Extreme Backpacking: How to Live on the Road
Travelling can be an excellent way to make your vacation special, or it can be a way of life. For those who can never seem to satisfy the travelling itch, there are ways to make it your full-time profession. The world has opened to new possibilities with the help of the Internet and personal computers. It is now possible to have a job and travel nonstop. It is also possible to work on location wherever you travel, if you have the necessary skills and a can-do attitude.
Once you are certain that you can fund your travels, either through savings or through income, it’s time to adjust your lifestyle so that you can carry on comfortably from place to place.
- Create the Perfect Road Trip Wardrobe
You can only bring so many clothes with you when you travel, so it’s important that your wardrobe is incredibly versatile. You need it to not only look good, you need it to suit the destinations that you are going to, and be culturally sensitive. That is also why you should plan your trips based on weather and season. It’s easy to have a good selection of items for warmer seasons, but it’s harder during winter in terms of carrying space.
You can create this capsule wardrobe from your own clothes, or you can buy clothes specifically for your journey. It depends on what you need your clothes to do.
- Minimize What You Need
When you’re on the road, you need to let go of a lot of your possessions. You can only bring the absolute necessities, so it’s time to minimize what you believe you need with what you actually need. For instance, you don’t need a big fluffy towel to bring with you, and instead should bring a small, lightweight microfiber one. The same goes for books, journals, and even electronics. The less things you pack, the better.
- Choose Reusable Items Over Disposable Ones
Another thing that you should aim to do is pack reusable items as much as you can. This could mean anything, from packing a handkerchief instead of tissues, to switching to vaping instead of buying packs of cigarettes. You can always order items to maintain what you have, like with vaping (click for info), but carrying items that take up extra space is not a good idea.
- Document Your Travels
Though you will meet people on the road, it can still get lonely. Stay on track and document your travels to give you direction and the perfect memento. Once you’re back home you can piece it back together and create a travel series that might even take off and further your funding in the future. It is entirely possible to make a brand out of yourself.
- Make New Connections
When you’re abroad, you need to meet people. Get to know them, talk to them, and learn their stories.
Backpacking for long periods of time is hard, and stressful, but knowing how to pack and prepare for it can help you enjoy your travels, and not get frustrated with the cargo.