Really, that's what it boils down to. Would you rather read about food and people's experiences eating or taste it yourself? Sure, you might read a great description of some wonderful dish that sets your imagination soaring, but it isn't the same as actually eating it yourself. Take your favorite food, for example. Would you rather someone else ate it and described it to you or would you rather eat it yourself? Wanderlust is the same thing.
It's about indulging your senses and emotions in an experience. Instead of reading about a mountain, you can hike it and feel the wind on your face and rocks under your feet, smell the evergreens and flowers, and let yourself be immersed in and inspired by the scenic vistas. Instead of reading about some foreign city, you can walk its streets, hear its sounds, visit with its people, and have every sense you have teaching you about that city. For example, I had read about San Francisco and knew about its trolleys, sourdough bread, hills, and windy streets, but the academic knowledge doesn't compare to the experience of each of those things. It's like reading a book about marrying someone and having children versus doing it yourself. The latter connects with you so much more and on such a deeper level.
- Paul