We’ve all heard the argument on Instagram and Tiktok of “travel when you’re young.” Travel before it’s too hard to get around. Travel before the mountains and long walking tours become too much. Travel before your health declines and before you forget your own name. Travel while you can do the cool things.

And yet, you also probably know that this very argument is responding to the other side- “Wait to travel.” Wait until you’re more stable in life. Wait until you have more money in case you need it for something else. Wait until you have more time in your life to really enjoy the vacation.

But there is one argument that I haven’t heard until now. Not to wait because you need to build up your savings, but wait because what if you have too much time.

Too Much Time Argument
The Issue With Finding the Right Time
So When Do you Travel?!

Too Much Time Argument

It was years ago when I met a friend that said that he and his partner travel to one place internationally per year and that he highly recommends it as a “young person”. At the time, I wasn’t financially stable in order to do that, but I kept it in my back pocket for when I had more money.

Yes, I am a blogger, but also a trauma therapist. As a therapist, it’s so incredibly important to find time for yourself- self-care and do the things that prioritize your mental health. In the beginning of my career, I would try and do at least 3 “big” fun things in the month- whether this be art festivals, museums or going out to eat. Later, it became- traveling every 6 months…

My first solo trip as an adult was on a cruise to Bermuda. I absolutely fell in love with cruising and as soon as I returned, I booked a cruise in Europe- hitting four different countries. Within 2 years, I had traveled to 11 separate countries.

In my personal life, I know several people who’ve retired and honestly didn’t like it. They explained it a bit like how when we’re kids and we just can’t wait to be an adult- and yet once we are… it’s a little… well. We wish we could go back to the carefree life we once had. Think about it- 40 hours a week, you are working and all of the sudden, you now have 40 hours of free time. Most people I know who are “retired” now have an art business, a side hobby, dedicate time for volunteer work, advocacy. Which to be honest… is healthy. Yet it’s what I would’ve thought before.

So flash forwards to the present. I met someone who had been retired for awhile. He was really struggling with purpose and how to spend his years as a retired man. I know a lot of people who travel in their older years. A time to explore, and see things that they couldn’t when they had kids or were working. Unfortunately, for him- he raised a really good point. He had already done that. He had seen that already. He had been there. And to be honest… I get it.

(Left to Right) Cathedral of Palermo, Cathedral of Barcelona, Jesus of Case Professa in Italy and Cathedrale de la Major in France

When I was younger, I visited a lot of castles in the UK. As an adult, I went to Europe and saw some really incredible basilicas, churches, monasteries and cathedrals. I loved the nature views in Japan and Italy. The beaches in France and Bermuda were incredible- and I can’t wait to go to Mexico and Belize for more. And yet… there comes a point where a church is a church. A nature view is a nature view and the castles are cool.

As a young person, as someone just exploring the world, there are oohs and ahhs, and of course I have things on my bucket list- the Northern Lights, going to Australia for the reefs and wildlife, an African Safari, the pyramids and museums in Egypt, the elephants in Thailand, but what happens when I’m 60, and all that is done? Do I repeat things I’ve already done? Will I still be mesmerized when I step into the 105th castle? Or is it possible, I would have traveled too much and still have too much time just like that man I met.

So then, I open an art business. I take up volunteering at the shelter. I find things to do. But after traveling the world… will it mean anything or just feel like I’m finding meaningless things to do? Depressing and bleak sure- but that’s the other argument. The awe, the joy and the wows will die down, desensitized to traveling and if you’ve done too many amazing things, will crocheting animals for the next 20-30 years be enough? If volunteering in war-stricken lands, watching the Northern Lights in Alaska, Swimming with Dolphins and seeing Lions up close in Africa was what I did in my early years and now seems mundane- will crocheting animals or painting flowers be satisfying?

Food for thought for all of us, probably…

The Issue With Finding the Right Time

Let’s all stand up. Shake off that bleakness!!

And to be honest, traveling with kids is harder. I have a cousin who is waiting until his son gets older. And possibly by that time, he will have another child. Traveling without money is hard, and counter to what I just said- we can’t predict our health.

I don’t know if there’s a perfect time. Perhaps a good time, but maybe not a perfect one. I am 28, I am financially stable enough and I don’t have children or a partner. But I do have pets. I don’t have PTO. So perhaps this is the best time for me.

So When Do you Travel?!

And perhaps there is not “best time.” Perhaps it’s about your life stage and what’s going on. And to be honest, even the people who “travel too much”- I don’t imagine they are regretful of traveling, but perhaps despaired at the “okay what now?”

For me? I love traveling- I look forward to it and I can’t wait for my next one. In January, I’m going to Mexico, Honduras, Belize & Grand Cayman. In November, I’m heading to the Philippines and China, my country. If I can squeeze in another trip to Ukraine, I will likely do that too.

And yet… the argument exists for a reason, so roll the dice and take your chance. You could regret not traveling when you’re young and yet you could also wish you took less vacations during your working years. You can’t know until you do. So penny for your thoughts. And on that note…

Cheers friends & Travelers!
~Sho, Founder of Backroad Butterflies ~

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