What I Miss About Travel (And What I Don’t)

An honest look at what long-term travel gave me and what I’m learning to appreciate in its absence.

Introduction

It’s officially been one month since I’ve come back home after a year and a half abroad. This past year has been a whirlwind of new countries, people, experiences and challenges. Now I’m back working at my old restaurant job, as well as trying to balance consistently posting yoga content on youtube and keep up with my blog. Some days it feels like a lot to juggle and I crave the days on the road when I virtually had 0 responsibilities other than simply being. But, in all honestly there are also things I do not miss about long term travel. This post will be a reflection of both: the magical moments I miss about travel and the things I’m so happy to have a break from!

What I Miss About Travel

Freedom and Spontaneity

Solo travel gives you a sense of freedom that hardly anything else to compare to. Waking up and not knowing where you’ll end your day is a mix of anxiety inducing and thrilling. Not having to take anybody else’s opinion on how you spend your time, where you go, what you eat, etc. is so incredibly freeing. 

When I was living in the Gold Coast, Australia I decided I wanted to move and attempt to find a job at a ski resort. Within a crazy 24 hour period of chance, stress and saying fuck it I ended up ghosting my job, packing up my entire apartment and flying to Melbourne the next morning hoping I’d get hired. It was a huge risk (especially financially as I was on my last $1000 after a few months in Asia) that altered the entire course of my life and my further travels because I met my boyfriend at the ski resort I ended up working at. This impulsive decision is something I felt confident to do while traveling but, in my day to day life with work and responsibilities I am way more constrained than when I was a solo traveller. I miss the total freedom that comes with travel and the spontaneity of everyday life while on the road.

Constant Connection and New Faces

While travelling, especially as a solo traveller, you are constantly meeting new people and engaging in conversations with strangers you just met. You’re basically always ready for connection and come to get used to the frequent comings and goings of other people. I loved meeting people from all over the world and hearing their stories and what their lives were like where they’re from. I miss the constant flow of meeting new people and the conversations that came from talking to somebody you’ve never met before and may never see again. However, as much as I miss meeting new people, coming back home and reuniting with loved ones has been so special after so much time away.

Seeing Things I’ve Dreamed Of

I had so many incredible pinch-me moments over the past year and a half that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Checking off bucket list items like Angkor Wat at Sunrise, completing my yoga teacher training and going to Australia, my number one dream destination since I was a child, was so surreal. Coming back to everyday life can feel really mundane after everything I’ve seen the past year. 

But, I am lucky because it’s my boyfriend’s first time in Canada so I get to show him around the city and do touristy things I wouldn’t do otherwise. I marvel at the things that seem so normal to me that he finds interesting and he enjoys doing. After time away I do see my hometown with new eyes and a newfound appreciation.  

A Sense of Purpose and the Simplicity of just Being

Let me preface this one by saying I don’t think you’re doing your twenties right if you’re not constantly questioning what your purpose is. My entire life all I’ve ever known I’ve wanted to do is travel so travelling long-term satisfied my sense of purpose. I’ve never felt more aligned or on the right back than I did while travelling. I didn’t even need to be doing anything out of the ordinary, just walking in a new city, observing nature, or simply reading in a cafe made me feel like I was doing what I was meant to do.

Honestly, a lot of this was probably due to the fact I lived with immense presence during these moments whereas now that I’m back home I’m focusing on what I can do to have that life again. Travel gave me a sense of purpose I deeply miss but I’m trying to find ways to feel this purpose again (like sharing my thoughts on this blog and sharing yoga classes online).

What I Don’t Miss About Travel

Living Out of a Backpack

It is really freeing to know you can survive with so little but it does get annoying after a few months. Constantly unpacking and repacking all your belongings can get so repetitive especially if you’re just staying places a few days at a time. I am a huge advocate for packing light but I’d be lying if I told you I was happy wearing the same few outfits for months on end. Packing light is a great life lesson that shows you how much you really need to survive but, as somebody who does love fashion it is quite nice to be reunited with my entire closet after months living out of a tiny backpack!

Budget Anxiety

I spent a year saving up before I went travelling but hardly anybody talks about how hard it is to actually start spending that money. The stress that comes with budgeting and making smart financial decisions to ensure you’ll be able to keep travelling. Every meal, excursion or taxi ride was something to take into account. As somebody who had never travelled on such a tight budget before it got really overwhelming at times!

I really recommend tracking all your spending while travelling. I used the app TravelSpend and really love it. Having this app really kept me on top of my spending and made sure I knew where my money was going.

Not Being Able to Cook

As somebody who loves cooking I really missed the simple ritual of preparing my own food. Not always knowing what was going into my food or if I was getting enough nutrients was a struggle. I didn’t eat meat while traveling so I really never knew if I was eating enough protein. Trying to balance a healthy diet while having no control over preparing my food was something I don’t miss. Don’t get me wrong I love eating new foods, trying different restaurants and I definitely ate some of the most delicious meals of my life but when travelling long-term it’s hard to find the balance between eating healthy and overindulgence.

I’m really happy to have control over what I’m eating again and rediscovering my passion for cooking. I now get to recreate some of the meals I ate abroad while making sure I am prioritizing my health, eating whole foods and still eating delicious food!

The Not-So-Charming Side of Hostels

Hostels are an incredible way to meet other travellers, stay on budget and in my opinion the way to do solo travel. But, crowded dorms, snorers, no privacy, loud bunk mates and dirty bathrooms… not something I miss. It’s all part of the experience and it makes a good story but as for now I’m happy to have my own space again.

Constant Uncertainty and Decision Making

While travelling, especially as a solo long-term traveller, you are constantly making decisions which can get really exhausting. The constant uncertainty of: where to sleep? Where to go next? Will this hostel be okay? Will this bus actually show up? It definitely takes a mental toll and can lead you to burnout if you aren’t careful. 

Check out this post: How to Avoid Burnout as a Solo Traveller for more on travel burnout!

No matter where you are in the world we are constantly facing new decisions but, being back home is definitely much easier when I know all my basic needs will be met and I follow a schedule for work so I can map out my weeks in advance.

What This Contrast Has Taught Me

This in-between phase of my life is still something I’m adjusting to but the lessons I’ve learned from my travels are helping me along the way. There’s pros and cons to everything, as much as I miss travelling there’s a lot I have to be grateful for right now. My main focus is working towards finding presence and appreciating everything I have in this moment. Enjoying time with friends & family while I’m home, small adventures, finding joy in everyday routines and remembering to find beauty in ordinary moments too. I am very grateful to have this space to share my thoughts, adventures and stories with you. 

Closing Thoughts

If you are also transitioning to life back home or are feeling that urge to go travel- you’re not alone. Remember that no matter where you are there’s always something to appreciate and that life comes in seasons. In the mean time I’ll continue sharing stories about my travels, as well as life back home and of course continuing to share my yoga practice on youtube so you can find a sense of purpose on and off the mat.