Can you believe we have been traveling now for six months? It has been a life-changing experience for us, but with none of our regular “people” around, it is hard to gauge whether that change is mostly internal or if it can be seen by the people who know us.
We have traveled more slowly than most people on this trip. It was a conscious decision from the start to do this both to learn more about each place and to save money. Even so, we’ve managed to do some pretty incredible things in this short time:
- Cruise from the Antarctic Circle to the equator
- Camp on Antarctica
- Trek for 4 days to the mountaintop fortress of Kuelap
- Bribe a border guard at Christmas
- Celebrate the Day of the Dead in a cemetery
- Witness a volcanic eruption
Most people on a round-the-world journey are in some sort of transition in life or looking to get something internal from their travels, and we are no different. What are we learning?
Flexibility
You may recall that we started our trip by flying into Ecuador the day after an attempted coup. From the very first moment, we have lived a life of adjustment, flexibility, and moving forward in the face of uncertainty. It spills over in large and small ways every day.
We don’t buy tickets in advance unless there is no other option. The reason? Plans change a lot, and we want to be able to go with the flow if a new opportunity arises. Sometimes it is an invitation to do something with new friends or to follow a fellow traveler’s tip to visit another place in a completely different direction.
We would have never seen the fortress of Kuelap or the mountains of Northern Peru without a tip from a fellow traveler, and without our local friends Catherine and Fernando we would have never been comfortable enough to enter an indigenous cemetery on the Day of the Dead. Both are highlights of our trip so far, and we are learning to rely more and more on this attitude of flexibility and spontaneity.
Appreciation
Call it what you like: living in the moment, gratitude, paying attention. This has been the most evident change both to us and to those around us. We watch sunsets, observe animals, and patiently wait for ice to calve off glaciers. We are learning the art of using all our senses to experience an event, an interaction with another person, or the feelings we have inside. Living without television and with limited internet access has been a huge help here, as I can see us sliding backward into a multi-tasking lifestyle when we have regular access to both.
Another way this has manifested is in food. We eat more consciously now, and that combined with all the hiking has meant that we’ve lost 20-25 pounds each. Paying attention to the food that goes into your body - and my body’s response to the food - is something completely new for me, and I’m so glad to have finally learned this lesson.
Life is richer when you can give your full focus to a person or activity and get that in return. I don’t know why we shy away from it - maybe we are not prepared for the power it holds? Either way, this is something I hope to see more of in our lives going forward and is one of the best things that has happened to us individually or as a couple.
Boldness
Bribing a border guard to get out of a country, getting food/lodging in a new country without any local currency or credit cards, hitching rides - these are all things I could not imagine us doing before this trip. Warren is the better of us at “the ask,” though I think we are both getting to use this muscle more.
In fact, our entire 5-week cruise from Argentina to England with Gap Adventures is due to Warren boldly asking our hotel manager on the Antarctica cruise if we could do it. No one had before, and there were no rules in place for it to happen. But because he saw an opening and knew the worst thing they could say was no, he went for it. And I’m currently writing this post from the library of the ship somewhere between the Tropic of Capricorn and the equator on the Atlantic Ocean.
So many times in life we don’t ask because we are afraid of getting a no, embarrassing ourselves, or letting our true wants be known. The logic says “how will you ever get what you want if you don’t face those 3 (relatively minor) hurdles?” It doesn’t make logical sense, but I completely understand why so many of us don’t ask for what we want. But I am officially calling *bullshit* on all excuses for all of us from now on. Instead of fearing embarrassment we should embrace it because it means we are being truer to ourselves. And that’s the toughest audience to please anyway.
Has it been worth it?
We get asked this a lot. People wonder how we feel about selling our house and possessions and if we miss home and a “regular” life.
No, we don’t really miss having our house and possessions, though I sometimes would like to make my own coffee in the morning. It is probably because we took 2 years to get rid of everything and had plenty of time to get used to it, as well as the fact that we lived with a friend for 4 months after we sold our house and got used to using other people’s things and living out of a suitcase before we even left.
Most importantly, though, “home” is wherever we are together, not a building or possessions. What most people think is the hardest thing for us is actually the easiest.
What is hard is being away from the people you love. My dad retires this year, my mom changed careers entirely, my brothers are both making big changes in their lives, and my nieces and nephew are going to be functioning adults by the time we return. Not to mention our good friends who continue living their lives and experiencing joys and sorrows without us. Sure, we keep up via Facebook, Skype and email, but it doesn’t change the fact that we miss all the everyday happenings and we are not able to be there for them like we were before or depend on them to support us. We’ll always hear about the big stuff, but we’ll miss 1000 little things, and that’s what I love most about relationships.
At a time when we are going through the biggest experience of our lives, we are cut off from the people we’d most like to share it with. But there is a silver lining to all of this. I’ve found that not having that support system in place increases our dependence on each other, which has made our relationship stronger and more honest than it was before.
There really are no secrets when you live together 24/7, and a lot of the masks you put on in your life fall away.
I’d say that 6 months on the road has taught us a lot more about being present - really living - with ourselves and with each other.
What does the next six months hold? Well, we can’t think about that right now. You see there’s a beautiful sunset coming that I don’t want to miss…
About Betsy
I crashed at 6 months, even though I was happy I was starting to burn out but once I got over that hump everything seemed so much easier and I got into a groove. In fact yesterday was my one year anniversary
Congratulations, you’ve come so far, imagine where you’ll be in a year.
Happy Anniversary to you, Ayngelina! We were just talking about the need to settle down for a while and realized we were accomplishing that goal right here on the ship. 5 weeks of staying put and a place to spread out a bit and have some privacy - just what the doctor ordered! We didn’t plan it this way, but I do like the way it is working out.
Incredible post- thank you!
Betsy, you are always a beautiful story teller and here it is no different - I think I can speak for those of us here doing the thousand little things - we feel the same about you guys - we are part of your journey from afar and are so appreciative at the sensory experience you both are sharing and enjoy all the big things you are experiencing. However, it is all the funny, crazy. moving every day stuff you are experiencing that I am missing most - with you now on the road for 6 months - there are no less than a half a dozen times a day I reach for my phone to send you a funny text or call - to realize … “that’s not Betsy’s number anymore”…and no I haven’t started calling the number to see who now has it
What makes friendships magic are a thousand experiences that never make the headlines - the stories that start with, “remember the time”
Among the lessons I have learned in the last 6 months has been to be truly grateful for the friends you love most in your life - and that regardless of distance, time zone, or coup lifelong relationships require tending.
I couldn’t be more proud of you both and the heightened awareness you are developing about all aspects of your life.
Adventure on friends - adventure on!
Debb, I think you should start texting my old number with your random daily thoughts. You might make a new friend! (or get a restraining order…)
This is definitely the hardest part of the journey for me, and there are countless times when we mention our friends or family during an activity we know they would like or even something we know would drive them crazy. You guys are never far from our thoughts, though I know it isn’t the same as being able to share those occasions with you.
So, I’m looking at this as a learning experience just like you are and hope that it becomes better over time. I guess the good thing about it is that we have enough strong relationships that we have the privilege of being able to miss people while we are gone. We are very fortunate people.
Beautiful post. It seems as though you are both learning a lot. I’ve been enjoying following your journey.
Thanks, Kim. Even though we don’t personally know most of our readers, you have all contributed a great deal to this trip. I’m not sure we would be as thoughtful about the things we are seeing and doing if we didn’t choose to share and discuss it with you - it gives another level of depth to each experience. So thank you all for playing such a big part in this experience!
Congrats on your six-month nomadiversary!
I can definitely relate to this post — we have learned and changed so much since being on the road. Flexibility is a big one; it’s been hard for me to let go of things and not be in control of everything, so I’m glad (usually!) that I’m being forced out of my comfort zone.
Christy - I like that I’m not the only one who sometimes (okay, a lot) feels “forced” to do things that most people dream of. I think sometimes it is just a little bit overwhelming, huh?
Ah, congrats guys! It’s been a wonderful journey and it’s been a pleasure following you guys along. We’re disappointed that we wouldn’t be able to meet up with you guys in South America but excited about the next phase of your journey.
The road is long and winding, and I’m sure we’ll meet up on it some day. (At which point I’m going to peek into your backpack to see if you are still carrying a command center’s worth of electronics
Happy travels!
Lovely post..thanks so much for sharing. I was just wondering a couple of things..one, do you think you might return to the US earlier than two years from now (barring any emergency) and second, did Gap ask for anything in return for repositioning trip (like payment, advertising through blogs, or signing a waiver?)…just curious in case they may be open others taking the repositioning cruise. Thanks again!
Hi, Joanna. No, I don’t think we’ll return earlier than two years. In fact, at our current rate of spending we’re planning to be gone more like 4-5, though that could include a couple of multi-month stints living in certain areas. If anything, the travel bug has gotten worse and I can’t imagine us stopping until we’ve spent every last dime.
As for Gap, they wisely made sure we paid our own bar tab, but that’s all.
This is more of an experiment for them than anything and I’m assuming if they offer it in the future it will be just like a cruise but at a greatly reduced price. Many cruise lines offer this option, though most have a much shorter repositioning time than a polar cruise ship (the trip is 5 weeks). That’s probably why they haven’t offered it before - most people don’t have that much time off.
Now that you mention waiver, though, they probably should have thought of that. Warren stands up by the mast to photograph lightning storms, and we’ve both threatened to jump off for a swim when we officially cross the equator (the captain says we can, but he’s not stopping to pick us up). Hope they have good insurance!
It’s because of posts like this one — and the invaluable life insight shared here — that this blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
The day-to-day stories and challenges are “okay” …but, anyone that travels can share those types of stories; it doesn’t feel like anything new. Rather, it’s the same story in perhaps a different place at a different time.
But, it’s this deep reflective analysis of what you’ve come to learn… what this journey is teaching you (and us); it’s watching your understanding about what is truly magnificent and important in this world evolve and shape you; it’s your brutal honesty about the costs and benefits of an adventure of this magnitude (both financially and emotionally); it’s these things that make this a truly unique and wonderful reading experience.
Thanks for sharing this most recent post about what you’ve come to discover about yourselves — and human potential in general — during the first half-year of your travels abroad.
I’m inspired. And, I doubt that I stand alone in that regard.
Cheers,
Sawyer
Sawyer, you got me misty. It’s funny - we always tell people that we are not travel writers and we do not have a travel blog (and professionals out there are sure to agree). In fact, the first 2 years of content happened before we even left! So it is really nice that you noticed and that you appreciate the “internal” journey we are sharing as much as the external journey.
We had a tremendous amount of personal growth and change during our prep time for the trip - getting rid of all your worldly possessions will do that - and we strongly believe that anyone, anywhere can experience 75% of what we have just by unloading their excess crap - literally and figuratively - and appreciating what is around them every single day. No plane ticket required. And that’s the journey we feel most compelled to share.
In the geeky words of Avatar, “I see you.” And I feel like you see me, and that feels really good. Thanks.
Ditto what everyone has said - really a quality, reflective, genuine post - well done! We are so thankful to have the occasional Skype “dates” with you and cherish the time to actually see your faces and hear your voices
We think about you 1000 times a week too and it’s hard not to have you here for the fun stuff, but it’s just button-bursting (LOL!) to feel such pride in friends that are taking on the world and carving out such a unique life….we can’t wait to find a way to come bring some home-loving to you in Europe soon!
Honestly, this is the first post on your blog I’ve read (I just stumbled across it via Twitter) and I just want to say that I can’t wait to dig through the archives and read more.
When you wrote, “But I am officially calling *bullshit* on all excuses for all of us from now on. Instead of fearing embarrassment we should embrace it because it means we are being truer to ourselves,” I just stopped. I struggle with this so much, (although after living in Boston for a stint I’m 10 times better) and I truly had never thought about it that way. That’s an incredibly insightful way to think about being true to ourselves and overcoming fears. I love it.
Such a great post. Can’t wait to read more, and congrats on the reaching the 6-month mark!
Hi, Katie. We lived in Boston for a while, too, so I get what you’re saying!
Last night I got another “opportunity” to face a fear and sang karaoke by myself in front of an audience. (The problem with writing posts like this is that you have to live up to what you say…) FYI, I am a terrible singer and never sing out loud unless I’m alone. It was pitchy and awful, but the longer I sang and got the encouragement from the audience the more free it felt. I ended up singing 2 more songs before the night was over. Believe me, I would rather climb a mountain than sing out loud in public, and I did embarrass myself compared to the other great singers there. But no one minded, everyone had a good time, and I’m actually kinda looking forward to our next karaoke night. Sometimes we all want to be a rockstar, even for just one night, and we shouldn’t let a little thing like no singing talent stand in our way.
Thanks for joining the conversation. We are very happy to have you join our little tribe of fearless people in the making!
Betsy, Thank you so much for taking the time to write this thoughtful, brilliant post. I teared up more than once, and loved the lessons it contained. I particularly enjoyed the section on boldness and what you had to say about asking for what you want. I will definitely be linking to this on my blog to share with my readers!
Angela, it is funny/sad to realize that we all seem to struggle with this same issue when it sounds like we are all too worried about our own embarrassment to judge someone else as a fool!
Constantly placing ourselves in unfamiliar places as we travel just brings this to light more than it did in our previous life. This will be a recurring theme on the blog as we move forward - maybe we can get Warren to write us a primer on the “art of the ask.”
Thank you for sharing the post with your readers.
Your blog is so wonderful today. It made me cry and smile at the same time. I am sad that I can’t just pick up the phone and call you or send you a text. I am sad that I can’t hug you and just hang out with you during a visit to New Mexico. I am sad that you don’t know about all of the little everyday things that happen in our family. But I smile when I see how happy you are. I smile when I read about how your marriage has been strengthened. I smile because you share so much of this journey that I feel that I am on it with you. I love you so much Baby Girl and I am so very thankful that you have the gift of writing!
See, every time you comment our readers see that I get all my good stuff genetically.
The hard part is being away from the people we love and knowing we are only getting the high-level summary of what’s going on. But I have realized since my first move away from “home” 10 years ago that being away also allows me to appreciate the growth and change in the people I love. Sometimes it is hard to see people as they are - we tend to view them as they were at a place in time in the past, even subconsciously. That’s why it is so cool to meet new people who see you just as you are at that moment - or to visit after time away and appreciate the growth in people you’ve known for years.
I love you, Mamacita, and I’m always mentally sharing our experiences with you even though you aren’t here. Some people might call me crazy, but I think if I stop talking out loud it will be fine.
After reading everyone’s comments all I can do is echo them all! I love your blog because you’re sharing SO MUCH MORE than just a “travelog”! The truth is my business is online so and I spend so much time glued to my computer that I don’t really feel like hanging out on blogs , Face Book, et al. (Sort of like hanging out at the job-site after your shifts over.)
But your writing style captivates me! You’re adventures become life-lessons and it is all just so damn warmly entertaining! lol!! I’m quite confident you figured I was a real nut-job when I first wrote you describing how finding your blog as a sort of mini-miracle … (lol!!) but some things really feel that way to me when I take a look back at all the crazy/odd things that had to take place for them to have happened. Finding your blog was one of those strange things. I’m so glad I did.
One thing I’m sure your other readers would agree with me on: There is something about the two of you… I feel like if I ran into you in a hostel in Timbuktu that we could immediately sit down, order some drinks and chat about old times (that we never had together) like comfortable old friends (though we’ve never met!). (A theory I’m planning to test one day! …. Uh …. though not in a weird/creepy stalker way! lol!!! I’m just thinking that at some point in your journey Yumi and I will plan to intercept you somewhere on this planet! )
BTW, that reminds me; you don’t seem to have Japan on the itinerary-what’s up with that? Not interested in hanging out in a place you can spend $80 for a square watermelon, or what???
Thanks again!
Be Present. Expect Success. Live with Passion!
T
Tranque, I was just telling Warren last night that a lot of bloggers talk about their followers in terms of numbers. We talk about our followers in terms of names. That’s what I love about this whole thing - it feels like we are traveling with a group of old friends we’ve never actually met. Though I do hope to meet many of you in our travels!
I love the comments and emails we get, and it is amazing how much personality comes through.
Speaking of which, we WILL be coming to Japan at some point and would never pass up an opportunity to meet you and Yumi. Though now that we know watermelons are $80 we’ll smuggle one in for us all to share. (We should also just take that itinerary video down - we have completely changed it already by leaving South America early. Another proof point that planning a trip like this is pointless!)
Not to worry! Being a resident here in Japan, I can to-tal-ly hook you up and help you get your hands on a Honey Dew or Cantaloupe (of the round variety) for a mere $30. [With a fancy, foil covered stem still attached, no less!)
And I truly hope to chase you guys down before you finally make it to Japan!
(But we’ll keep that as a “plan B” 
You know what I think of “Plan B’s ).
It is so funny because I remember that I started reading your blog only a few days before you left. It doesn’t feel like six months….it only feels like a few weeks. Time flies.
I am always so thankful for the internet, skype, e-mail. Imagine traveling 50 years ago that had no such ways of communicating with those that they love or care about. What blessing. Keep up the great posts!!! Take Care,
Paz
Hi, Paz. We are so excited to hear more about your big move to China with your family. You will be amazed at how fast the time goes, so savor every minute of it (or “luxuriate,” as Maria says!).
Forgot….love the pictures too! Such amazing views and so peaceful! Thanks for sharing.
We miss you guys as well! So many times, I think about a happy hour or a Ballroom pizza slice and think, “We should call Betsy and….oh, wait….”
I’m most excited that you’ve developed the gift of appreciation. Every experience, good or bad, makes us who we are and we can take something from it. I get so frustrated in our uber-connected world of 5 million things coming at us at once - online, on TV, in magazines, etc. - because it makes us “skimmers” rather than “luxuriators” (is that a word?!) I’m trying to live a life focused on quality, not quantity and some days I just want to shout to everyone, “STOP THE MADNESS! Look around you! Look at that sunrise. Look at your dog. Look in your spouse’s eye!”
It truly is a gift you’ve unwraped and no matter what, I’d say that if anything has made this trip worthwhile, it is that. All the other fun stuff is just gravy!
When can we schedule our Skype call!
Luxuriators! That is the best word I’ve heard in YEARS, Maria. You should coin it, patent it, submit it to the dictionary folks - whatever. You have one of the fullest lives of anyone I know and you still manage to connect with people in the best and most genuine way. If you can do it, anyone can do it!
Thanks for the new word…I’m gonna be using this one a lot! (I’ll email you about a Skype call.)
Lovely thoughts, as always. When we did our RTW (and when we do our next big trip) we did not miss the “stuff” at all. We did missed friends and family but the unimaginable joy of meeting people all over the world and truly living our lives to the fullest made it well worth it.
I love that you are fully living in the moment…what we found is that time is the greatest gift of all, something we do not fully understand in this country. It’s harder here in the US but we still work hard at stopping to admire a sunset, sitting down to have a cocktail and talk about our day and THEN getting up to make dinner or whatever needs to be done, smelling the garden after a rain and really appreciating every moment of this incredible life because we never know when it all may end and what a shame to rush through the time we have.
Keep enjoying and carving out this lovely little life for yourselves! Cheers, Rhonda
Thanks for such a lovely comment, Rhonda. I’m pretty sure most people who travel longterm will have the same reaction to stuff that you and I have - it just doesn’t even register in the face of such wonders around the world.
Can’t wait to hear about your next big trip!
I’m glad you posted this update. After Adam Baker got burnt out on traveling full-time, I hoped you guys wouldn’t meet that same fate. It also reiterates something that I’ve been thinking for myself. I don’t have a desire to travel full-time (I like having a home base and my husband and kids wouldn’t like it) but do want to experience things with important people to make it more meaningful. My recent trip to Washington is an example of that. It was more fun because of who I got to experience it with. Instead of checking destinations off a list, I want to put more weight on the experiences and who I can share them with (many times it’ll be my husband, other times it won’t).
Glad you’re still enjoying yourself and have several weeks to have familiar surroundings.
We’ve talked to a few travelers who get tired of being on the go a lot and have a tendency to burn out from it. Maybe that’s our luck - we travel slowly, so we don’t end up moving every other day or unpacking and packing all the time. And we’ve already decided that we cannot see everything in every place and still have a good time, so the checklist never gets made. It makes it easier when you can kind of settle into a place and know you can stay as long as it feels right.
The point you make about sharing the experience with someone meaningful is true, but I also think meeting new people adds another dimension. Sometimes you really, really hit it off with someone or a group and it makes a certain destination that much more special in your memory. We have been fortunate to meet a few people like that on our journey.
WOW 6 months already… seems like just yesterday y’all left!!! Time sure does fly when you are having a blost. I am glad everything has gone well for yall & I agree you learn more on the road then anywhere else. I know I have learned a lot on the last month I have been on the road.
Hey, Jaime. Glad to hear your trip is going so well! You will find that times flies, so make the most of it (I hear you already are
As others have said, thanks for writing this. It’s so exciting to hear about what you’re doing, and it makes me want to do something like that too. I don’t think that is what you’re trying to do with this blog, though. I think you’d be happy for people to travel more, but like this post says, home is where you can be with your loved ones. Reading stuff like this makes me want to really live my life, here, right now.
Hey, Heidi. I’m glad you picked up on the real message. Long-term travel is perfect for us, but not necessarily for everyone else. It’s living your life right here right now in the right way for you that is important. We’re all different - and isn’t that great?!
Great to read along Betsy. I really agree with you about the part of being bold and asking for what you want. Most times you aren’t going to get something unless you ask for it. Being told no isn’t the worst thing in the world either, but still we are afraid of it.
I know many people when travelling who shy away from accepting offers to local family dinners, weekend getaways or whatever, simply because although they were asked, they think it’s just out of politeness and say “no thanks” just because they don’t want to impose on someone.
If you want to do something, ask for it, or accept the offer.
Matt, our friend Nathalie, who is originally from Ecuador, gave us a great line at start of our trip when she was introducing us via email to some of her friends back home. She said “when they tell you to call or come over it’s not like in the US - they really mean it!” It is very true that what is normally a throwaway comment in the US - “come see me” or “give me a call” - is truly an invitation in most parts of the world. It takes some getting used to.
We suffered from travel fatigue on and off between 7-8 months, but we thankfully pushed through. The key is to stop and take a vacation from your travels for a little while. Find a place to unwind, relax and feel normal again. It’s amazing what a trip to the same market over a week or two will do to make you feel better and reinvigorated! Good luck!
You are so right, Jillian. We had planned to have some downtime at the six month mark, and then coincidentally we landed on this 5-week cruise. There is no market, but there are the same people to get to know and a daily routine that is giving us the travel break we needed (though we are still technically traveling, I guess).
All the best for another fabulous, life-changing six months ahead!
Thanks, Rebecca. We are looking forward to the planned and unplanned adventures ahead.
Thanks for this post guys. We have been discussing all week whether to buy round the world tickets for the year or buy single flights at the last minute. We had three excel spread sheets comparing costs. We just decided last night that the new plan is “no plan” and that we’ll try to maximize our flexibility by buying tickets as we go. I am so glad to see that you appreciate this in your trip.