How to Travel Full Time

by Colin Wright

Travel is unexpected and uncomfortable and often the opposite of what you were expecting.

The idea most people have about travel is wrong. It’s not going to solve your problems. You aren’t going to go on vacation and become a person reborn.

they’re born the same as you: a blank canvas for whatever markings society sees fit to add.

This response allows you to view people who believe differently from you as people, too: they were simply brought up to believe different things. They are no worse and no better than you are, just as you are no better or worse than they are. By your standards, you have the superior morality, but by their standards, you carry the weight of inferior teachings. If you can both set these judgements aside, however, and treat each other as humans first, then you have a bridge; a place to start understanding each other.

The type of person who excels at long-term travel embraces these situations, and sees them as opportunities. They’ll do what needs to be done, whether that means pulling new plans from thin air, hopping on another train, or finding someone with a car heading in the direction they need to go. Finding a solution to the problem that’s arisen, no matter what.

If things go completely sideways and nothing is working out, this type of person is able to salvage the day. Nothing will stop them from having an interesting, enjoyable time.

Being resourceful is a matter of being put in tricky situations and figuring out the best solution given the circumstances.

Money, in short, is something you should be concerned with just enough that it gains you the freedom to live how you want to live.

To a person lacking dreams and causes and imagination, money is just another expensive bottle of liquor or VIP seat at the club; borrowed dreams from generations of advertising.

Making Money Overseas Nomadic Matt

One exercise I would recommend, which has served me well in all the places I’ve lived, is to get lost intentionally. Wait until you have a home base, then explore the area immediately surrounding your home.

I’ve got a few networking tips to share that are fairly universal.

The first is to be friendly by default. It sounds like common sense, I know, but you’d be surprised by how much terrible advice is out there about ‘being alpha’ or ‘establishing dominance’ in a conversation. Don’t listen to that drivel; it makes you come across as a jerk, and no one likes a jerk. Be nice. Be helpful. Be interested and curious.

On that same note, it’s a good idea to provide value where you can. What that means is, rather than asking for something from people,...