I met Mr. Traveling Man in the beautiful mountainous area of Boquete in Panama a few years ago. We where both staying at Pension Marilos www.pension-marilos.com located a few blocks from the town’s center square. We’d go for long walks and long talks. We’d walk up into the mountains, or on a road leading to the pizza place, or to the factory to buy jam and then onward in another direction, or along a main road to a coffee plantation for a cup of Panama’s delicious coffee, or over the bridge to look at the beautiful flowers that are so plentiful in Boquete, esp. the orchids. And when it was time for dinner we’d go to a place in town for the usual tasty $3 dinner. This was the routine for two weeks until it was time for Mr. Traveling Man to leave.
He lived in South Carolina when he wasn’t on the road. His wife died two years earlier, and now he doesn’t want to live in the big, beautiful house he helped build. As we walked and talked he’d give me traveling tips. For instance, I should have a Bucklite knife, 3″ blade, with a plastic handle along with a small sharpening stone. And if I were ever sick to take 1 litre of water, 7 teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt for dehydration. Yes, bits of information that could be very helpful along the way. And as we walked he’d point to different parts of a house explaining, e.g. how a roof should be built in order to withstand Panama’s heavy rains, humidity and sun, and what kind of wood to use, the best draining system for the rains, etc. He had traveled a lot with his family, and, now alone, to what are called exotic places. Not for a second was he boring.
Mr. Traveling Man lives in Thailand now. On his way there he drove to California to finish some repairs on his adult daughter’s house and to spend time with her. Last year he married a beautiful, gracious Thai woman with two children, and has slipped easily into that lifestyle. He’s built a big, beautiful house in Thailand with his new wife, is eating his favorite foods, and enjoying life with his new family.
Mr. Traveling Man is in his seventies and seems to get stronger as he gets older. He’s living and loving it all, and since he has a love affair with Thailand, he’s in the right place. Traveling brings people to you that you’d not necessarily have the pleasure of meeting otherwise. Here’s to you, Mr. Traveling Man. Continue to enjoy it all.