I get this comment a lot from people considering a nomadic life:

“I wish I had the courage to live a nomadic lifestyle! Unfortunately… I think I’ve waited too long…

You, maybe

The sentiment these people express is a general sense of happiness with an underlying, nagging feeling of missing out on something.

The first thing I say in response is that it’s a tradeoff: I can’t necessarily imagine the thrill of growing a large, loving family. The commenter who gave the above quote cited the main reason she can’t indulge in a nomadic lifestyle to be her five children and three grandchildren – life accomplishments that are inspiring in their own right!

But okay – the real issue here is the element of regret.

Life is short and you might only get one chance to live it your way, right? That’s the nagging fear that pushes many of us to even try a nomadic lifestyle. But even with this in mind, the fear of being unable to find or actualize that way inhibits many would-be nomads.

I’ll be frank: I don’t know how to find your way.

What I truly do believe, though, is that life has infinite possibilities and there is a way to achieve your desired lifestyle. It certainly exists. The challenging quest is finding out how.

Listen to the full pod here:

A couple of disclaimers, since life isn’t perfect

• It might take time. Lots of time.

And that’s totally okay. It took me over two years to prepare – from the point where I was certain I wanted a nomadic lifestyle to actually diving into it.

I finished my education and built up my business for some passive revenue. Your path may look different, but the idea is that you’re not wildly following your dreams and leaving your house the next day. Even spontaneity needs patience sometimes.

But then again, the concept of perfect timing is a myth. Sometimes you just have to pull the trigger.

• Your perfect dream may not be your dream

When I started, the golden dream in my mind was a backpacking trip back from 2003. It was the best period of my life: I was careless and happy, always moving around.

For the last decade, I’ve been moving around – yes – but also working consistently. In a way, I kinda diluted my dream to make it more feasible… So it’s not as perfect as I once imagined.

And there’s another warning: You might have to make concessions, but the general framework of your dream should still be possible.

Take those disclaimers to heart, but even still, know that it’s all been worth it:

My goal in life is to live and die without regrets.

Milarepa, Tibetan monk

More wisdom from the peanut gallery

Here’s a response to our above commenter from another who overcame family obstacles to realize the nomadic life:

It’s never too late to follow your heart; I’ve raised 4 kids (one currently homeschooled) – I say go for it.

So we see a similar situation, but a completely different decision. Once something is important enough and you have enough motivation, it’s doable.

Another comment from several years ago:

“When I look back at my life and think of all the times I was happiest, they do seem to be after a major environmental change has happened. The in-between parts seem to dilute the overall richness of my life.

I realized that on this current path in the in-between period for me will be me for the next few decades. It feels like looking down the gun barrel with someone else’s finger on the trigger.”

Wise commenter Eric

Sometimes you just have to plunge; if you really want it, things tend to find a way of working themselves out. Especially if your goal is to be happy on your own terms.

Another comment for motivation:

“Go for it! I feel exactly the same. Move on; you can always move back to being a slave to the grind.”

Barry, written in exuberant CAPS

That last point is spot on – you really can always go back to being whatever you were. It’s not like this nomadic life is irreversible. Contrary to popular belief, going back to the “normal” life isn’t impossible, nor is it particularly difficult.

And here’s a deeper nugget of truth: Nobody cares about this decision as much as you and your ego. You’re seeking more joy, right? So approach this decision with that mentality. We’ll end with another of our favorite quotes, which puts this whole inner dilemma into perspective:

Life is too important to be taken seriously.

Oscar Wilde