I couldn't run in or give somebody a swift kick with. I don't flash my cash around, I don't wear my best jewelry, and I use a shoulder bag, not a clutch. I don't take no-name taxis. I research and have a fair idea of where I'm going.

I just Googled on tour groups for women, and came up with this site which might be of interest to you. They even have a tour to visit the UK later this year in case you want to stop by :) -

http://www.women-traveling.com/

I think a lot of it has to do with how strong and capable you feel you are. Do you think well on your feet? Can you stay calm in a crisis? Will you be comfortable on the plane/bus, etc.? Some people are and some aren't. Would you be more comfortable taking a family member with you? Would that be feasible?

I think the worst thing would be to put it off until you weren't able to at all and then have the regrets to contend with. Maybe start with something more local. Just a thought...

Hope this helps. Love and Hugs, Martha

Hi New Roads, I don't know big the county you live in is but sometimes they have bluebird bus trips for seniors. The trips range from one-day trips for out to lunch and see a show to 2-7 day trips. You travel in a group. I live in a small county, so I don't have this advantage but the last county we were in had the trips and there were several different trips offered each month. They're not free but the prices are reasonable. Check with your park authority or center on aging to see if they offer these. Diane

I went to a Bible study a couple months ago. It was only 2-3 blocks from my home. I was still fearful walking to the car and driving home in the dark. Don and I loved to travel. At first I was afraid to go out in the dark. The thought of travel scares me. BUT you know what... I've already faced the most frightening thing I can imagine. What can happen to me now that would be worse? I'm leaving the house even after dark now. I don't like it but I'm doing it. I've booked my flight and room for Las Vegas. I'm scared about travelling alone. But being a prisoner to my own insecurities is worse than taking the risk to LIVE. Just DO IT! for yourself and your life.
Hugs,
Vicki

I used to travel alone for work. I didn't really have a problem with it. I think if you do decide to do this alone, just book tour groups at the location you're going. This way, you will be in a group. The flying and getting to your motel, is pretty safe. Making sure, that your hotel is near shopping and eateries is a good idea also. Try one trip and see how you like it. Now, it seems I take a grandchild along, it makes it more interesting and less alone.

Paula

I say go for it! A couple months after my husband passed away last year I went to the beach by myself for a couple of days. I just wanted to walk on the beach, think of what I'd gone through, think about where I was going and just think period.
I found that it was a cathartic trip. I enjoyed the beach, enjoyed the hotel and enjoyed the town. I was in a fantastic walking area (it was in Hilton Head) close to restaurants and shops and I made sure I was always back in my room before dark. The eating alone part was pretty weird but I had a book and my cell phone. I remember that I got a very sympathetic smile from one waitress who made me feel uncomfortable, but for the most part, they were friendly and I was way more conscious of being by myself than they were of me being there alone.
Just use common sense, that's all and take the advice of some of the others on here. After the half week at the beach, I drove to see friends in another part of SC and I found it refreshing to see people I knew and who I was comfortable with and I enjoyed that too.
Listen to your heart and maybe trying it once wouldn't hurt. Hope you can do it! Hugs, Sharry

I have lived in the city all my life so I go all over alone. I guess it has never crossed my mind to be nervous. I am always aware of my surrondings, and avoid certain areas that are dangerous. I am in New York right now for work. I have been walking all over Manhatten by myself and it has been great doing a little tourist thing in the evening. I too want to do more vacation travel alone. Try something not to far at first. A widow I work with who is in her late 60s travels all over the world alone. She does do tours, and she says she is never the only solo travler.

You know this really hit home for me. Trying to figure out how to " be " on my own has been a bigger struggle that I imagined it would be. I have literally never traveled on my own before. I am speaking of the actual task of flying somehwere by myself. I am not afraid to drive a distance and probably not too afraid to stay in a motel by myself it is just getting there, the airport, transfers, etc. The last time I did have to stay at a hotel by myself, ( last month) I was hit on by a guy in the elevator who then got off on the same floor as me. I was extremely uncomfortable. I have been thinking of taking a small road trip on my own to the Oregon Coast. We used to go there all the time for weekend gettaways so I know it will be hard. I need to prove to myself that I can do it, and survive. The memories will be everywhere I turn. I have never walked on the beach by myself before. Nobody there drawing our name encircled by a heart. Just me trying to figure this all out. I think I can do it. Thanks for the inspiration and advise.

Hugs,

Robin

I would consider it cautiously. What you're feeling is normal in an increasingly hostile world. That being said, after five years of being single I decided to take a trip alone to New Orleans. It was before the hurricane and I felt I was ready. I purchased a book on the subject than booked a train complete with private shower. I would meet up with a group from a club I'd joined but the travel to the location was all by myself. Two months before my scheduled trip my husband asked me to marry him and we ended up making it a honeymoon.

Here's my thoughts on the road I didn't travel. When we got to New Orleans we had to get a cab to the hotel. Unlike airports there were no long line of cabs waiting for us. Instead, my new husband had to literally stand in the street and flag one down. I remember thinking what would I have done if he hadn't been there. I definetly would have been afraid and by the way I can't whistle. So here's my advise. If you're going on your own take a plane to your destination. Don't travel on roads by yourself. If you do travel on roads by yourself, go in the daytime. Don't travel at night. Stay only in hotels that are well respected. There's rules about what part of the hotel to stay in, something about being near elevators(or far) that is safer. Look that up online because I can't for the life of me remember. Also, tell someone your route and schedule. Then check in if possible.

I know this is the time of women's empowerment but the criminals don't see it that way. We women are still prey.

an idea: four women from my water aerobics class are traveling to Paris together.....

I have recently been asked to join them for coffee after class and have done so, and the tri got mentioned, one said stick with us, we travel....so who knows what I will do, but if there is some group of people you share a common interest with and feel safe with maybe that group is a source of travel companions ..............happy trails!

NewRoads...,

My reply speaks more to road trips as a single rather than driving in familiar locales. The suggestions already given regarding safety and being ultra-cautious are excellent. I believe we cannot be too wary of our surroundings while traveling alone--whether it be a block from home or a three-day journey.

Soon after my husband's death, I took that leap to tackle the open road, attempting a trip to a vacation spot in another state. I quickly discovered that I couldn't keep checking the printout of my map while driving at a speed of 65 or 70 and still be safe on the super highways. As the day wore on and night approached, I became more anxious as another reality became crystal clearI couldn't read the directions in the dark.

Long story short, I enjoyed my trip albeit sweating nervously at the wheel of my car. I made it there and home safely; however, I resolved to purchase a GPS system to help me find a "doable" solution to my anxiety. I need a comfort zone while traveling as well as a cold drink and fries!

That was over six years ago, and I haven't looked back sense. I travel to and fro while crossing different states, enjoying numerous fun road trips, finding motels and destinations without a hitch, and doing all with a sense of confidence that made each travel experience enjoyable. I never depend solely on the GPS as I know they are just a machine and aren't perfect, so I always have my printed Google map or one from another Web site and, of course, my handy Atlas. I route my trip before leaving, check the printout map with what my GPS suggests, and then gleefully head out to the open road to see what there is to see.

Stretching ourselves enables a sense of freedom while getting used to our new future. My husband was my GPS system as he had a wonderful sense of direction and no fear of getting lost. He always found his way to our destination and made the journey fun and stress free. I, on the other hand, have a tremendous fear of getting lost and have a terrible sense of direction. So I say a big hallelujah for those marvelous inventions called the GPS navigation system. There's no stopping me now!!!!!!

Enjoy your new freedom in traveling. TJ

TJ, you are my driving hero(ine)! The GPS idea is a great one! Thanks TJ! If I ever figure out how to drive on the wrong side of the road and a stick-shift, I will definitely want one! :) I can't drive here yet, and find I do miss it.

Back in the States, I had to relearn to drive after Cliff died as he had done all the driving for years. My sister did a wonderful thing for me - she bought me a AAA membership. It was so worth it! If I broke down anywhere, I could call and they would come help, and they always asked me if I was in a safe place, and would tell me how long it would take to reach me, etc. The other thing about AAA of course is they will give you maps and help you plan trips and such, and they do sell travel insurance. Their office locations also take passport photos and sell luggage and such.

I think AARP has travel benefits, too, but I never had occasion to use that.

Love and Hugs, Martha