not so carefree with a to-do list

Sal travels light. Sal travels without a wallet. Sal travels for the new friendships and the excitement of change.
How many of us can say the same? I feel like in today’s world even carefree traveling has become far from carefree. Magazines feature countless articles on how to pack the perfect carryon to provide the traveler with the perfect wardrobe that can mix and match to suit every occasion and withstand a weeklong trip. Road trips aren’t started until the car is hooked up to satellite radio and the newest GPS system, and traveling without a wallet means you’re walking to a friend’s house. Unfortunately this change in carefree travel is partially due to the progression of time: Gas prices going up, border security increasing, danger of strangers, and our general addiction to electronics (cell phones, cameras, iPods).

In On the Road Sal was able to be carefree in his travels to cities. I feel like this is now almost contradictory and carefree travel in cities is now being overthrown with websites dedicated to finding the “best cheap eats” or “free entertainment”. Carefree now means experiencing the most on the means you have. While this type of travel will still attract new friendships and provide the excitement of change, it is no longer simply about having a good time with the company you are with. Perhaps since we have all heard so much about places to visit no matter where you are in the world carefree is now less of a description of the action of traveling and more of a state of mind of the traveler.