The Mature Traveler: 7 Ways I’m Making World Travel More Meaningful

I am one lucky son-of-a-bitch and I often forget it. Not only was I born healthy in a stable first world country, but also to the most loving and dedicated parents I can imagine. They sacrificed so my sister and I had a happy childhood and made damn sure, through a bit of tough love at times, that a successful future was almost impossible not to achieve. For that I am utterly grateful.

During my travels over the last few months, I’ve met quite a few people, including my RTW partner Joe Metcalfe of InspiredFuel.com, that write what they are thankful for every morning as a daily ritual. I am just starting to do the same, but I digress- this isn’t a post about gratitude- per se. This post is about how we are taking this once in a lifetime opportunity, that we are absolutely grateful for- to travel the world unencumbered- and what decisions we made early on to make the most of this incredible experience. This is a post about what it means to be a Mature Traveler (and I don’t mean mature as in age so much as in a state of mind).

Many of us have done it. We’ve taken a trip somewhere exotic and unique, cultured and full of history, and then just partied our ass off the whole time; made a ton of new friends and had a blast at it, but didn’t see or learn much of the place. Hell, I’m glad I did it and don’t regret a second. I had some of the most fun of my life carousing the streets of Budapest all night, day drinking on the Spanish Steps in Rome and staring at the open blue ocean on the beaches of the Dominican Republic. And guess what, I’ll probably do that stuff again, occasionally- because hey, sometimes you have to let loose. The key word there, if you noticed, was occasionally.

I recently read The Social Animal by David Brooks. He writes, “there used to be four common life phases: childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. Now, there are at least six: childhood, adolescence, odyssey, adulthood, active retirement and old age.” The phase I am discussing here is the Odyssey Period– when we are young, full of energy, but wandering around with a lack a focus. Travel during this stage is one way to open your horizons and discover the world of opportunity and experience. I call the phase I am currently in The Twilight Odyssey Period.

For travelers during this juncture, what differentiates the Twilight Odyssey period (the mature traveler) from the Odyssey phase (the juvenile traveler) are to things: what are the traveling motivations and how is the time abroad being spent. I may be generalizing things here, so I’m sorry if this comes across as such, but I know when I traveled in my 20’s, it was for travels sake; to seek adventure and see what I was made of. I also would often stay up way too late and wake up late, consequently- not the best use of my limited time abroad, but again, I don’t regret it.

So, why I’m I mentioning any of this? Here’s why: It’s been 6 months now since we’ve been on the road, and when I mention my travel plans, goals, daily and monthly habits, etc., people are sort of surprised and say how it’s a different, mature, way to travel. Their words, not mine- but accurate I think. I’m sure there are others doing the same, but it may be rarer than not.

So, what is being done differently? Here are 7 things we decided early on to make this the most epic, yet productive and enriching use of our precious time traveling the world:

1- Travel Slow (Intermediate adventure with times of productivity): We can’t see everything, and even though it is tempting to keep moving and check out all the natural beauty and little towns across the world, it’s just impossible- and expensive. Instead, we’d rather get to know a place and culture better. So, we are spending at least 30 days in multiple cities and “living like locals.” We are frequenting the same grocery stores, cafés, restaurants and bars; becoming “regulars” and learning much more about a place than the 3-5 days many travelers spend. –So far, I’ve been able to spend a month in Medellin, Montevideo and three weeks in Rio de Janeiro.

2- Adhere to a tight budget and keep track of spending: Having a realistic budget is essential, but as important is knowing where your money goes. As my dad says, to run a business you need to know your numbers- and travel is serious business. Tracking every single expense in apps like MoneyWiz or Mint allow you to know your numbers and plan accordingly. This creates freedom from uncertainty and is a powerful tool to help the trip last longer.

3- Read more books this year than the last 5 years combined: With all the free time that long-term travel offers, one of my favorite things to do, that I couldn’t do as much in my prior life, is to read- and read a lot. I once heard that the most important things to determine your character is whom you spend time with and what books you read. On this trip, my goal is to read 2-3 books per month (including audiobooks) that increase my knowledge and understanding of important life areas, learn the biographies of people I admire, experience significant moments in history and anything else that can improve my life. I will throw in a fiction here and there, to get my creative juices flowing, but I’m focusing on the former for now. –Check out the books I’ve read so far here.

4- Acquire new skills and cultivate helpful habits: What better way to use this time than to enhance or improve some skills and create good habits to benefit our day to day. Originally, I was hoping to acquire one new skill per month. This was a bit ambitious and now I’m focusing on just a few. Learning Spanish is a big one and my most important. Some other skills I am hoping to develop are juggling and handstands, and some habits I’m adding are daily sketching, reading, and meditation. –I’m using the productivity app called “Productive” to help with this one.

5- Limit the partying: It can be a challenge to limit the drinks when the hostel has an awesome front bar and everyone is pounding away. The trick is to research ahead of time the type of hostels available and choose according to your taste and goals. Of course, some of the best times are hanging with fellow travelers and sharing a bottle of wine. In my earlier days, I might take it too far, but now I try- try being the key word- to take it slow and remember that I have goals for this trip and not to waste tomorrow due to a hangover. Everything in moderation, right?!

6- Focus on Health: For me, this means daily meditation and workouts 4-5 times per week. My goal is to get and stay healthier than I have ever been. Many people gain weight while traveling; the delicious food, the pastries, deserts, street food, and, of course, the drinks. Well, to save money, we try to cook and mainly drink water. We have also incorporated vegetarian days and are cutting red meat to just a few times a week.

7- Be grateful: I said this wasn’t a post about gratitude, but being thankful for this amazing experience lies at the core of this yearlong adventure. I wouldn’t be sitting here in a café in Santiago if it weren’t for circumstances beyond my control- most notably my parents, but also just plain luck. I don’t want to forget how damn lucky I am and I don’t want to waste this opportunity to learn, grow and return home a better man that can add value to my community and to others; and to do this, I need to work on myself first.

There’s my spiel. Yeah, it’s a bit preachy and sounds somewhat strict, but I like to strive for a bit more than I actually achieve; because let’s face it, perfection is not the goal- constant improvement is. It’s like when I run, I always try to go a little faster than I’m comfortable with. That way I can continually improve and become more comfortable with discomfort. It is only when we trek through what is uncomfortable now, delaying instant gratification, to reap the benefits of our labor later. I once heard happiness is achieved when you set a goal and work until it is accomplished; when you do what you say; when you make a decision and stick to it- accepting the outcomes without wavering. Well, I may not always reach my goals, but life’s a journey, not a destination.