Al Boysen ’49 and Betty Cain Boysen ’50

If travel broadens the mind, Al Boysen ’49 and Betty Cain Boysen ’50 have expanded their liberal arts education beyond many borders. Thanks to careers in education, they have spent summers visiting all 50 states and every continent except Antarctica in a motorhome or cruise ship cabin.

“Not long after we were married,” recalled Betty, “we spent a summer in Oregon as fire watchers in a national forest. We lived the entire time in a 12-foot square cabin on a mountaintop. If we could survive that, we could survive anything.”

A 14-nation trip of Europe, from Lichtenstein and Italy to England and France, remains a memorable trip in addition to 12 lengthy cruises on the 650-passenger MS Marco Polo. Their trips at sea have taken them to such ports as Singapore and Sydney, Australia. When they aren’t traveling they live in a continuing care community in Tampa, Fla.

Betty and Al recently bought their 12th motor home, which they use to tow a car when they tour the United States. As members of Thousand Trails, a campground network, they spend as many as two weeks in one location on trips that last for several months at a time.

The domestic travel has taken them to most of America’s iconic national parks and landmarks. Sedona in Arizona is a favorite part of a swing that also takes them to Las Vegas. One summer they spent two months in Alaska. After retirement, they added Cornell homecomings to their itineraries and park at the Mount Vernon home of Mary Sheley Gunn ’50, a college roommate and fellow Arrow.

“Ever since I can remember, I wanted to travel,” said Betty. “Now we consider ourselves world travelers.”