June 4 2017
I’ve been avoiding the words “permanent base” for a good two years now. Even though that’s exactly how we’ve been living, I’ve been avoiding the phrase like the plague.
And in a way, it might be because I was ashamed. Ashamed of trading in a life of full time travel when being a digital nomad is all the craze. Worried I wouldn’t be seen as a “real traveler” if we weren’t living the lifestyle every single day. Anxious that we would be judged by pretentious travelers, because we weren’t traveling in the right way.
But there is no right or wrong way to travel, and I reject the notion that we should compare the way we experience the world to other people and worry if it measures up. Travel is a personal journey and an individual experience, and it really doesn’t matter where your travel style falls in the whole tourist vs traveler debate.
As long as you’re happy with the way you’re experiencing the world, it doesn’t matter if you travel full time, or come home to a permanent base. And despite the over glamorized instagram feeds which push a romanticized version of non stop adventure, and hitting one destination after the next, there is definitely something to be said about having a permanent base.
I Quit My Life of Full Time Travel to Buy a House and My Previously Sold Stuff
You can hover over these (or any image) to quickly pin it!
We’ve been renting for the past two years which has allowed us to hang onto the idea that, if we wanted to, we could pick up and leave at any time. Though now we’re committing to a permanent base. Yesterday we drained our savings account, and tomorrow we drive onto the Spirit of Tasmania; we’re moving to Tasmania and we bought a house!
Full time travel is an incredible journey, and if it’s something you want to do, I highly recommend joining the band of travelers selling everything they own to travel the world. But what if you actually enjoy your 9-5 job? What if you’re proud of the fact that you own a house? What if you love to travel but full time is not something you want to do?
Craving the Comforts of Home
For all the advantages of full time travel, after multiple years on the road there are certain comforts of home you begin to crave. Small things like sleeping on the same pillow long enough that there’s a permanent place for your head. Hanging clothes in a wardrobe knowing they’re not going into a suitcase the next day. Not forgetting to take your medication because the timezone has changed.
Ironically enough, you begin to crave the mundane things you were trying to escape. And there is definitely something to be said about allowing yourself time to take a break. Time to get excited about a trip, and time to reflect and appreciate the experience upon return.
Half the fun of travel is the build up and anticipation, but when you’re experiencing one destination after the next, there’s not a lot of time for that. Nor is there time to sit and reminisce or organize your photos when you’re already taking new shots of the next.
Wanderlust Fatigue – It’s a Thing
The period of our life dedicated nomadic travel was a remarkable one, and allowed us to see so much more of the world than we would have otherwise, though since returning to a permanent base, we’ve found we’re able to appreciate each destination in the way it deserves; for it’s own characteristics, strengths and individual appeal.
Because it’s the most well traveled who are most vulnerable to wanderlust fatigue; that moment you’ve landed in another incredible city but would ‘rather check Facebook than soak up the atmosphere of an 11th century fortress’. The moment you look around to find that everyone else is in awe, though you’re underwhelmed with your surroundings because you’ve already seen a million incredible cathedrals or waterfalls.
When you’re traveling in rapid succession, it can be difficult to not compare everything you’ve seen to something you saw the week before, and when you’re so exhausted from jetlag and transit it’s difficult to stay enthused.
For travelers who do spend their lives on the road, this means prioritizing rest days, and giving yourself enough time to recover and recoup. Slow travel is the best way to go, though not everyone can do this. Most people return to a home base.
We All Need a Break
We all need a break from travel at some point, though we shouldn’t be ashamed to say so. We feel fortunate to be in the position to travel, and perhaps with so many people telling us so, there’s a certain level of guilt in giving up a lifestyle which others aspire to.
But that brings me back to the motto I adopted when I sold everything I owned to travel the world; reality is negotiable, and life can be anything you want it to.
You want to go on a bus tour? That’s awesome. You want to jump between all inclusive resorts? More power to you. You want to cycle around the world and camp for 3 years? Respect. There’s no right or wrong way to travel, and what’s right for one person will always be completely different from the next.
So I quit my life of full time travel to buy a house and my previously sold stuff. I’m psyched about the fact that I own a couch. I’m excited to hang my clothes in a wardrobe. I’m thrilled that I will be energized for future trips, and fully plan on playing tourist in my own town inbetween international stints.
Full time travel was a blast, but everything in life is but a chapter. Follow our social media updates this week as we make our way to Tasmania and pick up the keys to our new house!
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142 Comments
The only right way to travel, or do anything in life is the way that gives you peace and happiness. Enjoy this new stage in your life, Tasmania will be an amazing base, maybe you can give us some pointers when we get down there.
Absolutely agree, thanks Toni!! Yes, absolutely let us know when you plan a trip. Happy to help & plan some time to catch up :)
Well done guys, and I’m sure this is just the ‘next stage’ in your adventures. Congrats on buying a house in one of the most beautiful parts of the world!
Thanks Trevor!! Absolutely, everything in life is a chapter!! We’re excited to start this next one :)
I totally agree with Toni, do what makes you happy! Congrats, by the way, there’s a lot we can relate to here. It’s so nice to have a home base, even if it’s temporary. We ended up having a semi-permanent home base since November that was unplanned! It’s leaving us wonder what we are going to do next – like buy a house ourselves! It doesn’t mean we will stop traveling but we can actually have a place to call “home” when we need a break! We are so happy for you guys!
Thanks Megan!! We’ve really loved having a home base in Canberra, so it’s exciting to now have something which is 100% our own after having rented for a couple of years.
Absolutely – having a base doesn’t mean you stop traveling, it just means you have a place to return :) Thanks so much! Let us know if you make it to our end of the world!
Congratulations Meg and Mike! What a fabulous new chapter.
Thankyou Christina! We’re excited to start the adventure of home ownership! :D
That’s great news! Happy for your move, and even if you bought or fuelled the digital nomad hype, it doesn’t matter.
Thanks Nicholas! Digial nomad life is still great for some people, but I think it’s time to say that this isn’t the be all and end all of the travel life :)
Couldn’t agree more with this article :-)
Thanks Adam! Happy travels! :)
We totally have wanderlust fatigue and we are so looking forward to settling down in a couple of months! A year of travel was amazing but also sooo exhausting.
You’ll have such an amazing time once back at home reliving the trips and working through your photographs! Reflection is something I’ve come to appreciate a lot more! :)
Enjoy the rest of your time abroad!
Totally makes sense, well said and enjoy Tassie!
Thanks Henry!! We’re looking forward to this new adventure!
What a wonderful place to have a home, you certainly will not lack adventures to have locally! Wishing you both the best on this new journey!
Thankyou Cathy! And yes, Tasmania should be a blast with something like 25% of the State dedicated to national / state parks – can’t wait to start exploring! Let us know if you plan a visit at any stage :)
We just “stopped” after two years cycle touring. I put it in quotes because we still don’t really have a home, though we’re in our home city, crashing at friends’ houses and staying with my parents three hours away.
I needed a break after two years. I’m a runner, it a cyclist. I wanted to use my favorite kitchen tools and buy bulk items. I wanted to cook over four burners instead of one. I completely understand. When traveling is your job essentially, of course there will come a time when we need a break. Sometimes, it’s really hard to admit that, especially when we’re running blogs and social media about our lives traveling. Good for you guys for listening to your needs and finding your next adventure.
Thanks for sharing Jen :) It really is nice to just stop and have a break – I’ve come to realize that balance is the key to every lifestyle.
Wow, cycle touring sounds quite incredible! But yes, I bet it’s nice to be spending time with family and friends (and four burners :D!) after having been away for so long. Good on you guys too for looking to find the same balance / break :)
Happy travels for when you decide to take off again!
Congratulations on your new house . I am presently here in Dublin Airport, getting ready to board my flight back home in NY. After two weeks of driving around these beautiful country , I am also excited to go home and back to the comfort of my own bed. Amazing article , and you are right , there are no right or wrong way of traveling. Just go !!!!!!!
Thankyou Seigfred, I’m so glad that you enjoyed the post :) Dublin sounds incredible! Definitely an amazing country. But it’s always comforting to return home to a familiar place after an adventure away. Almost a sigh of relief when you can say hi to your favorite pillow again :D!
Happy travels!
Good for you! I occasionally think about going travelling in the nomadic style. But the reality is I love having a home base, in the city I was born. I love having time to plan travel and to anticipate it before it happens. And most of all, I love being able to spend time with family and friends – I would miss that enormously if I were travelling semi-permanently. What might happen is that I plan some longer trips, 2 or 3 months long at a time, but still with the intention of coming back to our home base, and the day job, afterwards. I’m a contractor Business Analyst and love that job, so it’s another thing I’d miss if we tried to go nomadic permanently.
Thanks Kavey! Absolutely – I’m very much after the same type of travel experience you are now – being able to enjoy the benefits of being established at home, because there are definitely aspects of life you say goodbye to as a full time nomad. And as someone who has a pretty tight knit family, you definitely miss out on milestones when you’re always on the road. So it’ll be a nice change of pace to get back to that again :)
Happy travels!
Meg, I feel you girl! This was just so identifiable. I could relate to your post completely and chuckled after every line.
All of us do need a break and though not many admit it, continuos travel DOES take a toll. After 12 trips in 2017, I decided to just STOP and I worried if I’d get withdrawal symptoms. But no, I loved it. I realised I was racing between places, not getting time to read up a place, to come back and reminiscent it. Not even getting time to transfer pics.
It started to get irksome. I am completely, thoroughly enjoying this break.
Your article is a refreshing change. It is honest and speaks a unsung story.
Wishing you all the best! :)
P.S: there is really no right way to travel!
Thanks Divyakshi! I think we convince ourselves that the life we left was monotonous, and there’s no way we could assimilate back into “home life” after having traveled for so long, but I didn’t have any withdrawral symptoms either – it was just really nice to be able to take a breath and just rejuvinate for a bit!
I’ve come to accept that life is always about balance, and as we grow older our interests and our needs change. And there’s nothing wrong with that, we should be willing to embrace it :)
So glad you enjoyed the article, thankyou for your comment! Enjoy your well deserved break!
I’ve never been aan digital nomad but I Do love to travel. They are not Siamese twins (read inseparable). Having a home base is great too. Where travel allows you to widen your scope and understanding of the world and other cultures, discovering every inch of the area neer to your home base is just as exciting. I actually look at it as changing from a telescope to a microscope and vice versa whenever I like. And you’re going to live in and environment that would be worth to look at through a microscope ?
Enjoy?????
I love that analogy De of changing between a telescope and a microscope! I totally agree, I’ve recently realized how much Australia has to offer and it’s quite embarrassing when you’re overseas and everyone’s asking about your home country but you don’t know because you haven’t spent the time to explore yet!
So we’re very excited to focus on “local” travel over the next couple of years. I think far to many people undervalue their local area and region, but I figure people travel from across the world just to spend a couple of days where you live, so why shouldn’t we take full advantage of being there every day!
All the best :) X
Well done Megan. You’ll continue to travel of course, but I know you’ll love getting comfortable in your own home. Thanks for sharing your journeys.
Thankyou Jane! Yes, we will never lose our sense of wanderlust or passion for travel – but learning to balance that out with a home base :)
Thankyou for being part of our journey!
Good luck and why not? I travelled and lived out of a suitcase in my 20’s then settled had a baby, built a career bought a house in my 30’s – now at 50 we have sold everything to head to Australia and travel again. The choices we make have to be right for us and how we live it must fulfil what we want at that point. Too many people judge – we are crazy (why not wait until retirement I get told)
So enjoy your house and your new life! It will be amazing!
Thankyou Tracy! I agree, life moves in chapters and our interests and circumstances change over time. We’ll continue to travel, but just do it in a different way now than we did before :)
Congrats on making the choice to travel to Australia! If it’s what’s right for you right now, all the more power to you! I can’t stand people who judge!!
Hope you’re having an amazing time here in Aus, let us know if you swing by Tasmania!
Congratulations, Meg! You have been on an amazing journey for so many years, and I wish you the best for this chapter of your life. I so agree with this perception of travel – to each his own! It’s our lives at the end of the day, and there is no shame in acknowledging the way we want to live :)
Thankyou Reshma! I appreciate your kind words and support – absolutely, there is no right or wrong way, and no shame! Happy travels :)
Congrats guys! Figuring out and then doing what makes you happy is the biggest adventure of all. Excited to follow along on your next chapter!
Thanks Jen!! It’ll be an adventure indeed! A lot to discover in Tasmania too, so let us know if you swing by in the future!
Congrats kids it’s great news that you’ve decided on the next chapter of your lives. Tassie is great, I’ll be in touch if/when I’m in the area :)
Thanks Roma! Definitely let us know if you’re in the area – we’ll be setting up a guest room at some point!
And what a super place to but a home! I grew up on the West Tamar River, in the north and we spent 5 weeks in Tassie last summer, showing the kids the local childhood haunts.Well done you guys!
Thanks Jane! I grew up in Tassie too! Such great memories growing up as a kid, it was a fantastic playground … looking forward to exploring it more now as an adult (we moved to the mainland when I was 12).
Let us know if you plan a return trip at any point :) Happy travels!
Beautiful written. There comes a point where are wants change and we need different things to fulfill us! Thank you for sharing this :-)
Thanks Juliette! Absolutely, everything in life is but a chapter. We’re excited to start our next one :)
Thankyou for your comment and being part of our continued journey!
This is a great post Megan and I am so glad that you wrote about it…someone really needed to. I am sure it will give strength to others also who can’t and don’t want to live the life of a digital nomad. Congratulations and hope you enjoy your new home in Tasmania. Just a few days back my girl friend and I were making plans of visiting the island…will knock on your door if we do :)
Thankyou Siddhartha! Definitely let us know if you make it to Tasmania, we’re based in the North West which is a beautiful region :)
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post, and to know that I’m not the only one with these feelings and thoughts! It’s difficult to admit we don’t want the life when we spend so much time idolizing it, but I think self reflection is really important as is being true to what we need :)
Happy travels! Hope to see you in Tasmania soon.
Hi Megan
I don’t think I have ever commented here before but I have followed your stuff. I am Ryan Biddulph’s wife and I know you guys have connected. I totally relate to a lot of what you are saying and since Ryan and I have been traveling,we have pretty much stayed in one spot for at least a month, renting apartments,etc…We have done housesitting jobs where we stayed in one spot for months at a time and this is the way I love traveling most. It is nice to be comfortable and settled somewhere, enjoying a home like atmosphere but just changing up where that is every once in a while. I have always given lots of credit to people who travel long-term and move around constantly–I couldn’t do that and I don’t find it enjoyable. It all comes down to doing what makes you happy and you had amazing experiences and just felt ready for a new kind. I think too many travelers get caught up in trying to impress people with all the places they have been, and their travels are just basically amassing as many places as possible so they can say they have been there, and throw up a picture on social media. Good luck with this next phase!
Hi Kelli, thanks for reaching out and commenting :) I love hearing about the homes you guys stay in from Ryan – house sitting and renting apartments is a great way to balance the two so you’re not constantly on the move and can still enjoy travel along with the comforts of a home.
Plus staying in one spot for a while means you can really get to know a destination – moving around constantly definitely takes it’s toll! I think there was a time there at one point where we weren’t in the one place for more than 4 days for 6 months straight. Exhausts me just thinking back to it lol!
I agree, I think a lot of people these days are too caught up in the idea of travel, and creating the impression of a dream lifestyle for social media. It’s a vicious cycle because it then sets an unrealistic bar which other people feel they need to measure up against and encourages a superficial travel experience.
Thankyou for your encouragement and support!
This might sound strange coming from a person who hasn’t traveled much, but this post is EXACTLY what I needed to see right now. I’ve been daydreaming far too frequently about “selling everything, and traveling full time” but I’ve been torn wondering if I would ultimately feel exactly like how you’ve described in this article.
Over the last 5 months it’s been coming clear to me that what’s really happening is travel is too alluring simply because I’m looking to run away from my reality. However, what I’ve also been realizing is that my problems aren’t going to go away just because I am in another city, country or even another continent. If anything, they could be multiplied because I’m on the road.
Now, I know this isn’t all exactly what you wrote about here, but your raw honesty about wanting a home base and the feelings you’ve felt – I needed to read all of it. Thank you so much for this post, and my all of your home base dreams in Tasmania come true! Virtual hugs from another part of the planet ;)
I’m so glad that we could reach you Ashley! Yes, I’ve realized that the whole “selling everything and traveling full time” is alluring in theory, and it can be really great, but the hard reality of full time travel hits after a couple of months on the road, and this is not something people like to talk about. The exhaustion, and the fatigue, and homesickness too. But these things don’t fit with “the dream”, so are conveniently left out of everyone’s instagram feeds.
And you’re right, travel is not an escape from our problems. It’s definitely a great way to recover, and rediscover yourself, test your limits, find solace from a recent tragedy etc. But You still have to face your problems whether you’re at home or on the road. Travel may facilitate a new path of recovery for you, but they don’t just go away.
I absolutely encourage travel, but it doesn’t have to be about selling your things and quitting your job to hit the road if you don’t feel that’s the right path for you.
Let us know if you ever come past Tasmania :) Virtual hugs right back at you! Wishing you all the best XXX
I completely agree with this article. I feel a lot of travel bloggers feel you HAVE to be travelling at all times to be a success. That isn’t the case, one person’s way of travelling is not the way for someone else. I love slow travel, setting up a base in a different country, becoming part of that community, putting down roots, finding a local bar where the barman knows what you drink. Life is a great balancing act, we have to do what makes us happy. I think what a life of travel can teach us is that we don’t need all the material things that we might have done pre-travel. Congrats on your new home and the next part of your journey.
Thankyou Mike :) Yes, there’s definitely pressure to almost compete with each other, even though as you’ve said, there are many different interests and niche’s, and the way one person travels is completely different from the next.
Congrats on finding your travel groove! It’s awesome that you’ve found a style which you love and which works for you :) Life is definitely a balancing act, and all we can do is embrace where it decides to take us :)
Happy travels!
Congrats on your decision to buy a house and settle in one place for a while. I’m a part-time traveler with a full-time job and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We’ve toyed around with the idea of quitting our jobs to travel the world full time. In fact, I recently took a 6 week sabbatical from work to do an extended trip to Asia (at least it was extended by our standards :-)). You know what? At the end of those 6 weeks, we were ready to come home. I looked forward to seeing our apartment and getting coffee from my favorite place in Dublin. I looked forward to wearing something other than the 4 or 5 outfits and the single pair of shoes we’d packed for our trip.
Tassie sounds like an awesome home base. Tasmania was on my bucket list for ages and we finally got to visit in 2015.
Good luck getting settled and I’m looking forward to hearing about your future part-time trips!
Thanks Jennifer! We’re very excited to grow roots and set ourselves up with a base. Can definitely relate to the feeling of being ready to come home at the end of a long trip! 6 weeks around Asia does sound incredible though :)
So glad you’ve had the chance to travel through Tasmania! Let us know if you ever plan a return trip :)
Happy travels!
Amazing news congrats!!!
it sucks that everyone has an opinion on how life (or travel) should be!
i say “carpe diem” however you want!
Thanks Lindsay!! I love your motto of Carpe Diem – and totally agree! Too many people judge when they should be living for themselves.
Happy travels!
I don’t know how you did it that long. Wanderlust fatigue has already set in with me and when I am at my Florida or Panama home, I never leave. I want to be totally submerged in “home” the entire time I’m there. I cannot imagine why anyone would just want to be a full-time traveler, they mostly tend to be young from what I see so maybe they don’t know an alternative or are living life to its fullest while they can do so financially and health wise. Some people have a hard time because they are alone, but for me, I love having a place to call mine that I enjoy laying my head with no stipulations or deliverables.My husband and I ten to be “home” only in different countries, so still alone, but enjoying the perks of home life just the same. Just “being”. I can still travel as much or as little as I want, while having a comfort zone (maybe that is what home is???) for my down time. I’m really happy for you and know that you will still be burning up the globe with fantastic travel stories and a fabulous career. Bonus, you (me, all of us) can share our “homes” with others while we travel elsewhere. Win-win! Congrats!
I don’t know how we went for that long either lol! I know a couple of people who are a lot older and still going strong, and love the lifestyle, which is fantastic. But yes I think the majority of this recent trend seem to be a younger generation. They’ll likely learn / come back to the comforts of home at some stage!
I’m with you, I truly enjoy immersing myself in my home nowadays, still love taking trips and traveling as much as I want to, but really appreciate the comfort zone of home. I think you’re right, I think home could be the definition of our comfort zone. Well I’m happy knowing that I broke out from it, and have now come back lol!
And absolutely – it’s going to be nice to be able to host people as they come through Tasmania, and share the home we build with the wonderful community of travelers we have met and networked with along the way :)
Happy travels Melody!
Love this post Meg! I’ve had a permanent base throughout my travel years and now in my 30s am focused on building a wealth base for a freedom lifestyle, one that gives me financial security and the freedom to do what I like. What I like will be some travel, volunteering, and living in different places to immerse myself in new languages and culture. Having a home base is important to me, and like you say there is no right or wrong way to travel.
Thanks Peggy! Your plan sounds great! I’ve found that building a wealth base is quite important because most travelers will at some stage, wish to settle into one place.
I think the dream for me now is more the freedom lifestyle you’re also working towards, which allows you to travel, but that doesn’t have to be the only thing we dedicate our time to :)
It sounds like you’ve got a great handle on your personal balance – congrats!
As much as travel is the thing that gets me up in the morning, I also love having a home base to recharge in between trips. A fridge with only my food, a wardrobe and space to unpack and the familiarities and comforts that make it feel like home.
Good luck on your new adventure. Tasmania looks like an absolutely brilliant place to settle into :)
Absolutely Freya! I’ve come to realize that we can be defined by more than one thing, and just because we’re passionate about something, it doesn’t mean that there shouldn’t be room for other things in life :)
OMG Amen to a fridge with only my food :D! Happy travels XX
Fantastic post with great insights. I love having a base – but for the last nine years have made it a country other than my own, so I feel as if I’m still ‘foreign’ and e Moore my adopted country – and also get to appreciate my own country with new eyes when I go home! Best of both worlds.
Thanks Rebecca :) Expat life is definitely a great way to achieve the best of both worlds – I love hearing about your updates from Greece! And you’re right about appreciating your home country through new eyes once you return for a bit of an expat break.
Happy travels!
I’m not against a permanent base of operations. Just that if you want to travel all the time- who maintains the base?
You would give up the base :) Usually travelers who pursue a nomadic lifestyle sell their home so they don’t have the responsibilities of maintaining it while they’re away. Some rent their home, some get house-sitters. Many sell though because it also frees up their cash for their new life of travel.
I love the title of this piece as everyone else is writing posts with titles about how to travel full-time. I really love this post because it speaks to me. I own a condo, love my full time job and travel part time. A part of me felt like if all these people are able to support their full time travel then I’m doing something wrong and I’m not a real traveller. While the other part of me is like piss off, I’ve travel more places that the average person and some people who are travelling full time. This post freed my guilty thinking of doing something wrong by not choosing to travel full time.
BTW in the words of Dr Seuss. “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind”
If someone has the audacity to judge you send them to me ?
Congrats on you house and inspiring once again!!!
Thanks Christopher! Yes, I thought I would go for the complete opposite approach re the title … catch people’s attention because it’s not something their used to hearing!!
Thankyou for sharing your feelings here – it’s nice to know that I’m not alone and other people are in the same boat. It’s sad that something which is meant to be inspiring (full time travel) has turned into a source of guilt and a way of making people feel inadequate. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the way you or I travel, or anyone else for that matter, because it’s always each to their own. As long as you’re happy!
And you’re right, most part time travelers are still experiencing more of the world than the average person might dream of experiencing in a lifetime, so it’s important to keep that perspective.
Love the Dr Seuss quote!! Making it my new mantra! Happy travels :)
Congratulations on that bold move, Meg.
Its always nice to have the comfort of your own home.
All the best with your new adventure. I’m sure you will still have a great time.
Thankyou Ryazan :) Appreciate your kind words of encouragement and support. Happy travels!
I think it’s awesome and I know exactly what you mean. The few times I’ve thought about stopping I feel like so much of my identity is now wrapped up in travel. I was just having this conversation w/a friend of mine recently. After three and a half years on the road full time who am I if I’m not traveling?
Also, what you can wanderlust fatigue I refer to as Beauty Burnout. I know exactly what you’re referring to- same symptoms, different names.
Congrats on the purchase of your new place! I’m sure you’ll love it.
Thanks Nathan! I completely understand that. I’ve been trying to figure out who I am if not for traveling / this blog for a while now, and the scary thing is that I don’t know. My identity has become absolved by this passion, but we don’t have to be defined by just one thing in life.
So I’m looking forward to this chance to also find new passions and hobbies, while keeping my love of travel of course. But it doesn’t have to be the only thing which defines my life.
Beauty Burnout is a great name for it – defines the feeling quite well.
Let us know if you ever find yourself in Tasmania & hopefully we can catch you to say hi :)
I think that you have taken the right decision. The right decision is what your heart says. We too like traveling but also like to come back to the comfort of our own home once done, to reflect and plan the next outing. The feeling of heading back home after a long sting out is really great.
Thankyou Sandy & Vyjay :) Yes, I absolutely agree – the right decision is what your heart says, and we should embrace that this will change over time.
Congrats on having found a travel style which works for you – there really is something to be said about coming home and having the chance to reflect and then plan and anticipate the next one :)
Happy travels!
Congrats on your home! I believe you can be a world traveller and a home owner. For me, there is nothing like returning home after weeks or months on the road.
Thanks Nancy! Absolutely – the two can definitely go together, and be quite complimentary! So glad to know I’m not the only one who loves returning home!
Happy travels :)
Congratulations on the new house! It must be nice time you’re going through at the moment. And I know the feeling of missing a sofa and a wardrobe. I still live out of my backpack and I probably will for a long time, but you’re so right. There isn’t a right or wrong way. You do what you feel is right.
And you’re still a real traveler :-)
Thanks Zascha! Awesome to hear that you’re still loving full time travel :) It was an incredible journey for us, and I’m so psyched for those who enjoy it for a longer period of time. But yes, for us it’s definitely time to revert to a new phase of life which sees us establish a base.
Bring on the sofa, fridge and wardrobe :D!! And leaving it behind every now and then for a couple of weeks!
You picked a good spot. We might be neighbors one day.
Thanks Elizabeth! Let me know if you do make it down at any stage :)
The fatigue is definitely real..it hit me hard last year …so much so that i returned home for the first time in 6 years …my plan was to do exactly what you guys are doing. However after a few months back in England I realised I need to get back out there and travel haha. Gook luck to you.
Thanks for sharing your story Amit :) It’s all about knowing what’s right for you, sounds like you manage to reset pretty quickly! :D
It’s awesome that you’re still on the road and enjoying the world! Happy travels!
Congratulations on your new home!! Tasmania is beautiful and seems like a wonderful base to live and write in peace. I’ve only been to Hobart but would love to see more.
What you wrote was right on point. When I’m traveling too frequently I get burned out. I don’t fully appreciate places and don’t have time to reflect because the next place is coming up. But to each their own.
We just moved to D.C. and don’t have a big overseas trip planned for several months. I’m enjoying thinking about the trip, planning, researching and also reflecting back on cool adventures.
Enjoy your new life chapter!!
Thanks Alex! Definitely let us know if you make it back to Tas at any stage, we’re based in the North West, so different region to what you’ve experienced in Hobart :)
DC is a great place to rejuvenate, we only had a couple of days for DC when we visited the States, but really loved the atmosphere, and cultural scene :)
Enjoy your break, and then the travels which follow. Thanks for being part of our journey and sharing yours XX
Congrats, Megan! Buying a house is a HUGE and a wonderful accomplishment. And it DOES feel good to put down roots somewhere. Cheers to you and Mike, and to the two of you taking time to savour travel (& life) at a slower pace.
Thankyou!! We’re really happy with where we’re at, and excited about the next chapter in life. Will see where it takes us! Thankyou for your kind words of encouragement and support :)
I really enjoyed reading this because as someone who works full-time away from the blogging world and yet enjoys travelling/writing about it when I can, I have sometimes felt like I’m “not doing travel right” based on the experiences of others. You’ve made some fantastic points and as a highly regarded travel blogger, I have a lot of respect for you making this decision! Enjoy your break :)
Thankyou Shannon, I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed the post, and to know that others who feel the same.
It’s sad that something which is meant to be inspiring (full time travel) has turned into a source of guilt and a way of making people feel inadequate. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the way you or I travel, or anyone else for that matter, because it’s always each to their own. As long as you’re happy!
As a part time traveler it’s likely you’re experiencing more of the world than the average person might dream of experiencing in a lifetime, so it always helps me to keep this perspective. The thought that the nomadic hype makes other people feel they’re not traveling right makes me really sad. Because in reality it’s only a very small percentage of people who are well suited to this style.
Travel on! And keep traveling in whichever way you love to!
Totally agree with what you said! We found that long term travel gives you perspective and that Traveling for the sake of traveling is no better than staying in one place because you are too afraid to leave. I think the secret to happiness and contentment is knowing that you have freely made your choice. All the best in the new chapter of your life. We love Tassie!
Thanks Jess! I totally agree with your sentiment that traveling for the sake of traveling is no better than staying in one place because you are too afraid to leave. Very well put.
We’ve come to realize that it’s exactly about the freedom to choose, and doing what’s right for you.
Thankyou for sharing your perspective, and being part of our journey. Let us know if you make it to Tassie again in the future!
Such a great post! I am such a big believer in there not being one right way to travel. Sometimes I feel like less of a traveler because we have never cut our ties permanently. Our kids like school, they like routine, they like home. It is so refreshing to have it reaffirmed that you don’t have to be a full time traveler. Every one will find what works for them the best. I definitely sometimes wish we were traveling indefinitely, but I also appreciate that we have a home to come back to. Thanks for this! We are in Melbourne and love Tassie too!
Thankyou Dawn :) I’m so glad that I could reinforce your views that there’s no one right way to travel. It’s so easy to fall into the guilt of wondering if we’re doing it right, or to lust after another version of life, but everyone has different lifestyles and circumstances – I’m trying to make a conscious effort to stop comparing my life journey to that of others :)
I agree that every one will find what works for them the best.
Let us know if you make trips down to Tas, always excited to catch up with those of a like mind! :D
I’m looking to seeing your new house! Travel is a way for you to build up yourself about life experiences and real knowledge but at somehow we need to come back to our lovely house to have a break. Please keep updating more on your journeys! :D
Thanks Richard! We now have a couple of photos up on Facebook from having moved in last week :)
And never fear, hopefully there will be many future journeys and updates to come! Thankyou for being part of our journey :)
Spot on, we are coming to the end of almost a year of travel with 2 young children, we still don’t know if we will buy again or rent or maybe even keep traveling , but we do know that we need to have a break from it all and be back with friends and familly just to let it all sink in… it’s been an amazing RTW trip so far, but I fully get your point about it all becoming “seen that done that” thing and that sometimes the magic of a place is lost because we are comparing it to yesterday/last week/ last month… but one thing that is never lost in the “wanderlust fatigue” as you put it, are the magic familly moments . Or just laughing our heads off because our VIP ticket turned out to be sharing a 4 bed Vietnamese sleeper train cabin with 3 other families
Haha I think there was something lost in translation there on your VIP train ticket :D Definitely sounds like a family moment the kids ill laugh back on for years to come!
Thanks for sharing your story Craig … a year around the world sounds wonderful, especially when you can share the experience with your whole family. But yes, embrace the break! Even if you decide to keep going, I’ve found there always comes a time to rejuvenate :)
Happy travels … wishing yourself and the family all the best!
I love this! My partner and I travel together, but not full time. We both have jobs (he’s an assistant manager and I work 30hrs a week part time) and we travel as much as possible. I do have a travel blog, and sometimes I wonder if it’s not as helpful due to the fact that I don’t travel full time. But I guess in the end, it’s all about what makes us happy!
Thanks for sharing your story :)
I’m from South Australia and I’m dying to visit Tasmania!
Thanks Rhiannon! What I’ve come to realize is that the percentage of the population that travel full time is actually quite tiny, as much as it seems to be popping up as a recent trend. Most people live exactly as you guys do, and travel part time, so your blog definitely has relevance among the majority of the world who want to know how to juggle work and leisure trips.
Keep it up if it’s what you love :) And let us know if you ever swing by Tas!
Nothing wrong with settling down for a while. Now you can appreciate staying in one place, until you get the travel bug again!
Absolutely! There’s so much joy in being reinfected after a bit of a break from everything!
Happy travels Rich :)
I love this post so much! Sometimes it feels like there’s so much competition to go further / harder / longer, and while travelling full time can be a wonderful thing, so can curling up in your own corner of the world.
Like so many people I love travelling, and can’t imagine life without it. But I also dearly love my own bed and realised a while ago that those time outs between travel are very important. Not only does it avoid that wanderlust fatigue (the struggle is real!) it means I can spend days working at my desk without feeling like I’m missing out because I’m not out exploring.
It’s like I have two sets of batteries that need charging… the travel batteries and the home batteries. It’s a balancing act I’m slowly figuring out. So a big thank you for sharing this one, and well done you for living the life you want in every way.
Thanks for your comment Amanda :) I’m so glad I’m not the only one!
You’re right, I feel as though there’s a lot of pressure, especially when travel is your career, and it’s something you’ve branded yourself as. But I think it’s dangerous to not recognize that we all need balance in our lives. Those time outs between travel really are so important – hopefully we can encourage more people to be willing to say it :)
Congrats on figuring out your balance – I’ve found it’s something which is a gradual process – I’m only half on my way too!
Congratulations you two!! A new chapter! There is no one way to live and travel – and who cares about what people think anyway? It’s your way. I am always curious about ‘reentry’ and how full time travelers deal with having a true home base. Will you accumulate stuff? Will you still maintain a level of measured, controlled list of things you need and buy? That will be a great future topic :)
Thankyou Dorene! It’ll be interesting to see how we settle into a new pace of life. I think travel has made us minimalists, so I can’t see us accumulating huge amounts of stuff, but it’ll be nice to buy things for projects around the house like tools, paint etc, obviously all of the stuff you never need as a traveler!
Will keep track of our re-entry and how we adapt, you’re right, I think that would be a great future post.
Thankyou for being part of our journey!
Congratulations on your new home. You’re absolutely right … having a permanent base doesn’t diminish your travel cred one bit.
Thanks Cherri! Hope not anyway :D!
Great post Meg.. reading it was like reading my life when I was much younger (yes I’m a little older than you.. just bit lol) I traveled for 2.5 years in my 20’s and finally got tired and craved for my own place and normality and just to stay put for a while, like you said traveling can be tiring and you get jaded. I remember getting excited about having my own stuff, my own bed and decent kitchen to cook in. I took another step too that you have already taken.. I got married as well. Now in our 40’s we have enjoyed owning a home for years and living the normal life but felt it was time to live another dream so sold the house, put the stuff in storage and are now back on the road for the next 18 months or so or until we get tired! So maybe in many years to come you will do it all again. This will be our last big trip we will settle again after this and I look forward to purchasing our next home out in the bush :-)
Well done on your purchase, Tassie is gorgeous and being in the countryside is the best place to be :-)
Thanks Jane! I’ve come to realize that life seems to have a habit of coming full circle – maybe after we’ve settled down for a bit we’ll jump back into the longer trips, and start craving the nomadic lifestyle again, as you have.
But we’re happy to embrace new stages of life as they present themselves, and excited to see where this new chapter will lead.
Wishing you both an incredible trip, was so lovely to meet you in February. Let us know if your travels bring you past Tasmania :)
On youtube, it seems the digital nomad is still a craze. I am location independent, but I don’t want to be a ‘nomad’. Don’t fancy the idea of moving to another place every few months. I need a place as a base, particularly since we have 2 kids.
After traveling to Chiang Mai, we do really like it, and want to make it our base. My wife is training to become a Mandarin teacher to work in one of their international schools. Then we can base ourselves there all year long and travel around Asia.
Hi Leo – it seems to be a pretty big craze throughout the blogosphere also – but absolutely, there are so many incredible benefits of being location independent, though that doesn’t mean you have to be a nomad. It’s nice having stability to go with it :)
Chiang Mai sounds like a really great base – I know a lot of bloggers who have set themselves up here also. Seems to be the favorite spot among digital nomads!
Wishing you and your family all the best, and incredible travels around Asia :)
Hi Meg, Congratulations to the next step in your life.
Thanks for this great article. I think your life as a nomad was an experience you have never regretted, but why not experience another one.
I fully agree with your thoughts “As long as you’re happy with the way you’re experiencing the world, it doesn’t matter if you travel full time, or come home to a permanent base.” and I am convinced you guys will not stop to experience the world.
Another important point you touched is the reflection. Since my husband and I quit our jobs, we have more time to travel. As we film all our travels in 4K, we cannot edit them on our trips, otherwise, we would sit the whole day in the hotel, instead of discovering the destination. So we do it later at home, which has the advantage that you experience the travel twice. But, if we travel too long or too often we have exactly the issue you described, “taking new shots of the next..”.
I will continue to follow your journey. Be aware of the Tasmanian devil :-)
All the best!
Thankyou Ursula! I’m so glad you enjoyed the article – absolutely, we full intend to continue traveling and experiencing the world, but it will be nice to have a base now from which we can come and go.
Completely agree with you on experiencing the trip twice by sitting down to go through your photos and video – I often find myself by the computer exclaiming “I remember that!” and it’s so much fun to re-live the adventure!
Thankyou so much for being part of our community, and following our journey as our travels have evolved. It’s a delight to be connected, and I’m looking forward to following your future trips also :)
The problem with always being on the move is you see too much to take it all in and over the years it can become a bit of a blur. You also miss out on all that anticipation and excitement of a new trip!
Absolutely Steve – we’re really looking forward to slowing our pace right down, and taking pleasure in the time before and after to anticipate and reflect on each trip :)
Happy travels!
Well done folks, and I’m certain this is quite recently the ‘following stage’ in your undertakings. Well done on purchasing a house in a standout amongst the most delightful parts of the world!
Thankyou Leesa! We’ve been in for two months now, and are really loving the Tassie lifestyle – setting up has been keeping us busy, but looking forward to discovering more of Tas as the weather gets warmer soon :)
Congrats on purchasing the home. What a whirlwind everything must have been. Traveling in really can have a fatigue as I used to do it a lot when I was younger for work, so I feel you
Thankyou Mike! We’re really enjoying being settled and having a base to call home. The whirlwind was a blast, but has to die down at some point!!
Kudos, Meg!
While I’ve had a few home bases around the world, I recently returned to Canada to set up a(nother) home base myself. I don’t know for how long it will be home, and it will remain a base for continued travels for about half of each year.
But there’s SO MUCH to be said for having somewhere to return to where you can unpack, unwind, and integrate your experiences.
Enjoy your new house in Tassie!
Thanks Nora! We’re really loving it here, you’ve summed it up really well in saying that it’s a place to unpack, unwind, and integrate your experiences. So many amazing benefits of having a base :)
Canada sounds amazing, what a great country to have as a 6 month base … enjoy! and happy travels :)
Congratulations, Meg! You have been on an amazing journey for so many years, and I wish you the best for this chapter of your life.
Thanks Eric! We’re really loving the more settled lifestyle, and having somewhere we can legitimately call home :)
Congrats! I always love to read and explore travel blogs and now, I’m looking forward about the website which could offer cheap airport parking. Can you please help me?
Thankyou Ann, I’m glad that you enjoyed the post. Airport parking will differ been every airport, so it’s best to jump onto the website of their airport you’re heading to, and they should have information on the parking options :)
Nothing wrong with settling down for a while. Now you can appreciate staying in one place, until you get the travel bug again!
Absolutely! It’s been quite wonderful settling back into a routine and taking staycations and short weekend trips. Funny how routine is what you initially escape, and after a while it becomes something you crave. Everything in moderation!
I like how you describe the feeling when you realizing you need a place that you can call your house.thanks so much for the post.
Thanks Popsspot, I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. I think it’s important to embrace the stage of life we’re at even if it means starting a new chapter :)
Congrats! Well done Megan. Thanks for sharing your journeys.
Thanks Karen!! Happy travels :)
This is the best decision you’ve made for your lifetime investment. I’m sure this new journey of life with your new home will be exciting and memorable for both of you.
Thanks Jan! We think so :) We’re happy to embrace this new stage of life as our next adventure. Thanks for reading!
It is very hard to sacrifice your previous lifetime, but I am grateful for both of you. This investment is lifetime. Have a blessed and happy experience in your next journey.
Thankyou so much for your lovely comment Kimberley :) We’re really looking forward to this next chapter in our lives. Wishing you happy travels! Thanks for stopping by our blog :)
It’s nice to read your post, I think anyone need a house, though travelling is great way to exploring life. Anyway thanks to sharing about your life your journey.
Thanks Rookbrand, so glad you enjoyed the post :) Having a home to return to has definitely allowed us to bring more stability back into our lives, which has been really great. Happy travels!
Congratulation! I’m happy to hear that, and it’s great when you’ve shared your journey, it will inspire many people, especially those who like traveling like you.
Thanks Ramirez! So glad you enjoyed the post – happy travels! Thanks for reading :)
Great journey! wish you were like that, that’s great. Thanks for sharing them
Thanks Adams, so glad you enjoyed the post :) Happy travels!
Congratulation! Figuring out and then doing what makes you happy is the biggest adventure of all. Excited to follow along on your next chapter. Thanks for sharing
Thankyou Marcinaik! Absolutely, the pursuit of happiness in life truly is the journey – so glad you enjoyed the post :)
Thanks for reading :)
We all need a break from what’s become routine! Good for you!
Funny how the thing you’re once escaping becomes the thing you end up craving lol! Glad you enjoyed the post :)