The Traveler Birthday: Breaching My 4th Decade

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I had a big birthday, and after years of travel-love, traditional celebration just didn't seem to fit any more.Today... I bulldozed my way in a new decade. All related anxieties about leaving my twenties and entering my thirties were worked through about 2 weeks ago- so I was able to have a pretty rad day today. And by day, I mean today and the 3 days leading up.After spending so much time travelling, and valuing my ability to just get up and go whenever, I've grown to prioritize events/experiences over actual gifts. This year, a few days in advance of my birthday, my parent's surprised me with an afternoon sail around the Nantucket Sound. I really like boats, and pleasure outings like that are typically very far beyond my [financial] means (the last time I was on a boat- it was panga, I had a 42L backpack, and I was pointed away from my favorite little island), so it was a really great gift.Though the few days leading up were pleasant and enjoyable, the weeks prior were wracked with the inevitable panic of "what awaits me on the other side?!"I had to do something to calm my worried mind, and focus that nervous energy into something productive. I realized that I needed to give myself a goal to pursue. I strapped on my flip-flops (no boots here, its too bloody hot), cracked my knuckles, and unleashed my #1 skill to achieve this goal.What did I do?

I got super f*@^!%g creepy.

I took a walk during my lunch hour one day and found myself in the Bay Village neighborhood of Boston.... looking at all the gorgeous homes that other 30-something could afford. Because other 30-somethings were doctors or lawyers or marketing execs or entrepa-raking-it-in all the way to the fancy brownstones. Mid my existential crisis of "I'll never be able to afford this..." - something pretty caught my eye. The doors in the Boston brownstones are stunning, and this one had a particularly interesting number plate. I looked over both shoulders, got up close, and took a picture.

IDEA!

I spent the following 2.5 weeks slinking around the Boston area neighborhoods taking pictures of peoples' doors, mailboxes, or other random interesting numbers; from 1 all the way up to my current age. So without any further hesitation, here is the final product of me getting way too close to peoples' homes, possibly breaching some "no treaspassing" zones, and hunting down the most visually interesting specimens.[gallery size="full" ids="937,938,939,940,941,942,943,944,945,946,947,948,949,950,951,952,953,954,955,956,957,958,959,960,961,962,963,964,965,966"]

  • What has been the best travel-related gift you've received?
  • Are you in the 30+ club? What did you do to soothe the panic?
  • Have you ever been on the road for your birthday? What did you do?
  • Are you a part of a culture/family that has any weird or unique birthday traditions?