I was raised in poverty and became an artist for a living… so I stayed in poverty! 🤪
I was lead to believe that “people like me” don’t get to travel.
I married into a family of environmentalists, some of whom indoctrinated me to believe that travel was harming the planet (which I’m sure it is- just like AI data centers but they have no problem using AI- so I guess we’re all a$$-holes now. 🤣).
Then I got a devastating medical diagnosis with a death date (which thankfully I have lived beyond) and it changed EVERYTHING!
First we moved into an RV, then a tiny truck camper, now we have no home at all and are global nomads and I’ve never been happier in my life.
Is it hard? So freaking hard! Living with the housing insecurity like not having an affordable place to stay in August where we won’t melt when all of Europe is on vacation — is incredibly stressful and not at all good for my health.
Is it rewarding? Beyond measure!!
I wish I’d done it sooner. My husband is going to be 68 this year- he hasn’t joined me yet (I’m traveling with my teen daughter) and we ALL have health issues- so I worry, a bit, which is all the more reason I’m so devoted to travel now. I know there will likely come a time when it’s not possible for one or all of us to continue traveling so I’m grateful to be able to do so now.
My biggest regret in life is how much stuff I owned (mostly inherited) and how much time and money I spent the past 37 years storing it/ shuffling it and being weighed down by it.
When I met my husband, everything I owned fit into a compact hatch back car. That’s what I want to go back to. Every day I look for what else can I let go of to make my life simpler and more minimalist. I want ease and space.
The last six months we’ve lived in England. Every book I’ve read since being here I immediately donated to our residential library. I was a massive book hoarder before. As a writer, it felt sacrilegious to let go of a book. Now, it feels so freeing.
I’ve spent years working on the spiritual practice of nonattachment to people, places and things (including beliefs) and I’m sure it’s helped me to enjoy each present moment in the unknown, all the more.
The only thing I wish I could change was having more security around where we will be next, and next, and next. But I guess that just means it’s time to embrace nonattachment more (which feels like a weird oxymoron “embrace nonattachment”)😂
If I had it to do over again and from here forward— my entire obsession is and would be— the ideal travel gear and minimalist wardrobe. This is the gift I’d give every 18 year old. It used to be customary to graduate from high school and backpack through Europe for three months before heading to college to get that travel bug in the blood- but the economy tanked, fear rose and people stayed when they ought to have moved.
So here I am- gratefully reading your words - feeling less alone- trusting the process and having faith that the next step will be taken care of and manifest itself.
Now I have to figure out if we store the minimal household items we needed for six months in a rental in the UK for a work opportunity (my daughter made a film at Aardman and yes, I’m a proud mama) or do we let them all go only to have to buy them again once we find a place to actually settle?
Thank you for allowing me a space to share. This is a great post! I’m really happy for the travel you’ve been able to do. Keep going!!
Oh my gosh I love this so much! Thank you SO much for sharing! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and I’m glad to hear you’re out there living your best life and defying the odds. That’s so amazing!
Figuring out what comes next all the time is definitely one of the challenging parts but as you said - worth it.
And as hard as it is to get to that minimalist lifestyle, it’s definitely freeing once it happens.
I hope your health continues to hold and you can enjoy what you want for much longer! Thanks again for sharing. I loved reading your story!!
I totally agree with getting out there when you can even if you just make an effort to do holidays. We’ve been lucky, we’ve seen our parents put things off until they can’t go any longer. My husband and I made the decision to tour when we could , and have taking many local trips starting within Canada, moving to some Europe. Cruises and tours. Going to the Caribbean to scuba dive while we can, and let me tell you, it was much easier when I was 50 than 60!
Love this! Sounds like you're doing it and that's fantastic. Now learning to scuba dive... that WOULD be something else! Thanks for sharing and happy travels.
The biggest problem with Travel is the sheer number of travelers. They are quite simply ruining the very places that people want to go. You have to book National Park visits a year in advance. You can’t just pick up and go anymore. Everywhere there are more tourists than natives so you really don’t even get the chance to immerse in culture and locals even staying for a month of more. The Mcdonaldization of the world means that finding anything unique is nearly impossible-only mega corp chains can afford to stay in business.
There is definitely some truth to that for sure! Many places are definitely getting overrun by tourists. I think it’s all in what you’re looking for and what you want to experience though. There are still many places that are amazing to explore that aren’t filled with tourists. Definitely something to think about though!
Some places are worse than others, and if you know how to work it, you can avoid some of those problems at National Parks - but not always. That said, this is one reason to go and see things now before it becomes impossible or the current administration dismantles everything and gives it to the states, which will surely McDonaldize everything to the point it's no longer worth going or only available to the wealthy.
Yes!!!
I was raised in poverty and became an artist for a living… so I stayed in poverty! 🤪
I was lead to believe that “people like me” don’t get to travel.
I married into a family of environmentalists, some of whom indoctrinated me to believe that travel was harming the planet (which I’m sure it is- just like AI data centers but they have no problem using AI- so I guess we’re all a$$-holes now. 🤣).
Then I got a devastating medical diagnosis with a death date (which thankfully I have lived beyond) and it changed EVERYTHING!
First we moved into an RV, then a tiny truck camper, now we have no home at all and are global nomads and I’ve never been happier in my life.
Is it hard? So freaking hard! Living with the housing insecurity like not having an affordable place to stay in August where we won’t melt when all of Europe is on vacation — is incredibly stressful and not at all good for my health.
Is it rewarding? Beyond measure!!
I wish I’d done it sooner. My husband is going to be 68 this year- he hasn’t joined me yet (I’m traveling with my teen daughter) and we ALL have health issues- so I worry, a bit, which is all the more reason I’m so devoted to travel now. I know there will likely come a time when it’s not possible for one or all of us to continue traveling so I’m grateful to be able to do so now.
My biggest regret in life is how much stuff I owned (mostly inherited) and how much time and money I spent the past 37 years storing it/ shuffling it and being weighed down by it.
When I met my husband, everything I owned fit into a compact hatch back car. That’s what I want to go back to. Every day I look for what else can I let go of to make my life simpler and more minimalist. I want ease and space.
The last six months we’ve lived in England. Every book I’ve read since being here I immediately donated to our residential library. I was a massive book hoarder before. As a writer, it felt sacrilegious to let go of a book. Now, it feels so freeing.
I’ve spent years working on the spiritual practice of nonattachment to people, places and things (including beliefs) and I’m sure it’s helped me to enjoy each present moment in the unknown, all the more.
The only thing I wish I could change was having more security around where we will be next, and next, and next. But I guess that just means it’s time to embrace nonattachment more (which feels like a weird oxymoron “embrace nonattachment”)😂
If I had it to do over again and from here forward— my entire obsession is and would be— the ideal travel gear and minimalist wardrobe. This is the gift I’d give every 18 year old. It used to be customary to graduate from high school and backpack through Europe for three months before heading to college to get that travel bug in the blood- but the economy tanked, fear rose and people stayed when they ought to have moved.
So here I am- gratefully reading your words - feeling less alone- trusting the process and having faith that the next step will be taken care of and manifest itself.
Now I have to figure out if we store the minimal household items we needed for six months in a rental in the UK for a work opportunity (my daughter made a film at Aardman and yes, I’m a proud mama) or do we let them all go only to have to buy them again once we find a place to actually settle?
Thank you for allowing me a space to share. This is a great post! I’m really happy for the travel you’ve been able to do. Keep going!!
Oh my gosh I love this so much! Thank you SO much for sharing! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and I’m glad to hear you’re out there living your best life and defying the odds. That’s so amazing!
Figuring out what comes next all the time is definitely one of the challenging parts but as you said - worth it.
And as hard as it is to get to that minimalist lifestyle, it’s definitely freeing once it happens.
I hope your health continues to hold and you can enjoy what you want for much longer! Thanks again for sharing. I loved reading your story!!
I totally agree with getting out there when you can even if you just make an effort to do holidays. We’ve been lucky, we’ve seen our parents put things off until they can’t go any longer. My husband and I made the decision to tour when we could , and have taking many local trips starting within Canada, moving to some Europe. Cruises and tours. Going to the Caribbean to scuba dive while we can, and let me tell you, it was much easier when I was 50 than 60!
Love this! Sounds like you're doing it and that's fantastic. Now learning to scuba dive... that WOULD be something else! Thanks for sharing and happy travels.
Love that! That’s a great way to do it for sure. Sounds like you’ve had some epic adventures!
The biggest problem with Travel is the sheer number of travelers. They are quite simply ruining the very places that people want to go. You have to book National Park visits a year in advance. You can’t just pick up and go anymore. Everywhere there are more tourists than natives so you really don’t even get the chance to immerse in culture and locals even staying for a month of more. The Mcdonaldization of the world means that finding anything unique is nearly impossible-only mega corp chains can afford to stay in business.
There is definitely some truth to that for sure! Many places are definitely getting overrun by tourists. I think it’s all in what you’re looking for and what you want to experience though. There are still many places that are amazing to explore that aren’t filled with tourists. Definitely something to think about though!
I don't disagree with you, Tim! I wrote this post on here a while back about overtourism: https://www.roadlifeadventure.com/p/the-changing-face-of-tourism
Some places are worse than others, and if you know how to work it, you can avoid some of those problems at National Parks - but not always. That said, this is one reason to go and see things now before it becomes impossible or the current administration dismantles everything and gives it to the states, which will surely McDonaldize everything to the point it's no longer worth going or only available to the wealthy.
Thanks for sharing!