Long-term travel: it excites you, scares you, liberates you, and ultimately transforms you. Many dream of packing up their lives to explore the world, imagining it as an endless stream of adventures. While there’s truth to the magic of travel, beneath the glamor lies a reality often overlooked. Here are 9 truths about living a life of travel—things no one tells you but you need to know:

1. A Sense of Belonging Can Be Hard to Pin Down

Travel can make you feel like you belong everywhere—and nowhere at the same time. The freedom to start fresh in any corner of the world is intoxicating, but it can leave you feeling ungrounded, like a bobber drifting on a fishing line.

How to cope: Create a sense of “home” wherever you go. Carry mementos, photos, or keepsakes from loved ones. Decorate your space, even temporarily. Embrace a community by volunteering, joining a sports team, or saying "yes" to every invite. Building meaningful connections helps transform temporary destinations into places that truly feel like home.

2. No Place is Perfect

That wanderlust-fueled itch keeps pushing you to see what’s over the horizon, but every destination has its flaws, and chasing perfection can leave you burned out.

Pause. Reflect on where you are. Appreciate the beauty of your current surroundings. Contentment is a learned skill.

3. Returning Home Can Be a Shock

Home will always be home, but it may no longer feel like your home. You’ve grown, evolved, and gained new perspectives, while everything there seems frozen in time. Life there may feel stagnant compared to your adventures.

However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Celebrate how much you’ve grown, and recognize the beauty in different ways of life—yours and theirs. And if home no longer feels like where you belong, the good news is that the world is wide open to you.

4. You’re Still Responsible

Traveling doesn’t mean escaping responsibilities. You’re in charge of budgeting, planning routes, safety, and staying informed about local conditions (like storm seasons or health risks). Keep a flexible plan, and always have a backup for when things go sideways (because they will).

*Playing out my favorite role as auntie to my adorable nieces who I always miss dearly.*

5. FOMO is Real

While you’re chasing your dreams, life back home moves on. Friends marry, babies are born, loved ones age, and milestones pass without you. Missing these moments can feel isolating, especially during long stints abroad.

Staying connected with phone calls, postcards, or video chats can bridge the gap. And when you return, cherish every moment with your people.

6. Homesickness Happens

No matter how exciting your trip is, you’ll occasionally crave the comforts of home. A favorite dish, a family hug, or even just a familiar routine.

Find small ways to ground yourself. Over time, you’ll realize you’re capable of creating comfort wherever you are. These moments teach you adaptability.

7. Getting Sick Abroad is a Rite of Passage

Every seasoned traveler has a tale of woe involving foreign bacteria, questionable meals, or a fever that hits like a freight train. I’ve been there—flat on my back, battling dengue fever in the middle of a public hospital in Cambodia. It was an experience I’ll never forget (and one you’ll get to read about in my upcoming book!).

Surviving those moments isn’t just part of the trip—it’s part of the story. Pack your travel insurance, throw in a first-aid kit, and remember: one day, you’ll laugh about it. Just…maybe not while you’re hugging the toilet.

8. Transitions Can Be Exhausting

Every move brings a fresh set of challenges: finding housing, setting up utilities and bank accounts, adjusting to new customs, completing visa or residency paperwork. Sometimes it feels never-ending! Add on the exhaustingly slow or over-complicated bureaucracy in some countries…WOW. Patience and resilience truly are virtues.

BUT all these things are part of the experience and make it all the sweeter. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The chaos is temporary, and once settled, you’ll look back with pride at how much you handled.

9. Travel Changes You

Travel forces you to step outside your comfort zone and shatters preconceived notions. Navigating foreign cultures, learning new languages, and adapting to unfamiliar environments doesn’t just teach you survival skills—it reshapes who you are. You become more independent, empathetic, and deeply appreciative of life’s diversity.

Lean into the discomfort—it’s where growth happens. Each destination, experience, and misstep expands your understanding of what it means to live a full and meaningful life.

Final Thoughts

The life of travel isn’t all glossy Instagram posts—it’s messy, raw, and deeply rewarding. It stretches you in ways you never expected, teaching resilience, adaptability, and gratitude for the journey of life. Along the way, you’ll face homesickness, responsibilities, and moments of doubt, but those challenges are part of what makes the adventure worth it.

Travel leaves you with more than just stories—it gives you new eyes to see the world and your place in it. The world becomes your home, and every corner has something new to teach you. So, pack your bags, embrace the chaos, and step boldly into the unknown. The journey will change you in ways you can’t yet imagine.

Join the Conversation:

Which of these realities about travel inspires—or intimidates—you the most? Have you faced similar challenges? Drop your thoughts or questions below—I’d love to hear your story.

9 Realities of Long-Term Travel You Need to Hear

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