We've been travelling for almost four years now. And yes, we are like many long-term travellers: From time to time, we ask ourselves how we should continue travelling. Where to? When? How? And the most important question of all: Why?
The why has changed over the many days, weeks, months and years that we have been travelling. In the beginning, it was the thirst for adventure, the irrepressible curiosity, the restless search for something new. It was never an "away from", but always an "towards". We have always emphasised how much we love our homeland and how much we enjoy coming back.
We filled our love of home with experiences of longing. And that did us good. And, it's important for us to mention, it still suits us.
But something has changed. We have lost our great thirst for adventure. Curiosity has become calmer and no longer has such a strong inner force. The restless search for new things has given way to a love of tranquillity. For a more intense arrival in unfamiliar places. No more rushing around.
In short, we would say: "We've seen it all." Which is far from true, of course, but we do notice that our travel behaviour has changed: longer breaks, more nature, far fewer cities. Less input, more living in the moment. Taking even more time for encounters.
And so we have been sitting in the mountains of Appenzellerland for days, letting our minds wander and thinking about what we want for the future. Thoughts about how we want to live in old age come to mind. But also about a change in travel behaviour, about the increased opportunity to be closer to friends and family again. How do we want to live, work and travel in the next few years? How much, where and where?
Breaks from home for long-term travellers are good: they show what you have, what you miss and also what you never missed while travelling. In our case, it is a time for reflection without external distractions such as new countries, new people, new "old stones" and new cultures. This is where we feel at home, where we can develop visions. And, as the past has shown, we are good at that. Simply take a completely new approach. What is good, what is less so? What must stay, what can go.
"Where are we going next?" we are often asked. Yes, that's probably the best question of all. It's like the huge yoghurt shelves in the giant supermarkets of the western world. And the endless choice: What should we choose? What do we feel like?
So, in addition to spending time with family and friends, we will use the time to do some soul-searching. And to go in search of inspiration. And then, perhaps in late summer or autumn, to face the Traveller life again with fresh ideas and maybe even new travel wishes in a pure life style.
We are also looking forward to everything that comes next: lectures where we might meet you, professional conferences and travelling through Switzerland and Germany. One will even take us as far north as Kiel. Another on 14 September '24 to the Pritz Globetrotter meeting towards Munich, where we will be giving our travel talk "Road trip realities - how we manage to live in a van for years". Maybe we'll see you there or somewhere else?
Merci for "travelling with us
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