100 days, the goods and the not so goods

We have already been 100 days on the ride, no idea where the time has gone. We all love round numbers so the 100 days travelling deserves a post.

Everything in life has its ups and downs, travelling is not an exception. So, has the year off so far exceeded our expectations? Have we enjoyed as much as we thought we would? Are we missing home? What are the goods of long term travel and what have been the not so good? Well, let’s evaluate:

THE GOODS

The escape from the routine, the excitement of being somewhere different every day, the enthusiasm of looking forward to what the next day will bring. Moving from one place to another brings dynamism and fluidity into our lives. By having to make the decision of where we want to live each day, we feel more in control. We have the perception that we go through life rather than life going through us.

Learning about other cultures. For each country we visit, we are getting to know how people earn their living, how they relate to each other, what their values and their principles are, and how their habits shape their way they live. Appreciating these differences between cultures is an interesting experience.

Travelling opens our mind by having to accommodate ourselves with the customs and habits of the places we stay. The more places we visit the easier it is to adapt and the more flexible we become. Flexibility is a powerful tool to cope with life.

Obviously, taking a sabbatical from work is actually quite relaxing. Not having stress from work, not having to rush every morning, not having to meet deadlines… In the last few years, we have worked very long hours, weekends became very short to recover, and the length and timing of holidays were limited to the demands from work. Over the years tiredness and the feeling of not really enjoying life has built up. We have been earning money but we haven’t had time to spend it. This has made us to think whether it is actually worth it.

Travelling gives you the perception that time slows down because you do so many different  things each day. When we stay in the same place for more than a day we already become familiar with it. It seems we have been there forever, and we urge to move on. Going back to what we did today last week, it seems so far away. Moving is now our routine, a very stimulating one.

Travelling in a motorhome gives you also lots of freedom. Where should we sleep today? This looks like a nice spot, should we stop here for lunch? No pressure, no schedule to follow.

Being away from our daily routine gives us more time to think about life, work, the future… Getting out of the  place we live shakes our brains up, questions the way we live, and what it is important for us.

Writing about our travels on this blog. This makes us reflect on our individual experiences and generates thought-provoking discussions with each other. This also gives us new insights of what we have seen which enriches our experiences even more.

By travelling we learn to live with less and appreciate what we have.

THE NOT SO GOODS

Long term travelling can be stressful. Perhaps because of the absence of not having a place to go back to rest. Being constantly on the move, having to decide where to live the next day, and choosing activities to do every day can be draining. Travelling is not always fun, it is not like going on a short holidays.

Dora is our home, but at times, she is quite stressful to live in. There is only so much you can do in only 4 square metres. Sometimes she can be too crowded. We have forgotten what it is like having our own space. Luckily, we spend quite a bit of time outdoors. In a way, trekking and climbing gives us the chance to spend quality time on our own.

The lack of social life. Travelling with Gary is a great fun. We have both coped very well with the teething problems which, inevitably, come up. But surely, at times, we had both wished to have someone else to interact with and to have different conversations.

We still miss some bits of work, such as the feeling of producing something valuable for which you are paid for, the richness of interacting with different people, the intellectual stimulus and the feeling of being valued when you solve problems for others.

Before we started our travels, we thought that, by not having to work, we would have more free time. We don’t. After breakfast and getting on with our daily routine, we start the day at 10.00 am and we finish it at 19.00. By the time you download the photos, write about the day and have dinner it is already 21.00, time to watch a DVD or read for an hour and then go to bed. I have brought lots of books with me that I have not had the time to read yet. It would be  interesting to hear the experiences of other people who have done a similar trip.

Not being able to access the internet when you wish. We are appreciating more than ever how much stuff we do online. Being connected abroad has proved to be expensive. Looking for local cards and checking the most cost effective deals in a new country is time-consuming. Not having enough knowledge of the local market puts us at a disadvantage to choose the best operator. When this happens, McDonalds or local bars with free wifi become the best choices when we have to use more data. This, though, is not always convenient and still costs us money as, inevitably, you need to consume something in exchange of abusing their internet.

I find it very difficult to look after myself in a motorhome. Before commencing our travels, I had my hair cut for convenience and laziness. I couldn’t face washing my long hair in one square metre bathroom and having to dry it in Dora’s living room. Moreover, when it comes time to socialise, I fancy dressing up a bit. It is then when I wish I had brought that lovely dress, those pair of high heels and some make-up. These things are not practical to pack in Dora, you have to prioritise when travelling with limited space. I guess, you can’t have everything in life!

SM

A Base

Dora is a tough base to live in but we love her. I miss our beautiful home in Ebbsfleet. We have never taken our quality of life for granted and the trip will make me even more appreciative of what we have when we return.

Connection

I have enjoyed the space and time that not being connected gives. No endless 24 hours news cycle, no continually checking emails, irrelevant tweets. To actually prioritise. The internet is the most amazing tool, aspects of which, when you don’t have access are frustrating, but it can take over your life.

New things

Kayaking, wine, cheese, letterboxing and hopefully lots more to come.

Less stress

Not true, one stress is replaced by another, maybe humans are born to be loaded with stress.

Time to experience people

Different cultures, different people, always new experiences, all positive. Realising that fundamentally all people are the same, have similar aspirations and desires. Places are different, people are not.

Time to experience places

Our world is small, a tiny planet, revolving around an insignificant star, at the edge of a galaxy, just like any other galaxy, one of 100 billion galaxies each containing 100 billion stars. And yet, each place, each landscape is unique, beautiful and deserves to be visited. We have enjoyed each and every one (except Asturias that is!). The mountains are an important part of our lives, and wow we have had fun in them.

Time to think

This is true, what do you really want from life? Whatever your view of an afterlife, you only get this one chance to live this life, so you better make the most of it! We have made the opportunity to do this so we would be foolish not to take it. Many people have commented we are lucky, and to an extent they are right. we were lucky to be born into developed countries with good qualities of life that allowed us this opportunity. It is the decisions that we have made, however, that allowed us to take this trip. It is our attitude that made us want to travel. We saved the money that let us do it. We realised that we may not have the same opportunity later in life. We took the risk.

Time to read the books you never got the time to read, the DVDs you never got the time to watch and the sunrises and sunsets you never got the time to see.

Time to spend time together

When working what do you get…really. A few hours each night, and the weekend, where you are recovering from the exhaustions of the week. This time I have spent with my life partner is something everyone in a relationship should do, quality time, to experience things, life together. We have definitely learnt even more about each other. It has been a beautiful experience. Obviously not all roses, but I have loved every minute of it.

GDR