Afraid of international travel?

[Zikoris]

I used to find really long flights intimidating, more in the "Am I going to go stir-crazy?" sense, but I find that they actually go by surprisingly quickly with some good books. I was flying home from Paris once, started a great and very long book at takeoff, and no joke, finished the last page right as the landing announcement started. I was like, wait, what? Nine hour flight, just POOF.

Another time I was flying to Asia and watched the entire Hobbit series, and it was similar.

[tooqk4u22]

I keep thinking about this and I keep coming back to the fact that I am part homebody (ie just love hanging around.my house bc I love it) and adventurer ( just want to go and explore and figure it out).   

But the weird thing is that my DW is neither as much of a homebody as I am nor is she as adventurous.  Our kids don't know what they are but they have varying degrees of both, but at this point in life they have a crap ton of activities and more importantly they value and enjoy their friends such that I am not there to disrupt what is working for them (ie my fear of f'ing up their fun).

I know I can be content doing nothing (well somewhat) or content or maybe miserable doing something.

Even if I am fearful myself it's the fear of the unknown that excites me, but I guess I am not ready or well suited to accept those fears on behalf of my DW or kids.   

[Watchmaker]

I keep thinking about this and I keep coming back to the fact that I am part homebody (ie just love hanging around.my house bc I love it) and adventurer ( just want to go and explore and figure it out).   

But the weird thing is that my DW is neither as much of a homebody as I am nor is she as adventurous.  Our kids don't know what they are but they have varying degrees of both, but at this point in life they have a crap ton of activities and more importantly they value and enjoy their friends such that I am not there to disrupt what is working for them (ie my fear of f'ing up their fun).

I know I can be content doing nothing (well somewhat) or content or maybe miserable doing something.

Even if I am fearful myself it's the fear of the unknown that excites me, but I guess I am not ready or well suited to accept those fears on behalf of my DW or kids.

There's nothing that says you have to travel with your family, if they don't want to go somewhere and you do. You can always go by yourself, or find a traveling companion (and going with a more experienced traveler should also reduce your fear).

[Adventine]

I keep thinking about this and I keep coming back to the fact that I am part homebody (ie just love hanging around.my house bc I love it) and adventurer ( just want to go and explore and figure it out).   

But the weird thing is that my DW is neither as much of a homebody as I am nor is she as adventurous.  Our kids don't know what they are but they have varying degrees of both, but at this point in life they have a crap ton of activities and more importantly they value and enjoy their friends such that I am not there to disrupt what is working for them (ie my fear of f'ing up their fun).

I know I can be content doing nothing (well somewhat) or content or maybe miserable doing something.

Even if I am fearful myself it's the fear of the unknown that excites me, but I guess I am not ready or well suited to accept those fears on behalf of my DW or kids.

There's nothing that says you have to travel with your family, if they don't want to go somewhere and you do. You can always go by yourself, or find a traveling companion (and going with a more experienced traveler should also reduce your fear).

Exactly this. You don't have to make it a family trip. A solo trip, or a trip with friends, to a destination you're comfortable with, is a perfectly fine choice.

You don't have to be Dad all the time. And having a break from family responsibilities from time to time may refresh you and make you a better father in the long run.

[EscapeVelocity2020]

There is never a perfect time in life to travel, but don't keep putting it off only to find out that you wish you had taken the plunge sooner.  There is no doubt that it was easier to travel when I was younger, especially going the dirtbag / youth hostel route, but travel is incredibly refreshing, if only to make coming home feel new and wonderful. 

Once you get going, you'll be amazed at how easy and fun it is.  I'm definitely sensing an inertia / over-thinking issue, since, you know, I'm a professional psychiatrist and all :)

The idea of the Mediterranean Cruise is a good one - you get to see several cities (ours went to Malta, Pompeii, Rome, Florence / Pisa, a couple places on the French Riviera, and Barcelona) - but hardly have to do any planning or work, other than having clothes and toiletries.  You can be as adventurous or lazy as you want, but maybe hold off on the African Safari for now...

[2sk22]

I keep thinking about this and I keep coming back to the fact that I am part homebody (ie just love hanging around.my house bc I love it) and adventurer ( just want to go and explore and figure it out).   

This is very similar to my own outlook on travel. I can take it or leave it. I used to be a fairly eager traveller before I got married but my wife is not too enthusiastic about travel. You might think that this mismatch would cause problems but its has not. I have a rich set of hobbies and interests that can keep me endlessly amused at home. We do travel a moderate amount and I am happy with that. Now, although I am retired, my wife is not retired as yet so things may yet change.

[kite]

I keep thinking about this and I keep coming back to the fact that I am part homebody (ie just love hanging around.my house bc I love it) and adventurer ( just want to go and explore and figure it out).   

But the weird thing is that my DW is neither as much of a homebody as I am nor is she as adventurous.  Our kids don't know what they are but they have varying degrees of both, but at this point in life they have a crap ton of activities and more importantly they value and enjoy their friends such that I am not there to disrupt what is working for them (ie my fear of f'ing up their fun).

I know I can be content doing nothing (well somewhat) or content or maybe miserable doing something.

Even if I am fearful myself it's the fear of the unknown that excites me, but I guess I am not ready or well suited to accept those fears on behalf of my DW or kids.

Coming back to this question of cultural immersion.
For me, travel =/= immersion in any culture.
I mean, sure, I've got 4  Irish great grandparents who emigrated all around the same time.  And about ten years ago, I roamed around Ireland for a few weeks. Saw the Book of Kells, kissed the Blarney stone, danced a few sets in a pub with ceili dancers.  But that wasn't cultural immersion, it was tourism. The immersion happened in the states when I started taking Irish Dance lessons.  So when in in a pub in Ireland, my feet were already tapping 7's and 3's along with the music and I knew exactly what to do.  It was a culture I already had some day-to-day connection to. It was mine, even if watered down through the generations before I picked it up in my 40's.

When I had prolonged exposure or immersion in other cultures, it also happened very organically and without needing a passport. I'm in a field dominated by immigrants from around the world. Between my in-laws & extended family we've got several mixed ethnic groups and somebody is always hosting exchange students or extended family from Belize, Vietnam, Ghana, Colombia or Italy.  My local church and even my neighborhood have undergone a demographic shift. As immigrants come in and settle, they are bringing language and tradition and shops that cater to their tastes. The immersion is happening all around me and I can go along for the ride or resist it by moving or staying away from everyone.

If there was a culture that piqued your interest, I'd recommend taking a class.  Go and learn the language, art, food, music or dancing of that culture.  Then let it snowball from there. Maybe it culminates in a trip or maybe you just get to know a bunch of new people and a love of whatever it is they've brought here. 

[reeshau]

I keep thinking about this and I keep coming back to the fact that I am part homebody (ie just love hanging around.my house bc I love it) and adventurer ( just want to go and explore and figure it out).   

But the weird thing is that my DW is neither as much of a homebody as I am nor is she as adventurous.  Our kids don't know what they are but they have varying degrees of both, but at this point in life they have a crap ton of activities and more importantly they value and enjoy their friends such that I am not there to disrupt what is working for them (ie my fear of f'ing up their fun).

I know I can be content doing nothing (well somewhat) or content or maybe miserable doing something.

Even if I am fearful myself it's the fear of the unknown that excites me, but I guess I am not ready or well suited to accept those fears on behalf of my DW or kids.

Coming back to this question of cultural immersion.
For me, travel =/= immersion in any culture.
I mean, sure, I've got 4  Irish great grandparents who emigrated all around the same time.  And about ten years ago, I roamed around Ireland for a few weeks. Saw the Book of Kells, kissed the Blarney stone, danced a few sets in a pub with ceili dancers.  But that wasn't cultural immersion, it was tourism. The immersion happened in the states when I started taking Irish Dance lessons.  So when in in a pub in Ireland, my feet were already tapping 7's and 3's along with the music and I knew exactly what to do.  It was a culture I already had some day-to-day connection to. It was mine, even if watered down through the generations before I picked it up in my 40's.

When I had prolonged exposure or immersion in other cultures, it also happened very organically and without needing a passport. I'm in a field dominated by immigrants from around the world. Between my in-laws & extended family we've got several mixed ethnic groups and somebody is always hosting exchange students or extended family from Belize, Vietnam, Ghana, Colombia or Italy.  My local church and even my neighborhood have undergone a demographic shift. As immigrants come in and settle, they are bringing language and tradition and shops that cater to their tastes. The immersion is happening all around me and I can go along for the ride or resist it by moving or staying away from everyone.

If there was a culture that piqued your interest, I'd recommend taking a class.  Go and learn the language, art, food, music or dancing of that culture.  Then let it snowball from there. Maybe it culminates in a trip or maybe you just get to know a bunch of new people and a love of whatever it is they've brought here.

This gets beyond the scope of the OP's question, but one rule of thumb I have:  if the restaurant has menus in English (in a non-English-speaking country)  then keep walking.  The food could be fine, but there is a difference of a patina of culture, and what people are really doing.

Usually, it only takes walking a couple of blocks off the tourist drag to find a place with locals.