Going Down in Flames

So I just thought I would write a note about my fine country's current economy...or lack of one. It's pretty doom and gloom here in the States. I was talking to Josh, who is currently in Peru, and was saying that Im currently trying to calculate how long it will be until we dive into a depression, arms flailing. I was only halfway kidding. It's looking pretty bad here. The stock markets plunged again with the word of another failed bailout. Everyone is pointing the finger at the other side and no one is solving anything. I think Josh and I will weather this fine but there are so many others out there who can't.

So what does all this mean? I think a lot of our Trunki traveler friends here in America are going to go on travel lock-down, which is a shame. I hate it that the greed of some people is taking the opportunity to experience the world from the rest of us. Hopefully, we can find a way to fix this but it will be a long time before we can claw our way totally out.

In the mean time, I will still stress the importance of trying to find ways of spending time away from the trials of daily life with your family. Even if it's just for a night. Pack up that Trunki like you're going to go on a trip and camp out in your backyard. Pretend, for one night, that your house is a hotel. Have your kids pack up their bags and "arrive" at your front door while you pretend to be the doorman. Check them in and take them to their "room." Maybe even post pictures of foreign lands in the windows so you can pretend you are in Paris or Rome. These are definitely scary times for Americans but we can't lose sight of the importance of family and finding ways to spend some special time together. Even if we can't afford to pack up the car and head out or take a plane trip to someplace, we can always travel to the furthest reaches of the world in our imaginations. So put some clothes, a few books, and your favorite teddy in your Trunki and go on a "trip" to someplace amazing.