First Things First
"Now is the time to dance barefoot on the earth." The Latin poet Horace wrote that line after Augustus defeated Mark Antony in 31 BCE, and meant that Romans should spend a moment celebrating their victory, their state, and life itself.
Why are the dusty words of an ancient poet relevant? Think about your life as it is now. When was the last time you lived in the moment? We all have responsibilities and commitments that take precedence over pleasure. I'm certainly not encouraging you to throw them all to the wind, but instead remember that we have a short time on this earth. I interpret Horace's words as a plea: Spend your limited time doing the things you love. In my case, that love is travel.
What a lengthy introduction to my new travel column, but I think it nicely sums up my philosophy on discovering the world - everybody who wants to should do so now, no excuses. I believe that anyone can become a world traveler if they choose, regardless of age, experience, budget, or any of the other obligations that may be perceived as an obstacle.
My goal is to guide you toward a life full of travel in any way I can, and I promise to make this column, and myself, as transparent as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact me with travel questions of any kind, ideas for what you'd like to see me cover, or just to tell me a story about where you've been or want to go. My greatest joy comes from experiencing the world, and I will never tire of relating my experiences or advising those who wish to join my passion.
Now that I've explained why I am here, I'll leave you with a guide to obtaining the cornerstone of travel for any would-be explorer: a passport. America is a beautiful, diverse, culturally rich country, but it's only 6 percent of the world. Here in North Idaho we have a particularly unique opportunity to experience a foreign country. Why wouldn't we all have passports with Canada so close?
Applying for a passport is very simple, but processing time through the US State Department is slow (up to 6 weeks). If you'd like to travel any time in the next 6 months, stop doing everything immediately and fill out the application from the State Department website. If you don't want to travel any time soon, you're probably not still reading anyway.
The State Department has a handy passport wizard online that will help you through the process. While you cannot actually apply online, the wizard will determine your eligibility and fill in the necessary forms, which you will then print and take to the nearest post office. Along with the forms, you will also be required to provide original (no copies) proof of citizenship: birth certificate, consular report of birth abroad, or certificate of naturalization/citizenship. You'll also need photo identification: valid driver's license, certificate of naturalization, or valid government or military ID. Don't worry, they'll return the originals to you after processing.
The only other step to applying is smiling for the camera. If you take your application to the post office, they'll be able to take your picture onsite. Other approved vendors include Costco, FedEx, and Walgreens. Once everything's handed into the processing center, and you pay the requisite $135, you'll play the waiting game.
Trust me, it's worth every penny.
Next time: a comprehensive overview of travel rewards credit cards
Julianna Satterly is a Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy graduate who worked for three years as the editor in chief of her college newspaper at Washington and Lee University. She's lived in three states, visited 28 others, and has toured 13 countries.