Planting Roots for the Travel Junkie

Over the past week, quite a few friends have expressed an interest to travel more, either for pleasure or as part of their job. I travel often; most recently I’ve traveled to Boston, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. When I left Boston, to spend a few days in New York City before leaving again for Holland, Michigan, a man in my Danish language class asked (completely seriously) “Are you a nomad?” I chuckled and answered, “I’m not really sure…”

I travel often to meet with clients, to work on remotely, or to shoot on location. Just over a year ago, I began working for myself but even before that I was travel hacking while employed full-time. Whether you work for yourself or at a traditional office job, there are ways to make travel work for you.

And even still, whether you’re a nomad, hoping from one destination to another, or an adventurer with a home base to return to, it is important to have a network of roots to support and sustain you.

I love what I do. I love working with clients across the country, I love supporting young adults engaged in seriously mind-blowing activism, I feel at home telling stories to friends and strangers alike. There are times when I want to travel forever. So what about those roots?

Why do you need roots?

I did not wake up one day with the audacity to change the world and run around the country all by myself. A good friend from college connected me to the Equality Ride and encouraged me to go, a number of my friends donated to the cause, my parents chipped in on my rent while I was away. When I moved to New York, I eventually found my way to Marble Collegiate Church. My pastor there, David Lewicki, is a constant source of encouragement and support. He challenged me to rethink Christianity, to pursue justice, to dream big and follow those dreams. He gives me practical advice and emotional support. My mom, a travel expert in her own right, is a treasure trove of advice for how to improve my traveling, my business, and my life goals. A solid set of roots will fuel your adventures, not hold you back!

Finding Your Roots

Constant travel disrupts your relationships. Before setting off on your adventure, take stock of important relationships in your life and make intentional choices about how you will maintain those while on the road. Fourteen months in to my new lifestyle, I’m still working to perfect this; I’m not sure if it is even perfectable.

Obligations are not bad things. I am active in a few different volunteer capacities in New York City. They understand travel is a major part of my life and are flexible to accommodate that, and I keep coming back! These commitments–my church and the non-profit I co-founded–are important to me. They have shaped who I am today and provided me the confidence to work for myself. It is important for me to give back so that they can continue to nurture others. I also just enjoy participating! There is a community and a sense of purpose that comes with commitment. And as a storyteller, they give me both outlets to tell my stories and content for new stories. What local commitments do you have or can you make? Is it a running group or a singing group? An on-going service commitment? A tutoring program?

There is comfort in routine. While I thrive on spontaneity (I am notorious for booking travel less than a week out), I am also comforted by the familiar. After nine weeks on the road, the bed in my air-conditioningless apartment in Brooklyn never felt so comfortable. I can travel by bike here and know all the good spots for groceries and dining out. While I’m gregarious and and a travel junkie, I’m also an introvert and coming home gives me time alone and rest to recharge my batteries before setting out on the next adventure.

Tend The Garden

Establishing roots is not a one-shot deal. Most often, your network of roots consists of people–not things–and you should treat them accordingly. Returning home is an important part of maintaing your network. Even while you’re away, communicate with your friends, family, and supporters; more than likely, they want to know what is going on with you so that they can support and encourage you. Whether you send letters or postcards, create videos from the road, or maintain a blog, don’t forget about the folks who have your back!

There’s always the next trip

The best part of planting roots even while maintaining an adventuring lifestyle is that there is always the next trip. Having a home base does not mean you must never leave; in fact, you might even find yourself away for months (or years) on end. So plant those roots and then get going on your next, great adventure!

Photo by supersonicphotos