How to travel without a destination in mind
How I did it: First things first, keep the job and loose the stuff (material possessions that are tying you down to one place). The less stuff you have, the less you have to worry about dragging with you, and the more freedom you have.
I not only got rid of my stuff, but also my apartment, and couch-surfed for three months with friends and family in order to learn what I would really want/need when living as a nomad for a while, and what I could do without, as well as save up money for the trip.
When I felt somewhat ready, (you are never completely ready), I said some quick goodbyes, hopped in the car, and started driving in a random direction.
I stayed in my car at truck stops, flew a sign on roadsides, camped in free campgrounds, shared a hotel room with a wandering stranger after talking hairstyle for a while, and even slept under a bridge in one location. Homeless feeding places with hot meals were in about every other town, and when there wasn't free food to be had, I turned to my stash of health food and nutrition bars and drinks. My little travel cook stove that I brought with me helped in places where the water was declared "unsafe for drinking", and during times when I only had a ramen packet and a Tupperware container for food prep.
It was a fabulous experience overall. i learned more about myself and my goals in life than I ever would have otherwise, and when I did finally return home, I was more centered, and I knew not only what I wanted out of life, but also what I needed to do to achieve the goals I made at that point in my life.
Lessons & tips: 1) Plan a time duration for your trip if possible, and take a hiatus from work before you head out so your job will still be there when you return (if you plan to return). I didn't plan a date of return, and it allowed for a lot more exploration of both myself, the people I met, and the areas I traveled within, but it also allowed me to get sidetracked from my goal of actually returning home, which eventually extended my journey to lasting a little under a year.
2) Learn a few crafts and survival skills before you go so you can rely entirely on yourself for the entire trip if necessary. part of the fun is learning to coexist, but that's not constantly possible during any journey.
3) Don't worry too much about money. On the road, all you really need is a warm personality, a friendly smile, and a back-up plan. Much of the time, you will meet interesting folks who are more than happy to share food and resources with you in exchange for storytelling, art, crafts, and so forth. No matter where you go, there is generally an easy way to make a few bucks if you are creative.
Resources: Homeless resources really help out when you are on the road, and save you a lot of money on laundry, food, and other goods & services. You will also meet many interesting people visiting shelters and free feeds, just be sure to lock your car. *grin*
People doing this:
|
Washington State
|
|
|
Singapore
|
Singapore
|
