Key Takeaways
- Five years is a long time to be on the road. Five years spent living out of a backpack, with no permanent home or address.
- I never thought I was going to travel this long. It was only going to be a year, maybe 18 months tops, and then I’d go back home, find a “real” job, s
- But here I am, five years later, in Romania, with the same backpack, still traveling, still staying in hostels, and still having the time of my life.
Originally Posted: 8/8/2011 | August 8th, 2011 Updated with new links: 2/20/22 | February 20th, 2022
Five years is a long time to be on the road. Five years spent living out of a backpack, with no permanent home or address.
I never thought I was going to travel this long. It was only going to be a year, maybe 18 months tops, and then I’d go back home, find a “real” job, settle into life, and by now, I’d be married, have a house, 2.5 children, and be complaining about my retirement fund to my friends.
But here I am, five years later, in Romania, with the same backpack, still traveling, still staying in hostels, and still having the time of my life.
I celebrated five years of travel by giving away all my frequent flier miles and reflecting on what this journey has taught me.
Here are 18 lessons I’ve learned from the past 1,825 days of travel:
1. It’s not that hard
Every day, people get up and go out the door to travel the world. And they survive and thrive. In fact, it’s never been easier to travel the world on a budget. Sure, long-term travel is a privilege but with a little planning, you can make your next trip a reality. Do your research, make a budget, save your money, and sooner rather than later you’ll be getting on that bus or train or plane.
It can be a bit scary to take the plunge and head out into the world on an extended trip, but I learned quickly that all the worrying and fear I had was for naught. Traveling is a lot easier than you think. It’s not like you are the first person to ever do this. There are people out there who can help — both at home and on the road. You just have to take that first step.
2. You learn a lot of good skills
Traveling around the world has taught me how to be more social, how to adapt and be more flexible, and, most importantly, understand nonverbal communication a lot better. It has made me more independent, more open, and, overall, just a better person. While I’ve certainly had some frustrating and challenging experiences on the road, there’s no reason to be scared that you might not have “it” in you. We’re all a lot tougher than we think.
3. You make a lot of friends
It may seem scary just throwing yourself out into the world and talking to strangers, but we are all strangers in a strange land. At the end of the day, most people are very friendly. It took me a while to get used to just saying “hello” to strangers, but now it seems like second nature. Most everyone you meet — locals and travelers alike — is friendly and welcoming on the road that even when you travel solo, you are never really alone.
4. You meet some of your closest friends traveling
Those times I just want to relax and do nothing were the times I made my closest friends. Whether it was in a hostel in Vietnam, on a boat in Thailand, or walking into a hostel in Spain, when I least expected (or wanted) to meet people was often when I met the best people — people who shaped my travels, and my life.
And even though you may not see them for years, you still end up at their wedding, Christmas dinner, or family celebration. Distance and time cannot break the bonds you formed.
5. Relationships come and go on the road
I’ve met lots of people on the road, including members of the opposite sex I’ve found attractive. But the nature of travel doesn’t always lend to a lot of long-term relationships. It’s hard to make something last when everyone moves in different directions and holidays end. If you get too attached too often, you’ll have nothing but heartache as people come and go. But I’ve realized you need to simply enjoy your time together for what it is and stay on good terms when it ends. Just because something doesn’t last doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable or worthwhile.
6. But chase the ones you like
Yet once in a while, you’ll find someone you really connect with. Meaningful romance on the road does happen. And when you have nowhere to be and no place to go other than where you want, sometimes there is no reason not to follow. Don’t force yourself to say another goodbye if you don’t have to. Pursue it even if the distance seems too vast because you never know where it could lead or how long it might last. Sometimes you only get one chance, and when it is gone, you’re filled with nothing but regret.
