In the conception stage of my big road trip, part of what I was looking forward to was being an example, showing that any average American could do the same thing. When I’d mention that I planned to camp in a tent, I heard so many comments like, ‘My camping days are over. My back…’ ‘…my knees,’ ‘…my hips.’ I concede that tent camping may not be enjoyable for everyone. I also heard a lot of, ‘Oh, I’d love to do something like that! But I have the dogs…’ ‘…but I have kids.’ ‘…I have a house.’ ‘…a husband.’ ‘…a job.’
Now, maybe none of these people seriously wanted to go on a trip like I took. But for anyone who has a deep desire and an immediate excuse, I would say, Have you seen how many people travel with their dogs? Look at how many dogs are waiting in cars in parking lots. I see dogs in the grocery store, and they aren’t service animals. People bring their dogs everywhere. Next time you’re at a public attraction, campground, or motel, look around at how many people travel with pets, babies, young children, school-age children, aging parents. Look for people in wheelchairs, or hooked up to oxygen tanks, people using walkers, crutches, and with other physical disabilities. They’re out there. Some families home school their children while traveling. People sell their houses and buy an RV. You can always buy another house later. You could rent out your house for a year, or devise some other innovative solution. I quit my job to travel. Some people get- or create- jobs where they can work remotely while they travel. People have gotten sponsored in order to travel. There are extensive online pages detailing how to rack up thousands of points so you can stay in hotels for free. There are hostels. There’s couchsurfing.
The issue isn’t your circumstances. It’s your dedication to making it happen. It’s your openness to the possibility. You may have other considerations than I did as a single, working adult, but if you are determined, you will find a way. It’s absolutely possible. Do an internet search and I bet you will find people who had your same concerns and issues who have already traveled and who have tips to make it easier for you. Of course, this can be applied to any other undertaking, not just travel.
I learned two things from this. I learned to look at my excuses in other areas of life and see how flimsy they were, and how simply they could be overcome. (Though simple isn’t always easy.)
I also learned not to limit myself for the sake of trying to prove anything to the rest of the world. I was hoping to show what an average person could accomplish. If I had been able to travel because I won the lottery or was invited on a trip with a friend or won a contest, people could say, ‘Well, of course you have the luxury of being able to travel- you won the lottery!’ or ‘You won a contest!’ I liked the low-key style of travel partly for the sake of relatability. But hearing all those excuses about dogs and houses and kids, I didn’t get through to a lot of people by traveling in a more ‘realistic’ way, anyway. Next time I travel extensively, why limit myself to any specific mode of travel or experience or destination or price? I’ll go ahead and win the lottery and taste it all.