My husband and I are full-time travelers. Since we both work online and don't have a fixed address, we often say that we've relocated to the Internet. While it's a clever quip when you're meeting new friends at a party, it really has started to resonate with me in a real way. We move around quite often, so lots of our social activity takes place online and blogging has been a big part of that. Here's why I think everyone who has the chance to spend some time on the road or living abroad should make a little time to write about it online.
My current 'blog office' at The Country Store Cafe in Panama City, Panama.
- Keep in touch. Blogs are an easy way to keep friends and family updated on where you are in real time. Folks back home get to hear how you're doing, so they're not constantly worried that the worst has happened, and they have a fun time traveling along with you, vicariously.
- Write your own personal history. You'll always have your blog to look back on once you've returned home. Blogging forces you to evaluate your life in a way that you don't normally have to, and gives you time and space for personal reflection that can be valuable when you're roady weary.
- Make friends IRL. There's an amazing community of bloggers of all types already out there. Did someone else's blog help you figure out an archaic system in a new city? Send them a note-- or better yet, invite them for coffee! Having your own blog to send along with your invitation will give the other person a little insight about who you are.
- Find a place to crash. If you plan on using services like as Airbnb, Couchsurfing or MindMyHouse, having a blog gives your future landlord a little insight into who you are and if you're a good fit for their home. Having your own database of info at the ready makes for a quick and easy transaction.
- Make your mark. Think there are already too many blogs out there? Wrong. Everyone travels and experiences the world differently, and what you've seen and done could prove to be quite helpful in the future. We've relied heavily on many blogs, and I hope that the community continues to grow and more people join in the discussion in the future.
(Images: Smith Schwartz)
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I love to travel. I started blogging after my first trip to Japan. However, some of the countries I've been in have not had reliable internet connections, or certain sites were blocked (China), or recently, I didn't bring my laptop due to time and space constraints (India/Thailand). I still made sure to take loads of pictures, write a quick entry when I could, and keep a paper journal of what I was doing.
Why don't any of your Apartment Therapy posts link to your travel blog? I'd love to learn more about how to pull off a similar expat/work-from-anywhere lifestyle, as I'm planning on moving abroad in a few months. Are there any other blogs you'd recommend that give good advice on the topic? Also, I'm not sure if Ecuador is on your itinerary, but I lived there for six months and loved it.
Long-term travelers, I agree, short-term travelers be careful and write your blog posts but wait to post them once you arrive back home (speaking from the experience of family members having been burgled/burglarized while they were posting real-time while in the Mediterranean for two months).
I have the same questions as Marni! I started my blog after taking a job that would have me traveling, mostly around the US, about once a month. But we also try to take at least 1 international trip per year, blogging about it has been wonderful for our family and friends and I'm really looking to connect more with the travel blogging community! This year we're off to France and Northern Spain and would love to find some recomendations.
I totally agree. I just completed a business travel trip to India and, despite requests from family, was initially reluctant to do any sort of blogging about it. However, I'm so glad I gave in. It was a great way to stay connected, for both them and me! I intend to do it again when I return in another month or so.
http://bschoolstudio.blogspot.com/search/label/India
Easier said than done, sometimes :). I travel quite a lot-- usually go on 2-3 BIG trips a year (last year I went to India for a month, Korea for 2 weeks and sailing off the coast of Spain for a month) and then a few little trips (road trips, places within the US, etc). Each time I go I fully plan on blogging about it regularly, but, save gathering a few new recipes and waxing poetic about the places once or twice (on my food/herbs blog), I find it really hard to write about it regularly. Think I'm more of article girl when it comes to travel.
But you're totally right about keeping in touch with people and meeting new people in new places-- I usually use FB for that.