Last week’s top ten list was all about what drives me crazy about air travel. But now that I’m home after a wonderful trip, here are then things I love about traveling.

10. When your top-heavy suitcase tips over and bends the handle so badly it won’t slide into place anymore, nice strangers might do what’s necessary to force the handle into it’s slot.

9.  The nice strangers might also say that under no circumstances should you try to pull the handle out again. Which means someone has a good reason to get new luggage!

8.  When you travel to a conference, chances are good you’ll meet walking buddies willing to get up early for a tromp by the ocean to watch a magnificent sunrise.

7.  Discovering that for some mysterious reason, you’ve been TSA approved for the entire trip. No long lines. No taking out the zipper bag of liquids and gels. No removing shoes. No strip search.

6. Which means there’s plenty of time to get some really good coffee, sit down, and enjoy it.

5. Discovering that for some mysterious reason, you get to board in Zone 1 or Zone 2 for the entire trip. (I wonder if the stink made after last springs highly unsatisfactory USA Airways experience landed me on their don’t-mess-with-her-she’s-crazy-so-give-her-preferential-treatment list.)

4. Boarding the plane and finding that, for some mysterious reason, (See #6 for possible explanation) your seat is right behind first class, which means you get extra leg room even though you didn’t play extra for it.

3. Feeling smug sitting right behind first class, because even though you only get to smell the food served to first class customers, you realize your closest exit is the one in front, which means that if there’s an emergency you’ll get to crash the first class party. Free. Of. Charge.

2. Seeing an inch or two of new snow on the ground in Philadelphia during a lay over and not having to go outside.

1. Discovering that for some mysterious reason (see #6 for possible explanation), though the flight crew said the plane was completely full, the only empty seat on the plane is next to you. Right behind first class. With extra leg room already. With N-A-P written all over the entire 3 hour trip. Ahhh!

What makes you love to travel? Leave your comment in the box.