What is my “nomad” journey?

Short version: I’m going “nomad” for a year. I’ve been feeling a deep inner pull to get out and explore more. It’s not just about the travel, it’s about the “moving” and the “journey”. Over the past few years, I’ve had a vision of traveling around the world. While this isn’t currently financially feasible for me, the urge to get out and around remains strong. Instead, I’m taking my work on the road with me and driving around the US to see people that I know all over the country.

Why? I’m still figuring that out. After many attempts to explain this to people, it’s clear to me that this is a “gut” feeling and not coming from my head. (My head would tell me that it’s crazy!) I want to explore, travel, reconnect with people I’ve only spent time with virtually. I want to see places – old and new. I want to feel the open road. I want to discover places and things I haven’t seen before. I want to meet new people. Most important, I feel compelled to put myself in unexpected circumstances so I can be open to what the universe will bring me along the way.

Let me be clear: I don’t live in a “champagne and resorts” kind of world. I don’t have a lot of money (at all!). I don’t have a lot of financial freedom. But what I DO have is autonomy, independence, control over my schedule and a network of people I care about all over the country. I also have a car that is paid for and has low mileage. So, I’m going to rely on the gracious hospitality of friends, family and loved ones. I’m going to take advantage of low-price roadside motels. I’m going to pack light. I’m going to live on “essentials”. I’m going to see what I’m capable of. I don’t expect anything from the trip: no miracles, magic, millionaires, mansions or money falling from the sky. What I do expect is to complete the journey, see a lot of places and spend time with a lot of people. The rest of it – that will be wonderful surprise!!!

My plan is to work through the southern states in the winter months and then work my way through the northern states in the spring and summer months. As finances and work commitments permit, I also plan to travel overseas periodically to visit friends I know in other countries. While I have a plan, it is not an agenda. I’m intentionally being flexible and building as I go. What really excites me is the prospect of the unplanned coming up. While I might plan on New England in the springtime… what if life brings me to New Guinea instead? While I might plan on the midwest in the summer time, what if life brings me to the middle of Argentina instead? Who knows???

The whole point of this journey is to be flexible, allow things to change, and to see what shows up for me along the way. This journey incorporates movement in a grand way, which is very important to me. As you can imagine, there are all kinds of details and I’ve been working through those logistics slowly, with a big “todo” list to get wrapped up within the last 30 days before my departure in November, 2024. If necessary, I’ll return for appointments or work opportunities in small sprints, perhaps I’ll fly back for these short visits. I anticipate being back home by the following August or September, and then we’ll see what comes next!

For those of you who have already offered me a place to stay – THANK YOU!!! I will make it worth your while. For the rest of you, keep an eye out. When I’m coming through your area, I’d like to connect, even if it’s lunch or coffee or whatever.

I’m planing to keep the trip journal here on Substack and possibly make that a paid subscription. Is that something you would consider paying a tiny price for to follow throughout the journey? Let me know your thoughts.

All my best to you, my friends. Life doesn’t have to be grand to be good. What started as a plan to fly around the world has turned into driving around the country. From staying in foreign cities to crashing on friends’ couches, I still think it’s pretty cool.

Question for you: What is a grand dream you’ve been holding onto that might actually be easier to launch than you thought?