This is a short book -- about 200 pages. Well-written and insightful view on lightening your load of obligations and wandering the world. Rolf has spent a lot of time on extended travel, but the book is a nice ramble though a lot of ideas and topics relating to materialism, happiness, rewards of frugality, etc. There are a lot of practical resources for those who want to travel far and light.
This is a good one to read and enjoy.
I'm reading this book now . . . for the second time. As I am getting close to RE, I picked it up again for inspiration, motivation and planning. Anyone in the ERE mindset should enjoy it. It is a nice escape in its own way.
love this book.
Agreed. It was such an inspirational book. I read it back in 2010 before my trip to Mexico.
I envy those who get something out of traveling. The traveling I do is more in terms of theories and abstractions. Unfortunately, there seems to be a far more limited number of those around.
@jacob-I envy an intellect that makes those theories and abstractions a worthwhile journey. For me, that journey would be rather short and dull. I am reduced to enjoying other people's intellectual pursuits through books and travel.
I don't have the travelling urge that I once did, but I do like the unencumbered mindset. I saw a Sprinter van (commercial) the other day as I was driving into work. It had me thinking all day about a vandwelling set-up. I find the idea of having all my stuff in a 96 sq. ft. bounded space (16 x 6) strangly compelling.
Its now on hold for me at my local library.. looking forward to it.
Read it, liked it. Like the mindset of being unencumbered. I enjoy some aspects of travel, but hate other aspects. Like Jacob, I am content being at home traveling places in my mind, so I get the best of both worlds. Once I achieve FI/ERE I will probably take some long trips, but do it at a slow pace that will truly allow me to be a vagabonder.
I just checked it out from the library. I like the idea of extended simple travel. But I do like a home base too, with family and friends nearby. For ER, I would like some combination of both. Still working on how to combine them both.
I just started the book, and it's not with me, so the quote won't be completely accurate. But I liked what he said about the time it takes to save for the travels is an important part, to be used for contemplation on why you want to travel, what you want to get out of it. I think that is important for those saving for ERE, don't just feel like you can't enjoy your life now, or it's a burden to be working (ok, we all know it is) but it's part of the process, embrace it, if you can't exactly enjoy all aspects of it, at least learn something from it :)
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