Well, once again, at this ripe old crusty age I am, and living here all my life, I happened to another New Jersey town I had never been in; Manville, NJ. Granted I only ventured far enough off the main road to go to the movies (and by the way, have you bought concessions at a movie lately…Holy Price Gouge Batman! I can see why my buddy Bob typically goes to the movies on half-price Tuesdays!) but Manville looked like a nice place.
It’s just when I venture further afield in this great state than my usual haunts that I am reminded how much of New Jersey I have never seen, then start to consider how much of this country I have never been to, and I have been to a lot of it. Then I extrapolate over all the globe and know there will surely be spots I will never get to but surely would love to.
I could halt all this wanderlust wondering if I simply said to myself, “Who cares Ralph? Be happy where you are at, stay put, traveling is expensive anyway” (the cost of gas even to Manville was a hit in the old wallet to be sure). But I am not built that way. I love to travel, so see new places, smell new smells, meet people I don’t get to see every day. Traveling has enriched my life in so many ways and makes me appreciate my home/friends and family even more than I already do.
So, I shan’t give it up, even if, right now, traveling is a bit pricey.
So, Manville, New Jersey. As I say, it seemed like a rather cool little suburban track. Again, I didn’t travel that far in, but coming off south 287, where I don’t usually travel, I didn’t encounter any unusual accents on the folks behind the candy counter and didn’t have to set my phone’s time forward or back an hour (I joke).
So, count me a world traveler as I found Manville and will surely someday go beyond.
