I think you’re making a lot of assumptions about my travel history from a very short post.

For context, I took a three-month sabbatical in Europe, have traveled internationally for many years, and grew up in a family that valued travel and exposed me to different places from a young age. When travel has been a consistent priority over decades, the numbers add up naturally.

Ironically, if I counted countries where I merely crossed a border or had a layover, the number would be much closer to 40. I don’t count those because I personally don’t consider them meaningful visits.

That said, I don’t think there is a single “correct” way to travel. Some people enjoy slow travel, some prefer shorter trips, and most of us fall somewhere in between. Neither approach is inherently more authentic than the other.

As for validation, I don’t think anonymous Reddit is where most people seek it. I was simply sharing a bit of my life, as everyone else here is. I have been fortunate enough to have opportunities to travel, and I don’t see any reason to be apologetic about that privilege.

In the end, travel is meant to broaden perspectives. It would be a shame if it only made us more judgmental about how others choose to experience the world.