We would like to think that we don’t follow a particular path just because it is popular.
(The exception to this postulate are all those people–mostly female–who continue to get those tiny, little, yapping dogs the size of a mouse on steroids and carry them around like a purse under their arm (or IN their purse), apparently because a few Hollywood starlets do it. (I actually had another “S” word in mind that rhymes with “mutt.”)
Most of us would like to think we do what we do because it’s what we want to do; not because everyone else is doing it.
Or, in my case, because my wonderful wife suggested I do it.
As a matter of fact, many of us will avoid certain life choices just because everyone else is doing it.
It was not that long ago that I noticed, what I thought was, a few people walking away from the classic corporate 8-to-5 lifestyle with the associated accoutrements, such as a domestic domicile, a leased BMW, and American Express card, to become an independent, seemingly semi-permanent traveler.
I began to discover a network of these self-described nomads through a young man who has apparently chosen a life on the road (and sometimes off the road).
Nomadic Matt is somehow able to find a place to sleep, occasionally eat, and travel the world discovering a whole planet of things to see on a full time basis.
But apparently this is not just a small group of people who have chosen this way of life.
While the concept of a nomad has been around for thousands of years, some news sources seem to thing this is just now becoming a trend.
The San Francisco Chronicle story characterizes the current trend of either people with lots of money or people who have lost most of theirs. The paper claims that there are a million Americans who have undertaken this lifestyle.
And some accounts say that there are upwards of 30 to 40 million nomads world wide.
Wow, that must make finding a spare bed in the hostels pretty tough.
But the larger number includes the traditional nomads, the image being of the wandering tribes of hardscrabble people, riding camels, looking for the next water source, rather than the modern nomads with Nikon cameras, smart phones, netbook computers, ultra-lightweight backpack gear, and clothing made from recycled plastic bottles.
The similarities may be in name only.
Well, that, and how they smell after too many miles between taking a bath.
As some people see modern society disintegrating into a Mad Max scenario, maybe we will all be nomads some day.
But if that happens, where will I plug in my plethora of electronic devices for recharging?
i’ve been on the road, seeing the world and living my dream for 4 years now and it’s definitely a positive lifestyle choice! But i guess different people want different things, for me – this is perfect =)
johnny – onestep4ward.com
Johhny, please keep those cards and letters coming for us wannabe world traveling nomads.
Don’t don’t forget to call your mother once in a while.