For most people, overseas travel is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A trip to Paris or a tour of Tokyo fulfills a decades-long dream.
However, a growing number of younger professionals are taking a new look at the concept of world travel. Rather than a rare occurrence, these individuals insist on making it a way of life.
Those wondering how that’s possible have reason to be skeptical. Travel takes money, and money means having a job. Isn’t it hard to work if you’re always picking up and moving on?
The key to making travel a way of life, rather than a rare treat, is to harness the power of technology. Many companies allow their employees to work remotely, using laptops and other mobile devices to make a living.
But when it comes to the growing trend of professionals perpetually on-the-go, there’s more to it than merely the means to do so. The following points highlight the allure of world travel as a way of life:
Valuing life experiences more than personal possessions
The “American Dream” used to mean owning a house, driving a car, and amassing a collection of furniture, electronic items, and other possessions. It’s a concept that fueled the bulk of personal ambition and professional motivation throughout the 20th century.
However, soon after the start of the new millennium, a change began taking shape. The latest generation of working adults opted to prioritize experiences over possessions. In other words, if asked to pick between saving up for a ski trip or saving up for a down payment on a car, more started preferring the former to the latter.
Twenty years later, the emphasis on experiences over possessions manifests itself in the way people choose to live their lives. For instance, many young professionals are moving into furnished apartments instead of schlepping furniture and other items from one living situation to another. In doing so, they not only free themselves of possessions, but they also have an easier time relocating whenever they want.
The bottom line is that today’s up-and-coming workforce is less mesmerized by the trappings of materialism and more focused on living life to the fullest. Who can argue with that?
Seeing what’s out there
When asked, “Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?” mountaineer George Mallory famously replied, “Because it’s there.” It’s a quip that sums up a sentiment currently shared by billions of people around the world.
Thanks to the widespread accessibility of media over the last 50 years, culminating with the growing popularity of the internet, individuals can see all the world has to offer them. Unfortunately, these virtual depictions are a tantalizing tease. To see the real thing, you have to get yourself there first.
Now that so many people are aware of what’s out there, they want to explore it for themselves. It’s more than enough to inspire a lust for world travel.
Finding your place in the world
Countless people throughout history have stopped and wondered if there’s something better than the life they’re leading. The tragic reality is that the vast majority of them never got the chance to find out.
To go out into the world and find your true place in it has become something that can be done rather than dreamt. Young men and women want to test the waters of various living situations, lifestyles, and locations.
One day they arrive in a strange place and decide their exploration phase is over. Until then, they keep trying new things in search of a better life.
Remembering you only live once
Most millennials and those from younger generations remember listening to parents and grandparents express regret over not seeing more of the world when they were younger. As a result, many are determined to avoid making the same mistake.
Rather than wait until they’re older, 20-somethings and 30-somethings are making a mission to travel now, not later. By the time they get married, have kids, and settle down, the opportunity to embark on international adventures won’t come around again for at least several decades.
Then there’s the issue of there being so much of the world to see and relatively very little time to make it happen. The unfortunate reality is that even the most prolific and proficient world traveler is unlikely to visit every dream destination in one lifetime. With this in mind, it’s imperative to many people to make the most of every day they have, which often means using them to see as much of the world as possible.
It might be hard for older folks to understand why young adults seem so steadfast in their efforts to travel. What’s more, it may seem absurd to think so many can do so as a way of life, earning a living on the road by working remotely. However, once you take a step back and realize the context behind the trend, you start to appreciate the effort and enthusiasm.