Traveler Interview: Jim Tweedy
Attorney Jim Tweedy travels to relax away from work.
Raised in Puxico, Missouri, Jim Tweedy returned to southeast Missouri after law school at the University of Missouri- Columbia. After working a few years at a Cape Girardeau law firm, Jim opened the Tweedy Law Office in his native Stoddard County, Missouri.
Jim practices general civil law including juvenile, probate, estate planning, collection, business, domestic matters and general criminal defense.
Appointed by the governor, Jim is one of six commissioners for the Missouri Ethics Commission, where he is Vice Chairman.
Jim supports his local community in a number of ways, serving as treasurer of the Stoddard County Children’s Home, Inc., since 2003. Jim is a strong proponent of Stoddard County and southeast Missouri, and also for exploring the world through travel.
We were curious to learn more about Jim’s passion for travel, and his most recent adventure: whitewater rafting through the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.
The Jones: What inspires you to travel?
Jim: Primarily, getting away from the office and relaxing, which I find impossible to do unless I get on a plane and fly somewhere.
Have you always enjoyed travel? What contributed to your love of travel?
Jim: Yes, I have always enjoyed traveling. Even in college, I would sneak in weekend trips to Chicago or Ann Arbor, Michigan with round trip tickets from St. Louis for only $36.00! My parents both enjoyed traveling and I have always thought of travelling as a reward “for good behavior”.
What is your favorite destination? Why?
Jim: Tough question. I have enjoyed most everywhere I have been, but do not make many repeat trips to the same location. The only place I make repeated trips to is Columbia, Missouri, to cheer for the Mizzou Tigers! New Zealand is probably the only destination that I have been to and that I want to go back to in the relative near future – it is a remarkable country.
What destination has surprised you the most, either good or bad?
Jim: The Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.
Rafting through the Middle Fork of the Salmon River
Words cannot express how beautiful the area is. Or how peaceful it was (in between the white water rapids!) to raft and fish on the river, as well as the hiking and camping in this majestic area. I never knew I could enjoy life so much without electricity, cell phones and other modern conveniences such as toilets and queen size beds. The intelligence level and spirituality of the river guides, as well as the other guests on the trip, made this an “Ah-ha” moment for me. It was truly a life changing experience.
Adventure Sun Valley River Rafting Group
I highly recommend Adventure Sun Valley Middle Fork Expeditions as an outfitter that goes above and beyond in meeting the expectations of all of the guests.)
Why do you think that travel is important?
Jim: To decompress, and to learn about other areas of the country and the world. Too often, we fall into ruts thinking the rest of the world is just like our little place on the map. Travelling is a way of reminding us how diverse, not only geographically but socially as well, planet Earth is.
What “tip” have you learned from your travels that you’d share with others?
Jim: I like flying in/out of small airports where parking is often free and getting through security and picking up checked baggage is a breeze, compared to larger airports.
From your travels, do you have a practice or insight that makes your travel experiences more enjoyable?
Jim: Just go with the flow- the trip may not go as planned, but travelling is an adventure and some of the best adventures are the ones we do not plan for.
Read More Traveler Interviews:
- “Be flexible. Un-planned events are our favorites.” A Travel Chat with the Johnsons, former European Ex-pats.
- Utilize Your Travel Time and Opportunity ….GO-GO-GO! A Father’s Day Travel Chat
What fuels your travel passion? Please share in comments.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Great interview with our friend Jim! I am so glad that Jim finally did something “off the grid.”
Joi
Jim tells me his next adventure is either Alaska or South America!
Joi – there was an attorney from Seattle on the trip that reminded me a lot of you. She was quite the hiker!
While we are in the area of “I never knew I could enjoy life so much without electricity …†A Travel Chat with a southeastern Missouri Attorney, Although we all have an understanding of what law is, and generally why it’s appropriate that it should be in place to serve and regulate our conduct in society, we seldom think of what law actually means in an everyday context. What is law for the average Joe in the street? How does law impact on our lives from day to day? Indeed, is the law a distant concept with which we find it hard to relate? In this article we will look at some of the fundamental ways law operates in society, in addition to the nature of the law as we know it.
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