Travel is amazing for a plethora of reasons: to learn about others, to increase your intercultural awareness, to eat great food, and to experience new ways of being in the world, to name a few. People make bucket lists to achieve milestones in travel – and ways to plan their goals. But when you’ve been sick, or have been in poor health, travel can seem like the furthest thing from your mind. 

Imagine opening a book so filled with peace that you long to jump in and revel in it. Such is the case with the new book by author Rob Goss and photographer Akihiko Seki, entitled Japanese Inns and Hot Springs: A Guide to Japan's Best Ryokan and Onsen. Reading this book offers both travel inspiration and peacefulness. 

Travel is important – and worth saving for! But if you’re sick of the lists telling you to make coffee at home (we do anyway), cook from scratch (we do that, too), and want a more creative approach to funding your travels, you’ve come to the right place. 

Florida Culture for the Week of November 18, 2017 By Josh Garrick 

When I lived in Haiti, my sister and I went to school in Port au Prince, but we ached and longed for summer vacations in Mirebalais every year. 

Ahh, summers of ripe mangos, chasing chickens in the farm, and eating all the candy before bed. Our grandparents spoiled us. We lived the good life.

Though my grandma spoiled us, she had limits. Every time I got in trouble, she wouldn't scream or shout, she would come over, get down to my level, and look at me and whisper "there's a good woman somewhere in there-- but it's gonna take some time."

Dressed in a Hogwarts t-shirt, standing in front of a room filled with eager writers and readers, most adorned in costumes, ranging from Maleficent to The Mad Hatter (me!), author Kristen Simmons explored and explained the magic of backstory. Personally, backstory is something I try and avoid whenever I can (which is never); I walked away with a sense of need to write someone's previous turmoil, love, and treason. 

Many people would travel more if only it wasn't so expensive. One of the best ways that I know of to travel on a budget is by buying or renting a timeshare resale from an existing owner. These are timeshares for sale and rent by owner, so their prices are significantly discounted from the price you’d pay through a resort directly. When I express my enthusiasm for timeshares though, people tend to look at me with suspicion. However, there are several reasons why you might be able to see the world on a budget with a timeshare.

Growing up, I learned much from watching my mom, aunts, and grandmothers cooking. Besides the camaraderie, laughter, and stories, I learned how to quickly peel an apple with no waste (and still have my gramma's paring knife), how to cook perfect scrambled eggs (and own my granny's pan), and how to move in a kitchen filled with many people, all working with sharp implements. Cooking together is a comfort. Knowing you are continuing lifetimes of kitchen and food knowledge is an extraordinary thing, full of love and taste.