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Feb
27
Vagabond Lifestyle | Video
Filed Under General
One of my favourite books in recent years is The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss. He talks about simplifying your life and focusing more on living rather working. So instead of working hard your whole life until retirement and then being free to do what you’ve always wanted, he advocates doing what you’ve always wanted right now because who knows, you might not even be around or capable of doing things like travelling later in life.
This is one of the most motivational books I’ve ever read and it made me move towards living my dream instead of just dreaming. A big part of what Tim talks about is travelling. But not just going on holiday for a week or two but spending months or even years exploring a region as well as living as an expat to really learn about a country and its culture instead of just seeing the main touristy sites everyone else sees.
Living in Europe is my dream and I love being in Paris and being able to visit another European country with just a couple of hours of travel. I’ve loved doing this for the last few years but I want more now. I want to get off the beaten path and explore more unusual places. I want to go backpacking around the Middle East. I want to spend a few months in Buenos Aires learning Spanish. I want to visit the Galapagos Islands. I want to spend a few weeks on safari in Africa. There are so many places to see and things to do.
Of course the problem with just packing up and going is money. But I work from home anyway so all I need is my computer and internet access and I can still earn my living. The thing is, I want to have a home to come back to. I can’t keep paying rent here and pay all my travel expenses too. The only solution I can see is to buy an apartment somewhere in Europe, for cash, which I can use as a base and where I can leave all my stuff. No rent or mortgage to pay will give me the freedom to travel for months at a time and live more of a vagabond lifestyle. I just have to figure out how and where I can buy something with the little cash I have.
I’ve been thinking a lot about all of this in recent months and today I watched this video by Rolf Potts in which he discusses his lifestyle, which is exactly how I would like to live. I definitely recommend watching it if you want a little inspiration.
I think it is an excellent idea..but as you say you need money to get around and somewhere to live when you come back.
My friends boyfriend/partner, went to Galapagos islands last year, but he is retired, in his 60′s with money, and a home in the UK.
My husband cannot holiday at all in the year until November, but he cannot change his job at the moment, until he sorts out in his head where he wants to be.
Interesting point , what about your husband, would he go with you.. just a thought.
Maybe you’ll fall “in love” with Budapest or Prague and find a cheap apt — esp. when your euro will go far.. Things are soo darn expensive in France…
I think it’s nice to have that kind of “pack up and go” life style– with enough money.. I know Australians have that kind of travel style in their blood! Soooo many Aussies I met were off somewhere for a 6 mo to a year “working holiday.” I have always admired that mentality and spirit…
I would love to do that, too.. If I had money… no commitments and maybe if I were still single..
But, in my current “married” life.. I feel like I get enough travel in and Alex doesn’t care if I go alone or with a friend/(s)…. He also LOVES to travel, as well.. but doesn’t get as much time off as I do!
Obviously vagabonding isn’t for everyone but the money issue is just an excuse really, an excuse I’ve used myself many times.
The way to get around the money issue is to take ‘mini-retirements’ as Tim Ferriss says. So work for say 6 months saving money and then go to backpacking for 3 months on the cheap or go and teach English for somewhere for 6 months so you have an income.
I could totally see you living like that Leesa. You’re such a free spirit! But I’m sure Alex, like most Frenchies, would be petrified to give up his ‘precious’ job. The thing is, by working the 9 to 5, making money for someone else, is he living his dream?
For me, it’s not about travelling, because I travel a lot, it’s about going to live in another country for a while, meeting the locals and learning about their culture. It’s about having a more in depth travel experience, not just doing a whirlwind tour of the major sites.
If I want to have a base in Europe, one solution might be to buy an apartment in Albania. You can get a 1 bed apartment for 10-15,000 euro which I can easily afford. My websites make enough for me to live comfortably, even when not working on them, so I’d then be set to go. I just need to stop procrastinating and do it.
Anne – yes of course Ferbent and I would go together. He wants the same kind of lifestyle, thankfully! I wouldn’t hesitate to go alone though, life it too short to depend on someone else for your happiness.
That does sound like fun, though I don’t think I could do it. I like having all my things (mostly books) around me and I can’t imagine leaving my cat for such a long time. I think a month would be my limit.
Plus I’d be afraid of not making enough money. And if you keep working on and off every 6 months or so, it looks bad for future employers (unless they’re specifically looking for temporary workers).
If you feel like you have enough money, you should definitely try it. Like you said, life is too short!
As you know, I don’t have an employer so that’s not a problem for me but I think Tim Ferriss discusses how to get around the employment thing but I can’t remember.
Even if you don’t want to take time off and travel, it’s really about living your dreams. If money wasn’t an issue, what would you do with your life? How can you change things and live your dream life now?
[...] reasons vary but none of them really make sense. There are no excuses. If you really want to live a vagabonding lifestyle or become an expat, you [...]