Comments on: Can You Travel For Too Long? http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/can-you-travel-for-too-long/ Nomadic Matt's Travel Site Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:02:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Colleenhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/can-you-travel-for-too-long/#comment-211329 Colleen Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:09:20 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2191#comment-211329 I remember the day I reached a certain saturation point on my year long RTW adventure with our teenage sons. We'd been on the road for about 10 months, seriously loving every day (not that there weren't hard moments or days but there was an overall excitement for the next discovery, the next country, the next meal.) We arrived at a sight I'd longed to see since 6th grade, Pompei. We got there and after about an hour I was done. It was the first sight in over 10 months that I didn't fully immerse myself in. I had a several hours at a cafe to mull this over while my sons did the whole nine yards. Thankfully, they hadn't lost their enthusiasm. What I realized is that I had lost my sense of wonder. We had seen so many amazing sites that being amazed had become my status quo.Thankfully, my sense of wonder did return and we traveled with a lot of excitement and the joy of discovery until we returned home after 12 months. But I will always remember that day and the short shrift I gave to Pompei. As wonderful as travel is, there are many worthwhile pursuits available in this life. The journey of my faith, my marriage, being a mom and learning how to be a good friend are all 'journeys' that have meant even more to me than the luxury and privilege of 12 months of total cultural immersion, as fantastic as that was. I remember the day I reached a certain saturation point on my year long RTW adventure with our teenage sons. We’d been on the road for about 10 months, seriously loving every day (not that there weren’t hard moments or days but there was an overall excitement for the next discovery, the next country, the next meal.) We arrived at a sight I’d longed to see since 6th grade, Pompei. We got there and after about an hour I was done. It was the first sight in over 10 months that I didn’t fully immerse myself in. I had a several hours at a cafe to mull this over while my sons did the whole nine yards. Thankfully, they hadn’t lost their enthusiasm. What I realized is that I had lost my sense of wonder. We had seen so many amazing sites that being amazed had become my status quo.

Thankfully, my sense of wonder did return and we traveled with a lot of excitement and the joy of discovery until we returned home after 12 months. But I will always remember that day and the short shrift I gave to Pompei. As wonderful as travel is, there are many worthwhile pursuits available in this life. The journey of my faith, my marriage, being a mom and learning how to be a good friend are all ‘journeys’ that have meant even more to me than the luxury and privilege of 12 months of total cultural immersion, as fantastic as that was.

]]> By: Stella from Mykonoshttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/can-you-travel-for-too-long/#comment-208568 Stella from Mykonos Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:22:07 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2191#comment-208568 I envy you ;) I envy you ;)

]]> By: Alexandrahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/can-you-travel-for-too-long/#comment-201259 Alexandra Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:19:58 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2191#comment-201259 *interested in *interested in

]]> By: Alexandrahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/can-you-travel-for-too-long/#comment-201257 Alexandra Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:19:18 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2191#comment-201257 That´s what i am interested too!!! That´s what i am interested too!!!

]]> By: chrishttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/can-you-travel-for-too-long/#comment-198831 chris Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:01:22 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2191#comment-198831 I get homesick after a while maybe 2 weeks at a time is the longest I can be away from home I get homesick after a while maybe 2 weeks at a time is the longest I can be away from home

]]> By: kiwigramhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/can-you-travel-for-too-long/#comment-182599 kiwigram Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:05:14 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2191#comment-182599 I think you can travel for too long. I am 75 and have traveled most of my life. I have lived in 13 different countries and been to many more. Along the way, I have met many people, and worked with many people. Now that I am retired, I find that I am alone. I live alone, I have no friends as all of the friends I made along the way, live in different countries or different parts of this country, and in trying to meet people, you are never understood. The older people already have their groups, clubs and do not want outsiders. They think you are boasting when you talk of the world as being part of your life. Give up travel early and make real relationships, then go traveling again. I think you can travel for too long. I am 75 and have traveled most of my life. I have lived in 13 different countries and been to many more. Along the way, I have met many people, and worked with many people. Now that I am retired, I find that I am alone. I live alone, I have no friends as all of the friends I made along the way, live in different countries or different parts of this country, and in trying to meet people, you are never understood. The older people already have their groups, clubs and do not want outsiders. They think you are boasting when you talk of the world as being part of your life. Give up travel early and make real relationships, then go traveling again.

]]> By: Peterhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/can-you-travel-for-too-long/#comment-131745 Peter Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:59:38 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2191#comment-131745 This is a great post Matt, I'll definitely be bookmarking and reading a lot more on here. I think your point about the friends you make are always very shortlived is completely right, if you're travelling around all the time, there's plenty of opportunity to make new friends, but not to carve out real relationships. This is a great post Matt, I’ll definitely be bookmarking and reading a lot more on here. I think your point about the friends you make are always very shortlived is completely right, if you’re travelling around all the time, there’s plenty of opportunity to make new friends, but not to carve out real relationships.

]]> By: Emmahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/can-you-travel-for-too-long/#comment-123394 Emma Sun, 04 Sep 2011 09:53:30 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2191#comment-123394 Hey Matt!So glad I came across your blogs! You have some awesome reads! I have been away from home now for 10 months and heading back end of next month, as much as I am looking forward to seeing my friends and family again, it scares me going back, I know I am not ready for it, and I know ill be ready to go again as soon as all the catch ups are over. Which is why my next trip is already booked haha! I have been thinking about what to do next with my life, (Doing the whole trip overseas to try find your self and now when I go home everyone expecting me to go back to study or get a job and settle down like the rest of my high school friends, but I know its not me, not yet anyway) but never really thought about backpacking as a life style and I want to say thanks :) You have helped me realize what it is I want to be doing with my life right now! And loved your blog about solo female travelers... as 19 year old and travelling on my own Ill keep those tips in mind! Do you have any blogs on what kinds of jobs you have done along the way to fun your travels? Cheers again! Emma Hey Matt!

So glad I came across your blogs! You have some awesome reads!
I have been away from home now for 10 months and heading back end of next month, as much as I am looking forward to seeing my friends and family again, it scares me going back, I know I am not ready for it, and I know ill be ready to go again as soon as all the catch ups are over. Which is why my next trip is already booked haha!
I have been thinking about what to do next with my life, (Doing the whole trip overseas to try find your self and now when I go home everyone expecting me to go back to study or get a job and settle down like the rest of my high school friends, but I know its not me, not yet anyway) but never really thought about backpacking as a life style and I want to say thanks :) You have helped me realize what it is I want to be doing with my life right now! And loved your blog about solo female travelers… as 19 year old and travelling on my own Ill keep those tips in mind!
Do you have any blogs on what kinds of jobs you have done along the way to fun your travels?
Cheers again! Emma

]]> By: WithMarcohttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/can-you-travel-for-too-long/#comment-103768 WithMarco Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:03:14 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2191#comment-103768 It's perfectly doable to stop for 6 months or more, that's what i'm doing now for instance.I'm a slow traveler but you can get quite burnt out after 1 year of traveling no stop, you reach the point where you're simply too tired and everything looks boring and stressful.There's a time for travel and a time for settling down. You should not travel when you're not in the right mood, and it's great to rent an apartment with a kitchen and cook on your own and having your fridge,a balcony, local friends, local girlfriend, and everything else, just pick up a place you really like it and relax. It’s perfectly doable to stop for 6 months or more, that’s what i’m doing now for instance.

I’m a slow traveler but you can get quite burnt out after 1 year of traveling no stop, you reach the point where you’re simply too tired and everything looks boring and stressful.

There’s a time for travel and a time for settling down.
You should not travel when you’re not in the right mood, and it’s great to rent an apartment with a kitchen and cook on your own and having your fridge,a balcony, local friends, local girlfriend, and everything else, just pick up a place you really like it and relax.

]]> By: NomadicMatthttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/can-you-travel-for-too-long/#comment-101039 NomadicMatt Sun, 05 Jun 2011 13:05:23 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=2191#comment-101039 I'm going strong....at least for a little bit longer. I’m going strong….at least for a little bit longer.

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