I haven't had extensive travel in my life, but most have been good experiences.
I understand when you plan and pay big for a great experience and then it turns out "not like you planned" it can be disappointing. High expectations and all of that sort of thing. Some folks can't handle the unexpected things as well as others and can't seem to figure out how to make them work anyway. Once you are there though, trying to make something good out of a disappointment seems a must. No sense in wasting the whole memory.
I recall that about you, some decent trips in the States though right?
Yep, there's that. But when I've planned and paid so much money I choose not to let those things detract from the experience, I make them feel like part of what I've paid for and they tend to make the good aspects feel way gooder. Yeah, I know that's not a word.
"No sense wasting the whole memory," you say. I say damn straight!
Yes, I have traveled a little inside the states and lived half a country away from my family on a mid-life adventure for 6 years. I'm so glad I did it while I could. It was a great and educational experience.
Travelling broadens one's experience so easily and that tends to stay with a person, for the better.