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About a year ago, I reached a personal milestone. On a cruise of the Dalmatian coast, I visited my 100th country as defined by the Travelers Century Club.

"Montenegro absolutely counts, ever since the break up of Yugoslavia," says Christopher Hudson of the Travelers Century Club. "The important thing is you now qualify to be a member. It's terrific."

So it’s official. I am eligible to be a member of the TCC, a club for people who have visited 100 or more places on their tally. It's a great way to hang with like-minded people such as Hudson, who has ticked off 249 of the 321 countries, territories, protectorates and islands on their list.

"This is an opportunity to talk to people who share the obsession," he said.

"I’ve actually been to every country in the world except for three," said Laurie Campbell, who's visited 287 places. "I haven’t been to Libya, Somalia, and I haven’t been to South Sudan."

At a recent New York chapter meeting, we in attendance had a total of nearly 3,000 so-called "countries" between us, as well as a slew of travel tips to share.

"The biggest thing before you go somewhere, review it online and see what people have to say," says Scott Swanberg, who's visited 161 places.

"I try and be safe with my money," Campbell says. "I keep my money on me in my bra. That way, if someone takes your purse, you’ve still got cash.

“I don’t take taxis," said Inna Bakker, a provisional member. "I take public transportation."

"Even if I'm tired I try to force myself to walk, do a little exercise, get into the new time zone as quickly as I can," Hudson said.

With all due respect to Groucho Marx, who wouldn't belong to any club that accepted him, I prefer to join one where membership comes with compliments.

"You certainly don't look older, Valarie," Hudson says. "You look wiser, let's say."