Michael Sauers

May 24, 2026

Travel, according to many famous people, is a great elixir for life. Just ask St. Augustine, Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, JRR Tolkien, Anthony Bourdain and others. I disagree. Don’t get me wrong. Travel makes corporations and their stock holders lots of dough. It does the same for the owners of gas stations, convenience stores, hotels, motels and restaurants while they pay their employees low wages. Many ancillary businesses also benefit while they too pay low wages.

I have done my fair share of traveling. I saw some interesting things and met some engaging folks. Overall, there was very little I saw or heard that I did not already know existed. Travel did not change my life as much as it reinforced my beliefs about people. People were no less kind or cruel in other places. They, to one degree or another, exhibited the same human behaviors I grew up with and lived with.

Travel is marketed just like everything else. Scenery is hyped. Food is hyped. Cultures are hyped. However, in the end sapiens are sapiens. Show me the places where racism, sexism, ageism and speciesism have not reared their ugly heads. Show me the places where the rich and powerful don’t prey on the less fortunate. Show me the places where humanity, community and empathy replace greed, consumption and injustice. They are far and few, my friends.

Travel is an escape from the immediate circumstances that confront our daily lives. It is an escape for those who can afford it for, as we know, travel is expensive. Travel problems are first world problems; hotels, air fares, insurance, car rentals, food, guides, itineraries, house sitters, etc.

For some, travel is about bragging rights. How many times, while passing on the foie gras or caviar, did I hear people try to one up each other on their travel experiences. I have been here and I have been there. I have seen this and I have seen that. I have tasted food and I have tasted fantastic cuisine. On and on it goes. Whatever!

I still do travel but with caveats. While enjoying the accoutrements of travel, housing, foods, cars, clothing, etc. I keep in mind the hundreds of millions of people who live in extreme poverty. They suffer from a lack of nutritious food, clean water, healthcare, quality education, economic empowerment, gender equality, disability inclusion, disaster relief, family planning and child protection. That is hard to run or hide from. There is no pile of sand deep enough to put our collective heads into.

While most of us have very little to do with this apocalyptic scenario, we do contribute by our acquiescence. We are backed into a corner of our own making. If we could figure out a way we would fix it but the system is rigged. We have our voices, votes and financial resources to work with but???????????????

Enjoy the backyard deck while you chew on this.