Another Way to Travel

I’ve gotten some comments recently, saying that I “should” travel in a certain way or that I would “see more” or that it’s “moronic” to travel with dogs. To that I say:

Don’t be travel snobs

What’s interesting to me is that the most vocal person, wrote from Boston. Are they out traveling the world? Nope. Sitting at home, using a computer to dictate what “authentic” travel looks like.

Travel is changing

20 years ago, to travel the world, meant quitting your job. For me it did, because I’m also pursuing a new career. For my husband, it did not. He works completely remotely, communicating via conference calls, emails and IM and uploading his work at the end of the day (he’s a graphic artist). He works for a big company that is one of many offering more flexible working situations. With the wide availability of internet, advanced tools for managing work flow and employees’ desire to avoid the daily commute, it’s becoming very practical.

Working remotely will only increase as employers learn to work in this new model and realize that not only does it save them the cost of office space, but often produces more productive employees.

We work so we can travel long term (years and years), not a one time trip

Ditching the car, being on the road, traveling by train/bus/ferry, is great. For us, it’s not practical. On Monday morning, we both get up and start working. Would we like to take a 5 day sailboat from Panama to Colombia? Absolutely. Can we? Probably not. But at the end of the day, I’m thankful to get to do the traveling I have done. To say I’m missing out is to miss the point. I am traveling. I am seeing the world. It might not fit the narrowest definition of world travel, but you know what? I’ll take it.

When seeing more isn’t seeing more

This summer I went to seven countries. I rented an apartment in Madrid and flew out to different places I wanted to see for a week at a time. Could I have taken a train? Yes. Would I have been able to fit in as many places? Nope. Every traveler has to make these decision for themselves. There is no right answer, I respect the person who buses across South America, just as much as the person who flies there, just as much as the guy who drives his RV with all the comforts of home. These people are doing it, which in my book, always counts. 14% of Americans have a passport, and we’re going to slam someone for not traveling the “correct way”?

Fearless or not

The truth is, I’m not fearless at all. This website has always been about my atypical journey. I wanted to show the good and especially the bad. I didn’t want to pretend like all of this was easy—just that it is doable. I have been extremely honest—detailing my feelings about no longer having a title, sharing what people have said privately to me about my decision, and even my second thoughts and temptations.  I have never had all the answers or pretended too, and I certainly don’t envision myself as some gallivanting adventurer.  But I make it work for me.  I want to share that with other non-fearless types and say, just because you don’t want to “backpack” the world, long term travel is possible for anyone who wants it.

What my version of travel looks like

I have a laptop and about $3000 in camera gear. I have about 25 books (which I get at a second hand bookstores and swap out) and my clothes. Everything my husband and I own fits in our two backpacks, a hand bag and small carry on sized suitcase (for the books). We also have a car and two dogs. We rent an apartment with internet as a home base. Often I will travel out, staying in hostels, with my laptop, camera and backpack—then I return to the home base. My husband likes to stay put and get to know the names of his grocer. I like that too, but I also want to see and travel a bit more. We make it work for us and our marriage. The dogs require more planning (you can’t take two large dogs on a train, or in a hostel and flying can be costly), but to us, it’s a priority and worth it.

For as many long term travelers that read this, I bet there are as many different ways to travel. What does travel look like to you?