Two years ago, at an interview, I was asked “If you love travelling so much, why don’t you travel full-time? Why do you want a desk job?” I answered “Because I enjoy the balance of working in an office with a stimulating team, and travelling a few times a year. I love working with a team; brainstorming ideas; the camaraderie of working together. I thrived on the pressure of crazy timelines, and the results we got in the end.” But the interviewee wasn’t convinced. I don’t know why; considering he himself was working in an office, running a travel-related publication sitting at a desk.
People who love travel always assume that quitting your day job to get on the unpredictable road is somehow going to be as glamorous as all the articles online say it is. But it’s not. There are several writers/bloggers who have managed to travel full time successfully. And they deserve our respect because this shit isn’t easy. The reality of it is very different from what you imagine.
Perception VS Reality
It isn’t all about meeting new people, living in rooms with mountain views or cottages that open right at a beach. Being on the road means being alone a lot. You will be leaving behind your family and friends; not seeing them the for months at end. And unless you have access to unlimited wealth, you’re going to need a lot of money to sustain yourself.
If being passionate to travel is all it took to hop on to the next plane off to see the world, then everyone would do it. But they don’t. And they have their reasons. People stay in soul-sucking jobs to provide for their families or to save for a life they’ve dreamed of living, or to simply make ends meet. Many have debts and numerous responsibilities towards their families that they can’t just leave behind. And money isn’t the only factor stopping people from quitting their jobs to travel full-time. Not everyone is in prime health to stay away from home for months, trekking up mountains or walking down cobbled streets.

And even if you had all the means to travel long-term, who is to say you would want to? You need to be a certain kind of person to travel. It isn’t for everyone. It’s not like taking a vacation or clicking picturesque landscapes to share on Instagram. It’s a lot harder than you envision. You will face many unexpected challenges on the go, and you need to be prepared before taking the plunge. Being on the road means being alone. A LOT. I truly enjoy travelling solo, but it isn’t always fun. The loneliness can get to you. There will be so many moments you wish you could share with someone. You’ll make friends, but eventually you’ll move on to the next destination and be by yourself again. You won’t be able to fill the void of your family and friends back home. You may miss birthdays, weddings, babies, and may not be able to pick up where you left off. Travelling solo can be quite a struggle.
You may not always find a great place to stay. You’ll have to make do with whatever you can find, which can mean just a bed to sleep on sometimes. On my first trip to Kerala, my hotel room booked well in advance was given away to someone else. I had no choice but to find a last-minute alternative. You don’t always get lucky. And you will have to find a way to earn a living to sustain your travels. Even though I worked as a freelancer for a while, it didn’t pay well enough; and the payments never came on time. Your career may even take a backseat while you’re gone, and you may have to start from scratch when you return. Or you may get lucky and find your calling on the road.
To each his/her own
I don’t intend to discourage anyone trying to leave their cubicles for greener pastures or snowy peaks. But before you do, manage your expectations and have a plan. Be prepared for the experiences you will have, and find a way to be financially secure. I know many travel bloggers who have successfully managed to travel for months at end and have no intention of returning to their full-time jobs. But they’ve crossed many obstacles in their path to get where they have and it hasn’t been a tough journey. They endured a lot before they became successful.
If you love to travel and want to leave your life behind to chase rainbows, do it. Just remember, setting off on the endless road is tempting, but it comes with bumps and cracks; so be ready to embrace it all.