Vagabonding is The Cure For Materialism

A lifestyle of world travel may seem extravagant and luxurious, but it has taught me to appreciate and favor the contrary.

“Individually, people are finding that a simpler lifestyle provides greater satisfaction than relentless pursuit of materialism.” -Laurance Rockefeller

Vagabonding is a simple way of living. Certain aspects like international logistics and the constant change of cultural environments can get complex but the nomadic nature of it makes it inherently simple.

I live out of my backpack so the amount of possessions I carry is limited to begin with as this is how it must be to be nomadic.

So it’s a natural progression of learning and excelling to live with far less stuff than most.

People, in general, just don’t need that much stuff in any type of lifestyle and this becomes more apparent the longer and further I travel.

Revealed from the way I changed over the years and from seeing how people around the world with almost nothing live as full a life as people with everything.

Don’t get me wrong, I still like nice(er) things but it’s not about opulence anymore, it’s about functionality, quality and the need for it – the things that matter when it comes to “things”. For example, cost is irrelevant if it’s something I need in life such as my top-of-the-line backpack or my $300 pocket knife.

I’ve learned to appreciate value and disregard luxury.

Have less. Do more. Be more.

Sometimes the finest things in life are the cheapest. One of the most ironic when it comes to travel is hostels versus hotels. I’ve stayed at the most expensive building in the world, The Marina Bay Sands Resort for $1000 a night but my times at hostels for $10 a night have consistently been more memorable.

Another irony is how cheap street food and rundown ma-and-pa restaurants almost always offer not only the most authentic cultural experience, but the best tasting as suppose to “classy” eateries.

I must admit I’ve developed a fondness for souvenirs. They’re usually trinkets with no cash value but high sentimental worth that can’t be acquired anywhere else or at any other time. So I’m technically materialistic when it comes to souvenirs but like they say…

Collect moments, not things…

…this way I can collect things that represent moments.

World travel is a form of higher learning and this is one of the many lessons I’ve learned so far.

Vagabonding is The Cure For Materialism.