You've likely all seen the May 17 issue of TIME with boomer women as the cover story. There have been some postings about it on other forums. Good article. (The only thing missing was Dotsie.)

Jennifer Wright, a BWS member, was featured in the article for having traded her position as a university professor of occupational therapy in Indiana to become a travel guide for "MidLife Heroines" in New Zealand. Kiwijenn, as she's known on the BWS boards, experienced her life turning point while on a backpakcing trip with her son.

I invited her to come over to this forum to share some insights on how travel and seizing adventure have enriched her life. Perhaps she'll be able to pop by.

But the crux of the article was that "women at middle age are twice as likely to be hopeful about their future" as men. At midlife, said TIME, women "may first turn inward, ask the cosmic questions or retrieve some passion they put aside to make room for a career and family and adult responsibilities." And what are those passions? "Take a trip. Write a novel. Go back to school. Learn to kiteboard."

In the article, Wright talked about the confidence she gained on that pivotal backpacking trip with her son that enabled her to metamorphose into an adventure coach who leads trip through rugged, beautiful New Zealand terrain. She also talked about the 'internal journey." Wright was quoted as saying, "You step out of time. You don't know what day it is, what time it is. You eat when you're hungry. And when you come back, you are changed."

I've always felt that that inner confidence is one of travel's greatest gifts. When you're out of your familiar space, beyond your routine comfort zone, you find out what you've got inside. You may use some or all of it on a given trip, depending on the challenges you face. But, like Wright said, when you come back, you are changed.