Slow It Down
Early on in this trip we adopted a motto we dubbed "Slow It Down." I also call it "how to continuously travel without going insane, killing your travel partner or otherwise losing it." As we have extended our journey further, we have learned to apply this motto to our overall life philosophy, daily decisions and travel style. Adopting the "slow it down" lifestyle has helped us sit back and enjoy the moment without being constantly preoccupied with the future. In the grand scheme, Jessica and I decided to slow our lives down by going on an adventure. We chose to take a break from accumulating money, material possessions, notoriety and the American Dream. We wanted to stop long enough to enjoy our relative "youth". Of course slowing it down and enjoying life need not mean radical change. You can slow it down in many ways, even in your own living room. However for our personal tastes, travel was the best medium of slowing it down while incorporating adventure and experience.
Travel is awesome. It inspires, provokes, amazes and delights. But the joy of travel is tempered by the reality of details. The mass of decisions. Where to stay, what to do, what to eat, which sites to take in, which to skip. When I had a "real" job, I loved planning vacations - poring over the internet, picking and choosing locations, weighing my options, sussing out the best deals and discounts. The planning was fun, almost as fun as the travel itself. But now that we are on the road all the time, planning ahead is usually not that realistic, nor is it a good option. In Latin America the best deals are generally found in person. Most places with a web presence are directed toward rich tourists and are double or triple the local prices. We have found the best spots (at the best value) by simply rolling into town and looking around. Even so, we have had to take our motto further and change our tactics. When we first started traveling in Mexico, we would usually commit to the first or second place we looked at. I felt self-conscious saying no or being picky, and often we stayed someplace simply because we were tired and wanted to have the decision made. Lately we have learned to hold out. To stop and look around. Park the van. Get out and have a bite to eat or a beer. It gives us time to get past our initial judgments. The garbage burning in the street may be hiding a gem of a place. We take time to get off the main drag, check out the alleyways and the residential areas. Usually within that small period of time we find someone who knows a good place to stay, or we will notice a place we didn't see on the first run through town. Patience pays off.
We have also applied the "slow it down" motto to our travel style and momentum. We have learned to stay longer in one locale. It is cheaper, eliminates having to make continual lodging decisions, and allows us to really get to know a place and its residents. In most towns we could spend the same amount of money in a month as we could in three days. We met a couple of guys in Palenque who drove from Ohio through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala and back in two weeks. We estimated that we spent about a fifth of the money they had spent in two weeks as we had spent in five months. Of course I suppose it depends on what you have available. We had time. They had money. We have learned to stretch our time and money budget while taking a break from the constant decision-making that comes with being on the road. We need the occasional month-long stays to rest and relax. Hide out in the cabana. Carve out some alone time. Read a novel. Watch TV. Take a walk on the beach. Mostly our month-long stops have been based on time more than place. When we find ourselves ragged and bitchy we check out a few spots, find a good place and make a commitment.
In our slow mode we have also been able to take advantage of opportunities that arise from time to time. Interesting side ventures. Dinner invitations. Boat rides. We chose to make this trip, so we want to enjoy that decision as much and for as long as possible. In the grander scheme, I have learned to trust myself and my decisions a little bit more. Our motto can be applied to almost any situation. Try it out. Enjoy the choices you have made. Slow it down!
Travel is awesome. It inspires, provokes, amazes and delights. But the joy of travel is tempered by the reality of details. The mass of decisions. Where to stay, what to do, what to eat, which sites to take in, which to skip. When I had a "real" job, I loved planning vacations - poring over the internet, picking and choosing locations, weighing my options, sussing out the best deals and discounts. The planning was fun, almost as fun as the travel itself. But now that we are on the road all the time, planning ahead is usually not that realistic, nor is it a good option. In Latin America the best deals are generally found in person. Most places with a web presence are directed toward rich tourists and are double or triple the local prices. We have found the best spots (at the best value) by simply rolling into town and looking around. Even so, we have had to take our motto further and change our tactics. When we first started traveling in Mexico, we would usually commit to the first or second place we looked at. I felt self-conscious saying no or being picky, and often we stayed someplace simply because we were tired and wanted to have the decision made. Lately we have learned to hold out. To stop and look around. Park the van. Get out and have a bite to eat or a beer. It gives us time to get past our initial judgments. The garbage burning in the street may be hiding a gem of a place. We take time to get off the main drag, check out the alleyways and the residential areas. Usually within that small period of time we find someone who knows a good place to stay, or we will notice a place we didn't see on the first run through town. Patience pays off.
We have also applied the "slow it down" motto to our travel style and momentum. We have learned to stay longer in one locale. It is cheaper, eliminates having to make continual lodging decisions, and allows us to really get to know a place and its residents. In most towns we could spend the same amount of money in a month as we could in three days. We met a couple of guys in Palenque who drove from Ohio through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala and back in two weeks. We estimated that we spent about a fifth of the money they had spent in two weeks as we had spent in five months. Of course I suppose it depends on what you have available. We had time. They had money. We have learned to stretch our time and money budget while taking a break from the constant decision-making that comes with being on the road. We need the occasional month-long stays to rest and relax. Hide out in the cabana. Carve out some alone time. Read a novel. Watch TV. Take a walk on the beach. Mostly our month-long stops have been based on time more than place. When we find ourselves ragged and bitchy we check out a few spots, find a good place and make a commitment.
In our slow mode we have also been able to take advantage of opportunities that arise from time to time. Interesting side ventures. Dinner invitations. Boat rides. We chose to make this trip, so we want to enjoy that decision as much and for as long as possible. In the grander scheme, I have learned to trust myself and my decisions a little bit more. Our motto can be applied to almost any situation. Try it out. Enjoy the choices you have made. Slow it down!
Awesome post. My new year's resolution was to "walk slower," literally and figuratively, and I really identify with your post.
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Slowed-down kisses to you!! We are now thinking Costa Rica!?
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