I took two business trips in 2024, both times to Bangkok. Being alone, without my wife or kids, especially in a new city, felt like being in my 20s again. It was like a time portal. It seemed as though nothing had changed. Not everything was the same, but it felt very similar to travel in my 20s. This isn’t about some sort of escapism—I do enjoy some time to myself, but that’s not the main focus here. The main thing is the kids. Having a wife is pretty much the same; you’re not single, but your lifestyle doesn’t change noticeably—at least, that was my experience. It’s really having kids that makes the difference. I went to Thailand twice last year on my own, both times for business. 1. Once to meet with an existing client for in-person work. 2. The other was speculative, to attend a conference and connect with an old friend. In both cases, I was on my own in Thailand, left to my own devices. It was great. The way I used to meet new people was to go out—bars, restaurants, clubs. Mainly the first two. Clubs came later with existing acquaintances. Anyway, I dipped my toes into that lifestyle again while on these two trips. All the fun activities—going out at night, meeting new people—were still there. That’s unsurprising. A few things about this experience stuck out: - I still like going out. Surprising? I thought so, because I rarely go out at home. - I also realized I wasn’t the oldest person there. It wasn’t just me and a bunch of 20-year-olds. If anything, I felt like I was middle of the pack in terms of age. - This is partially due to Bangkok itself, where most of the students and young travelers self-segregate themselves to Khaosan Road. I had zero desire to visit there. Some things _have_ changed. It felt like stepping into an alternate reality. Some form of an answer to "What would life be like if I didn't have kids?" While enjoyable, that alternate reality is better as an occasional indulgence. I thoroughly prefer the timeline I'm on—Less parties, more kids, healthier lifestyle and more creative pursuits. Having kids makes me feel old, but objectively I'm not. However, it's easy to feel old. Perhaps its par for the course if you have kids in your mid 30s. Plenty of your friends will not have kids yet (if ever). Some will, but many more won't, which makes it that much more tangible how much more time those people have to indulge in leisure activities. Where am I going with this? I’m not entirely sure. One's emotions don't always line up with reality. Feels obvious to say that out loud.