Nostalgia

The Oxford Dictionary defines nostalgia as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.” I suppose that definition is fine, at least from an academic perspective, but for anyone who has truly experienced nostalgia, it feels dry and clinical. I thought about this recently, when Pineapple Escapes set up its bracket challenge competition on Instagram between the different attractions at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. When the smoke cleared and the votes were tallied, I was stunned that “it’s a small world” came in 2nd place. Now I should state up-front that I joined those voting for “it’s a small world.” I absolutely love this attraction, and I have to ride it each time I visit Disney! However, I assumed that other folks would cast their votes for the more modern and exciting rides like Space Mountain. Having had some time to absorb our poll results, I think I have found a good reason for this outcome: nostalgia.

My husband and I live on his family’s farm in rural northeastern North Carolina. As far as we can tell, this land has been in his family since before the Revolutionary War. The house we live in was built by my husband’s great-grandfather and his sons, the wood was milled from trees cut down on this very property. Sometimes, when we walk into our home, I can see that for Robert, he has not walked into a structure made of wood and nails, he has walked into memories: Christmas gatherings, Sunday dinners, warm hugs, and smiling faces. Perhaps these memories are what separates a house from a home.

I find that much like my husband and our home, it is travel that transports me to happy memories of our past. I cannot visit the Smoky Mountains without thinking of our honeymoon. Each time I board a plane I think of our first flight together, crossing the Atlantic Ocean and visiting Scotland. When I hear the first faint strains of “it’s a small world after all”, I’m suddenly transported to a different time and place, and I bring all that joy to the present as I step on the ride platform. The truth is, we do not love Disney just because it is the happiest place on earth right now, we love Disney precisely because it has been a happy place for us many times in the past. From visiting the parks to eating hot, buttery popcorn on the couch while watching our favorite animated classic, Disney is like an old friend coming to see me after a long time apart.

Travel agents and other companies or individuals who make money from travel will often speak of making memories as a reason to get up and go somewhere, to the point that it has become somewhat cliche’. Here’s the thing though – travel really is about the memories, the ones we already have and the ones we are going to make. Perhaps for you, it is a favorite ride or character at Disney or Universal, or maybe it’s watching a Caribbean sunset from the deck of a cruise ship. Travel is an opportunity to reach into the past and, just for a moment, relive the most joyous times of our lives. It’s also a chance to lay down new mile-markers in our memory that we can come back to again and again in the future. Nostalgia isn’t just a sentiment, and it’s certainly not just a wistful affection; nostalgia is what happens when we get back in touch with our passion and our thirst for life.

When you are ready to make those priceless memories contact your favorite Pineapple Escapes agent or email us at info@pineappleescapes.com to get started!

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