In 2006, I started my backpacking journey. I was spontaneous, hopping on a train to Amsterdam on a whim, and when I missed it, I flew back and lived there for two months. I even stayed in Ko Lipe, Thailand, for a month instead of sticking to my itinerary. But over time, I’ve become more structured in my travels. I love my work and improving my website, even if it means I can’t go off the grid.
My work ethic, inherited from my parents, changed my travel style. It removed the financial uncertainty of my trips but replaced it with the anxiety of responsibility. I went from a carefree traveler to someone with deadlines and obligations. My work, which I thought would give me freedom, has tied me to a virtual desk and made me fear the uncertainty of unplugging.
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to work less and travel more. I want to better manage my work so I can enjoy my travels. In Panama City, I met Heidi, a Finnish girl who travels without plans or technology. She was my opposite, but I liked her. Because of her, I stayed an extra week in Panama City and even followed her to Portobelo, a small town, to join her on a slow boat to Colombia.
Portobelo, a town with no internet, no good beach, and no fun activities, became my favorite spot in Panama. The locals were friendly, and the food was delicious. But the day before we were set to sail, I got cold feet. I was afraid of being offline. What if something happened? What if I missed an interview or an ad deal? What if a reader had a problem reaching out to me? So, I didn’t go. I told Heidi I would work for a week and then join her in Colombia.
As travelers, we need to be open to changing our plans. My friend JD joined Heidi on the boat to Colombia instead. He had planned to go to Costa Rica, but he changed his plans on the spot. He embodied Heidi’s go-with-the-flow attitude.
I never heard from Heidi again. I understand why she ghosted me. I chose work and technology over a spontaneous adventure with her. This was a wake-up call. I started traveling to live, not work. But as my blog grew, I found myself working more and traveling less. There would be no more spontaneous trips to Colombia or living on an island in Thailand.
I learned a valuable lesson: seize the opportunities in front of you, especially when they’re chances to throw away your plans. As I realized that Heidi wasn’t coming back, I vowed never to forget why I started traveling. I need to go with the flow more, forget about the computer, and be open to change and spontaneity. After all, that’s why I left the cubicle in the first place. Somewhere, Heidi agrees.
