Travel Tales with a Twist

Screw Your Courage to the Sticking Point and Go Travelling.

 

Taking the decision to travel for an extended period of time is not easy unless; you’re bored with your job, have fallen out with all your friends and relatives and won’t miss them, don’t have a huge mortgage so renting  out will more than cover the costs, can’t stand living where you are currently based, or have a great job that allows you to travel.   I have at some point experienced some of the afore-mentioned and can throw in a boyfriend that lived in Australia while I was in the UK for good measure.   The actual “I want to travel” statement is the simple part  – it’s having the courage give up your large security blanket in the shape house, job, pension, private health insurance, social networks, car etc and take one huge step for yourself into the unknown.   

I have found that long term travellers tend to fall into several categories.  The gap year students taking a year out before attending university and who sometimes work along the way (paid or voluntary).  The expats who teach or work for voluntary/government/private organisations.   The middle/older generation, who have had an epiphany moment, sold up and have been travelling for years.    I’ve met many people for whom travelling has become a way of life.  For example Jan, who left Germany with the intent of travelling for 2 years (on a bike) and was still going 6 years later.   Pierre, about 4 years ago he  intended  to catch a flight to New Zealand, found that there were none available when he arrived at the airport, caught a cheap flight to South America and has been travelling ever since.  Steve, retired young and has been travelling for about 11 years (a fellow cake monster).  Adrian, who’s been travelling on and off for at least 20 years (we met in Borneo).   Alexandro, who travelled for many years then settled down in Peru.  Austrian Suzy, who motor biked it around China for over a year.  These guys and gals have many traits in common.  They are all of the glass is half full philosophy, are generally very relaxed, don’t worry too much and enjoy life.  I’m pretty sure that these qualities are to some extent born from years of travelling and the joys and trials along the way. 

Stepping out of the comfort zone is always going to be a challenge but if it endows a tolerance for others, an appreciation of the world’s beauty, a new experience every day and a huge high when achieving travel goals then I consider it to be well worth the risk.