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Last week I summed-up thoughts behind leaving Spain and moving back to Dubai. I want to continue that theme by ranting about all those people who have said to me “welcome back to reality”. (I’m not refering to readers of this site, but to those family and friends who have never understood why I moved to Spain).
So people, do you have any idea what you are saying? Where do you think I’ve been for the last 3 years? Living some exotic fantasy in the land of sangria? Well yes, but why can’t that be as real and as valid as any other form of life? It has been my reality for the last 3 years, a reality I chose. Just because my life was more bohemian than corporate or conventional, doesn’t mean I was living in la-la land or escaping responsibilities.
I know they say it with good intention, but it makes me so mad when people box “job”, “mortgage”, “car”, “family” and “security” into the “real life” category, and consider everything outside of that cool, but not normal. They make the last 3 years of my life sound like a mad, youth-driven adventure that of course, has to end. It was an adventure that doesn’t have to end, I’m choosing to end it because I want to. And isn’t adventure what life is about? Living, loving, experiencing, and learning? It is to me and always will be.
For the record, I’ve always had income during these 3 years — in other words, I’ve worked, and worked hard. Paid rent and bills. The difference is that I worked on my terms for the hours I wanted, so that I could spend the rest of my time traveling and immersing myself in different cultures.
It has been the most rewarding experience of my life and I wouldn’t change how I did anything. In fact, I will probably do this all over again in another country at some point. So there, take that and look into your own reality for a change, do you love it as much as I love mine?
November 18th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I think that it’s very important to enjoy your own reality whatever it might be. You’re absolutely right, a job, mortgage, family, etc. doesn’t make a reality. Reality is what you choose it to be and even though my own reality at the moment is not exactly what I’d like it to be (i.e. I’m not a vagabond quite yet), it doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy the journey until I fulfill my own dream, whether it’s heading off on an indefinite traveling adventure or deciding that at the end of that journey that I really would like to put down some roots after all. So in answer to your question, I’m happy with what life throws my way.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
i recently returned from an 8 month RTW and i’ve had a hard time going back to what others refer to as “reality.” at first, i started off with temp jobs in the same field that i worked in pre-RTW, but then found a chance to manage a retail store that is opening up for the holiday season, which sounded like fun, even if it’s also “temporary.”
the other day a well-intentioned friend of mine told me “it’s so nice to hear how hard you’re working now and what a change it must be from your traveling life.” i had some of the same feelings that you did upon hearing her comment. traveling itself takes work and planning! i wish people would recognize that i didn’t leave to “escape reality” or to avoid working hard. i left because i feel the most “at home” when i’m abroad – learning other cultures, exploring places i’ve never been.
as you said, it was my choice. and i don’t regret it for a second. i guess if anything, it’s just taught me to care less about what others think, and it’s brought me more in tune with my own wants/needs, no matter how far they seem from others’ expectations of “reality.”
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
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