For Travel’s Sake: 7 Things I’ve Given Up in Order to Travel

Travel is incredible. It has given me so much over the years: a vastly more open mind, a broader appreciation for our differences, a closer connection to many folks around the world, a better understanding of how others live, and a changed mindset on what it takes to be happy.

Despite all of these wonderful blessings, there are some downsides to travel, and it’s taken a fair amount of sacrifices on my end here at home to get out into the world. It’s easy for me to champion others to do the same—that going out to explore the world is preferable to our cultural norm—but I also think it’s important to acknowledge the shadow side of travel rather than pretending it doesn’t exist.

I’ve given up a lot to go out and travel, though not as much as some yet perhaps more than others. But in any case, here are seven sacrifices I’ve made in order to embrace my wanderlust:

SEVEN THINGS I’VE GIVEN UP IN ORDER TO TRAVEL

1. Buying a home & planting roots

I know Michael and I are “throwing money down the drain” by renting, but there’s no way we would be able to pay for a home as aggressively as we’d like and still be able to travel. Additionally, the responsibilities of homeownership are a bit more challenging than I can handle at this point; renting and having a landlord care for any issues that arise simply makes much more sense.

Add in the fact that we’re not quite sure where we will be living in five years, and buying a home is just not in the cards. One day, though, we hope to be able to settle in and plant roots in a community that feels like home.

2. Getting a pet

(Update: whoops) I think it’s fair to say that nobody wants a pet more than I do (no, not even your niece who like, really, really, really wants a puppy). I’m that annoying friend who spends more time with your cat than with you when you invite me over, and that person who is too old to ask strangers if it’s okay to pet their dog but does anyway.

I love animals and love the idea of rescuing one (or two!) and providing a safe and loving home for them. But as I’m gone so often, it wouldn’t be fair to board a pet or shift care over to a friend or family member as frequently as I would need to. Add in the fact that raising a pet can be expensive, and I’m just not there yet. For now, I’m sneaking out of my office to pet the therapy dogs that come to work every week.

3. Taking personal days

My coworkers often take days or weeks off from work without the intention of traveling anywhere; they go out to the movies, get pedicures, and do all of the things around the house that I never quite seem to get to. I’m fortunate enough to work in a job where I receive a fair amount of sick, personal, and vacation days, however, I typically use my personal leave for vacation as well (which expires at the end of the fiscal year if unused).

Michael, unfortunately, does not receive the same benefits of leave and earns time off much more slowly. It’s largely because of this that we travel over weekends, saving up as much time as possible for a long trip. This means we can go weeks without a full recovery day at home, which is essential for an introvert, and leads me to the next point.

4. Sleep

Not long after graduation, I realized just how valuable sleep is, and I make it a point to be in bed around 10 p.m. Keeping a consistent sleep schedule, even on the weekends while at home, is necessary for keeping my skin, weight, and immune system in check. However, flying away for the weekends means that I have to wake up earlier and stay up later, even when I don’t leave my time zone.

I consume a lot more coffee than usual to stay awake, which impacts me for a few days after I return. And I typically catch the last flight back on Sundays, which means I pull into my driveway in the wee hours of Monday morning (not exactly optimal for arriving fresh and alert to work a few hours later). Each time I book those tickets, I recognize the trade-off; it’s not always an easy one to agree to.

5. Keeping up with the latest trends

I was hesitant to include this “sacrifice” as I feared it may come off as whiny, but there is truth in that statement and thus it belongs here. I like to think that I’m immune to most trends (designer handbags, gaming consoles, Instant Pots, and the like), but there are times when I feel “left behind” by society and technology in particular.

My phone is over three years old (“ancient” for a cell phone) and is getting slower and more buggy every day. My DSLR camera doesn’t have video capabilities—it was purchased just before this technology was released. My car is aging and not filled with bells and whistles, yet I’ll continue using it for as long as it reliably gets me from A to B rather than taking on a car payment.

I have socks with holes and boots that have been resoled multiple times. I’ve never fully furnished and decorated my home. I don’t lunch out at the latest hot spot or cook with expensive and trendy ingredients.

Sure, I probably could afford these things, but this would come at the opportunity to travel. So I make do, trying to live as comfortably as I can within my means, repairing things as needed, and buying the best of something when it is time to replace it to prevent the vicious cycle of buying low-quality items on repeat.

6. Attending ticketed social events

Yet another potentially eyeroll-worthy-yet-still-valid sacrifice is declining invitations to concerts, sporting events, and other ticketed social events with friends. The cost of attending these functions can easily exceed $100 per event, or about the price I usually pay for a plane ticket for a weekend getaway.

I try to compensate for the missed time with friends by hosting events at our home or attending other free events in the community, but I know it’s not quite the same. I still miss forging connections over these specific moments and experiences.

7. Gatherings with family

I’ve saved the most challenging sacrifice for last. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been invited to a family gathering only to disappoint the excited family member by telling them that I’ve booked a trip out of town that weekend. These larger family get-togethers tend to take place over long weekends, and so do many of my trips.

I miss out on seeing my aging relatives and watching the younger cousins grow up. More distant relatives are sometimes unrecognizable the following time I encounter them – practically strangers though we’re connected by blood. Out of all of these, it’s this last sacrifice that gives me the most pause.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON CHOOSING TRAVEL OVER OTHER THINGS

Some of these things have been easy to give up, and some of these pull on my heartstrings in ways I did not anticipate. I know there may be a point one day—though it’s hard to even imagine now—that I will need to slow down and plant myself in one location.

For now, I will continue making the sometimes-challenging decision to travel away, because I believe the benefits are more than worth it and my future self will be grateful I did.

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Questions for you

What is one thing you’ve given up to be able to travel?

Or, what is one thing you’re willing to trade off in order to be able to travel?

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2 Comments on “For Travel’s Sake: 7 Things I’ve Given Up in Order to Travel”

The Luxe Strategist says:

July 31, 2018 at 12:14 pm

We live in a much cheaper apartment than we can “afford”. Instant money to be applied to travel!

The one that bums me out is missing the family time. I’ve traveled over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and now over my mom’s birthday week, and I always feel guilty about it. Trying to minimize this in the future!

Also, do you use WordPress? When I go to share this post on Twitter, there’s no image or metadata. Do you have that set up?

1. Alyssa says:
  
  July 31, 2018 at 1:58 pm
  
  I definitely miss the savings of living in a cheaper home – we were booted out of our last place as the landlords decided to sell (and it happened again this year, almost a year to the day, but that’s another story), and had to find something quick. I miss that extra $300/month!
  
  I would love to get to a place where we can incorporate family and travel, particularly over holiday weekends. Some of our more-distant relatives have done family cruises or rented ski lodges, but we’ve never been able to attend. Perhaps that’s something you could look in to? My mom was seriously considering renting the place we stayed for a friend’s wedding, and I am all for that!
  
  I do use WordPress, but I am a dunce at Twitter. Plugin is now installed – thanks for catching that and keeping me up to date!