Several times when people have found out I travel for business as Vice President for Global Traveler, I have been asked what concerns me, scares me or makes me anxious about travel. When asked this question at a recent dinner party, I responded by saying that my most consistent concern has been returning home.

I told them my anxiety starts as I head to the parking lot. Will my car start? Has it been vandalized? Are there any flat tires? Once it has been established that my car is fine and I will get home with no incident, my next worry is my house. Is it still standing? Has it been broken into? Has there been a power surge or was it struck by lightning? Are there trees down in the driveway, etc? I am always greatly relieved when I turn in the drive to find all is well, which has not always been the case….

Once, when returning from a three week vacation in Kenya, I was horrified to find that someone had busted in the back door. Later that evening, I found out the damage was done by police in response to an alarm malfunction. It was heartening to know the police really do respond to alarm systems, however, it did cost me $500 to repair and the police did know no one would be in the house while I was away.

Another time, I returned to find that a branch of one of my trees had finally worn through the outer coating of the power lines coming into my house and shorted the wires. My place was ripe for a power surge as soon as I turned on lights or any other electrical equipment. I quickly realized what was happening after I was blinded by mega watt flashes and  the bulbs blew that my house was an electric storm about to happen. All was made right in about six hours after a visit from the local utility company and their tree trimmers.

So you can see that my concerns about returning home are well founded. I can’t believe I am the only frequent traveler that feels this way…

-Dick Evans, Vice President, Global Traveler