I can’t wait to travel again so I can ____

You know you’re ready for a change when almost every thing you do or say is followed up with the statement, “I can’t wait for us to go away so I don’t have to _____ or so I can just _____”

Time for some honesty.

I don’t like settled life. I find it difficult, time-consuming, and a drain on my spiritual reserves. I find much of settled life is managing and making choices based on what you feel you have to do, or what others demand of you. It’s rare that it’s about doing what makes you feel good.

The problem is our lives are dictated by our feelings.

We’ve been told its about the mind and the logic. It’s not, everything is about the avoidance of pain or the gain for pleasure. Settled life, for me, is mostly making decisions that go against what I truly want, but are made to conform to the settled way of being.

As a result, I feel a lot of pain.

It’s evident in my moods, my health, my disconnectedness, and my general slushiness. There’s no zing or buzz or vibrancy.

I know this is not the norm for most people. A lot of people get the zing and the buzz from settled life and I think that is fantastic. I often wish I could so I didn’t have to move around so much. But alas, it is just not my genetic make up at the moment and I’m okay with that.

The buzz and the zing and the vibrancy is returning to my life with our upcoming road trip around Oz.

I’m excited to be living it on my terms again. I feel I can be more and contribute more, so it’s time to get on the move and do it.

Here’s what my heart, soul and body are most looking forward to on our road trip around Australia.

1. Quality Family Time

I hate telling my children I can’t play with them because I have to sweep the floor, or cook dinner.

I’m not going to escape cooking dinner on this trip, but it’ll be a more relaxed time where I can involve my children more as I’m not hollering at them to clean their room.

Life is full of far too many distractions and demands to allow much space for quality family time.

Life is too short. It is ticking by, faster with every year. If we don’t make the effort to put down the work, the bills, the demands for some time out with our family, pretty soon we’ll be looking back and have little to remember those years we spent together.

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We’ll be removing so many distractions now so we can get back to creating special memories, learning and exploring together and laughing a whole lot more.

2. A Return to Nature

Holy Shit, I’ve missed nature.

The Earth gives us everything we need to be balanced and healthy.

Due to my recent health crises, I’ve been earthing more. What a difference it makes. I know you don’t have to travel to get back out in nature, but with two children, a business and the demands of everyday life it makes it so challenging.

How will the road trip be different?

Easy, we won’t have a home to hibernate in. Our homes will be roving on the back of our car as we camp beside the gum trees and spend our days exploring the beaches, mountains and forests of this great country.

Look out dirt I’m a coming!

3. A Return to Health

I have always been in excellent health when I’ve slow travelled.

My spirit was born for it so obviously, my health responds positively. I eat better, I earth more, I exercise more and I’m always happier. The recipe for a healthier me.

4. Only Owning Little Possessions

Sometimes I think this is really the reason I travel.

It has nothing to do with exploring new lands, meeting new people, or getting to know myself more, it’s all about owning little.

I can’t stand the accumulation of excess. The more I own, the more I have to clean, manage and look after. That gives me less time to enjoy life and the people I love.

Inspiring travel quote on freedom
Claim Freedom

Cull the possessions, let’s get back to a suitcase and the bare essentials. Give me space please!

5. No Cleaning

Does anyone like cleaning?

I call it the definition of insanity, especially when you have two young children.

Right now the DVD’s are splayed over the floor again, I only picked them up an hour ago with grumbles of, “I can’t wait till we are travelling, and we no longer have a million effing DVD’s”.

Yes. Swearing usually follows any cleaning job I have to do.

I find it pure bliss that I will no longer be scrubbing toilets and showers, vacuuming and mopping floors, and cleaning fridges.

Everybody sing “Alleluia”

6. No More School

I hate dropping the girls to school of a morning.

In fact, I hate the morning getting ready for school. It’s rushed and full of drama and angst. Kalyra and I almost always have an argument about her hair and how she has to wear her jumper no matter how daggy she thinks it is. Ugh uniforms!

School mornings are the most stressful way to start a day.

Savannah goes to childcare and my Mum’s house for two days a week. It tears at my heart to leave her. Parents have to do what they have to do, but I can’t wait to be just with my children every day. They won’t have to get upset at Mummy and Daddy going to meetings and not being around.

I also detest school because they are germ breeding grounds and Savannah is always bringing home a sickness. No more.

Their school will now be their family and their environment. I’m excited for all they are going to learn.

7. Meeting Up with Family and Friends

I’m really excited to be meeting up with or travelling parts of Australia with family and friends.

Travel is the best way to connect with people. Again it’s living from that space of love, rather than demand. No life interruptions so you are just free to enjoy the moment and the connection.

We are also super excited to be having meet ups along the way with our readers.

8. An Endless Summer

Sunset over Mindel Beach, Darwin, Australia

Oh my God do I hate winter.

I’m a vata body type in the Ayurvedic philosophy, which means we detest the cold! The cold in Australia is the pits because we don’t have homes built to handle it, so you are cold 24/7.

We’re chasing the sun on this road trip.

South for the summer to get the hottest time of the year, and north for the winter to get that lovely warm, tropical weather. There will only be one jacket in the suitcase, the rest will be swimmers, shorts, dresses and thongs.

Bring it.

9. Meeting New People

I love hearing stories from other people. It inspires me. I’m excited to be hearing the stories of my fellow Australians, and those who are also travelling in Australia.

We also can’t wait for our children to have more experiences like this one.

10. Giving Back

I’m keen to volunteer and give back to our fabulous country. I want the girls to learn receiving comes from giving and life is about gratitude and positive contribution.

I’m investigating opportunities at the moment, mostly conservation projects and working with Aboriginal communities.

11. Seeing this Amazing Country

My eyes are dying to feast upon the new.

Australia has so much to offer from deserts to giant rocks, stunning coastline, mountain ranges and valleys filled with vineyards.

I’m dying to smaggle Australia and maybe a few wombats if I can find them. No snakes or sharks though.

12. No more time wasted on things I don’t want to do

Wayne Dyer quote

Everyday life involves so many tasks, parties, meet ups, and events that you don’t want to do, but are obliged to.

I remember growing up being obliged to go to Church and I hated it. I don’t want to be obliged, I want to go from the space of love.

We have had so many events and meetings the past year due to our blog. It’s all been worthwhile, but I’m glad to reclaim some of my time back.

I just want to spend my time on the love so I can give more.

13. Rest from Partying and Quiet Relaxation

And then there are many events and parties you really want to go to, but there are always so many of them that they exhaust you, despite the enormous fun you have!

I really just want some quiet relaxation time now.

I know that I am being quietly delusional with my visions of me swinging in a hammock by the campervan reading a book while the kiddies play around me. Hopefully, they’ll give me just five minutes of that peace once in awhile.

14. Getting Outside My Comfort Zone

Life gets boring when it’s too comfortable and the same.

I can’t wait to be stretching myself a little again. It’s outside our comfort zone where we get the most growth.

I got to tell ya I am a little rusty. I won’t be doing anything brash like jumping out of planes, but I’ll be learning to thrive in discomfort again – you know like having to wear thongs (flip flops) in scanky campsite showers – Feral, but character building.

NOW, we’d love to hear from you.

What are some things you can’t wait to experience or leave behind?

35 thoughts on “I can’t wait to travel again so I can ____”

  1. Yes indeed, long term travel rocks! You are preaching to the choir with us as we’ve raised our child around the world non-stop these last 8 years and have no plans on stopping.

    I think endless time together is actually the best part and raising her as a world citizen. It is truly the BEST education and it’s the only way we monolingual parents could raise a fluent-as-a-native trilingual/triliterate kid ( Mandarin/Spanish/English).

    We’re planning a slow trip back to Europe via the Trans-Siberian Railway from Beijing to Paris where she will add French. Missing our camper van stored there…such a great way to travel as a family and be in nature too.

    Enjoy every moment of your journey and trust me, as a mom of a 12 year old, I can tell you these years zip by!

    1. They are zipping by already. The Trans-Siberian Railway sounds awesome. Have a fantastic time. Love all the languages she speaks.

    2. I’m 20 right now, I always felt like once I get older the travel must stop. These comments give me hope for a life of endless travel!

  2. Things I can’t wait to leave behind? The constant feeling of rushing from one thing to another. Always one more errand to run. One more chore to do. No time to just BE.

    Things I can’t wait to experience? All the TIME we’ll have together once we’re away (ie. me, hubby, and our 2 boys) – we’re taking off next summer for a minimum 1 year trip, involving Maui x 2 mo, Penang (Malaysia) x 6 mo. and Chiang Mai (Thailand) x 4 mo.

    Also looking forward to exploring new cultures and countries, attempts at learning a new language.

    And I’m definitely looking forward to not having so much stuff!!! All that stuff ties up so much money in maintenance, so much time to maintain/clean etc., and I can’t wait to leave it all behind for a good long while. We’ve already sold a bunch of our stuff and it feels fantastic to de-clutter.

    1. Oh gosh yes, the rushing!! We have done far too much of that and we really making an effort to slow down.

      Your trip sounds amazing. Life becomes so blissful when your memories far outweigh your possessions.

  3. I remember having a sense of adventure as a child. I never wanted to sit still, and deeply looked forward to adventures close to and far from home. My family never traveled too far- Maine was the furthest, only a 4-5 hour drive from my home state of Vermont. Travel is not only about seeing new things and getting a different perspective on the world. For me, it is a deeper connection with myself. It just feels *right*. Constant movement is the only thing that makes me truly happy. For the first part of my 20’s, I moved around every 6 months. First It was from apartment to apartment in the same city, then it was to a different part of the state, then to a new state altogether, until I eventually moved to Sweden last year. I realize now that there is no “one place” in the world for me. For me, movement is key, and “my place” is inside of me. It’s a stillness that comes only when I move.
    I am currently homeless by choice. I am in my hometown, but too restless to ground myself here. I do not have any current plans for travel, but I know myself, and I am liable to just pack up and leave tomorrow if the mood strikes me. Thinking about it, actually. Not sure how it would work, but I am about willing to do anything.

  4. We’re planning on going on a slow trip down south to NZ and I cant wait to experience the nature and meet people from all over the world! Been there twice and we absolutely loved it.

    Can’t wait to leave behind all the endless rushing in the city!

  5. You guys are living the very free and unconventional life that almost everyone yearns for but very few only really have the courage to take action and do it. (just like yourselves!) I also detest all the things you are glad to be avoiding (cold/running your life around hectic schedules/cleaning). Your comment on “does anyone really like cleaning” made me laugh. because i do know people like that, they can be OC , and i am wary of those who love to clean haha. anyway, just as you said we are run by our feelings, most people also shape and run their lives putting in precedence what others may think of them. So I think as much as most people would love to have the life you have and will embark on, will also not want to face family and friends’ judgement on their decisions such as “children need a home/school/schedule/structure” bla blah–and so most humans model their lives in the normal formula of settling down and having kids means having the ‘normal’ (or what is perceived to be normal) life. How many times have i heard folks say “oh i cant wait for the kids to grow up so XX (name of spouse) and I can finally do this and that” – why not now?? easier said than done though, so to me, you guys are such an inspiration of living life the way YOU want it not the way others are living it. hats off ! 🙂

    1. Thank you so much for this comment Jean. We really appreciate it.

      I really think the most liberating thing anyone can do with their life is to give up worrying what people think. They will have an opinion of you no matter what you do, so you might as well do what you want.

      I gave up caring many years ago, now I only let myself guide my life. It’s fabulously freeing. and the place to start finding your true happiness.

      You cannot ever let someone else define your life for you. They will take your dreams and limit them based upon what they think is possible for themselves.

      We don’t need anyone to tell us what is right for us, we can feel that deep with in us. Follow that intuition and you’ll never go wrong.

  6. Fabulous post. So very true. It is so easy to get caught up in everyday life and all too easy to forget to enjoy life and to do what YOU want, instead of what others expect of you. There are so many reasons I cannot wait to travel again. I guess the most important is just being able to reconnect with yourself, what you want out of life and to get some well deserved time away from all the chaos. Traveling is wonderful..and is why I always have travel on the brain.

    1. I love that Debbie. I think it is so important to connect with yourself. That’s why normal life can be so detrimental to our health, and society’s health–no one is staying connected with who they truly are. It’s a recipe for disaster.

  7. I can’t wait to travel again so I can live. That’s the short version – I only feel alive when I’m on the road or preferably on a plane. You are lucky if you can get the same feeling from touring your own country though. It doesn’t do it for me – I find travelling in NZ fairly how-hum – it’s my culture, it’s my TV, it’s all too ordinary!

    I get quite depressed when I don’t have a trip in the planning stages – I just went through a 6 month period of having nothing planned – but fortunately there is now a road trip in the US for next year 🙂

    I couldn’t do it with kids though – the whole thing with travel for me is meeting new people and experiencing new things, I’d find that hard with kids. Oh and the cleaning – I could never do that LOL

  8. I definitely love meeting new people and really getting to know them when travelling slow. Having been ‘on the road’ for 7 months now, this has made me appreciate this even more and I look forward spending more time catching up with friends and making an effort to meet new people more when we get back home 🙂

    1. Hi , I’m zahra,Come to visit my country, malaysia.I love also to meet new people and know their culture it gives me more experience.

  9. Someday I'll Be There - Mina

    I can’t wait to travel to run away from all the things happening in Egypt now. All the rumors and killings are giving me lots of negative energy and I need to escape this.

    1. I completely understand that Mina. I am so sorry that this is happening right now in your country. I hope peace comes to stay soon.

  10. Kimberley Casey

    Hi Caz, it’s been ages since I checked out your blog, what a fantastic adventure you guys are setting out on! You’ve got one more reader here who will definitely be following the journey.
    Why I can’t wait to travel again? Freedom. For me that’s number one. Freedom to wander this gorgeous planet and shake off the shackles of society.
    Good luck on your travels, and thanks again for providing so much inspiration 🙂

    1. Thanks Kimberley. It’s all about the freedom for us. I think that is what our souls really crave as it’s the place where it truly grows and expresses itself.

  11. I used to feel the same way, but it’s going to be a year before we take off again and I’ve come to realize that being “settled” really doesn’t have to be any different from traveling, especially slow traveling.
    If you are camping then sure, the cooking and cleaning goes out the window, but if you’re in hostels or renting an apartment short term, it’s the same. Also, for the price you pay for transport and eating out you can hire a cleaning lady if you want.
    As far as everything else goes, I just pretend I’m traveling. I keep my bills to a minimum, as if I were traveling, and I explore everything as if I were traveling. It makes life in general a lot more fun.

    I’m excited to see how you’re schooling your kids. 🙂

    1. Fantastic realization Jade. That is how we looked at things when we returned home this last time. Since we looked at our area with our travel glasses on the travel experiences haven’t stopped for us. It’s just about seeing your hometown in a new way and making it as adventurous as you can.

  12. The more we desire for material gains, the more we are enslaved to work for others and not for ourselves. Love this post of yours. A full-time professor like me also dreams to be in such an easy sailing life in the future.

  13. That’s funny, I totally understand why you’d hate cleaning when you have two small children (I like it as the new definition of insanity, by the way!), but I actually quite like cleaning sometimes when I’ve been travelling for a while…granted, I’ve never had or lived with children, but it’s quite a novelty at the moment cleaning our temporary apartment here in Arequipa, Peru after being on the road for two months straight!

    I can also completely relate to hating the winter when you come from a country that can’t deal with it! I’m from the UK, and it’s the same there (though probably colder than Australian winter!), but I spent a lot of time in central Europe over the last few years (German and Austria in particular), and even the the winters are much colder (-16C!), they are so much better set up for them, with proper insulation and people who know how to drive in snow; it’s actually quite lovely sometimes!

    Anyway, great post. You must be really psyched for your upcoming trip. Can’t wait to read all about it!

  14. I travelled to London once and with that experience I feel like travelling to the whole world. It was so nice……. love it

      1. How soon can a person revisit England from first visit and it is likely for that person to be successful for another visitor’s visa on second application once they didn’t break the rules and/or over stay the period?

        1. I’m not sure Rebecca. We can’t really give visa advice as it’s different for each person and nationality. It’s bes to talk to the embassy

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