'See the World!'

Ten years ago I got my first passport and took my first trip abroad, taking a two-week tour of Ireland that I absolutely adored. I went back to Ireland the following year with some friends and spent one week exploring Dublin.

My passport expired earlier this year with just those two stamps.

I live near one small airport and work near another much larger airport. On the drive to work, I see the road conditions sign sharing the time it would take for me to get to the larger international airport; some days it's as little as 10 minutes.

I imagine myself blowing off work and driving those 10 minutes to the airport and flying off somewhere with just the clothes on my back and whatever I may have in my purse. Where would I go? What would I do? How would I get around? The idea is both terrifying and exhilarating.

I'll probably never have the guts (or disposable income) to run away like that, but I do hope I can do more traveling. Since my last trip to Ireland in 2003, I've been lucky enough to see much more of the United States. I can't get enough of New York. I've visited Detroit, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Raleigh/Durham, Nashville, Seattle and San Francisco. I've never been to Hawaii, so should probably do that, but think I'd be happier going to Chicago or Washington DC again, plus New York a few dozen more times. Then there's Dublin again, Belfast, London, Paris, Rome, Athens, Sydney, Auckland, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, St. Petersburg …

My cousin Donna, this week's contributor, has done quite a bit of traveling since she turned 35, and so much more. She's another great example for me to follow in this and so many ways.

When she was 37, Donna spent a month in Italy, with two weeks at language school and two weeks traveling. Shortly after she returned from Italy, she got a job as a benefits manager at another firm, a position she still has and loves. At 38, she bought a house and became a landlord by renting out her townhouse. Donna bought a road bike, which she likes much better than the mountain bike, and has ridden several century (100-mile) rides. At 42, Donna started playing a musical instrument again after a 20-year hiatus. At 43, she married the man she began dating when she was 35 and changed her name. This year, she became the president of the local chapter of her professional association.

Your name Donna M. (fka Donna B.)

What year did you turn 35? 2002

Where were you living then? In the townhouse I recently purchased, in San Rafael, California (in the San Francisco Bay Area)

What were you doing then (working, going to school, raising kids, etc.)? Working

What big personal milestones happened when you were 35 (got married, bought a house, moved to a new city, started a new job, etc.)? On the personal side, I was in a somewhat new relationship with the man I would eventually marry. That year I obtained a passport for the first time and traveled to China and Mongolia—wow, what an experience! I bought a mountain bike (on my birthday). I rode it for a while and then it started gathering dust (more on this one later). On the professional side, I finished a 10-course masters-level program and obtained the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation. I had just finished transitioning the office's benefit plans with the firm we had merged with the prior year. I was promoted to HR manager (out of a job I loved, into a job I hated)—we called it a Mafia promotion. I ended up impersonating an HR manager for the next three years. I'm afraid there are lots of other milestones I have forgotten. Sigh.

What major events happened in the world that year? Like the other contributors, I had to look this up. No Child Left Behind was signed. The winter Olympics were in Salt Lake City, Utah. Chandra Levy's disappearance was in the headlines. The U.S. invaded Afghanistan. The Anaheim Angels defeated the SF Giants to win the World Series. This was the year of the first anniversary of 9/11. U2 performed the Super Bowl halftime show.

What are your favorite memories of being 35? I loved traveling and seeing that people everywhere are basically the same. Things were going pretty well in my personal and professional life and I was starting to feel more like a "grown up."

What did you like best about yourself at that age? I was feeling self-sufficient. I didn't feel like I had it all, but felt like I was making my way. After college I worked long hours in the office. Around this time I was leaving work at a more reasonable hour.

What did you like least about yourself at that age? Looking back I see that I was going with the flow, seeing where life would take me. I could have taken more initiative to direct my life.

What were the biggest lessons you learned at that age? Save money so you can take big vacations.

What were the biggest misconceptions you had about being 35? I've got all the time in the world.

What was the most surprising thing about being 35? I'll have to take a pass on this one. Can't think of anything at the moment.

If you could go back to that age knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? See answer above about what I liked least.

What advice can you offer to other 35-year-old women? Learn to manage your money and save for retirement. The more you save now, the less you'll have to save later. Don't delay!