Comments on: Business Crisis for The Professional Hobo! (Vlog Ep. 9)

By: Nora

Nora — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 10:30:43 +0000

In reply to Chris.

Hi Chris,
I’m glad you resonate with my honest approach to the struggle of life (which in my case happens to be this mix of business and pleasure on the road).
Indeed, I feel a shift coming that might just take me out from behind my computer screen before too long.

Funny you should mention your yoga friend; I used to be a professional actor/singer/dancer, and I discovered the same thing: once you take something you love and turn it into a job it isn’t always so much fun.
As such, I have lasted much longer in my “career” of travel than I have in any other career in my life – 11 years! But I have also had many chances to slow the pace down…both the pace of the business as well as the pace of travel.

My travels have been less tainted by the “how can I monetize this” moniker (perhaps if I were saying that more often I would have created a better business – ha ha!), and more tainted by the “how can I possibly balance all this work with all this travel”?
This seems to have been my primary problem, to which I recently realized there is no solution: it’s simply not possible to be on vacation full-time while simultaneously working full-time.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 13:46:51 +0000

Hi Nora,
I have a young friend who became so enamored with yoga that she got her instructor’s designation and started to teach. She said as soon as that happened, yoga was no longer interesting, it was a business. I get a similar feeling about your travelling. Your focus may have become so divided that you no longer enjoy either as much as you’d like – every travel experience is tainted by “how can I monetize this?” What I find interesting (about your site) is the struggle you have, how you deal with it – the human story. At some point (in your 50’s maybe) your energy will force you to stop and I wonder it you’ve thought about that. For me travel is not so much about learning about the places we visit (which is fun), but learning about ourselves. There comes a point where unique experiences (new locations) become so common that they are no longer unique and travelling through the uniqueness is not moving forward. Perhaps the shaman path was your agreement with that. I for one enjoy your struggle – it’s real.
Cheers

By: Nora

Nora — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 09:15:52 +0000

In reply to total_loss.

Hi total_loss,
Thank you! The irony about Nomadic Matt is, although he is now a roaring success, he started out at the same time as I did; he was a 20-something backpacker teaching English in Asia, staying in hostels. Now, he OWNS hostels.
I don’t begrudge him one tiny bit of his success. He has worked for it and he deserves it. But if I use him as a barometer, it’s a bit depressing. Ha!

By: total_loss

total_loss — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 23:36:07 +0000

Nora,

Just found your site today, I have never been to Nomadic Matt’s site, never heard of it. But to be honest, I would rather read about the travels of a non-millionaire like me, rather than a millionaires site. Why would I want to read about a Zillionaires travels, which we (my wife and I) could never do (we have been to 16 countries, apart from from the US), I still work and we live in a caravan (RV) full time because like you, I’m a professional hobo, almost retired. My point is, keep it up, I like what I’m seeing.

By: Nora

Nora — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 09:59:54 +0000

In reply to Jackie.

Hey Jackie,
Welcome! I’m glad I gained a new reader in you! 🙂 I’m big on reporting no-nonsense stuff, and also telling it like it is (or at least how it is…for me). Hence, the raw edge to my stories and videos. Glad it speaks to you!
Good luck with your own travels and plans. For medium-long term trips that involve living with locals, I’m a big fan of volunteering in trade for free accommodation, or even house-sitting. Just in case you haven’t come across this resource on my site yet: https://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/travel-tips-resources/get-free-accommodation-around-world/

By: Jackie

Jackie — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 19:17:52 +0000

Hi Nora,
I just found your site over July 4th weekend. The whole concept of reducing accommodation costs to almost zero by house sitting has captured my imagination, and I’m regularly checking in on those websites to develop what I hope will be a semi retirement plan! I especially like your clear listing of resources and no nonesense telling it like you see it.
So just as you were having a crisis you were gaining new readers! 🙂 For the record I learned abt your blog via Flipboard (which reposts from various websites and I don’t remember which travel site posted yours).
Since my travel started years ago as a 2 year volunteer in a Third World country, I’m most interested in the medium-long term trips where you get to know and live with local folks. Intrigued to figure out how to make it all work. Thanks for your sharing of how you do it.
-Jackie

By: Nora

Nora — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 13:01:44 +0000

In reply to Chris.

Thank you for your suggestions, Chris!
Indeed, purpose may have something to do with it, as might a simple craving for home. Then again, after 3 years in South America, maybe it’s about readjusting to life on the road. I have possibilities for the next year of travel that actually have me pretty excited. It’s an ebb and flow game…..and going with the flow is what it’s about.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 11:56:15 +0000

I too like your “voice”, it has a vulnerability and honesty. I can imagine that the “hobo” lifestyle can get tiring – there is something very soothing to have roots and a home. Perhaps traveling just to see other places is losing its attraction. Could you travel with more purpose? Take us to Burning Man, live the theatre life for 6 months, off to the Olympics, across the northwest passage, the Orient Express. Propose initiatives to sponsors, and crowd source their funding. If you are lucky you can tune into the purpose of this incarnation and find happiness. There are many of us rooting for you. Cheers

By: Nora

Nora — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 12:14:10 +0000

In reply to Andrew Dorchester.

Hi Andrew,
Thank you so much! I really like what you said here:
“I’ve never felt lonely traveling to the most remote places of the planet, but the 2017 digital landscape is a brutal and lonely place to be.”
That’s profound, and profoundly true. In all our digital connectedness, we are ultimately pretty disconnected. What a trip!

I’m actually enjoying the process of doing more videos and redesigning my site and getting more active on social media etc. Whether or not it pays off (but it surely will), it has been nice to create the time and space to embrace my work in a new way.

Looking forward to launching a new (slightly slicker) site! At the very least it will be easier to navigate than this one, and it will be mobile responsive. I’m joining this decade, finally! Ha ha.

By: Andrew Dorchester

Andrew Dorchester — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 22:28:57 +0000

Nora,

You are an inspiration to me and I suspect most of your readers. You can’t hack that. Your passion and genuineness for travel speaks volumes, as does your integrity for producing your crisis video. It takes a bravery and honesty to lay your cards out on the table the way you have and you are to be commended for doing so.

You are not alone in your frustration and fear in a world that might seem as though it is passing you by. I share your frustration about the speed at which the world is changing and the relentless pressure to keep up with the pace. I’ve never felt lonely traveling to the most remote places of the planet, but the 2017 digital landscape is brutal and lonely place to be.

No question about it, there are many slick looking travel websites that are constantly coming online. Some of them are good and some not so much. I have yet to see a website that contains information better than yours. Yes, some are flashier and have more splendid photography or videos, but it’s content that counts and your site regularly meets a higher standard.

Don’t despair, you are providing an enormously valuable service to your readers. Keep up the good work and have fun as you take the next steps in your project.

Best regards