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EDITOR’S NOTE

HOME SWEET HOME

RON JAMES e’re getting ready for our next travel adventure, flying out in two days for

publisher/executive editor Hawaii and then on to New Zealand and Australia. It seems as if we just
Wgot back from our last outing – six weeks of travel in the Middle East and
Europe that ended right before Thanksgiving.
Obviously we love to travel. But, we also love to be home as well. It’s our current yin
and yang of living.
The adrenalin rush of travel is addictive. Different cultures, politics, places and people
– in fact just being “out there” invites thrills both good and bad. It also can be exhaust-
ing. Unpacking and packing, moving from place to place, coping with the unexpected
take a physical toll after a couple weeks.
Then there’s the discovery of different cuisines and beverages. Yes it’s a top reason
hopping on a plane or ship, but it too can be problematic, causing great discomfort
for a few days. Being on the
road also exposes you more sick
Ron James is the "wine, food and travel guy." He people than you are likely to en-
is a nationally award-winning print and online counter if you didn’t travel. On a
journalist, graphic designer., television producer cruise, elevators, cafes and such
and radio personality. The native Californian's na-
tionally syndicated wine and food columns have can seem like hospital wards,
appeared in newspapers and magazines around given the cacophony of coughs,
the world. He is passionate about great wine and sneezes and nose blowing going
food and enthusiastically enjoys them every day!
on around you.
MARY JAMES Our beloved cat Shadow also is
a bit confused by our prolonged
publisher/editor disappearances – although we
provide her with very loving
house sitters, who make sure she
gets her quota of kitty treats and
playtime. Almost all travelers feel
guilty about leaving their pets – especially when they curl up in your suitcase as you’re
packing or follow you around the house with sad, accusing eyes. All traveling pet own-
ers wish they could explain – “Don’t worry – we’ll be back soon.”
So after three weeks or more travel adventure, the safety, normality and certainty of
home becomes very attractive. Absence makes you appreciate home life and every-
thing connected to it. You look forward to starting new projects, relaxing on the couch
and petting a kitty. You yearn for the relative tranquility of no shore excursion mishaps
or conversations with strange strangers at dinner.
So travel makes home sweet home even sweeter, and life as a whole better. But as
good as home can be, in two or three months the siren call of travel has us checking
airfares and making hotel reservations. Pretty soon we’re packing our bags, again in
the company of a sad eyed kitty.

Mary Hellman James is an award-winning San This issue illustrates all of these points – whether on a camel ride on “Mars” or tasting
Diego journalist and editor. After a 29-year-ca- wine in Provence, visiting the royal yacht or pigging out on sausages and beer at a
reer with the San Diego Union-Tribune, she German Christmas Market. We hope you enjoy our stories and make some stories of
currently is a freelance garden writer and a your own on your next travel odyssey. We’re ready for another adventure, but we’ll
columnist for San Diego Home-Garden/Lifestyles
magazine. Mary and her husband, Ron James, inevitably be looking forward to being back in our sweet home with our reluc-
travel extensively. Upcoming next month is a tantly forgiving cat Shadow.
four-week adventure in the land down under.
Have safe travels and happy homecomings,
Ron & Mary

Wine Dine & Travel 2016 5