Wow

[U2fan]

I came across this website today and needless to say have wasted nearly two hours reading about this guy's adventures.

www.thesavagefiles.com

Needless to say, of course we all want to do that much traveling! But there is something I have been thinking about recently, which I never thought I would. We know or have experienced that "syndrome" of coming home from a trip, ie everything sucks, I want to travel again ASAP. Do you think you ever reach a point where you've done so much traveling that it is nearly impossible, if not definitely impossible, to have and hold down a "normal" life in one place and be satisfied? I never thought it possible but now think it could happen. After this guy's first around the world, he says he started a business and tried to live back in Brisbane, but couldn't be happy staying in one place and had to leave to travel again. I guess when you get older and if you settle down maybe your priorities change and it wouldn't be so hard, but I don't know.....something to think about....

[omisan]

Do you think you ever reach a point where you've done so much traveling that it is nearly impossible, if not definitely impossible, to have and hold down a \"normal\" life in one place and be satisfied?

I was just talking to someone about that the other night. The travelers who sort of "lose touch" with home and end up being nomadic or whatnot. I've run into a few of them - and I admire their ability to do so. I don't think I could do it myself - I'm close to my family and friends and still have to shake free of commonplace notions like car ownership, property, and career. But Ideally, I'd be able to move along without those encumberments and enjoy everything I can in the world - which would still be a mere fraction of what's on offer.

[Rozza]

maybe some people are just 'nomadic' could be ingrained on certain peoples psychey.....some people might just need to move, i know i do, and so does my mum, we both get really irritable if we get stuck some where.... maybe its not a desire to see, but to move.

[blinkchick2134]

Ahh the travel bug. Well Mr. Savage's is more of a colony of travel bugs. I've always thought about taking off and wandering around. Goes back to when my parents got divorced and I wanted to run away.

Anyway the nomadic life is my plan B. I've mentioned it in other topics I believe but if I graduate from college with no job offers because well my major isn't exactly very specified. I'm joing the Peace Corp for two years then hopefully come home use the 'Adjusting money' or whatever they call it to buy an apartment and work somewhere until I can take a year off to Europe or something.

I was thinking about all this a few nights ago. My whole thought began with 'What is the meaning of life?' I mean my only goal in life is to see the world and other cultures. I want to expierence everything there is to be done. So as I thought of this I reliezed it was kind of stupid to go looking for a full-time job right after college and jump right into sucking the rest of my life up until retirement. So I came to the above conclusion. It's kinda of like when you think of the American dream that everyone talks about. What is it? No one's made it clear. Is it having a family or having a killer job. It just makes my brain hurt thinking about everything. So I figure I'll just try to take one step at a time and focus on the move.
BTW One week! One Week! I'm almost packed minus the computer and random crap floating around, like umm a blank video tape/febreze/flipflop/old cd/etc.

[bellelass]

I want to be that nomadic weirdo. Maybe it helps that I dont have really really close ties here. the nomadic life definately looks attractive to me. I want to read his site more in depth when I have time.. sigh.. moving...

[chana]

It definitely helps to have no ties, but how does one afford all that? The eternal issue is always money. I can only go so far and for so long before I need to be back in the routine with zero dollars saving up for something else and I know beyond a doubt that I could last out there for months without end. i cannot imagine that it ever gets old. If anything I would take a two week vacation from traveling and come home.

[simply_angelic]

hehe sounds like a plan chana! that's a thought isn't it....taking a vacation from what most others consider a vacation.......

[skidrage]

I think it is somewhat possible to be "sick" of travelling on a certain trip. Earlier this year I did my first extended backpacking trip for two months through Europe. By about the last two weeks, while I was still having a great time and enjoying the cities, I was getting tired of jumping on a train every few days and checking into a new city and then repeating this over and over. It was getting both physically and emotionally draining. Of course, when I finally did get back home, I wanted to be back in Europe.

This is why I respect people who do year long around the world trips. I don't know if I could really handle that. It is something I would like to do, but I don't know if I could physically do it. I guess it would be possible if I spend 1-2 weeks in each place instead of 3 nights.

[worldwidemike]

Yeah, I admire those guys and gals that can take off for years at a time. My longest trip was six months, and that was right after I graduated from High School. I AM getting a little dissatisfied with my 3-5 day trips, though, and longing for something, well, longer!

Yes, I think it IS possible to have the personality to be able to be a nomad for your life. However, if your brain isn't "wired" that way, I think you'll find yourself missing family and friends eventually. I know that I would have a hard time being gone for anything longer than six months, at least the way I feel now. Who knows, though? In 10 years I may feel different and be ready to drift on the road...

worldwidemike

[ScarlotteDorian]

nomadic for life, i like the sound of that. it's funny, i meet so many people here in chicago that were born here and never want to leave here. i even worked with a guy in the city that had never left the city limits ever in his entire life. he was married with 3 kids! it seems impossible to me. i have never understood it and in the reverse every one of my ex's had thought i was absolutely nuts taking off all the time for here or there and always living at a new address every few months. (i've moved 8 times in the last 6 years) i'm friggin' stir crazy! i definetly think that i would have no problem traveling permanetly. everyone in my family are all nomadic too. we'd all end up bumping into each other eventually i'm sure.

having found this site, i don't feel as crazy. you guys are awesome!

[kingcrazylegs]

Alright, so this is going to be my first post on travelpunk just because this is such an irresistable topic to me....travelpunk was recomended to me by a friend almost 2 months ago, but I have been so busy traveling since then I have had no time to post, which already tells you something of my nomadic spirit!

I seem to have spent the better part of the last 3 1/2 years either moving or preparing to go somewhere else. I went to Europe on a 5 year hiatis during which I traveled all over the place. Since I have been back (2001) I have lived in 3 very different parts of the US for a year or so at a time. I just can't seem to feel settled in a place for long, though I don't think its only finding the right place but also the right "life" so to speak. I seem to feel the most settled in my life when I feel all the right events are taking place and/or the right people (or presently the right person) is in my life. But that still does not completely squash my urge to explore.

The testament to this for me now is that in two weeks I will leave North Dakota (where I have lived for exactly 1 year) and spend a month in Chicago (with the above mentioned person ) and then move to Belize for a year or two or three. However, this move only made sense to me when I felt settled inside about my life in general.

So I don't know if I will ever overcome being nomadic, and at this point have no desire to. But I am presently enjoying feeling settled/satisfied about where my life is at and where it seems to be headed.

[beergal]

welcome to the boards kingcrazylegs! Im sure you will spend many hours enjoying adding to some crazy posts, (hell just look at the ones i put up ha ha)

Here goes i kind of think i am a nomadic person and the reason for this is that i grew up a forces kid always constantly moving around seeing new things and this has given me good grounding for being a nomad, but who knows when you settle down in yr personal life you might be happy to just spend a few weeks with your loved one

[worldwidemike]

Cool name, kingcrazylegs!

Mmmm...my guess on your friend is ScarletDorrian! She just went backpacking in Dakota and lives in Chi-town. Plus, she didn't make it to Detroit for the Tpunk meetup.

Just call me Sherlock Holmes (or Inspector Clouseau, if I'm wrong!)...

worldwidemike (nosey, obviously...)

[Sijuki]

Ahh.. the traveling nomad. I love to travel, even if just for 24 hours... anything that gets me away from home is the greatest feeling in the world.... ok 2nd greatest feeling in the world. I know I could wander the world. But I don't think I would do it, cause I am too set in things like marriage and kids and what not. But I would like to be able to take my kids on travels. But it would be great to just wander wherever you feel the desire to go. As for the money issue, you get money anyway you normally would. Work odd jobs, barter with people, stuff like that. Get to know locals and other people, maybe to get to your next destination, hitch a ride in a truck, or talk your way into stowing on a ship. Its all a very free form life. No worries about the stress of having to do anything. Really your only "have to" is to make sure you eat.

But best of luck to anyone that wants to become a little more nomadic.

[kingcrazylegs]

Thanks for the welcome worldwidemike & beergal1! And yes Holmes, you're right, ScarlotteDorian is my friend ~ how ever did you guess?? If you can figure out where the kingcrazylegs name came from, then I will bow down and worship your detective skills!

but who knows when you settle down in yr personal life you might be happy to just spend a few weeks with your loved one

I am totally with you on that one beergal1. Thats exactly where I am at right now. I am ready to hit the road again, but I know I need those few weeks to look forward to every few months.... Yeah, I grew up a military brat as well, so maybe that is one of the reasons for my nomadicsm.

I always feel that the part of being a nomad that is especially liberating is when I get rid of everything I own and/or when I live dirt poor just to accomplish the freedom to live my life on my own terms. Call me crazy, but there is something beautiful about that kind of lifestyle. Obviously, I do not have a family of my own, but I'd like to think that if and when I do I will pass the spirit of that on to my kids too.

[ScarlotteDorian]

Mmmm...my guess on your friend is ScarletDorrian! She just went backpacking in Dakota and lives in Chi-town. Plus, she didn't make it to Detroit for the Tpunk meetup.

nice work mike...