The Truth About: Moving Around

Simply put: Moving around all the time gets tough. And living out of a suitcase gets old.

It's fun to see as many places as possible. Until you long for a sense of community. Until you feel exhausted and in need of a little routine (mentally, physically, spiritually...). Or until your finances advise it's time to slow down for a bit and save some money.

Moving around is a huge part of being a nomad. But it has its challenges. And that's why it's important to find a pace that works for you.

Personally, what I need is a changing pace. For example: Moving around every week, then stopping for a month, then moving continuously for another month, before "settling" for many weeks, then picking up the pace again. It depends on the place, my mood, the weather, my projects... going with the flow is all but a cliché here.

Slowing down in nature, with my foldable kayak

When I feel the need to refill my social cup, I make plans to meet up with friends (or visit them!) somewhere cool around the world, or spend some time closer to friends and family. When I need to slow down, I might look for a monthly rental or a longer housesit somewhere quiet and close to nature. When I'm feeling energized and adventurous, I might travel to a new city or find the perfect spot to explore the outdoors.

There isn't any one winning formula. I adapt my nomad lifestyle to my needs and constantly adjust.

It's also fun for a while to travel the world with a backpack. Until you want to experience the change of season. Until you fall in love with some forever items (heavy handmade wool blanket from Guatemala? Yes please!). Or until you start associating a backpack with gap year travellers.

Being somewhat of a minimalist helps. But that still means needing the minimum. Things such as kitchen basics, linen, warm clothes, weather proof clothes... For a while, I was guilty of buying cheap items then getting rid of them every time I moved, which was a huge misalignment with my personal values. How many times have you convinced yourself to pack light, thinking you could just buy missing items for cheap once at destination, and leave them behind? No matter the narrative we convinced ourselves of, we would cause more harm than good...

Not long ago, I aimed to own as little as possible: what could fit in my backpack + some important items or not-as-easily-replaceable items stored around different friends and family houses. The rest was given away when it became an inconvenience, then replaced when it became a need again. In other words: I pretended to be a minimalist when in reality I was caught in endless consumerism.

So I got a storage unit. I had avoided paying the monthly fee for so long. It was time. And it was the best decision. Everything still fits in a 5x5 (feet, not meters). But it feels like I now have a home base. I can keep things such as seasonal gear (snowboard, ice skates, snow shoes, jackets, camping gear, kayak, etc.) all in one place. I no longer have to remember which friend kindly stored which item.

And most importantly, my consumerism is a lot more mindful. I can invest in forever items as I have somewhere to store them. Whether I acquire them in my home country or abroad. I can also invest in regular day-to-day items for the long run. Might seem silly, but I'd rather buy only one good bread knife (or garlic press, or non-stick pan, or coffee grinder...) instead of a crappy one every now and then.

Having a storage unit allows for more independence, but also makes it possible to live more sustainably.

Meet Jeepy! The best Jeep in the world...

Then there are the different ways of moving around. The last couple years, I got used to having my own vehicle again. What a luxury! Thinking about leaving it behind in the upcoming weeks feels daunting. It is much easier to pack everything in my Jeep and drive all around the country than traveling on foot. It provides a level of comfort completely different from airplane/foot/bus/train travel. The silly kitchen items I mentioned above? They fit in Jeepy. And yes, they have been traveling with me (domestically) because too many Airbnbs lack the basics of a comfortable and convenient home. But they'll safely wait in my storage unit while I travel internationally again, for a little bit. Until I feel the urge to change my pace again.

Moving around without one's own transportation is definitely an added challenge. Sometimes more costly, other times less so. Often less comfortable. And most of the time, definitely slower, less flexible, less intimate. And as time goes on - aka aging - it definitely gets more exhausting (although, driving across Canada during the week with the least daylight last year was quite exhausting as well!).

But, as I prepare for my next chapter of international travel - fitting as much as possible in my storage unit, finding a trustworthy safe keeper for Jeepy, bringing myself up to date with travel restrictions and procedures - I realize that, for me, all those challenges are still worth it!