doing what you want – Karol Gajda

That’s an odd statement from a blog about, among other things, travel.

Traveling the way I’ve been traveling is tiring. Being on the constant move is tiring.

Just when I get to know (and maybe love) a city, I move on.

It takes about a week before I get comfortable with a new place. If I leave before that week is up there’s an underlying sense of stress.

In New Zealand, because I decided to do a bus tour, I saw 16 cities in 30 days. That is just too much. I went to more cities in NZ in 30 days than I did in the 70 days I was in Australia.

Guess where I had a more enjoyable time?

New Zealand was amazing, but incredibly stressful.

I hate stress.

I’ll go out on a limb and assume you hate stress too.

Today I’m flying to Detroit after 5 days in LA. I’ll be in the Detroit area (where I grew up) until I leave for India on Jan 28.

Although I can’t stand cold weather, I’m looking forward to having a home base for more than a few days.

What I Did Wrong In Australia/New Zealand

Squeezing 2 vast countries like Australia and New Zealand into 100 days is not possible.

When I booked my flights to Australia/New Zealand (all the way back in March) I planned on coming back to the US and laying down roots again.

A couple of months after I booked said flights I decided to sell all my stuff, live out of a backpack, and see more of the world.

Because I bought a return instead of one way ticket I was already pretty well handcuffed to the 100 day Oz/NZ trip. Yes, I could have paid flight change fees and extended the trip so I could stay in my favorite places longer, but there’s a reason I didn’t do that.

I already made December plans with my family and friends in Michigan. When I say I’m going to do something, barring unforeseen circumstances, I do it. With my upcoming plans I won’t see any of them for a long time so it all worked out perfectly and I’m looking forward to spending time with them.

How To Quit Traveling and Still See The World

When I say I’m quitting traveling, I specifically mean I’m not going to be on the move constantly anymore.

I booked a one way award flight from Detroit to Mumbai. I will probably stay in Mumbai for just a few days before heading to Goa and staying there for a month or two.

My new rule is, unless I don’t like a place, I’m staying there for at least a month.

This will give me time to acclimate to each place I visit. I’ll also be able to rent an apartment or a single guest house room.

I still fully plan on making 2-3 day side trips, but having a home base to go back to will be wonderful.

The beauty of travel…scratch that…the beauty of anything in life is that you can do it however it works for you.

For some people, not knowing where they’ll be from one second to the next is exactly what they need.

Personally, I like knowing at least a few hours (OK, days!) in advance where I’ll lay my head. :)

What is your style of travel?

35 days into my current Australian travels I became utterly exhausted.

A cold, rainy time in Melbourne, 5 days in a cold (down to 6-7C at night) camper van with no heat (awesome trip along The Great Ocean Road though!), and 25 hours in a seat on The Ghan train from Adelaide to Alice Springs had me feeling tired.

Upon arriving in Alice Springs I sat down in the lounge area of my hostel and fired up Google Docs to finish some writing. As I was about to open a file called “The Iron Mind” an article called “Permission to do nothing” caught my eye.

The article had, up to that point, consisted of exactly one sentence:

Permission To Do Nothing

Whenever I have an idea for an article, essay, eBook, Web site…well, anything…I either create a Google Doc, write it in a notebook, or e-mail myself. This was a perfect example of that.

While in Alice Springs I planned on actually doing some tours. You know, doing what other tourists do.

Tangent: There is constant debate amongst people who travel on the tourist vs traveler label, but I’m not stupid enough to consider myself anything other than a tourist whether I fit the stereotype or not.

I will probably never be back to “the red centre” of Australia again, so I should take advantage of the surrounding sights while I’m here, right?

But would it change anything if I see Ayers Rock, a few hundred kilometers away, instead of Meyers Hill, a 10 minute walk from where I’m staying?

Both are beautiful. Both are works of nature. Both are a part of Australia’s history. One would stress the shit out of me right now on a tour. The other, which I could experience by taking a leisurely walk, would make me feel alive.

West Macdonnel Ranges from top of Meyers Hill — West MacDonnell Ranges from top of Meyers Hill

My travel goals are different than most. I’m more in line with what Derek Sivers talks about in his recent Freedom article:

Friends back home would say, “So what did you do in Iceland?”

I’d say, “Same thing as you. Same thing I’d be doing anywhere else. Just programming, working, writing, reading, flirting, living.”

I’m not traveling to see every sight or to do everything. I’m traveling as an alternative means of living.

What would I do back “home” on a Tuesday? I definitely wouldn’t go out to “see the sights” unless it was something special. (Friends/family in town, for example.)

I would eat, read, hang out, ride my bike, write, and eat some more. :)

The point is, I decided I’m not going to go on any tours while here in Alice Springs. I’m staying at a very small, relaxed, hostel and enjoying reading in a hammock, going to the store to buy groceries for lunch/dinner, and writing in the hot, hot heat. (mmm, I love heat)

The beauty of life is you get to live it as you please. You may have people tell you you’re “doing it wrong” but they get a big fuck you.

“Everyone gets one life. Yours is almost used up, and instead of treating yourself with respect, you have entrusted your own happiness to the souls of others.” – Marcus Aurelius Meditations 2.6

If you’re ever at a crossroads on a decision remember to do what you want, not what others expect you to do.

And if you still can’t decide…

You don’t need it, but you have my permission to do nothing.

###

You may have noticed I posted this on a Thursday even though I already posted on Tuesday. I’m experimenting with a twice/week posting schedule.

I’ve been writing a lot, but my once/week posting schedule means I’m not posting most of it. The problem is editing a post takes me a long time. I’m slow with it. What I’m getting at is there will be a post every Tuesday, and now, for the time being, every Thursday. :) Now, subscribe to the RSS feed, if you haven’t already! ;)