6 Years a Nomad

If you follow me on social media, you might already know that this past Friday, 1 December, I celebrated six years as a nomad. On the first of December 2017, I set off in my campervan. At the time, I didn’t know how long I’d be travelling for. I didn’t really know much at all other than that I wanted change.

Now it’s six years later. I definitely got the change I was looking for. And so much more.

Maybe not surprisingly, I’ve been reflecting on the past six years the last few years. I think I’ve done so most years around the 1st of December. However, what struck me this year was how varied these years have been. Even though I’ve been a nomad all this time, it has felt and looked so different at different stages.

There were the early days when it was all about freedom, adventure and seeing as many new places as possible. There were quieter times when it was all about reflection and calm. There were days when work was my top priority so I could earn and save money. There were the lockdown months that were calm and quiet for all the wrong reasons. There were times when I travelled fast, driven by a desire to see and explore new places. Often, those were followed by weeks of slow travel or no travel at all. There were the months in Auckland last year, after I sold my van, that were supposed to be about reconnection but left me feeling more disconnected than ever. And, of course, there are now the traveling-housitter months that showed me a different, slower way to explore new places.

It’s kind of cool to think about how being a nomad can feel and look so different at different times.

I guess in that regard, it’s no different than any other lifestyle. However, I think the nomadic life is often automatically associated with travel, adventure, and excitement – we probably have social media to thank for that. I, too, am often guilty of only talking about the fun and exciting parts of the lifestyle. After all, nobody wants to see photos of me working away at my laptop, dealing with life admin and chores or sitting on the couch drinking coffee while contemplating life. But all that is part of my nomad life just as much as the beautiful destinations and adventures.

However, as much as it’s interesting to realise the many different shapes and forms nomad life can take, what is even more fascinating is how my motivation to live this way and my reasons for loving it have changed over the years.

Back in 2017, my motivation was all about figuring out what life has to offer when you don’t want to follow the traditional path. That’s what started it all and what made me want to live and travel in a campervan in the first place. I wanted to step away from the so-called normal life to see what else there is.

When I decided to keep going after that initial summer, the primary motivation was to live a simple life and have lots of time for things I enjoy.

There were several phases when it was all about seeing New Zealand. When the joy and thrill I got from exploring this amazing country where the main motivation to keep living this way.

At times, the fact that it is an affordable way to live was the main driver as it allowed me to save money without slaving away in an office and while having time for passion projects – like writing books.

At several stages, the sense of freedom and being unattached were the main driver. During those times, knowing that I could live my life in whatever way I wanted, without being tied to anything or anyone, was the main reason I chose to live this way.

It’s been interesting to reflect on all of this – and it’s helped me make sense of where I am right now.

For a while now, I’ve been torn between wanting to settle down and not wanting to commit to settling down. It didn’t really make any sense. After all, if I want to settle down, I can afford to do so. Having that option was always really important to me, and I made sure along the way that I worked and saved enough to be able to cover rent or maybe even a mortgage if I ever decided to give up my nomad ways.

But settling down, in the traditional way, never really felt right.

Reflecting on the various reasons I chose and loved the nomad life over the years made me realise that I still love and want it – just for different reasons. At this particular stage in my life, I’m not motivated by the things being a nomad is usually associated with, such as travel, adventure and fun. I still want those things in my life, but they are not the most important anymore.

Instead, right now, the independence, freedom, flexibility, and free time that are also a part of my nomadic life are what I value and crave most. And signing a tenancy agreement, let alone buying a home, would mean giving that up – which I don’t want to do.

Luckily, I may have found a way to have it all: Freedom, flexibility, time AND more stability and a sense of home. It’s a bit too early to tell you all about it – especially given my history of changing my plans. But if it all works out, I will share everything soon.

For now, I’m grateful that my nomad-life anniversary made me reflect on all of this and reminded me that just because something doesn’t feel the same anymore doesn’t mean I don’t want it. We can want and love something for different reasons at different times – even (and especially) when those reasons might not be those most commonly associated with what you want and love.

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