I’m not the only one looking for, it.

I’ve spent around a month in New Zealand and Australia so far..I’ve met “heaps” of backpackers. I’ve met lots of people looking for a lot of different things. There are many who are in similar situations as me…where they have quit their job, or just gotten out of a longterm relationship….there are kids right out of college doing their exploring before the real world begins…there are people who have been living a nomadic life for many years. There are 20 year olds…there are 35 year olds…in New Zealand I feel like there were more people around 30…in Australia the ages are all over the place but it does feel like they tend to be early to mid-twenties. There are people who are passing through…there are people who were passing through..then they ended up staying 3, 6, 12 months! They work hospitality jobs or they work in the tourist industry for the most part..the people that I’m coming across at least.

There seems to be a couple common denominators amongst these nomadic, backpacking, whimsical, adventurous travelers.

I would say the first and obvious thing would be that everyone is very open-minded…and everyone seems to be searching for something.

The 2nd thing I have noticed…is these people make friends usually very quickly…they form groups…and they do activities together…choose to stay in the same hostels..and plan to meet in the next town together. They do this until..well John has to fly back to England..and Hannie’s visa ends next week so she is headed back to Germany. Hannie and John just spent two weeks traveling together..bonding..spending each waking day together doing epic things in the outdoors…creating lifetime memories..and then…poof…they go their separate ways and may never see each other again….meanwhile Veronica still has 6 months left of travel and her best travel buddies both left at the same time. Veronica is back to solo traveling..missing friends..after getting to know these people better than most get to know people living in the same city as them for 6 months.

So they form these strong connections..(and I’ve experienced it a little bit… but I haven’t been here long enough)..and then they are back to square one…maybe they fell in love or it was platonic. But it’s really strong and quick…and then it’s over..and onto the next adventure. They talk about how they have family back home but it just isn’t the same..their family is across the world in a different timezone…maybe they’ve been traveling solo for over a year now..the texts from friends back home have slowed down..even texts from family….and when they to mention to their loved ones that they are maybe sad…or getting lonely…and the response will sometimes be.. “ well how can you be sad? You went to see the worlds largest active volcano yesterday..or you went scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef”….They know how amazing these memories they are making are but…it doesn’t discredit what is going on in their head…I mean I think it goes back to someone like a Robin Williams…how funny and happy was he all of the time..it seemed…he was in movies..doing standup all over the world..created a big loving family…and this man was battling so many demons on the inside. Suicide. I really did enjoy Robin Williams by the way. Very contagious person.

I assumed that this would be the mindset of many travelers doing this nomadic thing…that the coming and going of people and places can tire you out not only physically but mentally. I think it is a constant search for connection..whether that is a place, a person, or a hobby..I mean I believe that is where I am at to be honest. Subconsciously and consciously. Wondering if I will ever truly find that person, place, or thing that I love to do. I think at 29 I can continue to search, but I also understand that sometimes those things can be found by just slowing down and letting the world spin around. If I prepare my mind and body in the meantime then when the situations come my way..I can be ready for them..because I’m reaching for my full potential. It does all start within. Now changing your surroundings may be an important piece before you can slow down….seeing what all is out there before you slow down is an important piece…I think I’m doing all of that…I believe that I’m currently doing what’s best for me…in order to put me in a position to achieve my life hopes and dreams…and to truly find happiness within. It’s going to be okay, Zack. Someone just farted on this plane. Pee-Yew!