My destination wishlist

From my last trip to PEI. The bay at Sunset.

A couple of weeks ago I had a dream that I was travelling with a big group of friends (which I luuuv) to do. Anyway, we were all in an airport waiting for plane and discussing our trip. Our imaginary voyage was going to take us somewhere (can't remember the end destination), but we were to have a 24 hours stopover in Dubai. And in my dream I was ecstatic about the opportunity to visit this place. But why?

Why Dubai? No idea. When I woke up I started thinking about it. Do I want to go to Dubai? I know virtually nothing about it. Michael Jackson posted up there, tallest building in the world, recent real estate boom, beaches, near some body of water (no idea which one).

This all has a point, I promise. So the sudden, subconscious urge to visit Dubai symptomatic of something else? A need to visit something so foreign, so different from my own life? The thrill of the entering a land full of the complete unknown is one of life's greatest pleasures to me, but Dubai? So I chalked the dream up to being, well, a dream, and started making a travel list for this year.

2010's travel list is much different than my lifetime travel list which could go on and on. I basically want to go everywhere. This list is an effort to set attainable travel goals for the year and being realistic about it. I have a life goal that I will try to visit a foreign country every year, preferably a new one. But if it's been over 10 years since I visited, I think it still counts.

So here goes:
1. Visit California. I have never been to the West Coast of the country at all.
2. Go back to France. I intend to start grad school in the near future (I'm shooting for August) and need to get my French-brain working in high gear.
3. Colorado. I can't believe I've never been! Not a single person I have ever spoken to about visiting Colorado has anything negative to say. It's high time me and hubs make it there.
4. Further explore NYC. We are three hours away, and I can't move out of PA without a couple more trips to NYC. That city has so, so much to offer and I want to see as much of as I can. But in a cool, look like a local-way. Not in a "follow your tour guide who happens to be dressed up like Lady Liberty" sort of way.
5. Stay in an inn in Connecticut/Vermont. I think it's from watching "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney a few too many times, but I want to spend a weekend in a cozy inn by a fireplace with my man. Sounds fantastic. And while I'm in CT, we will hit New Haven. Gotta have a steamed burger.
6. Visit our dear friends in Canada again. They've made their home on Prince Edward Island and it is so lovely! So quaint, with friendly people and amazing lobster, and of course great company. I truly hope that we can visit again and this time I can take my husband along.
7. And of course.. home. Go to Nashville, see my family, hug my nieces and nephews, laugh with my sisters, brothers-in-law and my parents. Lounge in my house and sleep like a baby, where it is so quiet and dark and peaceful. Ahhh... home.

And, I think that about wraps 2010. The list is quite an undertaking! But, I am a travel junkie and just writing it made me want to pull out my camping equipment, throw Mick (dog) in the car, steal Tyler from work and hit the road!

Do you make travel goals? I am a list-maker, so I make them for just about anything. Are you a bit anal retentive like me? Or do travel by the seat of your pants? Do tell :)

States of Happiness

The Center for Disease Control recently released a study of the happiest states in the US and I found the results to be very interesting. The top 5 states were as follows:

1. Louisiana

2. Hawaii (duh)

3. Florida

4. Tennessee (holla!)

5. Arizona

Louisiana ranked number 1 on the list? After all the state has been through in the past few years, all the adversity and pain, the residents of Louisiana believe themselves to be satisfied and happy with their lives.

Researchers found some patterns in the results as well. Sunny states ranked higher than those with little sunshine. States with warmer climates, lower crime rates and better air quality also affected the rankings.

What I found interesting is that after a weekend of being regailed with all the many, many fabulous aspects of the state of Colorado (and it is a great state, don't get me wrong) that it ranked at #23. Despite it being the most educated state per capita, the city of Denver having an average of 300 sunny days per year!

Hawaii being #2 is a no-brainer. Why wouldn't you be happy living there?

Florida I can also understand. It's sunny, beachy, lots of outdoor activity and they boast several cities whose median income is among the highest in the country.

Then comes my little ole' state of Tennessee. We're happy people! Just like the folks in Louisiana, we are not among the richest, the most educated, our states certainly have their issues; but by golly, we're happy. I love this! I've always said that rednecks from the South are more jolly than the Northern country folk. Now I have proof!

I also thought that Arizona was an unlikely winner. But the striking desert landscape, warm sunshine and low cost of living in AZ apparently make its residents very satisfied with their lives. I've been there a few times and I really like it too!

Also intriguing were the states that ranked at the bottom of the list. New York state was dead last. Researchers attribute this to stress, cost living, weather and city congestion, among many other factors.

And California ranked 46th! The Governator has straight up lied to us all! Cali is a stressful place to be! They apparently don't surf all day or lounge on the beach for a living. What a shock! As Chelsea Lately said last night "California, why you so sad girl?"

I think that this study confirms some things that I already knew. A simple life is in many ways a good life. The ability to breathe fresh air, walk out into wild, open spaces, and warm your face in the sunshine really does feed satisfaction into our lives.