After five years of full-time travel, our mobile muscles have strengthened every time we have moved. Efficiently we have zipped through security, knowing that the nose scissors must be out to avoid an extra search. Computers automatically plunk into trays despite a new requirement to keep them stashed. Our same travel outfits guarantee comfy and reliable wear.
That is to say, we’ve gotten comfortable in our Nomad Life, and perhaps a few bad habits have slipped in. Realizing this, I’m out to make some Travel Resolutions, er, ReVolutions, to change us up a bit next year, our sixth year of full-time travel.
I am also throwing in a few polls; I would love some feedback about how we’re doing and where to go next as a brand.
My ResVolutions for 2026
With carry-on suitcase limitations getting even more narrow, I’m going to downsize my absolutely favorite Osprey Transporter 40 Wheeled for its little sister, the smaller Transporter Carry-on. The smaller one is 2L less. When my entire ecosystem including my backpack (20L) is only 50L, dropping 4% of my total volumne will be a challenge.
Travel slower. Even though we say that we travel one month at a time, our numbers don’t support our words. Just last year alone, we changed beds every 4-5 days on average. With some necessary medical needs on the docket for 2026, we’ll need recovery time. This means slowing down—we’re shooting to stay in one place for 5 months this year. Can we do it?
Talk to residents. Thanks to the great suggestion from Brad Yonaka who reached out in chat, I resolve to get out of the English bubble. It’s easy to chat with the taxi drivers and cafe servers due to their ability to speak English or their patience with my enthusaistic butchering of their language. But breaking through the invisible barrier between me, as a native English speaker, and the speakers of the local language is difficult. I resolve to break out of the expat/nomad comfort zone and into the lives of locals and really “get to know the locals.” More dance classes, hiking groups, language interactions.
In relation to number 3, I’m going to stop saying things like: “He didn’t speak a word of English,” rather, “I didn’t speak a word of XX.” In addition, I want to limit the privledged language and thoughts of “it’s so cheap here”, “back home in the US…”, and “I can get that on Amazon.” Getting to know the locals means actually acting like a local and solving my problems with local solutions.
Add local music to my playlists. At my Greek lesson languages, my teacher plays a Greek song at the start of every class. I vow to add these songs to my very American pop song list. I hope this will improve my Greek comprehension as well and let me through another window of local culture.
Finally, on a bit of a different twist, last year we upgraded our entertainment, vowing to spend more on joyful experiences. This year, I vow to upgrade my comfort. We’ve fallen into the habit of forgoing a bit of comfort to squeeze more out of the budget. I’ve suffered. Somehow, I vow to be more comfortable this year while still maintaining our budget. This means either sets of twin beds rather than fulls, queen beds over full beds, window’ed cruise rooms over windowless, and couches with arms. Those of you Nomad Lifers who identify with this, please offer tips.
Let’s Not Be Tone Deaf
As the new year approaches, I do enjoy the feeling of freshness and hope. Although we had a great 2025, when I look at year-end pictures in review, I see how dreadful the year was for so many people. Stating that I want a more comforable bed feels tone deaf in light of the world’s events.
Although the changes I want to own feel revolutionary to me, perhaps the butterfly’s wings will flap a bit of success to the new musician I put on my playlist, a bit of laughter to the person I attempt to communicate with in their language, or a bit of joy to the new relationship I develop with the local on the bench at the water taxi port.
What are your Travel ReVolutions for 2026?
Great summary. Very insightful. Can't wait to see what you cut from your pack.
Over the last 2 years we too have prioritized comfort. If the stay is more than one night it must be at least a queen bed or 2 twins, prefer king (we didn't even have a king at home). Ideally there is a second bedroom. Ron has lots of sleep issues and separate space helps us both when he is restless. If we are somewhere longer than 2 weeks and rent a car we buy pillows. We travel with silk pillowcases and mite covers.
Honestly this means we had to increase our budget. But with the way the US stock market has been in the 6 years of retirement that works.
We also prioritize long stays several times a year. In 2025 we did two longish cruises, one 11 week rental in Ecuador, one 9 week petsit in california and 2 months in Ajijic Mexico (moved 3 times but intercity so easy) that makes the faster travel in between better.
I love your honest reflections and change goals! Great poll questions too. Thanks!