Life of a True Vagabond

Posted on by waywardwheeler in travel

“Nature is pleased with simplicity, and nature is no dummy.” – Issac Newton

7 months into my worldy vagabond, I’ve grown a beard and I now travel with just a small camelback day pack and a guitar.Enough to hold some books, another set of clothes and chargers for the devices ive decided to use to share the journey with everyone.

After letting go of the things I didnt need in America, I now find myself looking at what im using in this moment in France and that I feel all I need is the clothes Im wearing now. I have the urge to liberate myself from everything and emerse myself into either complete wilderness still or now into a country alone where I would have to learn a new language to communicate. However the urge is strong for me to let go of everything, I could quite easily at this stage travel only with my clothes on me and my passport. I want to take the opportunity while it seems easy to do so before the temptation of material life becomes inviting again. 

All I’m feeling now is the same feeling that I had the years leading up to me travelling as I am now, Im waiting and enjoying the time until I am presented with the right moment to let go of everything and start the true life of a Vagabond, or go bush for a while. I picture myself in a bit of land on the west coast of the south island completely in it. Like a man in the movies stranded on a island that has to let go of his modern world and learn to live off the land to survive, build his shelter. I picture myself using all my physical and mental energy not to earn money, but to be swinging through that native bush in my chair on ropes from the trees and building a home with intricate systems like water, and ways of permaculutre. Allowing my creativity for the way I live to evolve, approaching the normal things like getting from A to B in a different way where in the past I would want to fit in and the world is made in such a way that I can just push on a path of some kind, but in the bush that seems illogical to either build a path right across or try and push the terrain…why not strap myself to my chair and swing like tarzan?. I want to have the chance to approach life differently than these last 28 years so far. 

I imagine that all this will happen once I have finished travelling with Julie in Europe, and I have finished with the 3 months training for the New Zealand basketball team I plan on doing before we go to Bejiing. Even though my drive is towards the path of continuing to let go and head down a path on which I cant see past the start, I have these little tangents off the path which I can enjoy.  As long as I keep an overall focus and direction towards the main path of which is grabbing my eye I can enjoy and be happy with these tangents. This is exactly how I felt with this world vagabond that I’m on now, I was doing my engineering apprenticeship, training for basketball, taking up other hobbies and interests but my main goal was to start to learn to let go and get away from all that, and everything I know. I could not wait to start this, and my heart was never free the whole time, the 6 years or so while I found my way to get to this stage. I learned to enjoy all the tangents off the path and the journey towards a path in which I couldnt see past but was excited to get the the start of.

Everyday is a beautiful day, I learn and I live. 

If you could be doing anything right at this moment what would you be doing? comment below, sometimes bringing a thought into the physical world can make it real… 

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Published by waywardwheeler

52 thoughts on “Life of a True Vagabond”

  1. Beijing will be amazing (if slightly smoggy)! I wish that I could be in South East Asia right now, working for an international education organisation. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that after months of job hunting I might have finally got something! 🙂

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    1. Yeah I hope to get off the beaten track in China, there may be less smog also. That will be amazing! That’s where you are currently job hunting? I’m sure if you are looking that you will find it 🙂

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      1. There will be! I’m currently trying to pursue a job in Chittagong, Bangladesh, but I’m based near London at the moment! Thank you 😊

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  2. If I could do anything, I would be living in a van, enjoying this summer free of the confinements of a permanent dwelling, and surround myself with beautiful people in this beautiful world. Come to find out, I am living exactly the life I want to right now.
    A few years ago, as my many belongings were suffocating me, I decided to liberate myself as well. I decided to donate much of what I owned to family and friends and it changed my attitude towards “stuff” completely. Instead of wanting things for myself, I now enjoy seeing others getting the most out of the things I gave them.

    I enjoy reading about your journey. Keep the posts coming. Take care fellow vagabond!

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    1. What an amazing story! 🙂 There’s something about not having a permanent dwelling which is nice. And sitting out the back of a van or station wagon looking over some beautiful spot you have placed yourself..now that sounds like a perfect summer, I may just do the same.

      Man, what a road…I’m so glad you have made it down a road like that. What a wonderful feeling that is, I’ve been working on giving away things and the feeling is much more fulfilling than receiving I feel.

      I hope to hear stories of you in your van this summer

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  3. Travelling around New Zealand in my van stopping at all the places I usually drive past chatting with locals LEARNING About this beautiful country of ours being at one with nature feeling the sun on my skin, rain on my face opening up to new experiences enjoying where I am in the moments.

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    1. That definitely​ sounds like a holiday plan jazz! Especially with that big van of yours. NZ is a wonderful country to explore too, it’s so nice to be able to go out into the nature and be alone in that spot…I definitely have some spots to recommend if you end up going 🙂

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  4. Currently my goal is to secure a new teaching contract in a different city in South Korea…but reading your blogs makes me want to travel even more. I’ve these dreams to take the Trans-Siberian Railroad across the continent and maybe hike the Appalachian Trail with my father. Hopefully I don’t get stuck in the rut of a comfortable life of a waygook here in Korea and chase those adventures like you! Thanks for sharing! I really enjoy your blog ^^

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    1. That would be amazing, I was in goyang in South Korea…a ghost town haha with no one around. It was eeiry.
      Now that sounds like a one of those beautiful Sundance films..does your father know you want to do it aswell?. I’ll have to google the trans-siberian railroad, mabe next time I’m in the states ill check it out 😀

      Thank you 🙂

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      1. Yes I’ve talked about it with my dad. And hopefully we can do it when I eventually get back stateside. The Trans-Siberian railroad actually goes through Russia. Seems like a unique adventure. If I ever make it happen it might have to be a solo trip. Hope you got to see more of Korea than the ghost town haha.

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      2. Ah I thought it was in Russia, even with all my travelling..my geography can be pretty terrible. Sounds like you want to do it…so I have no doubt you will :). Haha nope, pretty much just the ghost town, I was over playing basketball not really backpacking

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  5. I ask myself that everyday. I have had the opportunity to do most of the things I wanted to do in life, and my energy is directed differently than yours, but still theses last 4-5 years I cannot come up with the answer. My children are having babies and I enjoy watching them learn to be parents but since I had so many children, I’m not tearing down the house to immerse myself in babies. I was neve a mother that over involved myself in my kid’s lives once they left home. It’s their path and I don’t feel I have the right to interfere (except the occasional alarm bell I sound when things look way off). But for myself, I’m not working, my husband is needy and dependent on me and the knitting I do, while enjoyable is not enough. I would be happiest on my own, experiencing life from the perspective of new adventures, but I had this in my youth. There was s duty to finish or at least uphold the path I chose. So I write. I’ve written a book (not published, you can’t imagine the hassle that is and the rears one must kiss) and I start books in my head all the time. It seems incredibly easy. But there is always this underlying feeling that I am just taking up space and I could be doing more. Not for myself in terms of experience but in terms of using those past experiences to accomplish something. I only wish I knew what.

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    1. That sounds like a good way to be with parenting. I’ve started to learn that I can have new adventures within a path I have chosen…and that I can have weekend adventures which would get me by. I’d love to write a book too, so ill no doubt have to go through the same processes if I want it published.
      I’ve also noticed while I’ve been travelling, people that I’ve been doing workaway or helpx with have been enjoying the adventures through meeting travellers and new people, you could look at hosting.check out the sites for workaway and helpx. That could be a good way of sharing experience and also getting projects you may have done.

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  6. If I could be doing anything right now (apart from sleeping, I’d like to be doing that but I’m experiencing next level insomnia currently ~ its hideous, I’m a zombie) I’d firstly like to grab my camera, my 21 month old and travel, I don’t know how it would work, but I know the places we’d go and the people we’d meet would open so many pathways in her brain and set her up for a life of never settling for just existing, I’d like it to set her up to strive to learn and explore and share her stories but more importantly really hear the stories of others. I’d love to photograph our journey, it would allow and probably force me to up skill my photography, it would be the best way for her to see her journey and hopefully inspire her to keep going when she’s older. Foremost in life I never want her to feel sad or alone, just truly loved and courageous ❤️💙💚💛💜

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    1. Man that’s terrible 😦 is there any reason for the insomnia?. I used to take magnesium for sleeping ..it helped me alot, not sure about insomnia, but it’s natural and not hard to try :).
      That sounds beautiful, I had a upbringing similar to that…i think if your a good parent you don’t need to be in one place growing up. I lived in 40ish places going up…went to 13 or so different schools, I turned out ok I think. Lived in a housebus for a bit, slept in cars…all sorts. It has definitely helped me want to explore and open my eyes up to the world. I think your spot on with if she is a loved, you can’t go wrong 🙂 i really hope you get to start adventures with your daughter young 🌼✌

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  7. Something like month ago we met a guy who has been travelling through Afrika from two years already. He visited most of the African countries with only couple belongings in school backpack, while we are wandering around with 30-40 kg backpacks.
    I couldn’t understend him then but now i see how it depends from the path you chose and money you have.
    We carry all this stuff and use everything all the time. He could just buy something and throw away/give it to someone when he stopped using it.
    We cant afford throwing everything away after couple days when you have no idea where you’re gonna spend another night.
    Greetings from Zambia

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    1. I also think some people learn to use less, or use things that are already around them. For example I now travel with a hammock and instead of a sleeping bag I travel with a nice jacket suited for very cold conditions and both are the size of my hands when packed…if it got very very cold I may not have a comfortable sleep that night but I would survive. I found alot of my stuff I had was “just incase”. I could definitely not afford to buy new things Everytime either so I understand you on that 🙂
      But everyone is different, and like you say it depends on the path you choose

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      2. Well say no more, Im heading back to NZ in a month or so but definitely will be coming back to Europe 🙂 so when I do…I’ll make sure I come to turkey. And if you make it to New Zealand let me know 🙂

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  11. What an inspiring story. I hope that one day I may travel. I look forward to reading more of thou adventures.

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      1. I guess I should clarify… i hope to one day travel the world! I long to explore new mountains, oceans, states, countries… Your adventures sound so amazing ans carefree. But for now, yes… I’ll travel through my beautiful back yard😊

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      2. Where are you from? 🙂 My best advice for someone that is longing to travel is….the journey is the main part, so as long as you have started the journey to Travelling, you will love it. The flights are the main thing, but after that you don’t really need money I don’t think. There’s plenty of volunteering, and cultural exchange places that you just work for you food and accommodation, and then when you want to move on to the next place the next host is just an email away. Or sleeping outside is alot more fulfilling than people think…you feel a bit homeless doing it, but there’s no feeling like it

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      3. US, N.Carolina mountains and have barely traveled outside of my own state, once the kiddos are grown, though…

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  12. Ooh, how exciting. I am interested in your aspirations to remove yourself from ‘stuff’ and just travel with what you have on you. I can understand that feeling to a large degree. When I finally took myself off travelling (though I did have a big back-pack), when I got home I couldn’t fathom all the stuff I owned, and continued to live out of my back-pack for quite a long time after. I didn’t want to re-engage with all the stuff. Having little was very liberating. If I could be anywhere right now, I think I’d like to be travelling around New Zealand myself. Having just visited Australia last year, I feel compelled to go back and give New Zealand a really good go. I look forward to reading more of your adventures 🙂

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    1. I’ve never felt so appreciative of everything and life as when I have had the least, so it makes sense to work towards a simple life, or at least try and learn a way. That sounds like an amazing story, where did you start your travels?. Yes we are so close to Australia that you would have to come and visit! Let me know when you come! And we can catch up or I can show you some awesome places :). Thank you

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      1. Thank you! That is very cool of you :). My first adventure was back when I was a student. I went to Canada for 3 months and was due to travel through America too before I flew home, but I fell off the Rockies (klutz!), so wasn’t able to complete my trip sadly (so I have unfinished business with Vancouver and the US that must be dealt with at some stage :). Then in 2011, 2.5 months across South East Asia, the following year 6 weeks across South America, and then last year 6 weeks on Oz (plus lots of smaller European joints in between when I was being a proper grown up). I love the big treks when I’m not being a proper grown up best though. And I can’t wait until the next one. Happy travels to you! You are definitely living a great version of the dream 🙂

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      2. No worries 🙂 that amount of people that have been amazing to me, I have nothing that I wouldnt share with anyone…my love, material things and everything about me is somehow owed to someone one way or another, so everyone has a time share of me as far as I’m concerned haha. Noooo, that’s a terrible thing to happen. Wow sounds pretty amazing! The big treks as a non grown up are definitely my favorite too 🙂 happy travels too you also.

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  13. What would I be doing right now?
    Instead of sitting here gazing at it, internally berating myself for being too chicken to face the chill, I would be out on the water of the Hokianga, aiming a kayak at the shrouds of lifting mist as the day brightens, work up a hunger and home in time to kiss the kids as they head off for school…maybe fresh fish for breakfast!
    Envious of your journeys, both physically and mentally (I will not use the word spiritual, that is for you to decide personally). I have traveled and like you, gained so much. But the feet itch, always will.
    Roll on mate.

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    1. Now that sounds amazing, sounds definitely possible for a weekend trip?. One thing I have learned is that it doesn’t matter what I’m doing, my feet seem to metaphorically itch to get onto the next adventure or path..mabe it never ends?. I’m definitely a spiritual person, as I don’t know a different word to describe that I’m open minded to the universe and understand that I know very little on how it works.

      Thanks Michael, and I hope you find the daily adventures however small to keep the feet from itching too much.

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  14. Taking that final jump off of the hamster wheel to pursue a life much in line with as your. Currently in the process of eliminating the material things that bind us and losing everything in order to be richer then ever.
    Continued good luck and many blessings on your journey.

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      1. Yeah no kidding and I’m in the process of eliminating the material stuff that I accumulated over a lifetime. Less is more is my motto these days.
        Thank you again for sharing your story and the inspiration to just go for it. It’s nice to see that I’m not alone questioning the status quo and discovering that the conventional life is not for me.
        Take care and safe travels.

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  15. I’m looking forward to the time when I can write FULL TIME … Traveling has always been something I had said I would do, and I still will. But writing is just is as much fun, and once I finish this 3rd book, then I hope to combine the two loves of writing and traveling by doing book signings around the USA. While it would be amazing to be as free as you are, freedom starts in the heart because what comes from the heart makes its way into the reality of life.

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  17. What you are doing is what I want to do. I am only 19 and I’m committed to college for two more year but before I get the chance to really collect a ton of material things I’m going to let go and live without a specific home for as long as my saved nannying money can afford. Best of luck in all that you do!

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    1. I had the exact same thing although I started studying a little later at 22 and didn’t finish until 26-27 so you definitely have the right idea 🙂 I would always urge someone to at least have a gap year either after high school or after study to have a chance to have a look at where your heading from outside the bubble. Thank you and you too!

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      1. My biggest regret is not taking a gap year because I still don’t know what I want to do (so my major is Global Studies because it’s a really open major) but I’m too far in to be able to take a year off and still finish with $0 in debt so the financial freedom in 2 years will be worth the wait

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