What do you need to become a full-time traveler

No, we are not the most experienced full-time travelers, bloggers, or travel vloggers. Not by far. But we are known as those who dared to break out of the patterns, leave our comfort zone, and commit to the unknown, at an age when family, employers, colleagues, and society had other expectations.

From our experience, e.g. corporatists, current nomads - gone around the world, for more than three years - we can share the must haves in terms of nomadic lifestyle.

What do you need to travel full-time?

Dreams, I know, but concretely: what set of skills or tools are needed to go on such a long journey?

I would say, the one that wins in this equation is the passion for travel; the desire to explore, to experience, to learn, and to feed your soul. For us, this is the main engine. We were living in the past to plan our next trip; from there came true joy, our meaning.

• Then, you need a strong dose of courage. Dare! As the advertising slogans would say. Take that small step outside of your comfort zone and see how liberating it can be. No one said it's easy or that it happens overnight, but it comes with wonderful feelings, as a package. How long can you postpone this decision? One year, two, ten? Let it be that now is not the time, it can turn into NEVER. Take a test: go somewhere for a while and see if this style suits you.
• You need a plan. Yes, I know, when you say long-term travel, you mean a kind of continuous vacation; an idyllic life, cloudy skies, beaches full of palm trees, crystal clear water - as the song would say, but... surprise: you also need something concrete. Make a sketch on paper or in your mind, it doesn't matter. Put the risks, and the advantages, and think about what you give up, what you do with your job, house, car, rates, or how you support this idea. Ask yourself these questions, before they are asked by those around you.
• From this plan to the actual departure can take months, maybe even years. The solutions come or not, overnight. Make a budget, and think about what you want to see, experience, taste, etc. Make a monthly budget estimate; flight/accommodation simulations, anything. Think about what compromises you are willing to make. That's how we proceeded. I have a whole file at home, but also whole folders on the PC, with doc. and excels. The plan needs to exist, during the entire trip, especially the financial one.
• Next, you need a slight opening. I admit it wasn't necessarily my strong point. Maybe, the anxiety that ruled me for years is also to blame. But somehow I managed to be stronger than my fears, and traveling was the best therapy. Yes, getting into the culture of Bali, Morocco, and many other countries - so different, so beautiful - helped me enormously. They opened my mind, as they say, popularly; they helped me to expand my vision a little, to look beyond appearances, before actually going on this adventure.
• Adaptation goes hand in hand with openness. Everything is different from how it was at home: the food has a different taste, different aromas/condiments/spices; people are different: from physiognomy to attitude; the currency is different from country to country; religion, beliefs, superstitions or customs are different; climate. EVERYTHING. The new challenges you, even more, to leave your comfort zone behind. The situations that you have to face, along the way, need your openness and power of adaptation, otherwise, you will get lost, you will crash and you will return home. Or you will react on autopilot. For example, we had to deal with: dengue fever, canceled flights, double booked accommodations on Booking or the loss of the GoPro in the Indian Ocean; people who barely speak English, or even natural phenomena. No day is like another, as can happen in old life. If you don't adapt - on the fly or if you don't learn this combination of skills - it's impossible to become a full-time traveler.
• Money? Yes, you need money, of course. Find remote collaborations; talk to your employer before leaving; offer him to work remotely - if the specifics of the job allow you, who knows; register on freelancing platforms. Or save, before you hit the road. Think about how you can earn money remotely. Of course, you can have collaborations on the spot: in exchange for reviews, you can receive free accommodation or you can be paid for photos, videos, etc.
• Assumption. Or as some would say: to leave without looking back, without regrets. Yes, there will be times when you will miss aspects of your old life. It's natural, just leave behind the constructions of recent years. We rarely experienced these moments, but we also met people who could not cope with missing their loved ones or missed their habits and returned.
• Backup plan. As a control freak, I also needed something like this. Of a scenario, in case I get bored or in case I decide that such a lifestyle does not suit me.
• Support. Yes, you need people to support this idea, no matter how crazy it is. It's your idea, your choice, of course, but it's important to feel supported, encouraged, and appreciated. So, surround yourself with people who share common ideals with yours and who can raise your vibration 🙂 You need it!
• Always remember the goal. why are you there What is your purpose? Why are you doing all this? There are questions that you will ask yourself, often, on your way, when fear, longing, or other emotions in the same sphere will dominate you.
• Aaand…..done! Pack your bags with one-way tickets and embark on the adventure of your life! Learn from our mistakes about what is good and what is not good to put in your long-term luggage.

Full-time travel is great; It's are epic. Takes you out of your comfort zone, teaches you new things about yourself - through the situations you are exposed to; is an extraordinary form of education. You observe, contemplate, ask questions, get scared, smile, and move on; you marvel or rejoice, to the point of tears every morning. Control disappears.

You really live! You get the sense. Follow your dreams!