My Travel Pastime

My Travel obsession pastime

I enjoy luxury travel which I have just started to really experience within the past year or two. As a natural-born researcher, inquisitive person, and lover of global cultures and scenery, I purely enjoy the process of looking up travel destinations, opportunities, and great deals; continually comparing them over time to see if and how the prices fluctuate.

My mom says that this interest is a pastime for me. She is also the person who said that God told her that I will “minister to the nations” about 15 years ago. I say that travel has definitely become my hobby, in addition to portions of my professional positions; and yes, God has definitely placed a desire to reach the world within me. Reaching travel loyalty levels—and receiving the benefits—are also an achievement. I love the feeling of a great deal!

When I was growing up, my parents ensured that our family traveled each summer to see new places, and when we did, the Model Moore Teachers always snuck in a college campus visit for my brother and me. AAA (American Automobile Association) was, and still is, our good friend—a trusted resource for our travel needs.

According to several sources, “Candace”, my given birth name, is a reference to Queen Candace of the Ethiopians, a powerful ruler who became a follower of Jesus Christ, mentioned in the Bible (Acts 8:27) . The name also means glowing. I do believe that a person’s name is special and holds great significance, even if it is changed later to better convey one’s destiny. Consequently, my name is associated with royalty and does provide some inferences into my characteristics.

Recently, my mom called me a “travel snob” for my preferences and I didn’t like it (she apologized shortly after - thanks mom!), but she has traveled with me a few places the past couple of years and knows that I have high(er) standards. (I do believe that she, God, and some of my experiences made me this way.) These more desired opportunities for travel accommodations haven’t always been available to and for me. I’ve stayed in and traveled to my fair share of places that allowed me to “just get the job done.” But now, I prefer better for myself as long as I can afford it and/or it’s provided.

What I’ve found with travel and other aspects throughout my life is that settling for what I do not want does not fair very well in the end.

I realize that there are levels to luxury. I’ve been very fortunate to be in what I consider prestigious spaces which may mean nothing to some or everything to others. No matter what happens with and for me, my hope is to live with gratitude as well as accomplish the purpose(s) intended for me by God—this is what I find most important.

I captured this picture of the sky, ocean, and land as I flew home from a trip to Mexico in September 2024. So beautiful.