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visit cities and wild places. It does not matter - wherever they venture they open themselves to their surroundings, and learn. As they learn they try not to be foolish in their comings and goings or unrealistic in their expectations.

And now, traveling by sailboat, I am grateful for those lessons. As often as we can, we linger in each new place we visit. We search out the things we need, learn where there are interesting and beautiful things, take time to talk to people we meet. We are often gifted with smiles and help and friendship and the pleasures of coming to know beautiful and surprising-to-us places. We hear stories we would not otherwise have heard, meet people who enrich our lives.

And we have learned both the rewards and challenges of being a traveler, being welcomed by many but recognizing that we are not welcome everywhere. Thinking we have approached someone, somewhere with an open mind and heart, we sometimes find that a reaction, a conversation, something written or spoken will challenge beliefs so deeply held that they seem inseparable from who we are. The territory we travel includes our selves.

Yet, acknowledged or rebuffed, there is great joy to be found in being a traveler. We open our eyes to the world around us, and see what is there to see; and the world we see surprises, challenges and enthralls us.

Learn more about this author, Margaret Mair.
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