Posted: 8/30/18 | August 30th, 2018
Years ago, when I made my first attempt to slow down and travel less, I wrote a post on my new “non-nomadic” life.
It didn’t stick — and I was quickly back on the road.
I have a restless soul and the pull of the road was too strong.
It was a pattern that lasted for years.
I’d come home, proclaim to my friends was I’m going to settle down for real this time only to leave again a few months later.
It became a sort of running joke between my friends and me.
(And here too, with all my “no, for real!” blog posts.)
But, after many false starts, I finally became truly “non-nomadic” last year.
This year, I’ve only spent a combined two and a half months on the road. While that’s a lot by “real world” standards, it’s not a lot for a guy who spent a decade moving every few days/weeks/months and named his blog after his being a nomad.
I don’t even have another trip planned until October — and, right now, it’s only 50/50 that it will happen.
This is the least I’ve ever traveled since I went on the road in 2006.
My friends had grown accustomed to me popping in and out of their lives. Now they are getting used to the weirdness of having me around. It’s been nice to finally get texts asking what I’m doing and if I’m free again.
And you know what?
I think settling down has stuck this time around because I’m ready to finally do so. As I said in a blog post earlier this year, I finally became OK with the fact that life changes, situations change, and your desires change.
Moving on doesn’t mean abandoning who you were.
I kept traveling as a way to hold on to the past. I couldn’t let go of the image I had in my head of life on the road and all it symbolized: freedom, adventure, meeting new people, and a lack of responsibilities.
It was all very fun — and I didn’t want to grow up. I had made a life around traveling and, in a case of irony, I couldn’t leave my comfort zone.
To me, doing so would negate all the hard work I had done. It would be admitting defeat. It would be like death.
But trees don’t grow because they blow in the wind; they grow because they have roots.
And accepting that if I really wanted to lead the life I wanted — one of routine and presence — that I would need roots was a huge shift in my mindset.
I love my routine: the daily writing, working on this website, sleeping in my own bed, cooking breakfast, going to the gym, seeing friends regularly, dating, and just being in one place and not tired all the time.
Don’t get me wrong: My love for travel hasn’t gone anywhere and still want to see countless places around the world. I roam the guidebook aisle in my local bookstore, dreaming of where I might go next. I search flight deals each day. I imagine myself in far-off tropical lands and picture the people I’d meet there.
But now I’m OK with “going tomorrow.”
After so many years on the road, these last few months at home have taught me that my nomadic ways are truly over.
As I sip tea at a café where the barista knows what I want when I walk in the door, I’m perfectly content where I am.
I’ve seen a lot of the world.
I’ve had incredible experiences.
But, right now, it’s time to just enjoy the simplicity and pleasure that comes with staying in one place for more than a few days.
The rest of the world can wait a bit longer.
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Melissa
There’s definitely something to be said for your own bed and having a place to hang some pictures on the wall. I’d ideal like to travel more than I currently do (I do well to travel 6 weeks/year with my full time job) but I love coming home to my kitty and my own space. And I fully agree that it’s ok to change what you want at any time. It’s never a failure.
Lynna
I seem to be hearing this a lot from the bloggers I have been following for years. We all go through fazes in our lives where the wish to travel isn’t as strong or we can’t travel due to other commitments or we simply want that bed/coffee regularity. Enjoy this new faze!
Brittany
Well said, Matt. Long-term travel can be an isolating lifestyle sometimes. I haven’t been traveling nearly as long as you, but I definitely find that slowing down helps reduce stress and enjoy more happiness in life. Oddly, when I slow down, I feel more comfortable exploring new things and taking risks. My brain has more downtime to rejuvenate. My attention is shifted from defending against information overload to proactively making adjustments that improve my wellbeing. I’m currently trying 3 to 6 months in each new location to try to capture the best of both worlds.
Allen S Hall
I’ve only been on the road with nomadic intention for a few months. One amazing lesson it is teaching me is that I will one day really enjoy and appreciate a permanent dwelling. Visiting families in different locations and witnessing the tight community they build is inspirational. Truly we must root to grow and I feel very privileged to have to opportunity to spread my seeds before that time comes. Looking forward to the destination being a journey in itself.
Amy Connor
This isn’t the end of the story, but rather, a new chapter in your life. Enjoy it!
NomadicMatt
Damn right!
Juan Ovalle
This was such a great read. You’re right about needing roots to grow. I think the important thing is to find the balance and it looks like you’ve found yours!
Nicole
Yes, a nomadic life is not for me but it does not stop me from travelling. I enjoy my work and have visited 115 countries while working a 9-5. I have recently started taking longer breaks so I can see more but my home will always be NZ.
Ryan
Geeze, it’s like finding out there’s no Santa Clause! Nomadic Matt officially no longer a nomad. Of course the whole idea of being free is the freedom to do what feels right for you at this stage in your life. My story was the opposite, after 10 years of part time travel I went full nomad for the last 5 years. To a great extent the choice was motivated by your adventures.
Will be forever grateful for that motivation. No matter direction your life takes and whatever you decide to write about in the future I will be likely to read and enjoy it. Thanks Matt!
NomadicMatt
I’m still a traveler but sorry to ruin the myth lol
Marilynn Smith
Being 70 I can say life has a lot of changes. Learning to embrace change is important. Enjoy it, never fight it. Change makes us grow in new ways.
Debmalya Bhattacharjee
Hi Matt, great thought of settling down, am running the opposite way though in my life currently. It’s good that you are hitting a gym, one suggestion -try Yoga, to get the desired balance in life that I see you mention in a lot of posts. You can look at Isha Yoga which is founded by Sadhguru. Have fun…
May
Hi Matt: It was emotional reading about your decision to be non-nomadic. You have been an inspiration to many of us travellers. I just returned from Africa after 5 months of travelling and I know exactly how you feel. When I am not travelling I miss the adventures and experiences of the different cultures, people, the history and beauty of the countries, the joys of making new friends.
I know that you will still have that urge to go on the road one day and that is normal cause it has been a major part of your life so enjoy your hometown and time with your family and friends and the next time you travel it may be different cause you will be doing it with your own family and it will be a totally different experience altogether!!!!
Want to say thanks for the tips you gave me on my trip to Central America and meeting Mr. Gutierrez. I will always remember it.
Nick
The post is good food for thoughts. I have been considering long term plans and quit my job. I have had issues with being a long term nomad. It may not be sustainable. However, what I’m considering more and more is: keep a base in my home country (3-6 months a year) then travel for the rest of the time.
From a rent perspective it is more expensive, but it gives you the best of both world. You keep some roots, try to keep your friends and family close but can still wander for most of the year. Having a base is also good to store stuff, keep the things that matter at home and not solely rely on a bag or suitcase.
What do you think ?
Liz
I know mostly younger people read your stuff (I’m 38), so I hope with my post they can see you can travel always and with kids too. I traveled all over before I had kids and have taken my twin 8 year olds to both Africa and Asia. I’m currently pregnant with my third baby and while we can’t travel now clearly it doesn’t mean I don’t look forward to it again. Travel for me is an escape from the real world and routine. It’s an opportunity to see something you may never get to see again and to experience something new. I feel that it can be a lifelong passion and, when done right, something that can encourage you to appreciate your roots more. Kudos to you Matt for wanting to slow down and enjoy this new chapter of your life.