‘Vagabonding is about gaining the courage to loosen your grip on the so-called certainties of this world. Vagabonding is about refusing to exile travel to some other, seemingly more appropriate, time of your life. Vagabonding is about taking control of your circumstances instead of passively waiting for them to decide your fate.” – Rolf Potts writes in Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel
Rolf Potts’ explanation of vagabonding is absolutely on point. Forget about social networks and lavish apartments, embrace the realness of the world around you. As you sit there in your chair millions of wondrous things are occurring in different places around the world, don’t you want to experience the spectacle?
Vagabonding is about letting go of the things that hold you back from these experiences. Refusing to believe that the world has borders that cannot be broken; embracing your inner citizen of the world. Go on youtube and look at some satellite footage from NASA or any other reputable source. Look at how the land is aglow with light, the water dark and vast. Marvel in that glorious sight. Did you notice any borders? Anything except water separating us from one land to another?
Refusing to let your circumstances hold you back from any dreams you hold, vagabonding preaches minimalism. If you really want to spend a long period of time traveling the world that is set out for us, then stop putting so much emphasis on the ties holding you back and cut back on your spending. Live frugally where you are and save. Prove to yourself that you deserve this trip. Nothing good ever comes easy, but it is proven to always pay off in memories. If you can’t afford expensive trains or taxis, walk you’ll see much more.
Don’t sit by and let life hand you whatever it chooses, grab life by the balls and decide your own fate. At the core, I believe that is the spirit of vagabonding, deciding your own fate and living it through. Experiencing as much as you can and sharing your insight with all those interested. I think the hardest part for me will be not getting too attached to any one place. There is so much to see and I’ve only got one life to see it.
He also gives many resources for cheap travel, work abroad, and other valuable information that you can find in his book. I purchased it at Barnes and Noble for $15 but for all you bargain hunters I’m sure you can find a steal. I’m not trying to sell you anything but it’s a lot of information that I’m not ready to get into quite yet. This is just some thoughts I had after reading halfway, once I finish the book I will give you a proper synopsis.
Until next time bloggers, remember, vagabonding isn’t a verb it is a state of mind so go suck the marrow out of life!
xxx Sam
Dream Across The World 