Traveling enthusiasts know one of the biggest rushes of going somewhere is the experience. There might be amazing food or memorable shopping (read: souvenirs) but the true thrill is being somewhere and soaking in the environment.

In a recent discussion with a non-traveler, I said that when I went somewhere I wanted to breathe it in. “Breathe it in?” she asked. “What does that mean?” “It means be a part of the area – the landscape, the culture, the people,” I said. “To make memories and feel like I’ve really been there.” “Oh,” she said. “If I go somewhere, I want to know in advance what I can get there.” I didn’t have a chance to ask what she meant, but my first thought went to the idea of materialism.

In Wendy L Patrick, Ph.D’s article, “Buyer Beware: How Materialism Can Make You Miserable,” she talks about the money and happiness equation. She says it’s common to think people just want piles of money, but instead most people want “money not to achieve extravagant goals, but practical ones.” She says research proves that more money may be helpful in providing comfort but is not necessarily better when brought to excess. For travelers, a weekend trip may provide some well-needed relaxation (and less stress on the pocketbook) as opposed to booking a three-week European vacation.

I believe in the discussion with my non-traveling friend, maybe she meant: If I travel, is there anything there that I need? Is there anything that I cannot get right here in my own environment? That leans more toward the idea of a lack of interest in travel and/or a concern about comfort instead of wanting to get material possessions out of a particular destination. But it does equate the idea of travel as a means to an end instead of being an experience to enjoy.

Recently I took a girls’ trip with four other female friends. It was the first time we had ever spent considerable time together. It worked out well because our mutual busy schedules made it difficult to get together often. A study noted in Dr. Patrick’s article says that shared experiences “provide more enjoyment and satisfaction than material purchases.” There were multiple reasons for this, including the lesser chance of comparison, meaning if you are spending time with friends, you are going to be sharing the experience as opposed to sharing and comparing your possessions. Our vacation was a four-day trip (including drive time), was well-researched by one friend and was affordable for all. In addition, several of the ladies were in very different financial situations than the other ladies. However, the relaxing environment and experience provided an opportunity for fun and relatability and there were no comparisons of what we had (or didn’t have) at home. There were no materialistic competitions. We were free to just be in each other’s company and breathe in the experience.