A.      I’m an ‘in the moment’ kind of traveler – I experience it, see things, want to travel light, which means no camera but I have my phone.

B.      I'm a take-photos kind of traveler (thank goodness for digital).  My camera goes with me when I travel, and my phone is a backup.  If there is a person at the back of a tour, it’s likely me … taking a photo.

C.      Can I take this? Yes, I’m a scrapbooker – if there is memorabilia with the name of something on it, I likely am taking it home for potential scrapbooking material to really capture the moment.   I keep it legal, of course.

D.     I’ll print my photos, and that’s what they make photo albums for … print ‘em and put them in the plastic sleeves so people can flip through them. EZPZ

E.      Shutterfly© or something similar … thank you to those programmers who make it so easy for me! Upload, use the auto-layout feature, order my book.  So simple!

F.      I close out my day with journaling … there are so many neat looking journals out there, but my favorite is one that has natural handmade paper with a cover made by an artisan.

G.     I’m all about purchasing memorabilia – magnets, thimbles, tour books, mugs, etc.  It’s like the Jello® commercial … There’s always room.

H.     My travel partner takes all the photos which means I don't have to - yay!

Any of those sound like you?   And did you end up laughing after you read through them, or could pinpoint it fitting someone you know?

I have no doubt evolved my travel-remembering moments, mostly due to practicality.  When I go to new places, there are three things I do … take a ton of photos, purchase compact travel books (think Pitkin-sized guides for specific details and photos – books do get heavy), and some item specific to that site, town or country.    

If I happen to be revisiting a locale or site, I review what already have so I don’t duplicate something.  Even going as far as taking photos of what I have so it’s one fewer thing for me to have to remember.  Today’s weight restrictions for luggage are so much more restrictive than 20 years ago when my sister and I took a trip to London and Paris.  I had SO much luggage weight in books alone, which was hilarious looking back on it.  But even though many things can be purchased online, not everything can.  

The moral of the story … how you choose to remember travels is totally up to you.  Do what works for you, because that’s what will bring you the most enjoyment of memories when you revisit them.

Thank you to all who responded to the Facebook® post, too, on how you remember your travels as you Explore Amazing!

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