What is Travel Nesting?

But here’s the thing: I remember very well all the years I yearned to travel but couldn’t afford to, or had obligations that didn’t allow me. I haven’t forgotten what that longing feels like.

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The world has changed a lot since then, but I think there are many people who don’t really understand that the dream of long-term travel is now actually a whole lot EASIER to achieve.​​​​​​​​

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At least, it's a whole lot easier if you prefer staying longer in fewer places instead of spending three days in twelve countries while slowly losing your mind.

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Achieving the Dream - It's Different for Each of Us

I will die on this hill: there is no one “right” way to travel and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Even one person travels differently at different times for different reasons. Some years I want beaches (fine, *near* beaches—I hate sand). Some years I want mountains. Some years I want nothing but baklava and a quiet balcony.

 

Just travel however you like and however you can, as long as you respect the places you visit.

I hope that showing how I do things makes it easy to see that you can do it, too - although, not necessarily how or where I do it. You do you. Preferably with snacks.

 

Adjusting the Dream​​​
Yes, it's true that finances, circumstances and more can affect where you go and how you live when you get there

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But the good news is that those adjustments can lead to some very pleasant surprises - that's how I discovered the delights of Turkey and Albania. I just followed the cheap rent and the good food. As it turns out, "I just go where it's cheap" can be a fabulous travel strategy.

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Because Albania is gorgeous, Turkey has the friendliest cats on earth and my budget stayed happy the whole time. Accidental wins are still wins.

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The places are interesting, the life...not so much

I still have to live my normal life. I work remotely. I cook (badly, and resentfully). I do laundry. I run errands. I go to the grocery store. I stare at my to-do list and then take a nap instead.

My "normal life" is very boring.

I enjoy it a whole lot more when I live it in interesting places, but I don’t have a whole lot of time or energy left over for sightseeing unless it's finding a new route to the supermarket. Or a new supermarket. (I get very excited about supermarkets. This is who I am now.)

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​There are plenty of websites offering travel tips – best places to stay, best things to do, best beaches.

But I hate sand, I don’t usually feel like doing much of anything and I often choose my destinations based on where the cheapest housing is that I can have to myself. Although, I do start looking for that private lodging in places where I love the local food.

Whether I’m eating my way through Greece, or making friends with cats in Turkey, I’ve mastered the art of doing nothing spectacularly well.

No guilt, no FOMO—just blissful solitude and the occasional pastry. (Okay, waaay more than occasional.)

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​​​Five things you should probably know about me for context...besides the fact that I am a low-energy introvert:
 

• I am a US citizen traveling on a US passport, so all I know of travel is from that perspective. I can’t pretend to know what it’s like for everyone else, but I can tell you what worked for me.

• I am one of the most oblivious people on the planet. I once walked past a famous landmark because I was looking for a bakery. I have no shame about this.

• I am an avid bookworm. I will cancel plans to finish a chapter. I will miss my bus stop because I was reading.

• I hate to cook and I'm not very good at it. My ideal meal is someone else’s responsibility. Street food, cheap restaurants, and grocery store salads are my holy trinity. On my own, it’s a variety of chicken soups with the occasional tray bake when I have access to an oven.

• I also hate sand...but I will tolerate it if I can look at the sea from a chaise near a restaurant.​

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Btw, if you think you might enjoy this lifestyle, you'll be happy to hear that it's very affordable - often cheaper (sometimes *a lot* cheaper) than living a normal life in the States. 

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No, really. I’m not selling you a dream. I’m just doing the math out loud.​​​​​​​​

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