Good question, I-flybynight. I will try to put it into words.

The very first thing I learned was to be unafraid of the internet. I am almost 60 now and grew up even before television was common. It was a little hard for me to think about actually making friends in cyberspace, especially with my contemporary family members and friends were constantly warning me that "they are probably all axe murderers".

The second thing I learned is how truly wonderful, generous, intelligent, kind and welcoming most FlyerTalkers really are. They are usually either folks who have something special enough to offer that somebody is willing to pay to fly them around the world to offer it, or else leisure flyers with a true love of travel. I have now met literally hundreds of Flyer Talkers from all over the world and never stop being amazed at how very much I enjoy them and how very good-hearted almost all of them are. I really treasure all of the FlyerTalk relationships that I have developed over the years. Many of my FlyerTalk friends are almost like family--some have even become family. Nothing quite like cyber kids calling you in the middle of the night.)

The third thing I have learned is how to be more adventuresome. FlyerTalkers have encouraged me to fly to countries and enjoy events and festivals that I would never have dreamed of visiting on my own. WOWSER, the fabulous things that I have seen and done with other FlyerTalkers would fill volumes! Starting with the original PIP and going on to Montreal, Vancouver, Singapore, New York, Chicago, Dusseldorf, London, Cannes, Valencia, Toronto, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle (of course), Washington, D.C., Asheville, Anchorage, Tampa, San Diego, Portland, and so many more I can't remember.

The fourth thing I have learned is to be more open to meeting and talking with total strangers, wherever I encounter them. I figure that if almost all FlyerTalkers are wonderful, that it is worth taking a chance that all people everywhere are pretty special once you get to know them. Sure, I strike out now and again, but I have learned that almost every time that I strike up a conversation with a total stranger on a train, in a store, whereever, I find a delightful, interesting human being, who just might become a life long friend.

The fifth thing I learned is that people (flight attendants, gate agents, RCC agents, hotel agents, just about everybody I encouter when I travel) will bend over backward to treat me nicely if I treat them very nicely and can find a way to make them laugh.

The Sixth thing I have learned is that it is always more fun to share a new city with a FlyerTalk native as a guide. (My city is also a lot more enjoyable to me when I share it with an out-of-town FlyerTalker.)

And, seventh (I could keep going but this will be the last), I have learned to listen to other points of view and learn from folks who are very different from me. Many of my very best friends on FlyerTalk are young enough to be my children--a few could even be my great-grandchildren. FlyerTalkers I have met come from many different countries, cultures and backgrounds, but I am thrilled beyond belief with everything I have learned from all of them and will (God willing) continue to learn.

Best ROI I have ever experienced!!



[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 10-19-2003).]