I've done it. I lived out of a suitcase for a year from one adventure to the next and it was incredible but, from here on out, I'm planning on doing much less frequent travel and trips.
This may surprise some people who know me pretty well - or even extremely well. Traveling is one of my favorite ways to spend my free time. I'm always planning my next trip. But becoming a traveler who is constantly packing and unpacking long-term is a different story.
There's something about the comfort of having a home you've made for yourself to come home to that goes unmatched. I've found that I really do get the truest happiness from quality, meaningful connections with people. These types of connections are hard to build when you're not spending much time in one place. All of the traveling is significantly less fulfilling without having one of those people I have a connection to by my side.
So yes, I absolutely love to travel and I will always be eager to plan my next trip, but those trips are going to be A LOT LESS frequent.What I've found is you don't need to be 10,000 miles from home to have an adventure. An adventure is a state of being - not necessarily a lengthy trip validated by how far you travel. We can create adventures anywhere we like.
Thinking back on my past travels, there are eight things you have to enjoy or at least be OK with if you want to be constantly traveling. Separately, none of them are bad and some are even exciting. Together, they can be a little overwhelming for some people - they were for me.
1. Alone time.
I love alone time. if you're constantly traveling, odds are you're not always going to have someone who's able to travel with you. This goes along with being away from significant others, friends, and family for long periods of time - can you do this regularly?
2. Decision-making.
When you're all alone or only with one or two friends in a new place with no routine or expected responsibilities, you've got the freedom to do whatever you choose with your time. You may want to do a little research before deciding to not waste any time!
3. Unpredictability.
You don't know the weather, traffic patterns, types of people, types of bars or restaurants.
4. Strangers.
They can be total weirdos or your new life-long best friends. There's only one way to find out!
5. Sleeping alone.
I love having the bed to myself because I sleep like a giant selfish starfish BUT I've found I don't like to be alone in a whole house - which is often the result of renting from Airbnb. Hotel rooms I can do alone. They feel less creepy and lonely to me.
6. A changing sleep schedule.
Your bedtimes and wakeup times will change based on drive or flight times and time zone differences. You can't be a total stickler for when you sleep and wake.
7. Rideshares
You'll have to be comfortable with using rideshares frequently unless you're planning on driving everywhere you travel to or renting a car, which can get really pricy especially if the company has a "25-year-old and under" policy and you fall into that category.
8. Lack of STUFF AND THINGS.
Unless you're an extreme minimalist, which I am not, you won't ever have all of your belongings accessible to you while traveling - especially if you fly to your destination. You won't have your desk drawers or closet to go through if you forget something.
