Posted: 9/9/2019 | September 9th, 2019
One of the most-asked questions on my book tour was: “What comes next?”
Now that I’m back from Paris and have moved out of New York City, and now that my book tour is over, what are my next big plans?
Well…
Not much.
Right now, I’m back in Austin. I have to finish moving into my new apartment (why do couches take so long to arrive?) and, beyond a couple of trips to NYC and DC for weddings, I don’t plan on leaving Austin for a long time.
My passport is staying in my drawer. I’m not moving back to New York or Paris or some other city. I’m not working on a new book. There’s no new big projects. Nothing.
For the foreseeable future, all I see is Austin.
And I’m very excited about that.
A tree only grows when it has roots, and now that the madness of all this year’s projects is over, those roots can finally start to weave their way into the earth and provide the foundation for further growth.
I can finally get into the one thing I’ve been craving all year: routine.
I’m going to get into a better workflow, go back to the gym, start cooking again, take up some hobbies, sleep more, and maybe even start holding monthly meet-ups.
Who knows!
I used to think that I had to rush my travels, that there was too much of the world to see, and that that was why I couldn’t stop traveling — because, if I did, I’d never see it all.
And to me, that was a crime.
That’s why it was always “just one more trip.”
Part of me still feels that way.
But, in reality, there is no rush. You can never see it all. There will always be something else to see or do, or something new.
And it will still be there in a few months.
So, right now, the world can wait. I’m tired of being on the move. I’m tired of staying in spaces not my own. I’m tired of wearing the same three shirts over and over again.
When that kind of burnout happens, you have to stay put.
So I will stay put and recharge the battery named “travel.”
I don’t know how long it will take. I don’t really care.
I’m in no rush to go anywhere right now.
I always define travel as something that pushes you out of your comfort zone and makes you grow as a person. Being home and learning to stay put will be a new adventure. This is something I’m going to have to learn how to do (it was really tough passing up on super cheap flights to the Seychelles).
So, in a way, I guess that is what comes next is a deep dive into this concept called “home.”
I’m looking forward to the challenge.
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John Johnston
The book tour must have kicked your ass. That is grueling.
Have a great time recovering. Hope to catch up with you one day.
NomadicMatt
It did but it was fun!
Seth
Matt, rest up and have some fun, man. You have inspired me and my buds for years to travel. Korea, Taiwan, Chile, Argentina, and I´m not done. Thanks for doing so much for us daydreamers. 🙂
Lori
I agree that putting down roots again is what needs to happen for many of us who have wanderlust. After 3 years of traveling I decided to make a home base and find community in my neighbors, on hikes, local activities and joining meet ups or races. Putting in the effort pays off when you stay put!
Jason
I remember when I had to come to terms with the hard fact: even if I traveled continuously, I could never live long enough to see everything I wanted to see. This reality forced me to think in terms of priorities — what is the most important, and what can I let go. The truth is, I have certain interests, and some destinations are better for those interests than others.
The trick is: when you do stop to put down roots, pick the right place to put them down. Because in that regard, too, I have certain interests, and, again, some locations are better for those interests than others.
Priya
Taking some time to contemplate what’s next and seeing the seed grow into a full-fledged tree that you sowed and nurtured with care is the best way to relax. I am sure a brief respite will give you all the impetus to embark on your next project.
Jean Farrell
Good for you! It is good to know what you need, and it that’s what you need right now, it will make your future travels that much better. I hate when I see travel bloggers or professional travelers start to hate traveling. It bleeds through. Everyone needs some balance in their life, and that balance is different from everyone, and different at different times. I look forward to hearing about how you’re settling in. And it can be really annoying waiting for furniture to arrive!! I once waited three months for a couch, only to find out it was too big to fit in my tiny NYC elevator, and couldn’t make it around the turns in the narrow staircase, no matter how much we pivoted. I had to return it and start over!
Lily
I wish you a lot of luck but I respectfully cannot understand how you could choose the US as home after you apparently have travelled to Europe? I did not really explore your site but I am a dual citizen and I prefer Europe and all of the well-travelled people I have spoken to said they could never return to the hostile environment of the US , the hilarious and scary orange, psychopath/mentally challenged president. the mass shootings every second day, political strife, hatred for the poor, the overall lack of quality of life that exits in the US no matter where you are you must deal with Trump as your president. And it was not much better inder Obama. There are serious social problems and My friends and I just don’t GET how you could choose to move back there.
I guess the crime-the united States is ranked in the top twenty for murder rate, mass shootings. lack of universal healthcare,social unease, low social conscience and quality of life is not that important to you. I am a logical person so it causes me pause. Best of luck getting over your burn out in Texas. I personally would choose somewhere beautiful in Turkey or the La Palma(La Isla Bonita)Canary Islands.:)<3
NomadicMatt
This is where my friends and family are and I’m not ready to just call it quits yet.
Becky
I can definitely relate! Relentless travel is exhausting and most long-term travelers hit a burnout point (including me). I’m glad you recognized where you’re at and don’t feel pressured to keep up the nomadic lifestyle. Enjoy Austin!
Jennifer Melgar
This blog made me happy to read!! It’s true that there is no rush and there shouldn’t be any pressure to travel. You do you Matt! Do what feels best! It’s always good to recharge, whether that be with routine or travel. We all need balance. This gave me so much perspective and put doubts that I’ve been having about myself at ease. I always feel like I’m running out of time to see destinations. My motto was YOLO lol.
Recently however, I felt like there was something wrong for slightly losing that desire to plan/take trips. I felt bad that I hadn’t taken as many trips this year as before. I guess it’s because I’m happy being home for the moment. Don’t get me wrong, there are still places I want to see and trips will definitely be planned for the future, but for now I have everything I need here in Houston, TX. Thanks for the reassurance and for always being such an inspiration!