If wanderlust is a gene, I must have it. I have a passion for travel, but I don’t do it enough – though some would say I do.
I was born in a car to a father who was a career Navy pilot, and a mother who could make a home anywhere. By the time I was fifteen, I’d live in Florida, Virginia, Nevada, California, Washington, and 
Guam. By that time Dad retired and put down anchor and roots in Oregon. You would think I’d be ready to settle! But I married my high school sweetheart and when he graduated from college, we were off again as he joined the Air Force. Our three beautiful daughters were born in Florida, Alaska and Nebraska! Add Texas and a four year stint at the Pentagon for said husband – it was an interesting journey. And the end of that path was not the end of my traveling. I began a sixteen-year career with a major airline. I didn’t fly, but I did have flight benefits!
I settled in the Pacific Northwest and a tiny seed of a novel began on the trip I took to Southold, Long Island, with my mother in 1999. I’d been to England with
Helen Horton Worley and Rebecca at Horton Point Lighthouse 1999
her and my dad in 1997, and knew our Horton line began there. But when I saw the wealth of information at The Southold Historical Society about Barnabas Horton, my 9th great-grandfather (GGF), and none about Mary, my 9th GGM, the “what if’s” that all writers know so well began. What if she didn’t want to leave England? Or, on the other hand, what if she was a wanderlust at heart, too. I think most certainly Barnabas possessed a bit of the wanderlust, and a strong desire to seek God’s will. He was an adventurer. But did Mary share his sense of adventure? And could there be a wanderlust gene that I inherited?
There might well be! In 2009 the University of British Columbia announced it had discovered a gene in a tiny little bony fish called a stickleback that was a link to the fish’s proclivity to travel from
salty to fresh waters rather than adapt to its surroundings. They referred to it as the “wanderlust gene”.
But far more interesting regarding we humans, is research that was done by University of California, Irvine in 1999, and found that the mutant gene DRD4-7R was “more common in present-day migratory cultures than in settled ones” and, according to the article, a larger study in 2011 “supported this, finding that 7R, along with another variant named 2R, tends to be found more frequently than you would expect by chance in populations whose ancestors migrated longer distances after they moved out of Africa.” The article was printed in the January 2013 article of National Geographic. Although there are skeptics, it’s still fascinating stuff!
So maybe I inherited that gene from Barnabas and Mary! The article mentions approximately 20% of the population possess it. My wanderlust gene is more directed toward a longing for finding my roots, my home rather than charting new waters. But it might be God’s sense of humor that I landed on the
http://www.historicmapworks.com/ #sthash.bM9ikH1R.dpuf
west coast and found my roots, my home on the east coast!
Were you born with a wanderlust gene? Does it take you to new places to discover, or does it take you back to discover your roots? I’ve shared how I’ve lived all over the US map. How about you? Where have your journeys taken you? Or have you grown up and lived in the same spot all of your life? That certainly has its benefits and privileges and I find that fascinating, too! I’d love to have you share in comments! And BTW ~ right now, by means of welcoming you to my new website, I have a drawing for a $25 Starbucks Gift Card! You get 3 entries for subscribing for my book updates here on my website, and 2 more entries if you “like” my author page on Facebook! It’s super easy – click here for the how to!
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of mine heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14, Geneva Bible 1599.
Comments 9
I used to be recommended this blog by way of my cousin. I’m
now not sure whether this put up is written through him as nobody
else realize such precise about my problem.
You are wonderful! Thank you!
How fun, Cynthia! I try to visit Southold as often as I can – I have some of some of my visits on the research page. If you scroll down there are some of me with my sisters in Soulthold and Montauk. We had such a good time! I’ll be back out there in June – my first visit in the summer, actually! And Soulthold is the setting for my series! The first book begins in England, and follows the Hortons to Southold. I loved writing it! Thanks for stopping by!
Rebecca,
We’ve been to Horton Point Lighthouse! A few years ago in the summer. My sister lives in LI and we visit there often. Really enjoy the North Fork and have friends in Jamesport. So nice to see familiar names here : ) Your books sound interesting, what part of LI are they set in? Also love Southold and their summer concerts in the gazebo.
I’m so happy you found my site! I completely understand your longing for your mother’s homeland! How fortunate that you were able to spend so much time there as you grew up! I love British culture! I’ll be sharing so much of the research I did for my novel – it is my passion – so I hope you’ll stop by often! Blessings to you! I feel we’re kindred spirits already!
My dear friend alerted me to this site, and I am very happy that she did. I shall have to investigate it more to see if I might have the Wunderlust Gene.
As a child I traveled to my mother’s homeland of England many, many times. I went to school there and was immersed in British culture. Although I have lived in the Pacific Northwest most of my adult life now, my roots are not deep. In my heart I think, “I am born here, but I am from England.” Perhaps this site will help me to discover something about myself that I never realized.
GREAT post, Rebecca! Fascinating stuff! I’ve wondered about such things myself!
Carrie, thank you so much!! It is fascinating and fun! I’m glad you came by!
Hi Becky,
I feel drawn to your site. I enjoyed reading your blog and hope to learn to navigate it. I believe I have a Wunderlust gene that began in Spain and Mexico and it settled in the Great Northwest.
Great to connect this way and look forward to more reads…
Thank you, Elodia! so glad you stopped by! I love Mexico, and Spain has long been a country I’d love to visit! Let’s keep in touch!