Common Misconceptions About Long Term Travel

You must be rich – This is by far the most common misconception and the one that annoys me the most. The majority of people who travel long term aren’t living off a trust fund or are heirs to some multinational conglomerate. They saved and they sacrificed to be able to travel, just like I did. It wasn’t easy to sell my house and my car, move back in with my parents, re-home my dogs, quit my gym membership, buy nothing for myself except when it related to my trip and regularly turn down meals and nights out with friends. In fact, it totally sucked. But that was my choice. And it was the *only* way to save enough money to be able to do what I wanted to do. Everyone can do what I did, it’s just that many of them choose not to.

You’re “lucky” to get to do this, when other people can’t – Luck doesn’t even play a part in it; refer back to my first point. This especially annoys me when it comes from someone who has no real ties, no family commitments and nothing stopping them from travelling themselves.

You must spend all day at the beach reading books / drinking beer / swimming with dolphins (delete as appropriate) – I find this one funny and yet embarrassing. I’m sure some people, usually those who are on shorter trips of 6 months or less and who have saved up a considerable amount, are able to sit on the beach all day. But when you travel for a year or longer, it isn’t the same as a two week holiday. You get sick, you get tired, you want to spend all day in bed watching TV shows. Travel becomes your routine, your lifestyle. Sometimes, if you’re like me and you work freelance, you spend days on end in your room or apartment just getting work done and only leaving to get food. Doesn’t sound as glamorous when you put it like that, does it? But again, that is my choice and I do what I choose to do. Don’t assume that long term travel is the same as an all inclusive vacation; it isn’t. But that doesn’t mean that we in any way regret our decision.

You just don’t like having a job – I know a lot of people assume that if you’re over university age and you travel that you must be a bum who doesn’t like hard work. That you only went travelling because you didn’t like sitting in an office. Sure, that’s true for some. But I loved my job. I loved the people I worked with and had fun with them every day. I didn’t leave to travel because of my job, I left because I wanted to know if there was something more to life than my job. And I work harder now than I did when I was sat in an office. Go figure.

You’re running away from something or someone – Again, for some, this may be true. Maybe they are heartbroken and need a change of scenery. Maybe they suffered a loss and want to explore the world to get over it. Maybe they’ve been diagnosed with cancer and want to see as much of it as they can before they die. If that’s their reason, then who are we to judge? I wasn’t running away from someone, but more running to someone. I was running towards a relationship with my boyfriend who lived in another country. I was running toward discovering what our relationship would be like as we explored new places together. Whatever someone’s reason for travel, they shouldn’t be judged because it doesn’t fit in with the cookie-cutter lifestyle.

You’re a hippie – You remember that I travel with hair straighteners and makeup, right?

You’re not a grown up – I’ve heard remarks like this before. “Ooh, I want to be you when I grow up!” *cue sarcastic grin* Apparently saving money to travel the world and open your eyes to new cultures is “childish”. Even though I once had what they have – i.e. mortgage payments, a car, a 9-5 job – all they see now is someone who is childish and doesn’t know what she wants from life. I can honestly say that this is insulting. I had what society classes as a “normal” life. I was living the American Dream (albeit in the UK) and you know what? It kinda sucked. And I never left my comfortable, safe little bubble. I wasn’t all that I could be. I was uninspiring, even to myself. So I decided to make a change. Everyone can make a change, it just depends on how much they really want it. And if you don’t really want it, then that’s fine too. That’s the great thing about individual freedom.