Today’s Challenge: Write a response blog post to this question:

 

What is your definition of location independence?

Not being tied down to any particular location is definitely a dream of mine. I used to love road trips as a kid. Every summer my dad would pack up the van and we would head off exploring some part of the United States for two straight weeks.

We’d sleep in the van and bring food so we wouldn’t spend anything on hotels or restaurants if we didn’t have to. That was when you could get away with doing those types of things. It’s not that way anymore.

I miss it. But as I think about traveling all over the world now, I’m not so sure I really deep down inside want it in reality. So much has changed since then, and not for the better.

The Downside

The last few road trips my family has taken were pretty stressful as far as travel was concerned. People drive crazier now, and are in a lot more of a hurry. Sure, there are other forms of transportation. None of those thrill me either.

My husband and I are both afraid of heights, so traveling by plane isn’t an option we look forward to. I don’t like being in heavily crowded areas, so that rules out plane, train, and bus. My husband and I joke around comparing ourselves to Jack and Rose from the Titanic movie, so perhaps traveling by boat isn’t a good idea.

So I think that in order for my husband and me to be truly happy with being location independent, we’d probably have to start off high-class. Hire a limo driver to take us everywhere. We could probably deal with having a private pilot and our own jet plane but since we are not at that point in our life yet; we’ll have to wait and see.

The Good Side

I do like a lot of things that being location independent provides. You have a whole lot less stuff to take care of and clean. This frees up tons of time to develop other areas of your life: spending time with family and friends, creating and expanding business projects, and involving yourself into more relaxation and recreational activities.

Being location independent expands your horizons and provides learning experiences you just can’t get from reading a book, attending a class, or watching a video on YouTube. Being physically, emotionally, and spiritually involved enriches you in ways you will never expect.

Thanks for the Memories...

One of the richest experiences I ever had was when I traveled to Mexico on a mission trip when I was 16. Years later, I remember almost every single moment to this day. It’s kind of impossible to forget running around Mexico in a pirate outfit, knowing only a handful of words in Spanish, and being terrified to eat or drink anything because the water is so terrible that it might kill you.

I remember the time when my youth pastor had to figure out how to buy feminine hygiene products in an open market place because there was no one else available to help me. (Poor guy...I still feel bad to this day.) 

I remember taking my stepdaughter to a resort and watching her bounce backwards full blast off a screened sliding balcony door after racing to tell me something incredibly important. (Thank goodness the screen was there. If not, she would have hurled herself off a second floor balcony.)

Okay, so none of those things were cultural learning experiences that made me a better person. But the point is they were experiences I would never have had were I not willing to have an adventurous spirit and travel outside of my current location.

And these are just some of the memories that when shared create a bonding experience that stays strong for a lifetime. Becoming location independent will provide even more of these great experiences and provide opportunities that just may not be available otherwise. Bonus: these experiences also are great fodder for me as a writer.

What would being location independent do for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.