Chapter 29: Wanderlust

Dictionary.com defines wanderlust as a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about. I have been thinking a lot about that word, family history, and the impact of genetics. As I have shared in a previous blog, Nick and Gabby have been abroad for the summer and learned about dual Italian citizenship by descent. Nick was asking me for information on when my ancestors immigrated to America to see if we would qualify. Unfortunately, I don’t think we meet the criteria. My great grandparents on my mother’s side were born and married in Italy but my grandfather was born in Hazleton, PA. My grandmother on my father’s side was born in NYC but her parents also immigrated from Italy. But researching the generations got me thinking. Did they travel to America purely out of necessity or did wanderlust influence their decision to leave their birthplace? Did this willingness to see new places get passed down through the generations?
In an article on the Science of Wanderlust in Conde Nast it was stated that “ in 2016, a number of articles touting a “wanderlust gene”—DRD4-7R, to be precise—made the rounds. Several traced their source back to a psychology blog that suggested that 7R, a variation of the gene DRD4—which acts on dopamine levels in the brain, and so motivation and behavior as a result—existed in 20 percent of the human population. The key fact with the 7R variant, per researchers, was a link “with restlessness and curiosity.” This restlessness, according to writers, can propel people to take bigger risks, which includes—you guessed it!—exploring new or different places.”
Having lived in Seguin, Texas from 2009 to 2023- we met many families who had lived there for generations. Large family groups who all stayed local and continue to stay, some even living on large pieces of family land together or compounds. As I reflected on my own family, this reminded me of my early childhood being part of an Italian family who all lived in South Jersey. We spent all the holidays together and gathered down the shore in the summer. But even then my parents had the itch to try new things and move around Cumberland county. By the time I reached my 18th birthday, I had moved 11 times! Not only were these moves of residence, they also included some major career and lifestyle changes. Did you know my parents managed two motels for a period of time? Yes – we lived in a motel, met a lot of people and had some pretty great times. Another time, they decided to open a delicatessen- Del’s Deli!! (Pretty clever name right when your last name is Del Greco!) My mother made a GREAT sub! Later in life they returned to Bridgeton and settled down with jobs in the US Postal Service including my mother driving a Scout delivering mail on a rural route!
Interestingly enough, this willingness to explore seemed to be passed down to all three of their children and their six grandchildren! My sisters and I, combined, have lived in NJ, NY, California, Maine, Texas, and now Georgia. Our combined children are currently spread around the country- Nick and Gabby in Georgia (when they get back from their summer adventures abroad!) and Kat in California with my nieces and nephews currently in Colorado, Virginia, Maine, and Illinois! Do we miss being able to be together for both big and little things? ABSOLUTELY! Does it take A LOT of planning to sync vacations or family celebrations? FOR SURE! Is it challenging to stay connected long distance? YES! But despite that, I would venture to guess that most of my family do not have any regrets in experiencing new places and things. Meraviglia is just the next chapter in this willingness to explore! I am VERY hopeful at some point in the future, Bob and I will be geographically close to our children and their future families as well as our extended families so that we can have some of those in person connections and time together. But for now, while aboard Meraviglia, we will continue to plan times to meet in person and to connect virtually to keep our relationships strong. Hopefully our combined family wanderlust will overlap in some fantastic destination….