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I followed a very similar path, but to stave off boredom, I spent two years driving from Alaska to Argentina through 17 countries, then three years driving all
by grecy 6y ago
I followed a very similar path, but to stave off boredom, I spent two years driving from Alaska to Argentina through 17 countries, then three years driving all the way around Africa through 35 countries.
They cost about the same per month as living in a city and going to work, so it's really not a big deal, financially.
I do some freelance writing for magazines, I've written a few books, I do speaking engagements. I have less money than when I was slinging code, and I'm about 9000 times happier and can hardly remember work stress as a thing.
I'm just about to set off on my next major expedition, and at age 39 I couldn't be happier I decided to quit the rate race when I did! I wouldn't go back for all the money in the world.
- propogandist 6y agowhat was your vehicle of choice for the expedition? Also, what was your most memorable place you've seen in the Americas? Africa?
- stormbeard 6y agoDon’t you feel the need to set down roots of some kind? I would want a regular group of friends to see, a relationship, community… Doing something like this seems like it would prevent any kind of close relationships.
- grecy 5y agoAs I get older that is becoming more of a thing, yes. My long term plan going forward is that I'll likely stay at a "home base" for a year or three so I can have all those things you mention, then hit the road for a year or so before coming back to that same home base. It's a tough thing to balance, but on the whole I know I wouldn't be happy if i just stayed in one place indefinitely.
- zshrdlu 5y agoThe other day it struck me that we live in a literal fairy tale, with real monsters, fantasmal lands and people and creatures, and unthinkable, magical phenomena. Most people choose mundanity (even when not constrained by socio-economics) and they set themselves up in a bubble where they "forget" there's a fairy tale outside. Somehow people like you reject mundanity, and I find this all fascinating. Edit: This reminds me of the concept of "social integration" in sociology. Some works of fiction cast it as "conformity".