Four Months on Land: Reflections from a Long-Term Traveler

For the past eight years, Bob and I have been long-term travelers, calling our sailboat, Rhapsody, home as we explored the world. But now, for the first time in nearly a decade, we’ve stepped away from the water for an extended land-based journey. And let me tell you—traveling on land as a long-term traveler feels very different from both life aboard and the short, whirlwind experiences of vacationers.

A Traveler Without a Home (for Now)

For us, travel has always meant movement, but with the continuity of Rhapsody as our home. No matter where we were in the world, we could soon drop anchor and feel settled. But on land? Home is wherever our suitcases land for the night. There’s no familiar galley to cook in, no cozy bunk with the gentle sway of the sea. Instead, we live out of our bags, constantly considering what we can carry and what we have to leave behind—including souvenirs that vacationers so easily pick up and take home.

Vacationers Pack Light, But We Travel Lighter

One thing I’ve noticed is how differently we and vacationers approach possessions. Vacationers can pack for the weather, take what they need, and bring back trinkets from their trip. But when travel is your life, every item you carry has to earn its place. Even when we’re on land, the same rules apply—we can’t accumulate much because we’ll have to carry it with us to the next stop. Meanwhile, I watch vacationers shop freely, filling their bags with keepsakes to bring home, knowing they have a place to put them.

A Different Sense of Time

Perhaps the biggest difference between a long-term traveler and a vacationer is the approach to time. Vacationers have a finite window—one, two, maybe four weeks—to squeeze in as much as possible. They rush from landmark to landmark, filling every moment with activities. But as long-term travelers, we don’t feel the same urgency. We can linger in a place, absorb its rhythms, and decide when it’s time to move on.

We continue to find joy in the freedom of adjusting our plans. We stay longer in places we love and leave early if something isn’t quite right. Watching vacationers rush past, checking off sights, reminds me how much I appreciate the ability to travel slowly.

A Shift in Interactions

One thing that doesn’t change, whether at sea or on land, is that much of our interaction happens with service workers—drivers, hotel staff, restaurant servers. However, our long-term travel on the boat does allow for deeper connections. We bond quickly with fellow cruisers, forming friendships that are often intense, even if it soon to be continued at a distance. On land, it’s harder to build those same relationships within the same timeframe,  but thankfully, technology helps bridge the gap—Zoom, Messenger, and Skype keep us connected to the people we’ve met along the way. (And to those of you reading this—you know who you are!)

The Trade-Offs

Of course, long-term travel isn’t without its sacrifices. First and foremost I miss family and friends. I also miss having a space of our own, over-filled with the treasures I’ve collected over the years, driving Bob nuts. I miss the comfort of a community of familiar faces that comes with staying in one place. But once having decided to continue to travel long term I appreciate the ability to slow down and to not feel obligated to do all the touristy things just because we’re in a new place.

Our time on land these four months has given me a broader perspective— what I miss, what I love, and what truly makes a place feel like home. And soon enough, we’ll be back on the water, carrying those reflections with us as the prevailing Westerlies push us to new discoveries.