First time traveling alone - I mean really alone.

[BigE]

I am going to take my first solo backpacking trip next year and I decided to pick an area where I don't know anyone (Scandinavia). Almost everywhere else in the world I or my family knows someone. I wanted to pick a destination where (a) I don't know anyone and (B) I am interested in visiting. The idea of not making any duty calls to family friends is very appealing to me. This is the ultimate escape trip. I will know nobody.

I am excited about it, however, I just want to ask you, my fellow T-punks, what you think. Why do you solo-backpack?

I don't know how the transformer smiley got there.