As a travel blogger, it feels like everywhere I look people are quitting their jobs to travel the world, leaving behind their homes, their material stuff and selling everything for a grand adventure to travel and see the world. And if you want to do that, that’s totally fine. The problem is, that only really works for a very small percentage of people. The problem is, that often in the travel and blogging industries, that’s offered as a “one size fits all” option and it’s just not. I would also argue, it’s not the answer to your longing to travel the world either or a great long term solution and here’s why.
If you’re already in a professional career, you can’t always take a year or however long off.
I often see people giving everything up and moving overseas or traveling the world for a year and that’s wonderful, if you’re in a position to do it. Most of us in professional careers can’t just do that without major set backs in our careers. For me personally, I would lose a lot of clients if I did that which would hurt me down the road. It’s not always feasible if you’ve already started building your career to take a year or however long off.
Not all businesses, even small businesses that you own yourself, can move anywhere.
I own a small business myself and I work on my own time from home, but I’m not in a position to move or go anywhere at the present time. I still need to be based somewhere to be able to get my work done and need to be traveling to clients’ locations to do my work. So while yes, some small businesses can be packed up and the work done anywhere, others are more stationary and that’s ok. Owning your own business is wonderful but there are drawbacks too, something that I don’t often see shown on some of these people that preach your own business can go anywhere mantras.
Having a home and routine life are worthwhile too.
For me, I really enjoy having the balance of traveling and coming home to my townhouse and my daily routine. And while sometimes the daily grind can become wearing, it’s still really important in life to have a life set up somewhere, wherever that might be. All the things that come with a life, a house, a job, errands, those things are important too… just as important as seeing the world and often just as worthwhile to know you’ve built a home and a life somewhere fairly stationary.
Not everyone is meant for long term travel or living overseas.
As much as bloggers can say you must live overseas or you must sell everything and go travel… in truth that’s just not meant for everyone. I’m a huge proponent of living overseas and did as a child and it changed my life. I would love to live overseas again. But right now in my life isn’t the time and I can truthfully acknowledge it’s not for everyone. Nor is long term travel. I wouldn’t give up everything to travel long term, it’s just not for me. So if those are for you, great. If not, you don’t have to feel bad if that isn’t the path for you. You can still travel and see the world without having to do it long term or living overseas.
Travel is wonderful, but so are other things.
I’m a huge proponent for travel, but if you want other things out of your life, that doesn’t make you any less of a person. Travel is amazing and I could go on and on about what it’s meant to me in my life to be able to travel, but other things are great too whatever that means for you. For some people it means starting a family, for some it means focusing on your career. Whatever that means for you, do what works for you and don’t worry about trying to keep up with everyone else!
Rachel M says
I think sometimes people, like me, feel that there is so much to see in the world! If someone is yearning so bad to go travel and quit, then if they do it – they’ll know if it was right for them. They can always go back and find a job but you can’t look back at age 80 and change what you missed out on.
I’m not in a position to just quit my job, so I get it, but if it’s something I want to do, I can set myself up to do so in the future. I can save, I can plan, I can search for alternate ways of income.
-Rachel @ Backcountry Petite
Casey says
Totally true. And if that’s something you want to do, that’s totally fine… I just don’t like that it’s broadcast often as a “one size fits all” option. There are a ton of ways to fill your life with travel – it doesn’t have to be quitting your job. But to each their own!
Emily of Em Busy Living says
Sometimes I feel like the only way I’ll be able to travel extensively is to come up with some business idea that will allow me to travel with it or for my husband to find a remote job that wouldn’t require strict hours. Until then, I feel restricted to the 10 vacation days he gets a year, which don’t get us as far (or gone as often) as I’d like. It’s a strange time in our lives. Sometimes I wish I’d traveled during college (semester abroad perhaps).
Casey says
Yea that definitely makes it harder…. though 10 days is still doable – even if it’s just places close to home on weekends, or taking a vacation day and making a 3 day weekend to go somewhere! Holidays are a great way to add to that as well!
Kristin says
So glad to read this! It seems like the travel blog conversation does get dominated unfairly by the people who think the only way to be a real “traveler” is to quit your job, sell all your things, and live out of a backpack. But I’ve noticed also that a lot of those people go a lot of places, but don’t really interact with the local population.
I personally love my version – and, from what I’ve seen, yours – where we travel a lot for work and spend that time actually rolling up our sleeves and working with people from other parts of the world, or even just our own country. It’s hard work and there’s not a lot of time to sightsee, but on my travels, I spend a lot of time in workshops with people from the area I’m visiting and get to have some great discussions and learn a lot about their perspectives on the world. Better, a lot of those workshops lead into post-work food and drink either at restaurants or at someone’s house. I don’t think there’s a better way to learn about a place and gain something of a new perspective than to talk to people about what they think and cook and eat.
Could I get the same level of learning or interaction if I quit my job? Maybe. But it would take a lot of work on building those connections, when they’re already built into my job.
Casey says
So true. I love that I’m able to travel for work a lot. It gives me that feeling of immersing myself as you’ve mentioned. And I love that my personal travels are different in their own way too. I think it’s important to build those connections and whether that’s through work or personal travel, it’s super important. There is also something really fulfilling about having a career and building a life that doesn’t involved travel every day… and that’s important too!
Kelley @ Move By Yourself says
I totally relate to this! If you are privileged enough to be able to travel full time than that is awesome — but that is not the only or ‘best’ way to travel. I’m working and getting my masters right now, so full time travel is not an option, but I still take advantage of any days off or school breaks I get and I think it is still pretty fulfilling!
Casey says
Totally. It’s not the only way to travel and see the world. There are endless ways to add more travel to your life – it’s all about finding the way that works for you!
Jenn says
Totally agree with this. There are times when I wish that I could find a way to quit my job and travel, but then I remember that I don’t sleep well anywhere but my own bed, haha. I love having a home to come back to and a space that is just mine. I do like that we get the opportunity to move around a bit with the Army, but there’s a whole lot of real life thrown in there, too.
Casey says
So true. I love coming home to my own bed, my own house. And while the “real life” parts can get wearing sometimes, I’m still always glad that I have the balance of both that and travel.
Diana Maria says
This was such a refreshing read! I don’t think you need to quit your job to travel, I definitely think you can do both. Personally, I too enjoy the balance of traveling and then coming home- I can be a real home body when I’m not on the road! I think everyone is different and there isn’t just one way to travel!
Sending light & love your way,
My Lovelier Days
Casey says
Thank you!!! I am the same way, when I’m home, I love being home. But when I’m traveling, I love that too. I love the balance of both and I think that balance is important. Whatever works for you!
Staci @ The Voyageer says
Thank you so much for this, Casey.
I love travel as much as anyone (more than a lot of people I’m sure!) but I’m not in the life phase or industry where I can give up my normal job. I need to make sure my mortgage is paid and build for retirement, for example (gosh I sound so OLD!). Anyway, I’m trying my hardest to maximize my Paid Time Off and learn penny pinching ways to travel the world– then share on my blog so that other “normals” can do the same.
It’s tough when the most popular travel blogs are dominated by those who do it full time, which affords them the ability to share their incredible experiences, but I know that this world is run by a lot of different kind of people, and most of us work at home or in an office, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Casey says
I agree. There is something really important about having a mortgage and building for retirement and doing all those things that are really important and smart for our futures. It’s important to remember that those life accomplishments are just as important as jaunting all over the world and having no responsibilities.