Here's a recent conversation I had with someone:
Random Person - So, you are a travel blogger?
Me - I am a blogger. I talk about several things including travel.
Random Person - Are you not a full time travel blogger?
Me - Nope. I am not a full-time travel blogger, nor will I ever be.
Random Person - Why not?
Me - O. Where do I start ... for so many reasons!
As much as I love traveling, I love staying at home more. I enjoy being a couch potato. I like having a sense of belonging to some place. I enjoy decorating my house. I cannot do any of these things if I am always on-the-go.
If you are a full-time travel blogger, then you are always on the go and have to carry minimal luggage. A book will be last thing you would want to carry along with you. Even if you buy them you would be able to take them along and what a tragedy that would be.
I like working out. I like going for group fitness classes. I also like volunteering at my yoga studio. I like meeting friends. I like doing all of these thing as much as I like traveling. And again, I would not be able to do them if I didn't have a home.
I know traveling is quintessentially "all-me-time" but that's not what I am talking about. I think this probably overlaps with being a home body, but the me time spent pampering myself, or taking care of 'bodily' needs is something which is best done in the comfort of my home.
The whole reason for not doing a 9 to 5 job is that I like flexibility. I like being able to pick my own hours. Do what and when I want to do. I do not want to be a slave to 'traveling'. You know when you are not home, you actually have the least amount of flexibility. You are dependent on the resources, culture, technology of the city/country you are in. That's not my idea of travel.
Cooking is such a stress buster for me. Stepping into the familiarity of my kitchen and starting to prepare a meal is my second favorite thing to do. And I do not particularly enjoy cooking in someone else's kitchen (unless it is a chef's kitchen or something!).
And truth be told, (full time) travel blogging is not really all that it is cracked up to be. There are constant delayed flights, not-that-great food options, a lot of bad accommodations, and a lot of cost involved. Not to say that it is not fantastic to be able to travel as a profession but it is not a bed of roses 100% of the times. My idea of travel is leisure, adventure and luxury. I like to do things at my own pace, I like to stay at good hotels, and I do not want to be on the road all the time.
The bottom line is that, travel for me is a break from my regular life. I do not want my world to revolve around travel. I enjoy a balanced life which has a little bit of everything instead of "too much" of any one thing.
Looks like, full-time travel blogging is not for me.
Blogger, Stylist, Storyteller, Fitness Enthusiast, Experimental Cook. If you have questions in any of the mentioned areas or have feedback, feel free to contact me at [email protected].
