Happy Friday Steemians!
On my last post @writewords commented and asked me what I meant by living a vagabond lifestyle and if I was really just nomadic. So what really is the difference between a vagabond and a nomad? Surprisingly, I have probably only been asked this one other time since I started vagabonding, and although the difference is hardly important, I think it is a great question because the answer holds a lot of information about who I am and what I am about. So here is some more background on me, Ashley! :)
So what is Vagabonding?
Well this is what Websters dictionary says:
Vagabond
1: moving from place to place without a fixed home : wandering
2: of, relating to, or characteristic of a wanderer
- leading an unsettled, irresponsible, or disreputable life
and this is what Websters says about a Nomad:
Nomad
1: a member of a people having no permanent home but moving from place to place usually in search of food or to graze livestock
2: a person who moves often
Now, by those definitions I am not sure why "nomad" became the word of choice for us long term travelers but that's besides the point. I believe that nowadays the word nomad is more in line with the definition of a vagabond and the two are more so interchangeable. Honestly, for me, I like to be correct in my word choices and it doesn't exactly matter what you call yourself. So, call me what you would like. :)
This is the definition of Vagabonding from the book Vagabonding by Rolf Potts:
"1. The act of leaving behind the orderly world to travel independently for an extended period of time. 2. A privately meaningful manner of travel that emphasizes creativity, adventure, awareness, simplicity, discovery, independence, realism, self-reliance, and growth of the spirit. 3. A deliberate way of living that makes freedom to travel possible. "
This definition really resonates with me and is a pretty solid definition of my current lifestyle. I also believe that most vagabonds intend to have a fixed home at some point again. Atleast, thats me. Where that place might be I am not sure and when that time might be, well, I am not sure on that either!
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What is vagabonding like for me?
So far, challenging but indescribably BEAUTIFUL and the best teacher I have ever had!
I began this lifestyle in October, 2016 when I had quit my job, sold all of my belongings and hopped on a one way flight to Costa Rica. I wasn't secure with a big savings or even an income of some kind but I was determined I could figure it out. I assumed volunteer work would be easy to find and that it would be my way of having a place to stay and maybe making a few bucks. Turns out its almost impossible to find volunteer work that allows you to bring your dog. HA! Yes, I travel with my dog, Wiley, and despite the challenges him being with me brings I wouldn't trade his companionship for the world nor will I accept it being impossible to travel with him.
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After almost four months of living in the jungle and traveling the southern countries of Central America I was presented with my biggest obstacle. Money was well past gone and things didn't exactly work out volunteering. I had to come back to the states for a backpacking trip that had been planned months in advance and then I was trying to get to the northern Central American countries for a spiritual journey, ALL WITH NO MONEY. I surrendered to life trying to teach me something and I went back to Arizona to work a few weeks. It seemed like a failure to be back working in the states at a "real job" and I would be lying if I didn't say I felt defeated. That is until I hiked the Grand Canyon and then took off to travel through Belize, Guatemala and Mexico. I DID IT! Now I am starting my journey living off grid in California for the next few months and I couldn't be more pleased and surprised at how life brought me here.
My process learning to navigate a vagabond life has been all over the place and far from easy going but the reward has been more than worth it. What I learned was that vagabonding wasn't about what I thought it was going to be. It isn't about everything working out the way my ego wanted it to. It's
about letting go of ego, jumping into the unknown to chase a dream and embracing what came my way no matter what it looked like. Most importantly it really gave meaning to the famous quote "It's not about the destination, but the journey getting there". I am grateful to have the courage to dare to live my dream every day and work towards chasing down even bigger ones relentlessly. Sometimes that requires improvising and changing plans all while trusting the hurdles that are placed in my way. I can safely say that my journey has been nothing like I imagined it would be. Before I started I pictured perfection, everything working out and a paradise life. What I got? Set backs, tons of changed plans and teachings from life that made the journey more beautiful than I could have even come close to imagining. A beautiful messy paradise I had never known I needed or wanted!
In the end, Vagabond or Nomad, life is worth exploring in whatever way feels most fulfilling to you.
I will leave you with this:
"Thus, the question of how and when to start vagabonding is not really a question at all. Vagabonding starts now. Even if the practical reality of travel is still months or years away, vagabonding begins the moment you stop making excuses, start saving money, and begin to look at maps with the narcotic tingle of possibility. From here, the reality of vagabonding comes into sharper focus as you adjust your worldview and begin to embrace the exhilarating uncertainty that true travel promises."
Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
MUCH LOVE,
Ashley @ahauvsart
Something tells me that @writewords guy is kinda honored to be featured in your post like this :)
YES! :)
Ashley, you're the bomb, babe.
I <3 how you write and how you express yourself physically in pictures.
Keep being 1000% you.
Thank you thank you thank you!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
welcome here @Ahauvsart ! Nice post, i will follow your account, please follow me...
Thanks so much!
Welcome to Steemit @ahauvsart :)
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Love posts like this because i can get a look into how people are finding ways to travel! I am planning on traveling to South America in hopes of finding new opportunities as well so i really appreciate you sharing your experience! Peace!
I am so glad you like it! I will be posting many more things about traveling and my experiences so stay tuned! Travel is amazing so go go go! I support your journey 100%! Good luck! Much love!!
I enjoyed your post. Good luck here on Steemit! Please consider checking out minnowsupportproject.com and @minnowsupport. It is a great community of individuals that will help you get started and can answer all of your questions.
Thank you so much! Someone else mentioned those also! I will check it out asap! Im sure it will really help ! Thanks for the reminder :)
Awesome post! I was wondering what is vagabond lifestyle, so thank you for explaining. I love your post, keep posting :)
Thank you so much for the kind words and support!
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Aaaaww such kind words! Thank you so much :)
Hey Ashley, nice to see your definition of what your lifestyle is like. It may be hard to describe to others, but if this is the right thing for you, keep doing it!
One thing I noticed is that your thumbnail pic doesn't show for this post in the feeds. That's because the filename has parenthesis in it.
FullSizeRender%20(1).jpgIf you want to change the filename to something with no ( ) and re-upload it, the pic will show.
This is a known bug, but no one knows when it might be fixed. Just a tip for this post and in the future; best not to use images with ( ) in their file name!
https://github.com/steemit/condenser/issues/1499
Anyway, followed and up voted. Have a great weekend!
Thank you for the kind words! AND thank you even more for the tip! I had no idea there was an issue!
This is absolutely incredible. I always wondered how you "defined" vagabond in today's world. I learned so much from this post so thank you.
I have a life similar to yours where I have surrendered myself to the universe, and travel wherever the universe thinks I can help the most people and do the most good.
I can feel your aura from here :) Keep doing great things
YES! I love living a life that guides me as much as I guide it! A beautiful bond. Thank you so much for the support :)!
You are so absolutely right it goes both way and such an incredible bond/feeling.
And you're welcome keep doing great things :)
Vagabonding is a beautiful way of living. I kinda switch from Vagabonding and civilised nomad life from time to time. I love both worlds but just if movement is involved.
Your adventures look amazing!
I love the difference in everyones story and how we all enjoy traveling/living differently! Incredible! Thank you :)
Vagabonding it is then I think its a much better sounding word anyways. Glad you enjoying life and hope for more stories to inspire :)
I think it sounds way more fun sounding too :) and there are many more to come THANK YOU!!!
Great looking forward to it :)
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