Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap

Sharon and a couple of other bloggers, inspired by the Knitter's Treat Exchange, have started the Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap and I have signed up!

I think the travel theme is great - appropriate for summer, fun and interesting, because everyone's experience and approach to travel is different.

Here is the questionnaire:

Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap Questionnaire

1. If you could visit any state in the US, which would it be and why?

When I saw this question, my first thought was... Isn't everyone going to pick Hawaii?! But only a few the first few responses I've read have so I guess not everyone has the same travel preferences! As you can tell, my preference is definitely for the beach, or anywhere near water. It's funny, I'm not a big fan of being IN the water, but I do love being near it. Perhaps it's the result of going to a boarding school on a cliff overlooking the sea.

Other choices for me would include the coasts of Oregon (have been to Oregon but not the coast) and Maine (visited briefly). I would also really like to go to New Mexico or Alaska or else an obscure-to-me state that I know very little about like North Dakota.

2. If you could visit any country in the world, other than your own, which would it be and why?

I have to pick one?! I have never been to India, Africa, South America or Australia, and from a practical point of view, I have to say that I can't imagine pursuading my husband to travel to the first three, so I would pick Australia. I love grand landscapes. Growing up in England and travelling quite a bit in Europe, grand landscapes that just don't exist in the same way are aweinspiring and exotic to me.

My full travel wishlist would be pretty long.

3. Have you ever driven across several states/providence/countries?

My parents love to travel and growing up, my sister and I were lucky enough to do a lot of it. My father also likes to drive, so we did driving tours through Europe and also the east and west coasts of the US. I think I was six or seven when I first visited New York but the trip spanned from Toronto to Florida, all by car. On the west coast we went to LA, San Francisco, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Bryant Park, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas... again, all by car.

4. Have you ever visited someplace you consider exotic? Where was it?

I've been to Hong Kong, China and Thailand as a child, and St. Thomas, Barbados and the Dominican Republic as an adult, that I would consider exotic. And I live in a place that many consider not only exotic but downright alien - New York City!

5. What was your favorite "travel" vacation? Why?

In terms of "travel" rather than rest, it would have to be the west coast trip when I was twelve or thirteen. It was a five week trip and we saw so many different things, but the two things that made the biggest impression on me were the amazing landscapes and the friendly people. When I left California, I remember feeling like I was never going to see anyone smile ever again.

6. Have you ever played tourist in your own home city/state (if international, country)? Explain.

I used to play tourist a lot in New York - well, I was kind of a tourist when I first got here. I'd like to do that more but it's hard to find the energy and motivation - there's new and amazing stuff going on every single day so if you miss something, the next day there will be something else. We're spoilt, I know.

When people visit, it's always fun to show them around, but most people who are going to visit already have, and we're way beyond the point of showing my parents around when they're here.

I have vacationed in the Poconos (although I think we might have been in PA) and Montauk.

7. Are you a museum visitor, beach comer or an amusement seeker?

Definitely the beach for me. Bliss for me is a deserted beach, a pile of books, a fresh orange juice or frozen pina colada and my husband slathered in 70 SPF because he is so fair skinned.

I do like cities, but living in a large metropolitan one that is also a major tourist destination means that it's hard to imagine going to another city for vacation. Right now I need rest and relaxation on vacation, not vigorous sightseeing. We are going to Barcelona this fall and we did enjoy our stay in London last Christmas. Come to think of it, I also enjoyed a brief business trip to Helsinki. Actually, I'd love to visit Finland again and get out into nature there.

8. What's your favorite type of yarn?

I haven't been knitting long enough to have a favorite type yet. My favorite yarns so far that I have knit with are Blue Sky Alpacas sportweight, Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino and Manos del Uruguay cotton stria. I am looking to try new yarns that other people love.

9. What's your least favorite type of yarn?

Don't really have a least favorite either, aside from cheap acrylic yarn that just feels yucky.

10. What items do you like to knit/crochet?

I love knitting baby items as they are quick and cute. I also like knitting hats and handwarmers. I want to try knitting and felting a bag. But I will knit anything that I like the look of!

11. What do you pack, knit/crochet wise when you go on vacation?

I haven't actually been on a long vacation since I started knitting, but I imagine I would take anything I might need for the projects I want to take with me.

12. What other crafts do you do/would like to do other than Knit/Crochet?

I did my first single crochet edging the other day and I liked the rhythm of crochet. I've also seen patterns I really like, only to find that they are crochet, so I think that I will slowly learn. I also enjoy photography and baking. I wish I knew how to garden. (Are those crafts?!)

13. Are you allergic to anything? (Yarn wise or treat wise)

Not that I have encountered but I cannot stomach dessicated coconut.

14. What is your favorite color? Least Favorite?

I love all colors! Lately I'm more into light or bright colors rather than dark colors. I've been particularly obsessed with brown and pink. You can see here for all the projects I've knit so far (I've been knitting since January), or here for most of the yarn I've purchased.

15. Sweet or Savory (Treat not personality)?

Sweet

16. Anything else we are forgetting to ask that you think your partner desperately needs to know?

I was born and brought up in the UK and moved to NYC by myself after high school, initially on a one year internship program, but then I ended up staying! Immigration restrictions and limited finances and vacation time means I travelled more as a child than as an adult. I have done some business travel but mostly to non-exotic locations in the US. I am looking forward to the swap!

Comments

[Angela]

:) The car trips with your family sound awesome. We didn't get to do any of that until I was old enough to drive... and scared enough of my dad's driving. LOL.

[Stacey B.]

Hello fellow vacation swapper! I read in your questionaire that you would like to learn to crochet. My grandfather taught me when I was 8 but I have since taught many friends to crochet.

I recently found a book that has really clear photos and instructions. (It is also pretty cheap!) It's called Instant Expert: Crochet by Katy Beven. I have recommended it to a couple of new crocheters who have found it helpful.

[Jessi]

Wow! The boarding school on a cliff overlooking the sea sounds beautiful! Although, I'm having visions of Harry Potter's "Hogwarts", so I might be a little off. LOL

I'd love to visit NY, but honestly, I'm kinda scared to. I'm used to the slow pace that we have down south and that much bustle would probably give me a nervous breakdown! LOL The hubby has been and says that it's something that everyone should experience at least once. :-)