Prioritizing “Third Place” Travel

“True happiness is really only to be found in sympathetic sharing.” (Johann Wolfgang Goethe)       

What places outside of home and work most give you the feeling of belonging now?

I’ve been looking for some thematic inspiration to write about for our upcoming road trip this August. So in timely fashion, I happened to stumble upon a new book titled “Finding Your Third Place” by Rick Kyte.  His premise states that there’s an “epidemic of loneliness” going in our country right now for a variety of reasons. He particularly observes that modern conveniences like social media, zooming, texting and other forms of tech – related communication have made it increasingly difficult for people to reach out to others in “face to face” communicative ways. He also notes that fears of human interaction as a result of COVID and the loss of public gathering places from unchecked, urban sprawl construction further exacerbates this social isolation problem. 

Know that Mr. Kyte’s proposed solution to this aloneness predicament focuses on the socializing potential of “Third Place localities. For they comprise those informal gathering spots that we can choose from beyond home and work. He furthermore contends that when  people “hang out” and feel receptive to acting socially with others in such “Third Place” locales, they tend to build mutual trust and a sense of common interest for all as well. Click on the following website for a more detailed description of ways that the “Third Place” can be a helpful tool in one’s life.

https://learn.rumie.org/jR/bytes/how-do-i-find-my-third-place/

Looking at the how “Third Place” pertains to me in more practical ways, how might this concept enhance the experience of my upcoming road trip travel? Very simply, I recognize a vital need to prioritize the best use of my leisure now. So I must take more time to relax in such informal gathering places to potentially find a greater sense of belonging. But on that note, what good would it do for me to enter a hometown cafe or vintage bookstore, for instance, forgetting the need to just stay awhile and chat? Under such rushed and self centered conditions, I would most likely ignore those around me and just  spend my time habitually engrossed in my personal electronic devices.                                   

Indeed, such strategies to partake in “Third Place” encounters would include more active listening, sharing empathetic sharing, “letting go” to laugh at lighthearted humor, or even telling a  memorable story. So take a look below of my plan to utilize this Third Place” vision in the following locations scheduled on our road trip. I’ll let you know in future blogs how well this social intended theme goes.  

St.Petersburg, Florida –  Old Tampa Bay at Vinoy Park

Atlanta, Georgia – Piedmont Park 

Cleveland, Ohio – Progressive Field Ballpark

Bethel, New York  – Bethel Woods Concert Center 

Northern Vermont – Sunset Gatherings In Green Mts.

Quebec, Canada – “Old Montreal” Along – Rue St. Paul 

North Conway, New Hampshire – Mt. Washington Cog Railway

Scranton, Pennsylvania – RailRiders PNC Field