What Redesigning Your Life and Traveling the World Really Means
14. Dec, 2009 
50 Comments
I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while. I had recently read a piece about location independent living that said most bloggers were getting it wrong… living anywhere wasn’t the point, it was how you live. He was right about the last point. His solution? Create as much wealth as possible. On this, he was dead wrong. It’s the same trap that keeps you treading water in a 9-5, wishing but never acting on your so-called “dream” life. To me, it’s about creating a lifestyle that is balanced.
The whole “travel-the-world” thing sounds great, and it is. But you will get burned out. You will become jaded. You’ll seek novelty, but find none. You’ve done it all (or so it seems). Travel for it’s own sake is a short term solution and if you don’t find something else to create meaning in your life, you won’t be happy. Part of what makes travel so alluring and magical is it’s scarcity. Ask anyone who travels 365 days a year and their perspective is decidedly anti-travel. A vacation for them? A whole week in their house, napping on the couch, watching TV and ordering pizza. I’m sure there are some travel writers (especially the guide book variety) that think that sounds just like heaven.
So why do I write so much about travel? For me, it was the spark. It’s the idea that got me out of bed in the morning, energized about my future plans and motivated to take the leap. I probably love travel even more than I did before, back when I had no clue what the world looked like, and even less about what a long term traveling lifestyle would entail. It has opened doors for me, and shown me more about myself and human nature than I might have learned in 10 years at home. But at the end of the day, it’s not the travel alone that makes my lifestyle work, it’s the lifestyle redesign to get there that I cherish most.
I don’t write about these things often, maybe because it opens up the inevitable discord from those not where they want to be. But I think it’s important for anyone who’s planning on taking the leap to keep the bigger picture in mind. We quit our jobs, we redesign our lives for one reason only: freedom. For me, that freedom means being able to travel when I want, and to stop traveling when I’m tired. It means being able to help a family member fix up their house for three months (last fall). It means being pregnant and getting to take 3 hour naps every day if I want (which I did the entire first month). It means spending my days writing, playing with techie blog things and taking pictures (three things I love).
It means never having to do something I truly loathe.
In fact, I’d probably be a much wealthier, more successful and better published writer if I did do things I didn’t like. But I don’t care. I have enough money, I have my flexibility and somewhere along the line, I made the decision that it simply wasn’t worth it to me to write certain kinds of articles or to embed SEO keywords into my posts or to take on clients that would make me unhappy.
I’m not the only one making this work. In fact, I know one blogger who actually loves the SEO stuff and makes a good portion of his living off of this knowledge. It’s not about what path you take, just that you’re putting quality effort into whatever you do. Say it with me, “You don’t have to do stuff you hate”. There’s always another way.
Even as I write this, I can hear the cries of, “Well I have XYZ responsibilities, must be nice, but for me….” I know! There are compromises. I don’t buy new stuff for myself. I live as cheaply as possible. Sometimes when I travel, I’ll stay in a hostel, sleeping in a dorm bed with a dozen strangers in the same room. I saved before I left. I save money now. These are all things I have no problem doing, because they’re not that big of a deal to me. You might have other preferences. You might prefer to travel in more luxury and as a compromise you work more hours. Our paths might be different, but the outcome should be the same.
I’ve been working on my non-traditional lifestyle for two years now. If you’re just starting out this, you’re justifiably cynical. The point is, the goal should always be to do something we love everyday. If you’re redesigning your life to travel, but you’re funding it with stuff you hate, you’re missing the point. If you quit your job only to start a business that bores you to tears, then we have a problem. If you have to work 100 hours a week, and you can’t just blow everything off for a month, then what’s the point? We have been taught rules: all paying work must involve things we strongly dislike, dragging yourself out of bed each day is proof you’re an adult, and no one is allowed to be happy without paying their dues. Don’t buy into it.
The key to redesigning your life is eliminate everything that doesn’t add value or saps your ability to act independently. It’s the mindset of the surly teen… “How do I get out of doing this?” It’s a process. You get rid of the soul-sucking job, but then you add back in soul-sucking clients. You weed them down to the good ones, and then you try your hand at a small business. You might find a good balance, but then panic because a high profile project comes along (if I pass, maybe I’m making a huge mistake) only to find yourself digging your way out of 6 months of tedious work. You get better at trusting you instincts and things like cash and high-profile gigs can’t draw you in anymore. You’ve found something more valuable.
So I write about travel, because to me that represents the big fat someday. It’s the common dream we all share, but in reality we’re all folding different hopes and expectations in. For some people travel sounds like a vacation, napping in a hammock on the beach, with a cold beer at your finger tips. For others it’s pure excitement, the fast paced, seat-of-your-pants ride through another country, into another culture. And for others it’s about giving back, or learning, or solitude or self discovery. Travel is the metaphor that helps us understand the shared intent: the freedom to spend our days doing what we’d like. It’s an insanely simple idea. In hindsight it’s stupidly simple to implement (although it never feels that way). The hard part? Giving yourself permission to be wildly, irresponsibly happy.
pic: mysza
Great post! I love the idea of travel as the metaphor for freedom to pursue your dreams.
Having traded stability of a regular 9 to 5 job to a full-time life on the road for three years, I can say that I am dreaming of a month in an apartment with a kitchen, high speed internet, grocery stores and great restaurants near by and just life to be simple. People ask if we want to do this forever…absolutely not. We have a goal to learn about developing/transitional countries firsthand now, but I could not travel forever, finances aside.
But, whenever we do end our travels we plan to continue a lifestyle of independent work and flexibility so that when we do want to take off for the next adventure, we only have to answer to ourselves. Easily said than done to create this sustainable lifestyle, but we have learned to live with very little. This attitude of simplifying our lives helped us save for this current journey, allows us to continue traveling now and will help us live minimally in the future. The more I travel, the less I realize I really need.
Audrey´s last blog ..Tarija, Bolivia: It’s About the People
Since I was a little girl, before I know what traveling was, I knew it was what I wanted to do. I didn’t know how I was going to make it happen, I just knew that one day I would. I feel like I was unknowingly preparing for this my whole life and here I am. It’s pretty amazing. Thanks for the great post. I’m really glad I redesigned my life.
Aracely from Two Backpackers´s last blog ..What We Miss
I don’t like travel so much as I like living abroad. I’ve been in China for seven years and have lived and worked in the same city the whole time except for when I’d travel around China during summer vacations. My lifestyle here is pretty cruisey. I only teach twelve hours a week, so I can spend the rest of my time working on my blog, relaxing or whatever else I want to do. The idea of constantly moving around for more than a month sounds exhausting to me.
Gordie´s last blog ..Are You Controlling Life Or Is Life Controlling You?
What a wonderful, insightful post Christine. Totally on the mark. I’ve been living my unconventional lifestyle for 15 years and was just getting tired of not having more money but you’ve put it all back into perspective for me. Thanks!
Fly Girl´s last blog ..Cooking Up Conch Salad on Harbour Island
Wow, fantastic post! What a great outline for anyone looking to redesign their life for any reason. I recently quit my job (without a super wonderful plan B, I might add) and you are right, you have to find something that means more than the cash and the stability and whatever else you’ve come to count on from those big paychecks. I am not there yet, but I’m on the road.
Thanks for a great post!
LesleyG´s last blog ..Please help me with my very first-world, whiney runner problem
Great message and so true. I’m new to this but not cynical. It’s nice to see a seasoned veteran speaking a message I hear in my mind.
Traveling Savage´s last blog ..A Manifesto, A Declaration
I arrived at basically this same conclusion several months ago. I have the dream job, that doesn’t even seem like work. When I’m at work, I have no expenses so the paychecks add up. Then, for six months (or more) I’m off…free to do whatever. I thought that since I love messing around with technical stuff that I should apply that and use it to make money. I didn’t need any more money…I wasn’t motivated at all, so the freelance work became a source of angst. Now….I’m happy to not be chasing clients and trying to market myself.
Will´s last blog ..P1010136
Yep. We are in agreement once again Christine…and you crystallize it so well.
Find something you love to do…then find a way to get paid for it…as much or as little as you need and want.
I gave up the TV career, condo, car and ‘cookie-cutter’ American life (well, besides the house in the ‘burbs and kids), 3 years ago to travel the world. I stopped and worked in several places like Melbourne and Istanbul as i knew i couldn’t just ‘walk around the world’ for a year.
Now, i am building a new life. I once read a great book by Bob and Melinda Blanchard:
“Live What You Love.” Well said.
Lisa Lubin´s last blog ..Reality Sets In: How to Combat P.T.D. (Post Travel Depression) & Reverse Culture Shock
I like your comment that this is the mindset of the “surly teen.” Sometimes I feel that way, especially when I try to convince myself I should make a living as a freelance writer even though I don’t want to. It’s difficult to learn to trust yourself, but when it starts to work, it’s a wonderful feeling. Thanks for the philosophy…it was good to be reminded of these things.
Beth Partin´s last blog ..Denver Restaurants: Pajama Baking Company
For me it is also all about the freedom. I’m not at all commited to some kind of indefinite travelling life-style. I’ was once the road for 18 months and I started to get lonely towards the end.
For the moment I’m in Thailand, maybe I’ll do some travelling around, maybe I’ll move back to Europe, maybe somewhere else. Who knows?
The first thing you learn when travelling is to make as few plans as possible.
NomadicNeil´s last blog ..Job 2 Do – Thai Reggae
I couldn’t agree more. Do what you love… everything else follows.
Rachel Cotterill´s last blog ..Florentines: A Christmas Treat
I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I read this post. I’ll admit I was a bit worried it would be about encouraging everyone to travel, travel, travel.
I love travelling and I love the freedom that my new life gives me. However, although many people do complain about feeling stuck and trapped in a job that they loathe, it’s also worth remembering that many others share the dream of stability, regular work, houses, mortgages and so on. Their “cookie-cutter” lifestyle is not some hideous nightmare that they’re desperate to escape from; it’s a personal choice.
I love your idea of travel as a metaphor for shared intent (the freedom to spend our days doing what we’d like) – but many who don’t travel also feel free.
Lovely post – thanks
Abi´s last blog ..The Frog, the Astronaut and the Sore Neck
I love this post! I made the decision to do what I love in 2006, but at the time still didnt realise how to be free. I am just on the brink of a location-less career and this article is just the thing that is going to push me up and over. Thanks so much!
Jessica´s last blog ..So you think you know London – Name this London location
You keep travelling Christine, don’t worry about the people that try to drag you down to justify their own lack of confidence to take the leap.
Jonny | thelifething.com´s last blog ..A Happiness Fundamental: The Social Spiderweb
Awesome! Yes, lifestyle design doesn’t have to be about travel and I’m kind of getting a bit tired hearing that, so this is refreshing, especially from someone who redesigned their life with travel. Also, it doesn’t necessarily have to be escaping 9-5. There are so many people out there who love their 9-5 jobs, however, there’s an equally large portion of people who don’t. Who despise what they do. Who knows what the solution is. It’s unique to the individual, but as you say, it’s about creating freedom for yourself. This doesn’t have to be based on what someone else’s vision for freedom is. Maybe you completely hate playing the ‘corporate game.’ so you quit and work at a coffee shop or become a bartender. Maybe THAT”S freedom. Or, maybe it is travel. I think the key is to always question yourself and stay true to yourself. If you read something and think it sounds awesome ask yourself why. Question if it’s right for you and always stay true to yourself. Chase your own dreams.
Nate´s last blog ..Review: The Unconventional Guide to Working for Yourself
This is I think what we figured out in the last two months. It isn’t just the travel that makes us happy – it is the experience of stepping back from our 60-hour per week jobs, avoiding the stress of dealing with office politics and proposals and stuff all day long, and experiencing life at a more relaxed pace. There are days that we sit around and work on the computer even though we are in exotic locales and there are days where we travel and see all sorts of things. But, we enjoy every day because we are reinventing our lives and challenging ourselves to be different.
Akila´s last blog ..an electronics junkie’s round-the-world packing list
Nice post Christina! I think its great encouragement. Sometimes it seems hard to figure out what we want most in life, but we know what we don’t want, so we just keep trying to get rid of those things.
I hope you are enjoying Hawaii
Pond Jumpers: Croatia´s last blog ..Egypt diary: Aswan and cruising the Nile
Just yesterday our family met another RTW family, who finished their trip just as we were starting ours. They are, for the most part, back in the daily grind, and it isn’t working for them. When they started on their trip, travel wasn’t a metaphor – it was the Dream. Now they’re feeling the pull of freedom…
We got am email from them that he quit his job today, and is exploring possibilities. WOW!
For us, travel was always a means to an end: to find a life that really works for our whole family. It’s been a trip! (pun intended).
Brenna Redpath´s last blog ..BYOB to Demijohn
IMHO, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Life is too short to do something we hate. I did it for years and made myself sick. Like you, I now wake up every morning, full of energy and chomping at the bit to write, photograph, and discover the next new place. I coud not have said it better.
Barbara @Hole In The Donut Travels´s last blog ..Want to Find the Real Miami Beach? Get to Know Its Artists
One of your best posts! You are spot on. It’s not about doing XYZ or traveling the world, it is about doing what you like and not what you loathe. If that means gardening, dog training, traveling, or all three at once- whatever…it’s about being flexible and doing what you like. To me that is what this who Location independent/lifestyle design thing is all about: freedom and flexibility.
Nomadic Matt´s last blog ..Bangkok’s Khao San Road (HD Video)
This captures the big difference between traveling and vacationing. Traveling becomes a way of life, rather than an escape from life. Great post!
-Mike
http://www.MichaelAndersonGallery.com
Some people have the attitude that time is money – to me its the other way around: money buys you the time to live the way you want it or where you want it.
After almost 3 years of near-continuous travel, I’m reaching a point where I want to stop for a while and have my own place again – that doesn’t mean I will want to give up the freedom of being able to get up when I want, work when I want or have to face a week at work on a Sunday night after an all too short weekend.
Still… I’m off to Africa tomorrow and pretty excited about a new adventure. Thanks for the blog
Holgs´s last blog ..Army of the Terracotta Warriors, Xian, China
Dear Christine, you have the strange power to put in words what I’m thinking about for months….I’m here planning a sabbatical year, a long trip with my family, and this is exciting to me, but behind this there is always the weird sensation that even this great adventure don’t will make my life definitely happiest….and then you come with exactly the words that clarify this sensation: what we all need is not only travel the world, even if this is an high value added to the big picture, but also (and above all) the freedom to do what we love with the people we love. Freedom and passion on what we are doing are the keys….Thank you again, for helping me to define the shape of my way of life.
Awesome post! I think my motto for 2010 and beyond is definitely going to be ‘No matter what obstacle I think I may have, I give myself permission to be wildly, irresponsibly happy!” Thank you so much for the inspiration!
You wrote well, and conveyed clear truth here. I saw a snapshot of what I hope to have in a few years of purposely designing my own life. The opening line was key…balance! Good to come back to often as we so easily drive ourselves in one direction or the next.
Robert´s last blog ..Creating Income | Busting Barriers & Mock Testing
What a wonderful thought-provoking post, Christine!
My family is just back in the States from a year living abroad in Spain. It was a dream come true for us, but what I realize now, the redesign of our lives was really the best part of the experience. There have been so many positive consequences that the redesign lead to… new jobs, more flexible jobs, a new house next door to our parents, downsizing and our daughters abilities to cope, be patient, be imaginative… those are what I am thankful for.
Thanks for the reminder! ~ Dee
Dee Andrews´s last blog ..Dusk settles on the port town of Javea, Spain on the eve of Three Kings.
A much-needed shot across the bow of cookie-cutter Lifestyle Design…
Brett´s last blog ..What would you be doing right now?
Wonderful post and great comments, too…
Funny, this past summer I had rediscovered the joys of cycling in the Finger Lakes/ Western New York area… right in my backyard. As someone who’s been always on the go, dreaming of the newest locale to set foot upon, it was a revelation to find the joy I’ve found so close to home. i’ve given up the corporate, ass-kissing, bend over and have your way with me nonsense years ago; as a good friend of mine mused, “it’s not the brass ring we should look to acquire, as all you’ve got is a brass ring.”
Merry Christmas, and thanks to the author, Christine, and to all of you for the insightful comments!
so true! we have to think about the meaning and spirit behind the things we do, and why we do it.
great post, as always!
Adriana´s last blog ..in Lebanon, reminiscing Israel – my mental jigsaw puzzle
Great post Christine! This is exactly the direction I am working towards in my life. Balance is key.
I echo the gratitude of others that you wrote this post — you articulate well what a lot of us feel. But I’m also glad to see at least a few comments above from people like me who have school-age kids. Having kids definitely complicates the picture but doesn’t necessarily have to limit it. I just wrote about the ways in which our year of RTW travel and “lifestyle redesign” has had profound and unforeseen positive consequences on our two kids, their sibling relationship and their relationship with us, and I linked your post (it’s at http://away-together.com/2009/12/18/play-around-rotorua/). The challenge will be to not slip back into the happiness-sucking, same ol’ same ol’ routines upon return.
Thanks again,
Sarah
Sarah Lavender Smith´s last blog ..Playing Around Rotorua
Great post! Thank you.
Nicki´s last blog ..Tasty Turkey Day Leftovers!
Redesigning, freedom, non-traditional lifestyle…you have brilliantly defined what I’ve been feeling for the last several months since I’ve returned from Nepal. I am currently simplifying my life and looking into ways I can work from home (or anywhere.) Thank you for sharing!
I loved this article, very insightful. I’ve been interested in travel for a long time, and, being close to graduating from college, am excited to finally get out there and do something. Does anyone have advice on where to start, or where’s a good “beginner” place to travel?
spot on…
“We quit our jobs, we redesign our lives for one reason only: freedom.”
couldnt agree more
more than seeing beautiful places, meeting amazing people and all that, it’s the freedom to do anything at my own pace is what i love the most in this lifestyle…
flip´s last blog ..Flip’s New Year’s Resolution
Very Nice. I just found your site and this is the first post i read, Perfect! This was just what i needed. I have a desire to travel the world and still be able to afford to eat and not sleep on the streets. every little bit of motivation helps. Keep up the good work, I’ll be watching. lol
Anthony´s last blog ..About Me
at 35 years old, i suddenly lost my hideous job as a chef and decided to never ever work for anyone else again. and to never spend another minute doing things i didn’t want to do.
i LOVE to make soap, so i decided to sell my soap.
8 years later, my husband and i live debt-free on a few acres in the wet tropics of australia and we travel 3 months every year.
the rest of the time, we adore being home with our cats and our garden and our friends and our soapmaking.
it’s close to perfect.
no, it IS perfect!
Thank you so much for the post. Yes, it is about balance and creating a life for yourself. I have not had a home for well over a year now and am not close to being burned out. I travel and I work as I travel and I love every minute of it. I hate the term ‘location independent living’, although it is correct, I use the term ‘Earth Pilgrim’ because it suggest constant travel but with a purpose, an imntention.
Graham Phoenix´s last blog ..Earth Pilgrim… in 10 easy steps.
Nice post mate, I enjoyed reading through that. I think its sad how people get sucked into the 9 – 5 monotony. Its good to see you are enjoying yourself!
Aaron
Aaron Schubert´s last blog ..Peaceful Bay
Spot on. Travel for travel’s sake will burn you out. But it’s a lot better than the 9-5 (or longer hours) grind that many are still trapped in. Many don’t realise that everything in this life is borrowed – you have to give it all back when you die!
I personally love travel because of the differences around the world. I like places because of the differences, not despite of the differences. And I find that the more I learn about other countries, the more I learn about my own.
Good on you Christine for have a crack at what you really want!
The Travel Tart´s last blog ..Merry Christmas Everyone from The Travel Tart!
One of the best posts I’ve read in awhile. You really get at the spirit of travel and good-living. Super encouraging for someone in my place. Thanks.
Lauren Quinn´s last blog ..Get Ready for Cuba
Yep, really nice. Like you say, it’s about attitude and keeping the even keel, an idea that can be translated into your life no matter what you do, be you a permanent traveler or nine-to-fiver. And that being said, there’s a lot of people out there perfectly happy to have their stable jobs, their family and their life. It’s okay. That’s what gives them peace and a sense of dedication. My brother never travels but loves his kids and wife and working in the yard and he couldn’t be happier. I tell him to get out there and see some things, and his reply is always, “Why? I have what I need here.”
This is a good post not because it shows you the benefits of traveling but the benefits of taking what you have and making the most of it, no matter how traditional, unconventional, stable or in motion it is.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for this post!!! You are so right in that what we are really searching for is Freedom. TIme is short and it is also precious. I recently quit my job to go on sabbatical. Being single, mid-life, with a mortgage and supporting my family, I will have to start working soon. (Plus, I like luxury — actually, luxury on a budget). But, I am so blessed that I stepped out on faith and took the opportunity NOW to breathe, get (re)focused, and do things that I have always wanted to do.
I also believe that as a society we should find better ways to work so that our lives do have greater meaning and balance. In addition, we should teach our children to base their future on what is important and encourage them to go after their dreams, even if it is unconventional. Otherwise, they will get sucked into the 8-5 corporate rat race and repeat the cycle.
Thanks again for this insightful post!
Angela Petitt´s last blog ..Panama Cruise – Photo Essay
Love the article! I’m so glad you pointed out that non-stop traveling can become every bit as much work as the job you quit to do it! While we love to travel we agree with Abi and Nomadic Matt – we enjoy coming home to our quiet home in the ‘burbs, hanging out and doing some gardening! That said, we’re off to New Zealand soon! Life is both too short and WAY too long to spend it doing things that make you miserable!
Happy New Year!
Ian and Wendy Sewell
very well said. As a long ago former European expat, turned longtime trapped suburbanite, for my own sanity I have gradually learned to look at “travel” and “life” in a whole new way – definitely a process. Thanks for the reminder to not fall into the easy trap of listening to what “they” say, and not doing what I want (even if it means a day trip)
Margo´s last blog ..Fresh Furry Start to the New Decade
Absolutely refreshing to me to read many of your articles, which I stumbled on earlier today. I’m a bit fearful of posting something other than a ‘two thumbs-up’, overtly positive comment, like all of the above, but… I can’t help but feel an overarching sense of ‘me-centrism’ in your writing (creating a lifestyle you love, becoming independent, doing what you want, how you want, when you want, etc.), just like typically characterizes the lifestyle you broke away from. Maybe I have missed it, and, if so, perhaps you could direct me to some articles on the subject of ‘why’, as in, for the ‘good of humankind’, ‘others’, ‘God’, ‘a higher purpose’, or the like? If not, perhaps a future subject? Hint, hint…
The more I discover your writing, the more I realize how happy I truly am.
My life is my own and really has made all the difference.
Thank you for being a great writer!
Felicia S., Photographer, Travel Writer
http://www.felicia-shelton.com