Travel

I'm interested in views on short trips away from safety. I know this has been discussed here and there on-site. My concerns are focused on general views on leaving sanctity rather than practical questions such as insurance, etc. I think it's fair to say that, in social terms, I have always led an unconventional life. I was always a "career woman"; never interested in children or marriage or strictly monogamous relationships. Lovers, never the affiance. This means that by the age of 43, I may not have a classic infrastructure to my life, but I have legions of friends scattered everywhere and no guilt about how I apportion my time. Naturally, since my diagnosis (Stage IV breast cancer with bone mets and an ever-changing pursuit by the docs of the right paliative regime for me), things have changed in terms of daily life. It's probably familiar to many of you to have suddenly to think in terms of the day-to-day, and any plans I have now take on a certain Herculean, even military, aspect. Tradition among my friends is that I travel to Paris every Xmas to visit a mixed bunch of dissidents from normality; centred on an old-fashioned bohemian set-up in a flat in Montmartre, eating goose and figs, listening to frantic French music, people calling in all hours of the night and day (do you hate me already??!) New Year is usually in a flat overlooking the Sacre Coeur with physical and emotional fireworks (who is sleeping with whom? Who is talking to whom?? Who's written a nasty article for Liberation about what and whom? Who has borrowed money from whom and not paid it back?? Who is contemplating a sex change and thereby antagonising matters [latter a bit far-fetched even for us, but you get the picture...]) I'm almost deranged in my determination to go as usual this year; yet something as generally so ordinary as getting on the Eurostar suddenly seems like a major undertaking. Everyone of course is telling me to come; all will be "as normal", etc etc. I'd be interested in people's views; particularly people who have normal lives with children and grandchildren who would never contemplate uphauling themselves for Xmas and New Year. Am I being at best selfish (I now live at home with parents and am close to an extended family); at worst reckless? What is the worst thing that could happen? I'd be really interested in what you think of this idea Cat xx