Comments on: You’re Still Young, Do It While You Can

By: Traveling at 30 « Rogue Priest

Traveling at 30 « Rogue Priest — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:03:05 +0000

[...] it while you’re young” is the bad advice people always give me. I assumed they would stop saying this as I stopped being so young. While 30 [...]

By: Russ Mease

Russ Mease — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:19:04 +0000

At 36, I am doing exactly what your earlier poster was worried about, starting travel after entering the “real world”, and finding it is not for me (it took me too long to figure this out!) I feel more energized than I was 7 years ago as I was planning a 5 month backpacking trip through Europe. Now at 36, I am beginning what will be many years of travel and have no doubt that I will enjoy it many times more!

By: Earl

Earl — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:33:27 +0000

Hey Carla – Thank you for confirming that we will all be allowed to continue traveling no matter how old we are I love your attitude towards life and the fact that you’re quite keen on continuing to achieve your travel goals no matter what. It’s a great example for any traveler who feels that the time might have passed for them to explore this world of ours.

By: Carla Hughett

Carla Hughett — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 10:42:32 +0000

Hey, I’m 53 and nobody has stopped me from entering India or Nepal with a big backpack AND wearing sandals. The taxi drivers all seem to assume I’m incapable of walking more than three steps, but they’re just trying to get a fare. I tried to settle down and start an acupuncture clinic in California in 2008, but since that didn’t work out I’ve been a nomad. I definitely can’t lead a conventional life, and I’m done trying. The old bones do ache sometimes, but there are ways to deal with it. Certainly not going to let it stop me!

By: Earl

Earl — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:19:38 +0000

Hey Renata – Thank you for the comment and there is no way you’ll be too old after university! Besides, there are plenty of people who enter the ‘real world’, work for many years and then later on in life decide to change direction and start traveling. It’s never too late to go after your goals. And that’s excellent that you’re off to Asia in a few months. I’ll be curious to see how you feel after that trip as I’m sure it will get you even more addicted to travel

By: Renata

Renata — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:58:14 +0000

Hey Earl,

I really enjoyed reading this post. I’m currently 3 years into a 6 year university degree and have recently been feeling like I am going to be ‘too old’ to go traveling for an extended period of time when I graduate (as most others in my class will be going into full time jobs). I try to fit traveling around my studies as much as possible (and am off to SE Asia in December!) but the more I travel the more I want to travel rather than go into full time work after uni. This post made me realise that I wont be ‘too old’ and that full time work can definitely wait! Its great to read about all your travels and how you have managed to sustain it for 12 years!

Thanks for the inspiration,
Renata

By: 5/50: Learning to live without 'stuff'

5/50: Learning to live without 'stuff' — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:05:03 +0000

[...] This pressure, to live life in a certain way, has been bothering me for some time. I see thousands of people on their way to work every morning, all of them miserable. It would appear that they hate their jobs and have no desire to go. But in order to continue this endless cycle of owning ‘stuff’, they must. Without ‘stuff’ they are not considered to ‘have a life’ of any discernable quality. Except, it is this endless mission to earn the money to pay for this badge of honour leaves their lives devoid of any apparent enjoyment. And yet, no one seems to have noticed this elephant in the room. Or those that have are so distraught at the trap they find themselves caught in, that they try to spend their way out of the unhappiness. Anyone with ideas to try anything different or live outside of these pressures is discounted as being childish. Fun, it appears, is reserved for the youth. [...]

By: 5/50: Learning to live without ‘stuff’ « Footprints of a Backpacker

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:45:14 +0000

By: Earl

Earl — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:50:52 +0000

Hey Sarah – Thanks so much for that comment and those words of Frank Turner certainly do sum up the idea behind this post! It’s that whole idea of choosing a non-traditional life path as a childish escape that always stands in the face of anyone attempting to break free from the mold. Luckily, there are plenty of people who still push forward, and who ultimately reap the rewards of their determination to live the life they’ve always wanted!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:23:50 +0000

Hi Earl, I love this post. It so completely sums up the general attitude to life that so aggrieves me! The idea that those of us who are looking for more out of life than monotony are purely following a whim of immaturity and refusal to accept life for what it really is, really annoys me.

It’s worth listening to a little Frank Turner who sums this up very well…

“Maturity’s a wrapped-up package deal
or so it seems.
Ditching teenage fantasy
means ditching all your dreams.

All your friends and peers and family
solemnly tell you you will
have to grow up. Be and adult.
Be bored and unfulfilled.

But no one’s yet explained to me
exactly what’s so great
about slaving 50 years away
on something that you hate.

About meekly shuffling down the path
of mediocrity.
Well if that’s your road then take it
but it’s not the road for me.”