Spencer Spellman

https://www.thetravelingphilosopher.com

Age: 27

Hometown: Graham, North Carolina

Quote: “You would be surprised how little you need to really exist.”

How did you find out about Vagabonding, and how did you find it useful? I heard about it through word of mouth from other travelers. The idea of vagabonding has really taken off in the last couple of years. I’m somewhat new to it, so it’s refreshing learning from others who have not only done it, but done so very successfully. I’ve learned the most just from hearing the stories of other vagabonders.

What is your job or source of travel funding for this journey? I’m a Freelance Travel Writer

Do you plan to work on the road? Yes, I’ll be writing from the road. I’ve never been in a position where I could save money to travel, however, being able to make money writing about my travels has always been my dream and I’m thankful, because I’m not only supporting myself and giving my opportunity to travel by doing so, but I’m doing what I love.

What was the reaction of your friends/family/colleagues as you planned your trip? Since so many of my friends and family are in travel, it’s been well-received with many of them thinking that it’s a great opportunity. For many others, they’ve had a difficult time understanding why I would sell most of my things and quit what was a good corporate job to travel full-time.

Any tips or lessons learned from the travel-preparation process? Get rid of as much as you can. I came out of college thinking I had to accumulate a lot of things in order to be successful, yet many of those things I don’t own anymore. You would be surprised how little you need to really exist. So many things I’ve either given away, sold, or thrown away if it couldn’t fit into my backpack.

How long do you hope to spend on the road? I don’t really have somewhere that I call home, so as long as I can and am still able to support myself, I have no concrete plans of when I’ll stop. This first trip in Central America will be for the winter. I plan on my future travels consisting of 2-3 month stays in each destination.

Which destinations do you hope to visit? I’ll be making Costa Rica somewhat of a home base for my travels the next couple months, but plan on visiting Panama, Nicaragua, and Belize.

Which experiences are you most looking forward to? Drinking beer that is less than a $1 sounds pretty exciting. I also hope to eat something pretty exotic, something that I can hold over people’s heads and say: “Well I bet you’ve never eaten…”. Probably the thing I’m most excited about is going waterfall rappelling in Costa Rica.

What are you packing for the journey? Well I can’t travel without my laptop. I’m also packing a couple pairs of seersucker shorts, my trusty Costa Rica guidebook, a pocket camcorder, and I should probably throw in a few extra pairs of undies. I’m pretty excited about some things I don’t have to pack, such as a winter coat, snow boots, and sweat pants.

Do you have any worries or concerns about the journey? I’m a little concerned that it’s going to be hard for me to find a good glass of sweet tea. Friends and family are probably concerned that I’ll like it so much that I don’t return, although that’s certainly not something I’m concerned about.

How can we best follow your adventures? I’m planning on blogging as much as possible about my adventures on my website.

Are you a Vagabonding reader planning, in the middle of, or returning from a journey? Would you like your travel blog or website to be featured on Vagabonding Case Studies? If so, drop us a line at casestudies@vagabonding.net and tell us a little about yourself.