Friday, May 05, 2006
Morning Funny
I just ran across this: http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/163/12/1557?ijkey=cFLLxMdngN6es I couldn't think of any friends who are rabid Pooh fans that I could tick off, so I thought I'd share it here, in the hopes of amusing SOMEbody...
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Oh my...
That's not exactly what I said when I started reading this, but it gives you the general idea. No, WAIT! Don't go there just yet. I found that site, though, through a rather circuitous route; first I hit a message board I hadn't been on in months, read a few posts, found one by a person with whom I felt I identified, she had a blog link in her signature line, so I clicked on that, and down a post or two was a link to the site mentioned above which, in a nutshell (if you've been a good little reader and not clicked yet), describes how the different Meyers-Briggs types travel. OK, stop, That was a lousy intro. Rewind. Let's try again. Play.
I found this nifty website today. It's all about the travel habits of the different Meyers-Briggs types. I happen to know, from books read long ago, that my type is (or at least was then) INFJ. So I found the page that describes me as a traveler here. After reading the first sentence, I had to exclaim my amazement, as the description was frightfully accurate. Well, almost. After having read the entire article, I'm actually beginning to question whether I'm still an INFJ, as some of the habits mentioned, while once 100% accurate, are now starting to mellow somewhat. To "divide and conquer," as it were, I'll elaborate below. My advance apologies to the original author, as I fear I will be quoting a majority of the article here as I dissect my relationship to it.
"An image of the INFJ traveler might be one of the "research librarian" up to her elbows in tourist guides, travel literature and brochures, estimating timetables and prioritizing complex lists in an effort to "chart a course" for squeezing in as much activity as possible."
This is the sentence I read that grabbed my attention. Didn't I just mention this tendency in my last blog entry?
"INFJs are interested in everything; thus they will be interested in sight- seeing: fine art museums, unusual architecture, the interesting attraction- anything unique about the locale- and they will often try to cram everything into one visit. "
Yes, yes, and yes. Especially the "anything unique" part -- this explains my great love of the site roadsideamerica.com. There are certain things the likes of which can only be seen in one place on the entire planet. I have always felt it would be a shame to drive by such attractions because I am not aware of their existence, even if their subject matter doesn't necessarily fall within my primary areas of interest.
"A typical way for an INFJ to approach a trip is to read up whatever is available on the location, either in print or via the internet. Free AAA guides are particularly helpful, cross-referenced against whatever tourist literature the hotel might offer."
How true. Although I might spend weeks researching a destination area of my own accord, I can never just blow by the literature racks available at rest areas and the lobbies of whatever attractions or lodging we stop at. I might have missed something! There might be something too new to be included in the CVB's web site! An interesting caveat to all this research, though, is that it has lost a little bit of its shimmer since I quit the working world. I used to LOVE researching my next vacation destination on my lunch break. It was almost like a mini-vacation in and of itself. Likewise, I would sometimes be researching an area for an appraisal report that we were producing, and find myself saying "you know, this sounds like a place I ought to plan a trip to someday!" Now that I don't spend my days hating where I am and what I'm doing, it's a little tougher to revel in the information gathering phase, but I still do it, especially once a destination is first decided upon.
"Trying to derive an "overview" of the destination is vitally important to the INFJ, and until they have a sense of the "big picture" it is difficult for them to make choices about exactly what they want to do, or how best to expend their time, and it also helps them manage a sense of feeling overwhelmed by so many new possibilities."
Sorta-kinda true. The article mentions this later in a way that is more applicable to me. The most truthful part of this is that, despite my being a big-time detail-oriented person, it does help me to have the big picture by having digested as many resources about a place as possible before making final decisions about what to do, because I have to know what the can't-miss attractions are and how long they take to savor before I can decide how to fill in the blanks between them.
"Because of their attention to Time and Task, and the superstition that such an opportunity may never come their way again, INFJs attempt to maximize the event and wring as much potential as possible from it, even if that means skipping over parts and only enjoying the highlights. "
Again, yes and no. I definitely subscribe to the thought that I may never visit a given place again. This is a matter of practicality, though; there are SO many places in this world that one can never see them all, so it seems like a waste to do any one of them too many times. Notable exceptions to this rule for me are Las Vegas and Disney World, since they're both such rapidly-changing, ever-evolving destinations. Once every five years or so is sufficient, though, for these, and the trip would still include side trips to other, new-to-me locales, in addition to the review of the main destination. Another minor exception is going back to see something that I saw as a kid, but hopefully I'll remember to cover that later. The "no" part of this is about skipping over parts; I tend, once I am someplace, to REALLY get absorbed into it, and take as much time as is necessary to process and enjoy it completely. For me to stay until closing time in a museum is not at all unsual, probably much to the chagrin of the person with whom I am traveling.
"Despite this tendency, an experienced (or self-aware) INFJ will make provisory arrangements to cope with sensory overload by scheduling in some "down time" if the duration of the visit permits. This may include an afternoon lazing by the pool, a quiet walk in a park, vegging out on some TV, or luxuriating in an in-room whirlpool bath -- self-indulgences they might otherwise neglect in favor of vigorous sightseeing."
Yup yup yup! This is especially true when I travel alone -- I probably have more down time when traveling alone than almost anyone. Mostly my down time consists of reading (pleasure reading, not reading guidebooks), an activity to which I am also greatly inclined when on a cruise. I find that this down-time not only helps me prevent fatigue and over-stimulation, but also helps me recharge the way a vaction should -- so that I don't have the issue of needing a "vacation from my vacation" when I get back home.
"INFJs are very goal-focused about their traveling, but not at the expense of others. Since people are important to them, INFJs will adapt their travel schedule to include or accommodate their traveling companions. (If a young INFJ is dragged along on the family vacation, they may spend the entire trip with their nose buried in a book rather than taking in the sights everyone else is enjoying, much to their parent's chagrin.)"
WAYY true. This actually makes it very difficult for me to travel with others. I am always so concerned about whether or not we are covering all the sights and activities that they want to accomplish that I am often more stressed out on vacation than when at home. Since I already know, thanks to all my planning, that we will see and do everything that I want, I also feel guilty that maybe I'm dominating my traveling companion's experience of a destination, so I try extra hard to compensate and, as a result, sometimes wind up annoying my companion with my continual questioning attempts to be sure that they don't feel left out.
The second part of this takes me back to the reason why I am willing to re-visit places I've already been to, but as a kid. I did spend much of my time reading or sleeping when vacationing with my parents. So going back and doing those same destinations with my camera in hand and my journal in my pocket is very worthwhile for me.
"INFJs favor travel bargains, and thus may be on the lookout for discounts, coupons, and multiple venue passes that maximize their travel dollar. I know one INFJ who wouldn't be caught dead travelling without her AAA card handy for discounts, and she displays her museum membership card wherever she travels and invariably requests reciprocal privileges. Certainly INFJs love those half-price theatre ticket booths!"
Although I rarely visit the theatre while on vacation, I will happily save a buck by showing my AAA card, and if I am in a place I feel particularly unlikely to re-visit, I will almost invariably choose to go with the multi-venue pass, despite the high price tag they generally carry, because they do represent value. Of course, I once again do my research before buying...what places does it cover? How much would individual admission to those places be? Is the whole cost less than that? If not, does it maybe cover transport in addition to admission? And so on. We did this in Stockholm and were not disappointed. I also did something similar while in St. Augustine. Places that are cram-packed with activities bring out the bargain hunter in me, because although I hate to miss anything, I hate even more to spend money unnecessarily. I can often justify paying admissions, but why pay full price if you don't have to?
"INFJs are reluctant to "bother" people with pesky questions unless they have a specific inquiry such as which tube line to take -- and even then they only ask if they've attempted to figure the solution out on their own first. They are especially pained by disturbing people in a foreign country whose language they do not speak, since they feel this adds insult to injury! In fact, INFJs can seem anti-social.
While INFJs enjoy social interaction with people they already know, their preference for introversion leaves them uncomfortable with strangers and "small talk." They dread the taxi driver's usual, "So where are you from?" or the bellman's rote inquiry, "Are you traveling on business or is this a vacation?" They prefer to be ignored entirely. Occasionally, INFJs might "pick the brain" of a friendly concierge regarding a good restaurant, which bus tours represent the best value, which museums are most worthwhile, and what time venues might be least crowded -- but having already done copious research, sometimes they know more than the concierge about what they are asking! "
Damn skippy! I don't think they have made a train, bus, or roadway system that I can't figure out on my own, regardless of any language difference. There are a few things that I take inordinate pride in, and this covers a couple of them: 1. my innate sense of direction and my ability to navigate as a result and 2. my love of and eager desire to learn more about languages. Although I am no linguist, I have enough bits and pieces under my belt to get me almost anywhere. And, as I learned in Scandinavia last year, once immersed in a language for a week or two, I quickly pick up enough to get along just fine. In case you're curious, jordbaer means strawberry in Swedish. Or was that Norwegian? OK, I admit, being exposed to two so similar languages at pretty much the same time did leave me with a little confusion, but the basic premise holds true; I can now find my way around town, shop in a grocery store (and know what I'm buying!) and ask basic questions (where is the toilet?) well enough to be just fine on my own, thank you very much!
Oh, and the "they prefer to be ignored entirely" part brought me back to one particular experience I had in Dallas, when staying at an especially uppity hotel as part of a business trip. It really steams me when the staff at high-end hotels want to do everything for you, then turn around with their hand out for a tip. Either it's part of the service level of the establishment, or I'm paying you to do this; not both! In any event, though, I'd rather take care of everything I possibly can by myself, regardless. I've never been waited on hand and foot, and having others do things for me just flat out makes me uncomfortable. Although it's something of a prideful matter, it's also a level of basic dis-ease I feel when in such an environment that I can't put a name to.
"Once they have arrived, one favorite activity is to indulge in a general tour -- either via double-decker bus or trolley car, which many metropolitan areas now offer (London particularly comes to mind). This helps orient the INFJ to the locale, and a general overview of the area gives them a better "feel" for the big picture.They greatly enjoy the personalized "patter" of a tour guide offering general history alongside interesting trivia about the area. Anecdotes are particularly enjoyable to them, and bring a city and its culture to life. A bus or trolley tour offers the INFJ "research librarian" an unparallelled opportunity to "soak up" information while effortlessly enjoying sights at the same time (a real-life travelogue!), and INFJs greatly enjoy being chauffeured around a new area and learning all about it in this fashion."
Mmmm, not so much so, although if the tour is an element of a multi-venue pass, I do usually indulge in it and enjoy it. I really do revel in picking up useless trivia about an area (part of my innate love of all useless trivia) from a tour, but to say that I must have a tour to make me feel oriented or to give me a grasp of the big picture would not be fair.
"Being Idealists, INFJs are particularly moved by locations that "speak" to them on some unfathomable level. Statues and monuments may spark a reaction both unexpected and archetypal. They enjoy empathizing with owners of historic homes (like Eleanor Roosevelt), Stonehenge "resonates" in some unspoken way, and the beauty and grandeur of national parks may bring them to tears and touch them in a mystical, spiritual fashion they can't easily verbalize."
One particular experience that comes to mind along these lines was being moved to tears while viewing the wall of police officers fallen in the line of duty at a police museum in Miami. I know no police officers personally (though I have lived near many, I've never become close with any), and I couldn't see any reason why I identified with them so strongly that I was touched in this way. Perhaps it was because I saw a parallel between them and the soldiers of my father's war, or maybe it was just the personal stories and notes that had been taped to the monument, but to this day I don't know for sure.
"One trap INFJs may fall into while traveling is accidentally spending more time reading the placards posted about an item on display than enjoying the display itself. INFJs are attracted to words -- and the words sometimes unintentionally take precedence over the exhibited item. This is why audio and guided tours often represent an advantage over wandering through a venue alone where, despite her best efforts, an INFJ might actually lapse into spontaneous viewing and linger unintentionally! (Which is fine until time runs out and the INFJ berates herself for not sticking to her schedule better.) "
Did I mention that I often stay at museums till they kick me out at closing? Seriously, though, now that I have moved to the realm of digital photography, I don't suffer from this quite as much as I used to. For example, when visiting the Swedish-American Emigrant Museum, I took photos of almost all of the words for later review, and just skimmed them while viewing the actual exhibits (many of which I also photographed, of course). I can't say that I ever viewed guided tours as an advantage, though; despite the fact that they catered to my love of trivia, I always felt rushed, and it seemed like I would have to do the whole museum again afterward, if I was to properly take it all in.
"INFJs usually neglect to schedule meal-times around the monument-hopping or battleship-touring. Often they will snatch a banana as they blow past a 7-11 on their way to the water taxi, or grab a container of soup from the museum cafe to wolf down before inhaling the Picassos and van Goghs. The majority of eating is done on the run, if it is remembered at all. Moreover, many INFJs are wary of unusual local food or strange ethnic dietary selections -- some even prefer bland or ordinary "comfort" food -- something familiar --particularly if they are feeling stressed by the travel experience."
Yet another yes and no paragraph. I do tend to neglect my eating during operating hours. But I am just as likely to go out of my way to experience local cuisine -- whether it be something exotic because I am in a distant country, or just the mom & pop diner down the street because I have heard from the locals that it is the best -- at dinnertime as not. Admittedly, money often curbs this as I eat ramen at my campsite, but were money no object, I would savor every unusual and distinct flavor a place could offer me, as for me food is very important to a sense of place.
"The INFJ is inclined to spend some portion of the trip writing postcards, letters, or email to send to friends to share the journey with them. No doubt some time will also be devoted to buying ideal "tokens" to carry home to bestow upon loved ones, and seeking the perfect "souvenir" that will *symbolize* the visit in some unique fashion. INFJs often snap photographs during their travels in order to "share" their trips with friends when the traveler returns home, and the INFJ prefers shots of familiar faces be captured amidst the glorious scenery or alongside famous monuments."
This one is actually mostly no. I don't usually share the journey while it's happening, but rather keep a very detailed journal for myself, and then share it with others well after the fact, when my scrapbook(s) of it is/are complete. Every once in a while I will purchase a souvenir for someone, but that tendency has waned since quitting my job. And as for photos...I remember having to explain myself more than once to my father, who kept asking me about the people on my trips. I almost never include a human in my photos. I am gradually breaking this habit, by at least getting myself & Jeff in the frame once in a while, but I will still go out of my way to avoid including any passersby in a shot wherever possible, and I almost never think to get photos of people we meet along the way, regardless of how interesting they are to converse with.
"A bad habit of INFJs is a tendency to purchase books at local venues whilst they are travelling, and they often end up lugging huge tomes aboard the plane at the end of their journey in order to read and research even MORE about their destination."
I'm not sure I'd call this habit bad, especially for me as a scrapbooker -- I like to have the facts, correct and handy, when I go to make my albums. I was particularly peeved when Kalmar Castle in Sweden did not have any guidebooks available for purchase, although this was mostly due to the fact that they didn't allow any photography inside the castle. If they had, I probably would not even have thought of purchasing a guidebook, much less of going to the extent that I did (ordering one after I got home).
"When the INFJ returns home from a typically whirlwind trip, they are likely to crave a "vacation from their vacation," because they invested so much energy into trying to "do it all." There is often a sense of frustration that they did not accomplish as much as they would have liked, and a nagging feeling they would like to return someday and do all the things missed on this trip in order to do the locale "justice." (Of course, the irony is that "justice" never occurs, no matter how many repeat visits are made.) Moreover, INFJ travelers aren't inclined to ever return to a vacation destination when offered the option of "conquering" a brand-new venue in its stead."
Yup, although this is naturally far less true when I'm traveling alone, as I have only myself to please, and thus get in a great deal more R&R than on most vacations (cruises excepted). As for the rest, see the discussion of Lost Wages and Dinney above.
The one thing this site didn't do was recommend the ideal Meyers-Briggs type of a traveling companion for an INFJ. So, anyone want to come travel with me? :D
I found this nifty website today. It's all about the travel habits of the different Meyers-Briggs types. I happen to know, from books read long ago, that my type is (or at least was then) INFJ. So I found the page that describes me as a traveler here. After reading the first sentence, I had to exclaim my amazement, as the description was frightfully accurate. Well, almost. After having read the entire article, I'm actually beginning to question whether I'm still an INFJ, as some of the habits mentioned, while once 100% accurate, are now starting to mellow somewhat. To "divide and conquer," as it were, I'll elaborate below. My advance apologies to the original author, as I fear I will be quoting a majority of the article here as I dissect my relationship to it.
"An image of the INFJ traveler might be one of the "research librarian" up to her elbows in tourist guides, travel literature and brochures, estimating timetables and prioritizing complex lists in an effort to "chart a course" for squeezing in as much activity as possible."
This is the sentence I read that grabbed my attention. Didn't I just mention this tendency in my last blog entry?
"INFJs are interested in everything; thus they will be interested in sight- seeing: fine art museums, unusual architecture, the interesting attraction- anything unique about the locale- and they will often try to cram everything into one visit. "
Yes, yes, and yes. Especially the "anything unique" part -- this explains my great love of the site roadsideamerica.com. There are certain things the likes of which can only be seen in one place on the entire planet. I have always felt it would be a shame to drive by such attractions because I am not aware of their existence, even if their subject matter doesn't necessarily fall within my primary areas of interest.
"A typical way for an INFJ to approach a trip is to read up whatever is available on the location, either in print or via the internet. Free AAA guides are particularly helpful, cross-referenced against whatever tourist literature the hotel might offer."
How true. Although I might spend weeks researching a destination area of my own accord, I can never just blow by the literature racks available at rest areas and the lobbies of whatever attractions or lodging we stop at. I might have missed something! There might be something too new to be included in the CVB's web site! An interesting caveat to all this research, though, is that it has lost a little bit of its shimmer since I quit the working world. I used to LOVE researching my next vacation destination on my lunch break. It was almost like a mini-vacation in and of itself. Likewise, I would sometimes be researching an area for an appraisal report that we were producing, and find myself saying "you know, this sounds like a place I ought to plan a trip to someday!" Now that I don't spend my days hating where I am and what I'm doing, it's a little tougher to revel in the information gathering phase, but I still do it, especially once a destination is first decided upon.
"Trying to derive an "overview" of the destination is vitally important to the INFJ, and until they have a sense of the "big picture" it is difficult for them to make choices about exactly what they want to do, or how best to expend their time, and it also helps them manage a sense of feeling overwhelmed by so many new possibilities."
Sorta-kinda true. The article mentions this later in a way that is more applicable to me. The most truthful part of this is that, despite my being a big-time detail-oriented person, it does help me to have the big picture by having digested as many resources about a place as possible before making final decisions about what to do, because I have to know what the can't-miss attractions are and how long they take to savor before I can decide how to fill in the blanks between them.
"Because of their attention to Time and Task, and the superstition that such an opportunity may never come their way again, INFJs attempt to maximize the event and wring as much potential as possible from it, even if that means skipping over parts and only enjoying the highlights. "
Again, yes and no. I definitely subscribe to the thought that I may never visit a given place again. This is a matter of practicality, though; there are SO many places in this world that one can never see them all, so it seems like a waste to do any one of them too many times. Notable exceptions to this rule for me are Las Vegas and Disney World, since they're both such rapidly-changing, ever-evolving destinations. Once every five years or so is sufficient, though, for these, and the trip would still include side trips to other, new-to-me locales, in addition to the review of the main destination. Another minor exception is going back to see something that I saw as a kid, but hopefully I'll remember to cover that later. The "no" part of this is about skipping over parts; I tend, once I am someplace, to REALLY get absorbed into it, and take as much time as is necessary to process and enjoy it completely. For me to stay until closing time in a museum is not at all unsual, probably much to the chagrin of the person with whom I am traveling.
"Despite this tendency, an experienced (or self-aware) INFJ will make provisory arrangements to cope with sensory overload by scheduling in some "down time" if the duration of the visit permits. This may include an afternoon lazing by the pool, a quiet walk in a park, vegging out on some TV, or luxuriating in an in-room whirlpool bath -- self-indulgences they might otherwise neglect in favor of vigorous sightseeing."
Yup yup yup! This is especially true when I travel alone -- I probably have more down time when traveling alone than almost anyone. Mostly my down time consists of reading (pleasure reading, not reading guidebooks), an activity to which I am also greatly inclined when on a cruise. I find that this down-time not only helps me prevent fatigue and over-stimulation, but also helps me recharge the way a vaction should -- so that I don't have the issue of needing a "vacation from my vacation" when I get back home.
"INFJs are very goal-focused about their traveling, but not at the expense of others. Since people are important to them, INFJs will adapt their travel schedule to include or accommodate their traveling companions. (If a young INFJ is dragged along on the family vacation, they may spend the entire trip with their nose buried in a book rather than taking in the sights everyone else is enjoying, much to their parent's chagrin.)"
WAYY true. This actually makes it very difficult for me to travel with others. I am always so concerned about whether or not we are covering all the sights and activities that they want to accomplish that I am often more stressed out on vacation than when at home. Since I already know, thanks to all my planning, that we will see and do everything that I want, I also feel guilty that maybe I'm dominating my traveling companion's experience of a destination, so I try extra hard to compensate and, as a result, sometimes wind up annoying my companion with my continual questioning attempts to be sure that they don't feel left out.
The second part of this takes me back to the reason why I am willing to re-visit places I've already been to, but as a kid. I did spend much of my time reading or sleeping when vacationing with my parents. So going back and doing those same destinations with my camera in hand and my journal in my pocket is very worthwhile for me.
"INFJs favor travel bargains, and thus may be on the lookout for discounts, coupons, and multiple venue passes that maximize their travel dollar. I know one INFJ who wouldn't be caught dead travelling without her AAA card handy for discounts, and she displays her museum membership card wherever she travels and invariably requests reciprocal privileges. Certainly INFJs love those half-price theatre ticket booths!"
Although I rarely visit the theatre while on vacation, I will happily save a buck by showing my AAA card, and if I am in a place I feel particularly unlikely to re-visit, I will almost invariably choose to go with the multi-venue pass, despite the high price tag they generally carry, because they do represent value. Of course, I once again do my research before buying...what places does it cover? How much would individual admission to those places be? Is the whole cost less than that? If not, does it maybe cover transport in addition to admission? And so on. We did this in Stockholm and were not disappointed. I also did something similar while in St. Augustine. Places that are cram-packed with activities bring out the bargain hunter in me, because although I hate to miss anything, I hate even more to spend money unnecessarily. I can often justify paying admissions, but why pay full price if you don't have to?
"INFJs are reluctant to "bother" people with pesky questions unless they have a specific inquiry such as which tube line to take -- and even then they only ask if they've attempted to figure the solution out on their own first. They are especially pained by disturbing people in a foreign country whose language they do not speak, since they feel this adds insult to injury! In fact, INFJs can seem anti-social.
While INFJs enjoy social interaction with people they already know, their preference for introversion leaves them uncomfortable with strangers and "small talk." They dread the taxi driver's usual, "So where are you from?" or the bellman's rote inquiry, "Are you traveling on business or is this a vacation?" They prefer to be ignored entirely. Occasionally, INFJs might "pick the brain" of a friendly concierge regarding a good restaurant, which bus tours represent the best value, which museums are most worthwhile, and what time venues might be least crowded -- but having already done copious research, sometimes they know more than the concierge about what they are asking! "
Damn skippy! I don't think they have made a train, bus, or roadway system that I can't figure out on my own, regardless of any language difference. There are a few things that I take inordinate pride in, and this covers a couple of them: 1. my innate sense of direction and my ability to navigate as a result and 2. my love of and eager desire to learn more about languages. Although I am no linguist, I have enough bits and pieces under my belt to get me almost anywhere. And, as I learned in Scandinavia last year, once immersed in a language for a week or two, I quickly pick up enough to get along just fine. In case you're curious, jordbaer means strawberry in Swedish. Or was that Norwegian? OK, I admit, being exposed to two so similar languages at pretty much the same time did leave me with a little confusion, but the basic premise holds true; I can now find my way around town, shop in a grocery store (and know what I'm buying!) and ask basic questions (where is the toilet?) well enough to be just fine on my own, thank you very much!
Oh, and the "they prefer to be ignored entirely" part brought me back to one particular experience I had in Dallas, when staying at an especially uppity hotel as part of a business trip. It really steams me when the staff at high-end hotels want to do everything for you, then turn around with their hand out for a tip. Either it's part of the service level of the establishment, or I'm paying you to do this; not both! In any event, though, I'd rather take care of everything I possibly can by myself, regardless. I've never been waited on hand and foot, and having others do things for me just flat out makes me uncomfortable. Although it's something of a prideful matter, it's also a level of basic dis-ease I feel when in such an environment that I can't put a name to.
"Once they have arrived, one favorite activity is to indulge in a general tour -- either via double-decker bus or trolley car, which many metropolitan areas now offer (London particularly comes to mind). This helps orient the INFJ to the locale, and a general overview of the area gives them a better "feel" for the big picture.They greatly enjoy the personalized "patter" of a tour guide offering general history alongside interesting trivia about the area. Anecdotes are particularly enjoyable to them, and bring a city and its culture to life. A bus or trolley tour offers the INFJ "research librarian" an unparallelled opportunity to "soak up" information while effortlessly enjoying sights at the same time (a real-life travelogue!), and INFJs greatly enjoy being chauffeured around a new area and learning all about it in this fashion."
Mmmm, not so much so, although if the tour is an element of a multi-venue pass, I do usually indulge in it and enjoy it. I really do revel in picking up useless trivia about an area (part of my innate love of all useless trivia) from a tour, but to say that I must have a tour to make me feel oriented or to give me a grasp of the big picture would not be fair.
"Being Idealists, INFJs are particularly moved by locations that "speak" to them on some unfathomable level. Statues and monuments may spark a reaction both unexpected and archetypal. They enjoy empathizing with owners of historic homes (like Eleanor Roosevelt), Stonehenge "resonates" in some unspoken way, and the beauty and grandeur of national parks may bring them to tears and touch them in a mystical, spiritual fashion they can't easily verbalize."
One particular experience that comes to mind along these lines was being moved to tears while viewing the wall of police officers fallen in the line of duty at a police museum in Miami. I know no police officers personally (though I have lived near many, I've never become close with any), and I couldn't see any reason why I identified with them so strongly that I was touched in this way. Perhaps it was because I saw a parallel between them and the soldiers of my father's war, or maybe it was just the personal stories and notes that had been taped to the monument, but to this day I don't know for sure.
"One trap INFJs may fall into while traveling is accidentally spending more time reading the placards posted about an item on display than enjoying the display itself. INFJs are attracted to words -- and the words sometimes unintentionally take precedence over the exhibited item. This is why audio and guided tours often represent an advantage over wandering through a venue alone where, despite her best efforts, an INFJ might actually lapse into spontaneous viewing and linger unintentionally! (Which is fine until time runs out and the INFJ berates herself for not sticking to her schedule better.) "
Did I mention that I often stay at museums till they kick me out at closing? Seriously, though, now that I have moved to the realm of digital photography, I don't suffer from this quite as much as I used to. For example, when visiting the Swedish-American Emigrant Museum, I took photos of almost all of the words for later review, and just skimmed them while viewing the actual exhibits (many of which I also photographed, of course). I can't say that I ever viewed guided tours as an advantage, though; despite the fact that they catered to my love of trivia, I always felt rushed, and it seemed like I would have to do the whole museum again afterward, if I was to properly take it all in.
"INFJs usually neglect to schedule meal-times around the monument-hopping or battleship-touring. Often they will snatch a banana as they blow past a 7-11 on their way to the water taxi, or grab a container of soup from the museum cafe to wolf down before inhaling the Picassos and van Goghs. The majority of eating is done on the run, if it is remembered at all. Moreover, many INFJs are wary of unusual local food or strange ethnic dietary selections -- some even prefer bland or ordinary "comfort" food -- something familiar --particularly if they are feeling stressed by the travel experience."
Yet another yes and no paragraph. I do tend to neglect my eating during operating hours. But I am just as likely to go out of my way to experience local cuisine -- whether it be something exotic because I am in a distant country, or just the mom & pop diner down the street because I have heard from the locals that it is the best -- at dinnertime as not. Admittedly, money often curbs this as I eat ramen at my campsite, but were money no object, I would savor every unusual and distinct flavor a place could offer me, as for me food is very important to a sense of place.
"The INFJ is inclined to spend some portion of the trip writing postcards, letters, or email to send to friends to share the journey with them. No doubt some time will also be devoted to buying ideal "tokens" to carry home to bestow upon loved ones, and seeking the perfect "souvenir" that will *symbolize* the visit in some unique fashion. INFJs often snap photographs during their travels in order to "share" their trips with friends when the traveler returns home, and the INFJ prefers shots of familiar faces be captured amidst the glorious scenery or alongside famous monuments."
This one is actually mostly no. I don't usually share the journey while it's happening, but rather keep a very detailed journal for myself, and then share it with others well after the fact, when my scrapbook(s) of it is/are complete. Every once in a while I will purchase a souvenir for someone, but that tendency has waned since quitting my job. And as for photos...I remember having to explain myself more than once to my father, who kept asking me about the people on my trips. I almost never include a human in my photos. I am gradually breaking this habit, by at least getting myself & Jeff in the frame once in a while, but I will still go out of my way to avoid including any passersby in a shot wherever possible, and I almost never think to get photos of people we meet along the way, regardless of how interesting they are to converse with.
"A bad habit of INFJs is a tendency to purchase books at local venues whilst they are travelling, and they often end up lugging huge tomes aboard the plane at the end of their journey in order to read and research even MORE about their destination."
I'm not sure I'd call this habit bad, especially for me as a scrapbooker -- I like to have the facts, correct and handy, when I go to make my albums. I was particularly peeved when Kalmar Castle in Sweden did not have any guidebooks available for purchase, although this was mostly due to the fact that they didn't allow any photography inside the castle. If they had, I probably would not even have thought of purchasing a guidebook, much less of going to the extent that I did (ordering one after I got home).
"When the INFJ returns home from a typically whirlwind trip, they are likely to crave a "vacation from their vacation," because they invested so much energy into trying to "do it all." There is often a sense of frustration that they did not accomplish as much as they would have liked, and a nagging feeling they would like to return someday and do all the things missed on this trip in order to do the locale "justice." (Of course, the irony is that "justice" never occurs, no matter how many repeat visits are made.) Moreover, INFJ travelers aren't inclined to ever return to a vacation destination when offered the option of "conquering" a brand-new venue in its stead."
Yup, although this is naturally far less true when I'm traveling alone, as I have only myself to please, and thus get in a great deal more R&R than on most vacations (cruises excepted). As for the rest, see the discussion of Lost Wages and Dinney above.
The one thing this site didn't do was recommend the ideal Meyers-Briggs type of a traveling companion for an INFJ. So, anyone want to come travel with me? :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)