Hmmm. I'm not sure if the work versus quest thing really bothered me although it certainly does make it seem much less like a risk than it would be for most of us. And risky behavior is fun to read about - Kon-tiki, Into the Wild, etc are stories that fascinate me.
I'm not really jealous of her because she doesn't really seem to have the kind of life I would want. Of course I have traveled 40+ weeks a year for almost 3 years so travel has lost it's glamor!! She met many interesting people but I've met many interesting and great people along the way and had great conversations. Which reminds me I probably should stop to write some of the conversations down: The guy who was coming back from lecturing on the difference between ADHD and Bi-polar in teens, a guy who has the same pet peeve as me - people who say and believe "He/she MAKES me feel," a woman who is a Montessori consultant, the Sikh management consultant - we talked work, India and how the traveling affected his family, a Cisco sales manager - we had a 6+ hour conversation covering just about everything! First total stranger I told about my D and relationship with Raven. We also talked about his first marriage and his current marriage. He also recommended "The Kite Runner" for which I am very grateful, the CFO - we talked books and religion, etc. Anyway... I really hate the idea of forgetting these interesting people that I've crossed paths with.
So I'm still not sure why I haven't cared for the book or her. Even her leaving her H, while without any details seemed somewhat shallow, didn't really bother me especially when he turned out to seem so vindictive (assuming that was factual). That's another thing I have a problem with - petty, vindictive people. My XH kept saying, while we were working out the dissolution, that I was only being nice to him because I still wanted him back. Well yeah I did want him back but that wasn't my main reason for being reasonable and nice. It wasn't for him; it was actually a selfish reason - I wanted to be a reasonable and nice person. Screw him!! (Well I'm not perfect!!)
Yeah, I'm still not closer to why I didn't "get" her or the book...
But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads? ~Albert Camus
