Questions: Travel

I hear from so many people that traveling in your early to mid-twenties is a different experience than traveling in your 30s, 40s, and beyond.

For those who do travel, do you think it is worth it quitting your job or taking a sabbatical and traveling for 6 months to a year? If you have never traveled for an extended period, do you find it easy to take off for weeks or months at a time for international travel?

Do you think international travel is really a life-changing experience or do you think it is just "stories to tell"? Do you prefer going on adventures and just going where your intuition takes you, or are you more a tourist who enjoys the big landmarks and sticks to an itinerary?

Lastly, do you think less of people who don't travel or haven't traveled as much? Do you find it hard to relate?

(Personally, the only time I traveled out of the US was to visit Niagra Falls, Ontario for an extended weekend. I have visited Las Vegas on a business trip, and have visited several places up and down the east coast, but have never traveled overseas.)

From what I've read from all over the internet (mostly from government websites and organizations), Uruguay is one of, if not, the least corrupt country in Latin America and also one of the happiest countries in the world.

I wouldn't doubt these statements being true since I very rarely ever hear bad things about Uruguay (it seems like the type of country that keeps to themselves). It seems like everyone over there, including the ethnic minorities there, are happy with their lives.