This article is part of a new series called "The Travelers Mind" dealing with the psychology of travel with the goal of creating an ongoing discussion.  If you have any suggestions for future posts please feel free to leave a comment below.

I have a strong aversion to guns.  I recall a time a few years ago when I was over at a friend's home geek-ing out on film and home theatre tech, when he brought out a handgun he takes to the shooting range.  I didn't want to be around it at all, not even in the same room.  When I did pick it up, I was surprised by the weight.  Perhaps I was thinking it should be more like the weight of the plastic, water-shooting varieties that I was used to as a child.  Any way you shake it though, I didn't want anything to do with it or to be anywhere around it. 

I've often attributed this anti-gun feeling to my upbringing in Canada, and our reputation as I was growing up as a country who was a only a peace keeping nation.  My experience with war was from what I experienced through books, film, news and anecdotes only.

My time in Vietnam and Cambodia marked the first time that I was faced first hand with war and what it leaves behind in it's path.  In some areas, it's not unusual to pass by loaded rocket launchers and automatic weapons just lying around while the soldiers sit back, chat and smoke like it's no big deal.

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This article is part of a new series called "The Travelers Mind" dealing with the psychology of travel with the goal of creating an ongoing discussion.  If you have any suggestions for future posts please feel free to leave a comment below. 

Perhentian Islands, Malaysia (Pulau Perhentian Kecil)

A study, published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life, showed that the largest boost in happiness comes from the simple act of planning a vacation. In the study, the effect of vacation anticipation boosted happiness for eight weeks.

via Marginal Revolution & NY Times

Now, the type of long-term travel that many of us find ourselves in isn't the same as a week 'vacation' in the Bahamas.  As of this moment, I can only speak to the the time before departure, which for me was more stressful than anything.  Dealing with 2 major itinerary changes and the emotions of leaving was difficult to say the least.

How has your happiness level changed in the before / during / after phases of your long term travel? 

Does the stress that comes with travel in far away places, and the process of heading back home to 'regular life' seem to diminish some of the things you experienced along the way?

The other night, I was chatting over Skype with my friend BT who is back home in Canada.  The subject of Thailand's infamous ladyboys came up, and he offered this advice for fellow nerdy travelers.