# Am I an explorer or am I a roamer?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-explorer-or-am-i-a-roamer/781928>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [March 11, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-explorer-or-am-i-a-roamer/781928 "2017-03-11T13:08:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-explorer-or-am-i-a-roamer/781928/1 "2017-03-11T13:08:54Z")

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Practically every dream I had was an adventure. New places, new people and nothing familiar. I remember revisiting some places but don’t remember the people so I can’t tell you if they’re the same.

I must be tired of staying home day in day out. 🆒

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**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-explorer-or-am-i-a-roamer/781928/2 "2017-03-11T16:23:43Z")

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First of all, are you talking about “dreams” that you try to rememeber when you wake up, or “dreams” as in realistic hopes for your future life? Whole different concept of what you are talking about.

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**Author:** ![Walton\_Firm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@Walton\_Firm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walton_Firm)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-explorer-or-am-i-a-roamer/781928/3 "2017-03-11T17:48:37Z")

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[QUOTE=SigMan]  
Am I an explorer or am I a roamer?  
[/QUOTE]  
You are a dreamer.

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**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-explorer-or-am-i-a-roamer/781928/4 "2017-03-11T18:28:05Z")

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As for the possible meaning of the OP question, there is a difference and I understand the distinction. I’m a roamer. When I travel to new locations (which I always do), I’m perfectly content to just “be” there, keeping my eyes and ears (and nose) open and let interesting things find me or pass by within my range. I don’t go looking for anything.

It’s like the difference between a tourist and a traveler. Your tour bus breaks down in a remote place and you all have to spend the night sleeping in hammocks and eating locally available food, and never get to see the intended attraction. The tourist would say “It was terrible” and a traveler would say “It was wonderful”.

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-explorer-or-am-i-a-roamer/781928/5 "2017-03-11T20:04:20Z")

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Not all who wander are lost.