To Uncertainty & Beyond!

This is the last post of a three part series on overcoming self-imposed obstacles to independent travel.  Catch up on the first and second posts of the series– Banking the Benjamins and Fear and Loathing of New Places.

This post is a catchall for the biggest hurdle to reaching your goal– you.  Be forewarned, this may get preachy, but I am an ordained minister after all.

Assume you are someone who wants to travel.  Not just a week in Bermuda, mind you.  We are talking about extensive, hostel-hopping, shower-skipping, life-altering travel.

What keeps you from hitting the road?  The dreaded excuses.

• “I don’t have enough savings.”
• “I’m scared of the unfamiliar.”
• “I’ll miss my dog/cat/plant.”
• “I’m afraid to leave my job.”
• “It’s bad timing.”
• “It just doesn’t feel right.”

The list is endless.

Excuses allow us to absolve ourselves of action. It’s easier to make excuses than push past our comfort zones, face our fears, and commit to a goal.  Instead, we rationalize because change is just too damn hard.  It’s safer to stick to the status quo and live life by consensus.

Think about the times you did whatever it took, even when it was tough, tedious, or painful because you really wanted something.  It was no longer ‘can’ or ‘cannot’– it was ‘will’ or ‘will not’.  Will you make the necessary scarifies?  Will you jump in with both feet?

The truth is, the time is never right, and the only ‘right’ is right now.  There are always excuses not to do something.  Move forward.  Act now.  Otherwise, you sow the seeds of regret.  The years will pass by, and you’ll always ask yourself “what if”.

The trick is to keep yourself motivated.  A few tips:

Tell Everyone

We decided to go for it in January 2009.   The first thing we did?  We told everyone.

Well, almost everyone.  You will want to shield your travel plans from your employer until the time is right.  However, do tell all your friends and family.  Most people will be very excited for you, and their energy will keep you motivated during the pre-trip months.

More importantly, the more people you tell, the harder it is to back out.

What will you say to Uncle Frank?  “Yeah…so I’ve decided not to do that travel thing because…I have to feed my goldfish.”  Lame.

On the flip side, you are going to face some downers.  Don’t let them discourage you.  Some friends or family members may not understand your long-term travel goals (this is okay– It’s not for everybody).  Remember, the bums will always lose, Lebowski.

Plan Your Itinerary

We believe in flexibility, but you still need to have a general idea where you want to go!  We had a lot of fun planning our route, and our excitement kept us motivated to save money.

Pull out a globe and jot down all the countries you want to see.  Now figure out a route that works for your budget and time constraints.  (This process is a post unto itself, so I’ll revisit this topic another time.)

Always wanted to go gorilla trekking?  Add Uganda to the list.  Feel like running with the bulls?  Make it to Pamplona in July.  Just think of all the wonderful foods and amazing sights you’ll see.  That beats feeding your fish, right?  Hell yeah.

Stop making excuses.  Stay motivated.  The possibilities are endless, and you’ll thank yourself for finally taking the adventure of a lifetime.

When I started thinking about packing for this trip I realized I was going to have to make a few hard decisions.  I wouldn’t call myself an extreme “girly” girl.  I camp, ski, bike, etc.  But, I also have my Charlotte York moments.

When traveling for a short weekend, or even a couple of weeks, you don’t have to pack light.  On this trip, however, we’re keeping our bags under 30 pounds each.  In this post I’ll share some of my thoughts on low-maintenance, light packing for women.  I tried to strike a balance between quitting modern convenience cold-turkey and minimizing enough so that I’m not lugging around unnecessary products.

Clothes

When Clark and I began discussing our itinerary, we also thought about our packing list.  We decided on the places that were important to us as well as what time of the year we’d like to be there.  We were able to work out an itinerary in which we will mostly be in warmer climates.  This made our clothing choices much easier.

Perhaps the hardest part of packing is that I like clothes and shoes a little too much.  I wanted items that were stylish, but also durable, hand-washable, quick-drying, and wrinkle resistant.  This means no cotton.  All of our clothing is cotton-free, usually a polyester/nylon blend, including underwear and bras.  This fabric stays wrinkle-free and dries quickly.  Some of my shirts are moisture wicking, specialty styles, but some are just your every day department-store finds.

It is a really good idea to bring items that you can mix and match.  I suggest solid colors in shades that are complimentary.  I have one pair of jeans, one pair of khaki pants, a khaki green skort, and two dresses.  All of my tops match with these bottoms.  I can just grab the first two things in my bag and look good! (more…)

This is the end beginning of the road.  I’m going into my last week of gainful employment.

It was a good run.  I was with the company for five years.  With a little luck, maybe they will even take me back someday.  It’s clearly better to take a leave of absence, but isn’t that asking a bit much?  “Hey, I’m going to go have fun for a year while you guys pick up my slack.  Mind holding my spot?  You’re cool with doing all of my work, right?  I’ll bring you back a T-shirt or something. “

Sure.  See how that goes over.

Kim could have just told her students to work quietly in small groups for the next 200 periods.

It will be strange to let go of the ol’ routine.  As we have sold our belongings and wrapped up work, life has remained basically the same as usual.  Crawl out of bed, go to our jobs, come home, have some dinner, watch LOST, discuss our smoke monster theories, second guess our gear, read about Asian elephants or something, and go to sleep later than we should.  Repeat.

I imagine the new routine will go something like this:

Wake up.  Untangle Kim from her mosquito net.  Mess around with the blog on a painfully slow connection.  Put on pants (at some point).  Walk down to the market for some fruit.  See a temple or two.  Horribly botch the local language in a futile attempt to “blend in”.  Find a place to live for the next few days.  Wash some clothes if absolutely necessary.  Drink a beer.  Haggle with a cab driver over 75 cents.  Repeat?

I especially like the beer part.  Let’s repeat that step several times.

Moving on is a good thing though, and it will be a very memorable year.  But first, we have to sell our shit.

Need a slightly used mattress?  How about two cases of expired toothpaste?

As the big day draws nearer (only 27 days now!) we find ourselves scrambling to cram in an excess of “one last time” events.  Most of these outings revolve around food and/or friends.  We have so many Chicago favorites that we’ve found it hard to get them all in.  Many are once-in-a-while activities, but some are every day errands.  So far, we’ve enjoyed our last Rainbow Cone, Superdawg, chicken and waffles, gyro, White Sox game, Cubs game, choir concert, “America Sings!” field trip, Critical Mass, L.A.T.E. Ride, games of Catan and Carcassonne, haircut, dentist appointment, and eye exam.  I think it is harder to grasp the coming absence of the last few every day things while we travel.  Walking 2 blocks to a grocery store we’ve been to a hundred times or hopping on the train to get a quick custard at Scooter’s will seem like a distant memory when we’re on the road.

I’m not sure how we’ll handle the lack of routine.  On one hand, I think it will be exhilarating, always to go somewhere new and try something different.  However, I can see ourselves growing very weary of the lack of familiarity.  It may be exhausting.  I expect that we will get used to the turmoil after a few months on the road and our new routine will be no routine.

In the mean time….I think we still have a few days left to play croquet in Grant Park, see a movie at the Navy Pier iMax, have a BBQ in Jane’s backyard, throw a rooftop hot tub party, go to Kyle’s graduation party, watch the Lost finale, eat at Hot Doug’s, Toro Sushi, Little Bucharest, Lou Malnati’s, and grab a few drinks at Villain’s. WHEW!

This is the second post of a three-part series on overcoming self-imposed obstacles to independent travel.  Be sure to read Banking the Benjamins, the first post of the series.

The US State Department reports that less than 10 percent of Americans travel abroad each year.  Of that small percentage, most visit Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean.  Generally speaking, Americans just don’t travel internationally.  Let us examine the root of this phenomenon: Fear.

Fear of Headlines

We are told the world is a dangerous place.  Turn on CNN, and you are bombarded with terrifying headlines.  “Juárez is a war zone!  You’ll be kidnapped, robbed, or worse.”, they tell us.  “They may force you to watch Mexican soap operas!” The media is so negative, it’s no wonder Wisconsin Dells is packed.

Granted, there are some nasty places in the world, and you shouldn’t dismiss the risks.  I am in no way advocating you hop the next flight to Baghdad.

However, I am advocating you take the “gloom and doom” with a grain of salt.  The world is not as scary as Wolf Blitzer’s furry face would lead you to believe.   In fact, you are probably already taking greater risks in your everyday life.  Consider these violent crime rates ¹:

• United States:  80.1 per 1,000 people
• Thailand:  8.8 per 1,000 people
• Colombia:  4.9 per 1,000 people
• India:  1.6 per 1,000 people
• Yemen:  1.2 per 1,000 people

According to the data, you are 50 times more likely to be mugged in Chicago than Yemen.  Yet, I don’t think twice about riding the Green Line or strolling down Michigan Avenue at two o’clock in the morning.  You have to discount these statistics, I admit, as the data are probably skewed from unreported crimes, differing crime-counting methodology, and spotty record keeping.  Even still, you’ll find the vast majority of people make it back relatively unscathed.  With the exception of pick pocketing, most travelers avoid major crimes (Again, such as forced exposure to Maria la del Barrio).

Understand that the headlines are sensationalized, and you cannot let them put you off.  Limit your exposure to high-risk situations and make sensible choices.

Fear of the Unfamiliar

Many hesitate to travel because they are afraid of missing their friends, family, and routine.  We cling to familiarity and resist change at every turn.  Most people solve their fears by frequenting the same destinations year after year– Las Vegas every January or Orlando each summer.  There is comfort in the familiar, and routine can be a good thing.  But what’s the fun in that?  Traveling is about discovery and new experiences.  Nervousness should be a prerequisite– expected and embraced.

Nervousness is what makes travel so rewarding.  It gives you that pre-trip high.  Once you get to your destination, your fears melt away.  You left the jitters on the airplane along with your headphones.  You embrace the familiarity of the unfamiliar and stop worrying about your destination.  You are experiencing the destination first hand, and you see your fears of the unfamiliar were unwarranted.

Of course, then there’s the food thing.  Fried cockroaches?  Toasted arachnids?  The mind runs wild with stomach wrenching combinations.  There is no doubt some dishes will be absolutely terrible and will have you running for the bathroom.  However, others will be wonderful, and you’ll crave them the rest of your life.  I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve salivated at the thought of those lime-drenched, al pastor tacos on that dimly lit street in Mexico City.  ¡Muy delicioso!

Independent travel forces you fend to for yourself, which can be intimidating.  There is no tour guide or concierge to help you along.  But it’s not just you and your tattered Lonely Planet versus the world either— the invisible network of Couchsurfers and hostel-dwellers will help you along the way.

Your trip is a personal thing, and you can shape it to be whatever you want.  Take a page out of The Lonesome Desolate South by embracing a sense of destiny on your journey.

Fear of Perceptions

I don’t know about you, but I don’t get 300 days of vacation at my job.  Most people have to quit or negotiate a leave of absence for a trip like ours.  This is a very scary thing.

Don’t be afraid to get off the career merry-go-round.  You can get right back on when you return.  Admittedly, Kim and I are your typical yuppies, and we aren’t leaving our careers behind to sell hemp necklaces and focus our inner Chi.

Well, at least not indefinitely.

Don’t be afraid of being viewed as irresponsible or uncommitted.  If you do it right, your employer may actually support your decision and welcome you back when you return.  How can anyone fault you for pursuing your dream?  Sometimes we are so worried about how we are perceived that we don’t go to cooking school or join the Peace Corp or take that year off to travel the world.

In summary, don’t let “the fears” paralyze you.  You only live once.  There are thousands of people that travel for months (even years) without being kidnapped by terrorists, subjected to poached monkey brain, or being forever branded as an unhirable hippy.  Just check out our Blogroll.  I think you’ll find a consistent message:

Once you set aside your fears and take that big trip, you’ll never regret it.

So, what are you waiting for?

1. Source:  Seventh United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems, covering the period 1998 – 2000 (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Centre for International Crime Prevention)