You probably don’t know it, as it’s hard to see the aftermath of a world trip from my infrequent posts published here. But life is changing around me. And so am I. Some changes are delicate and not intended to share even though they contribute quite a lot to my state of mind. Some other changes are more obvious and easy to report back about. So I guess I will start on the bright side where things are nice and easy.
The aftermath of a world trip
Before I embarked a plane to Bangkok almost 2 years ago I got rid of many things in my life. I sold things, stored them in boxes on the attic or right away dumped them. All out of fear that a pile of things would sit in the corner after I returned from what was intended to be a minimalist backpacker trip. Until today I hid from the fact it’ll be time to face the remaining pile again.
Upon returning from Central America I headed to Tunisia right away. There was no necessity to get to my things, let alone repack my bag. The bag already contained a well thought out packing list for various climates. Today after 8 more months my bag still holds the same inventory except two new pair of socks. My stuff is serving me well since a little over 20 months.
However I feel torn. I feel comfortable with what I possess. Anyhow I feel a nagging discomfort when I imagine people spending on fancy clothing or cultivating a decent shoe addiction. I guess I’m my own devil here. I once projected a social stigma upon people which would wear 90ies sweaters when I aspired to become a child of the next millennium.
On the other hand living out of a backpack has it’s benefits. Once I visit the attic I can shop in my private collection. Every piece has been well curated and is waiting for me to be rediscovered.
Where to live and how?
As inventory issues cause convictions in my head the aftermath of a world trip also includes the question of where to find a new permanent location. This almost lets my head explode. I enjoyed the travel and the minimalism it meant for me. The memories of distant places don’t make things easier nor did the experience of living in a van for me.
Since I live in Tunisia I am an official expatriate and enjoy the pleasure of coming back to my home country every once in a while. It’s hard to describe the excitement when I leave the arrival zone of Frankfurt Airport to board a high speed train home. But home is a difficult term these days. I hold obligations to a flat in the north of Stuttgart. I lost my heart in Bangkok and oscillate between Germany and an apartment in Nabeul for the last 9 months. Shelter has degraded into a commodity.
I’m afraid this indifference can’t last forever. I am afraid that if I call the world my home my social environment would suffer. Who wants to be with someone that is never around when you need him. I feel like a new mode of living should be established.
In Tunisia I can hear the crickets chirping when I sleep with open windows. I take the dog of my landlord for a walk on the beach after work. I cycle to the office within 4 minutes and enjoy the additional time of my day.
The fear of missing out
In Germany I spend 2 hours per day commuting to work. Stuttgart has been a good location for quite some years but things changed. Friends gave birth to children and moved out. Others simply hopped on to the next stop in their journey. It could be due to the fact I’m living abroad for such a long time but a densely inhabited city just doesn’t give me a kick right now. Moving to the outskirts and closer to my workplace could be an option. Remember the social stigma I mentioned in clothing? Say Hi to my devil once more when it comes to living outside of a big town. I guess this is what the fear of missing out is all about
Speaking of modes of living: There is the third vector related to when and where: How? I love the idea of living with minimalism and I developed a sense of frugalism. Both aspects impose new problems: Renting a flat or house inside Stuttgart would cost a fortune and isn’t required for storing a backpack. Paying an arm and a leg to pay off someone else’s investment somewhere nice seems not a thing to do for me. Moving to a more affordable place or making a good investment would feel better. I dream of buying a car and live in that, or even better a sea container or a sailing boat. Closeness to nature, freedom and financial sustainability are my main objectives to combine.
Travelling the world was a very good experience. Mind opening and rewarding. However the aftermath of a world trip is something different. There is issues about the next chapter: What will happen if I push things further. Can life become even more immediate, less compromised? Where is the location for this? I’m aware someone could look upon my private lifestyle especially in relation to my professional status and expect something else. But moving out of my comfort zone is something private and the only thing that holds me back is projecting social stigmas and real estate prices. I guess I’m looking for a silver bullet to the aftermath of a world trip.
