I wrote yesterday about the wonderful evening we enjoyed last Sunday at a dinner event held outdoors in one of our local vineyards. We didn’t know a soul when we arrived, but four hours later we were exchanging email addresses with our table mates and planning future opportunities for us to get together again. The seating at this event was completely random; we filed into the dining area, and each couple simply gravitated to an open spot that seemed to hold some promise of shade from the intense sun. Two couples at our table seemed to be close in age to us (mid-50s to 60s), while the third appeared to be in their 30s. Brief introductions proved my initial impressions to be correct, with three empty-nester couples and Dana and Derrick, who have three children aged 2 to 9. What really amazed me was how quickly we all found common ground and similar experiences. Someone briefly mentioned “Italy,” and the next thing you knew we were swapping destinations and when we had most recently been there (or, like us, would shortly be there again). From there we touched on other destinations and experiences. The rest of us marveled at Dana and Derrick’s stories of traveling with their three youngsters, including a lengthy trip to Spain the previous year. This is a phenomenon I have come to appreciate over and over again: I’ll be thrown into a group of people, none of whom I know in the slightest, and all one needs to do to spark lively conversation and a sense of camaraderie is broach the topic of travel. I’ve also noted that, nearly always, those who get excited about exchanging travel experiences also share a love of good food and wine. So it was with our table group that night. Those who love travel seem to be naturally curious, willing to try new things and open to and accepting of differences between cultures and peoples. I appreciated that the young parents at our table had learned to love travel together early on in their relationship and were now passing on that trait to their children. They recognize the value and experiences of travel and are willing to accept some of the difficulties and challenges of traveling with kids in exchange for the great lessons they know their young ones are absorbing. (Made me decide to renew my commitment to being as patient as possible with such family groups as I travel.) Here’s to travelers everywhere! — Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor