What were you doing a year ago? I was doing the same thing I am now: Looking out over the Pacific Ocean at sunset. However, elements are different, like I’m not in flip flops and board shorts, but wrapped up in a hoodie and wearing hiking boots. Also, instead of sitting on a beach in Costa Rica, I’m sitting on top of a mountain in San Francisco. And instead of living and traveling through Central America and writing part-time, I’m now a full-time writer and launching a consulting business. Reflecting on the past year recently has made me consider whether that stint of travel did in fact support my passions or whether it was an inhibitor.
I can pinpoint the most significant moment of my nine-month trip through North America last year to an evening late in February. I was sitting on the beach in Coco, Costa Rica watching the sunset, something I did every night. Shortly after sitting down, a retriever walked up from behind and sat down just to the right, watching the sunset alongside me. For the half-hour that I sat there, the dog hardly budged, looking intently out across the calm waters as the sun was setting. Then, as the sun dipped behind the horizon, he turned to me and stared intently for several seconds, before glancing one more time at the horizon and then walking off.
I’m not going to try to analyze what happened between Fido and I, but something happened that night. It was one of the most beautiful sunsets I had ever seen and between the sunset and having Fido there beside me, this sense of accomplishment and satisfaction came across me like never before. It was a feeling that no golf tournament, basketball game, degree, or promotion had brought. It was as if I had been set free and that I could now move on to what was next. I didn’t have a pay raise or trophy to show for it. I had something better -- something a price couldn’t be put on. I had come into my own and for the first time in my life, I was comfortable in my own skin. I was innovating and winning in the most important game: my life.
I then got on a plane the next day for San Francisco and lived happily ever after. The end. Right? No. At that point I was planning on going back to the states only briefly until going to Europe for a few months. However, it was that night on the beach and then my experience getting back to the U.S. that reminded me that continued travel would only inhibit my passions, which wouldn’t benefit anyone. After a six-hour ride to San Jose, Costa Rica, overnight stay at Juan Santamaría International Airport, flight to Mexico City, six-hour layover, and flight to L.A., I realized that I couldn’t maintain this schedule. Something had to change. I just didn’t know what. Yet just three days later on a leisure trip up the California coastline, I realized San Francisco was next.
In true philosophical fashion, I can’t answer my question with a concrete answer one way or the other. A stint of long-term travel was the best decision I ever made. The person I came back as, isn’t the person I left as. It allowed me to come into my own personally, which now finds itself influencing me professionally. However, just as much as it supports my passion and purposes, it can also inhibit them. Traveling like that took a lot out of me. I was exhausted come the last couple weeks in Central America. By the time I got to the U.S., I was spent and I realized that while travel would always be a pillar in my life, I would have to re-consider what it would look like in the future because now that I had innovated my personal life, it was time to innovate my professional life, and I wasn’t going to be able to do that while traveling continually.
The inspiration of this post comes from two people: Amy Jo Martin in her post about the intersection of innovation and Jason Cochran in his post about travel delaying your life’s true calling. Jason brings to light the lessons that can be learned from travel, while also discussing how it can delay one’s purpose. There are many gems from the article, but my favorite sums up where I was: “If you don’t put down roots, you can never grow.” That’s what had been missing. There was no place that felt like home. A sense of home was something that had been missing for years. That is, until I stepped foot in San Francisco.
When I think about that night in Costa Rica and then consider where I’m heading now, my eyes start to water. As Amy alludes to in her post, it’s as if it’s all intersecting now: My passions, skill, and purpose. And I feel just as happy and fulfilled, if not more so, than when I was traveling. Yet, it’s not as if I’ve finished traveling and move on now. In fact, I’m traveling as much as ever, with a leisure and business trip to Southern California next week, Lake Tahoe the following week, and tentative trips for Toronto, Hawaii, Belize, and London in the coming months. No, the journey hasn’t stopped. It’s really just beginning. Or rather innovating, and thus evolving.
How has travel either supported or inhibited your passions?
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Loved your moment with Fido! I think all of us have had those moments when traveling. They speak to us and give us clarity about life and what matters to us. However, I don’t think all people have these experiences. Your moment with Fido was the key – we need to slow down and sit still long enough to listen. Sometimes life is too busy to listen. We need to take a lesson from Fido.
Thanks Jeremy. Good words, especially about listening. Blaise Pascal said that it’s nearly impossible for humans to sit alone just with their thoughts. Funny thing is that he said that several hundred years ago. Very exciting times and I’m leaning the importance of ambition and following my gut despite my fears, while also trying to demonstrate patience and be listening.
Loved this post Spencer! And connected with it on so many levels. My latest post also highlights some of this in terms of growth. Life truly is about balance for me.
Heading over now to read your post Lola! Balance has been huge for me and I’m absolutely loving it. Worked a few hours yesterday and then turned everything off, even my phone, to go on a sunset hike and do some long-hand writing. I’m learning the importance of balance and while I want to continue to grow professionally, it’ll be strongly influenced by my happiness personally. Thanks!
Heart this post Spence! I feel the same way – finally at home in SF and what a place to launch new and amazing adventures and travels from!
Thanks Kristin! It’s an exciting time and like I finished the post, it doesn’t mean I won’t be traveling or won’t be traveling long-term in the future (Especially since I want to do Europe for a few weeks this summer), but it’s more like travel is evolving too, like the other areas of my life. And I can’t think of a better place launching all this from then San Francisco!
Oh yes, San Francisco is an amazing place to take root (as a route). There is a reason it’s one of the top tourist destinations in the world. “Eludes”, was that a Freudian slip?
Hmmmm.
Thanks. And it certainly is a destination enroute I guess you could say, to wherever is next. And yes, a slip it was indeed. Corrected.
Well done
I don’t think long-term travel is all rainbows and roses that some make it appear to be. I have no regrets on the choices I made, but I’ve hit that crossroads where it’s time to make some decisions. Long term travel and bouncing around permanently is not for me. I’ve narrowed down my plans for next year and I might just be your neighbor 
Laura! Email me. I see we’ve got to catch up. You’re certainly right. It’s always evolving for me. I feel like in some ways I’m meant to be eternally a nomad, spending bits of time here and there. However, I have this longing to have a sense of roots/home somewhere, while also keeping an active travel schedule.
Definitely agree with this article Spencer – traveling has been one of the most inspirational and wonderful experiences I’ve ever invested in. I too came to the realization recently that ‘rooting down’ was necessary, for that never ending voyage, was quite frankly for lack of a better word – unsustainable. And curiously enough I also ended up in San Francisco. I could think of worse places to live!
Thanks Eytan and great for you. I like how you phrased it as “unsustainable”, because that’s the point I came to if I still wanted to pursue some of my passions professionally, while also pursuing travel. I’m finding this thus far to be a happy balance, as I’m still traveling frequently. And as you alluded to, it’s nice living in a part of the world where there are so many cultural experiences available in which I don’t have to get on a plane for.
Hey Spencer,
I really enjoyed your piece, especially the honesty with your thoughts. But hey you’re a philosopher!
I did a 10 month trip in my twenties along a very worn path (USA, Fiji, NZ, Aus, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and S.Africa) but I changed as a person, both physically and mentally and the most important lesson I learnt was that with such a short time alive on this earth, we should never be unhappy at any point in our lives. I’ve blogged about how travelling changes you at http://stephendcook.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-travelling-changes-you-my-love-of.html
While I have travelled extensively since (highlights being China, UAE & Oman, Uganda and Sierra Leone) it has been more sporadic and taken in holiday times. I was a teacher in England so 13 weeks off helped!
Interestingly as I approach my 40th birthday in 2013, my wife and I are preparing ourselves for a massive travelling experience at the point that we are probably most confident about the calling in our lives and pretty well settled. We will sell our house, I have already left my teaching career and Laura will give up the job she loves to be a full time travel photographer (www.lauracookphotography.net).
The one thing I have learnt in the last month is that travelling is a mind set. While I have travelled extensively, for the last 10 years I have not referred to myself as a traveller. Since November when I set up my blog I am now immersed and excited about writing about all my travels and think of myself very much as a traveller again.
I just thought you might like to hear that as another persons experience. We are under no illusions with how tough travel might be but its the right time and it will be interesting to see how this one will pan out and how we will feel at the end as we probably seek a settled life again.
Good luck with all your endeavours!
Steve
Good for you guys. It’s interesting to see how travel evolves for us and noting how it’s evolving for me. I no doubt believe I’ll be doing some longer term traveling in the future, but it’ll certainly look differently than the first time I did it. Meanwhile, I’m still figuring out what it looks like now to pursue my travel passions, while at the same time pursuing my professional passions. Because while these can be pursued separately, they don’t have to be.
I like that bit about putting down roots (one of my favorite quotes about parenting–not that I can truly relate, but I think my mom did an awesome job of it: “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.” Anyway, while I absolutely adore my traveling lifestyle at the moment, I know it’s not forever. I always said that the only reason I was leaving Northern California was that I knew I loved it–what if there was a place out there in the world I could love even more? I think I’ve got a couple more years of travel in me, but I’m already looking forward to the day that I’m able to put some roots down, albeit continue with a “travel-centric” lifestyle.
I like it. For me, it’s become about finding a balance. I think sometimes it can be considered that you have to either have a full-time job and travel a couple weeks a year or travel long-term. I think there are tons of different ways that people can travel and even travel frequently and still have roots. That’s something I plan to continue to figure out in the next year and one that will be a great challenge this year is finding that work/play balance.
Nooooo! I think I’m going to hit this point in a few years
Jk, but I feel you 100%. Travel worked wonders for me mentally. Upon returning from traveling my anxiety was virtually gone and my insomnia decreased significantly. I think the main reason was finding my passion for the first time in life and pursuing it. I’m heading to Central America in 3 weeks (and want to talk to you about it), but this time around is going to be different. I’m taking my laptop so I can work while traveling and plan on traveling much slower.
It’s also confusing seeing my friends getting married and moving in together, but I do know my life is much more fun and fulfilling than theirs.
I remember meeting people who wanted to “travel forever” my first few times overseas, and I quickly adopted that attitude. Then I met the people who’d been on the road for 2 years and could not wait to get home. I think all long-term travelers go through this. As long as you listen to your heart and follow it, I think we’ll end up on the right path.
I think it really is about doing what people are passionate about. And even for those that don’t like longer travel or don’t get it, that’s fine too. Life has a variety of ways of fulfilling us and it does so in different ways for different people and it’s about finding those things that fulfill. This will evolve for me. Who knows, come a couple years from now I might be on the road full-time again. Thanks!
Great post. A lot of these sentiments resonate on a personal and professional level. We use travel as a tool to explore and learn, but there are times when the constant travel and movement brings constraints as we don’t have time to pursue projects and ideas. That just becomes frustrating and limits potential and fulfillment. The key is to always be checking in with yourself for what you need personally and professionally and actually make those appropriate changes. Not always easy, but you can feel when it’s clicking and things are working.
Also, San Francisco is an absolutely wonderful place to put down roots. We lived there before moving to Prague in 2001 and still miss our old neighborhood (North Beach).
Great thoughts. And I’ve spent many an evenings in North Beach! Good spot. I like how you put it about checking yourself and making changes when they’re needed. I don’t think it always has to be a complete overhaul. For me, it has been that in a lot of times, but if it’s unhappiness, for example, then I think we need to start there and find out what needs to change to make us happy. It doesn’t necessarily have to be stopping travel or changing careers, although it may be sometimes. However, what we shouldn’t do, is notice that something needs to change and then do nothing about it. Thanks Audrey.
I agree with Jeremy, it really is all about opening yourself up and listening to the answers the Universe provides. The times in my life when I’ve been so passionate about something that I try to force my will into action, things rarely work out the way I’ve planned. But when I sail in a general direction, with one hand on the wheel and the other hand testing the wind, it always seems to get me there. It really is more about the journey than the destination, as cliche as that may be. And for me personally, having roots somewhere keeps me grounded enough to really enjoy the adventure of travel when we’re able to fly.
Well said Bret and I agree. That was my life for what felt like 27 years, forcing things that I thought I “should” be doing or what I was expected to do, instead of pursuing what I was passionate about. I ended up extremely frustrated and not being myself. The new course of action over the last couple years has brought great freedom, happiness, and purpose to my life.
Beautifully written! I think you bring up an interesting idea, especially considering long-term travel. I’m in the military and grew up in the military, so I’m used to moving every three years. I actually find that if I stay in one place too long I get antsy. “There’s so much of the world to see that it’s a shame I’m stuck here another year or so” usually starts to hit around 18 months. However, in the last three years I’ve had the opportunity to live and work in San Antonio, TX, for a little under a year; Atlanta, GA, for 4 months; and return to the Yorktown, VA, area for another 4 months. In each of these cases, I could easily move back for another 6-12 months, although I’m not sure about more. So my question becomes when is it travel and when is it home? I have no concept of roots in a physical place – home is literally wherever I lay my head that night, wherever my husband is, or wherever I’ve lived in the past depending on which context I’m speaking. I’m linking to this article to expand on my ideas a bit. Feel free to follow me over!
Sorry, my writing was a bit delayed. It’s up now.
I feel like I can really relate to this. I’m glad I decided to go ahead with the RTW trip I’m on right now because it was a dream I held for years, and I would’ve always regretted it if I hadn’t given it a try. I’ve seen a lot of great things, but I’ve been ready to start the next phase of my life for awhile now. Long term travel definitely isn’t for me, and I’m tired. I’m not appreciating what I’m experiencing as much as I think I should. Travel will always be a big part of my life, but I’m ready to start figuring out what my career passion is, explore my options, and finally feel like I’m starting my new life with Andy in Germany. I now feel like being on this trip is preventing or delaying all of that. My ticket home is at the end of February, after spending a few weeks in Atlanta. I’m counting the days….
Thanks Ali! I think it’s important to talk about both sides of a trip like this. Someone emailed me today after reading this and said it sounded like I was at a crossroads. But I’m really not. If anything, I was at a crossroads when I started traveling long-term and that’s why I did it. It helped form me more than any other period of my life, but it also helped me realize how I like to travel and how I don’t like to travel. Sure, there will be long trips in the future, but it’ll certainly be different and I’m still figuring out how different. Excited for the future ahead of you Ali. Keep in touch and let me know if I can support in any way.
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