Alice’s Law

924 words

How To Find the Money to Travel the World
By Dianne Roth

Traveling is a splendid pastime. You pack a few necessities into a small rolling suitcase, say so-long to work, sleep for a few hours on a plane, and awake to find yourself in a whole new world. Less than 100 years ago, the same trip would have taken weeks of effort, not to mention the massive amount of luggage that went along with the traveler.

Today, we benefit from speed, convenience, and comfort. Well, there is nothing comfortable about being packed like sardines in too-narrow, no leg-room, airplane seats. But, in comparison to the buckboard, stage coach, or coal-fired train, airplanes provide the traveler with comfort unimaginable 100 years ago. For that alone I am grateful. I have always wanted to travel to exotic places, try unusual foods, wander in the footsteps of the ancients, and make friends around the globe. While I am sure I would have braved the challenges of rugged travel, I am delighted to have all of my travel time to spend at my destination.

Funding for my travels is another thing. Living on a puny PERS pension might discourage many from taking major trips, but those who know me, know that I live by an unusual economic philosophy. It has three parts. First, some expenses do not count. Second, the feeling of abundance does not have to be expensive. And, last, I follow Alice’s Law of Compensatory Found Income.

To start with, the airline ticket and any hotel expenses mostly count. Those are things you would not be purchasing if you stayed home. However, not using utilities at home (showers, heat, electricity) allows me to not count a bit of the hotel. I shop around for good fares and try to find hotels that are clean, convenient, and cheap. I will resort to youth hostels if I cannot find a cheap sleep elsewhere. Youth hostels are wonderful and not a disappointment if I cannot find a hotel.

Food, of the picnic variety, does not count. I would have to eat at home, and since I am not at home, I use the food budget to eat. A few nights on the town count, but not very much as I go out to eat when I am home, also. And, generally, food out at a local eatery is cheaper than the food out at home. Lunches tend to be of the nuts and fruit kind of snack, then I eat ethnic in the evenings. Alcohol in a bottle from the market does not count, a glass of wine with dinner counts. At home or away, a glass of wine is expensive.

Up to a point, souvenirs and entrance fees do not count. When I am at home, I give myself a monthly allowance. When I am not at home, I have my monthly allowance to spend. When my allowance is spent, I must carefully evaluate if I want to dip into savings. Sometimes I do, often I do not.

Secondly, abundance is a mind set. Look around as you travel. Many of the people you have traveled around the world to see, earn a daily wage of about what you spend on dinner, and they work harder than you ever will. It is not how much money you have or spend that will fill your soul, it is little things, the beauty, culture, and connections to the scene you have chosen to join, that make your life abundant.

One of the most abundant meals I ever had was in Teotitlan de Valle, Mexico. I bought an avocado and a lime at the market and a beer at a hole-in-the-wall hardware store. I sat on a stone wall, squeezed the lime onto the avocado, sipped my beer, and scooped the avocado into my mouth with my thumb. The view was magnificent, the company sublime, and the food incomparable. Life was good! A night on the town is great, but simple food is so... abundant.

Then, there is Alice. I do not know who Alice is, but I sure do like her economic thinking. Alice’s Law of Compensatory Found Income goes like this. If you have to spend some money, and then, you don’t have to spend it, it is yours to spend!

Here is an example. Two years ago I wanted a concrete block wall built across the back of my yard. I thought it would look a bit like southern France and would separate my yard from the vacant lot behind me. I got three estimates in the range of $2800 to $3500. And, that price was with the concrete footing under the blocks already in place. So, I would have to build the footing and still spend around $3000. The idea of building the entire wall myself was daunting, but not as daunting as spending $3000+.

The end result is a hand built (by me) wall that I love. It came with a price tag of $1000. Wow! According to Alice, I was going to have to spend $3000. I only had to spend $1000. I have $2000 to spend! It works for me. I worked hard on that wall, consider it wages.

In the end, I guess it is about how you want to spend what you have. Hearing languages other than my own, visiting sights right out of the history books, and seeing the art of the masters in person thrills me beyond monetary measure. In addition, meeting people from around the world and finding them warm and welcoming is my way of investing in the future.

Dianne Roth is a teacher, mother, grandmother, and freelance writer. She lives in Oregon.