So very true, decision made, waiting on the house & toys to sell..........

A yacht, now theres an idea for a base, mobile too Just need something under 47' with sails that I can fit a GS on. Mmmmmmmmm?



Cheers Dave

Hi My name is Xander and I am and Overlanding Addict.

Well it has been a long time since my first post:

Since then I have found what could only be described as my dream job.
I have bought a house. Rebuilt 2 motorcycles from the ground up. 1 more on the go. We take weekenders and fortnight trips.

I have only (like in the last month) been able to start re-reading the hubb. I now feel that my experience is so out of date that i don't have that much to contribute to the Hubb, and i feel bad about this. I have started to edit the blog that never got uploaded. It will one day get uplaoded (maybe). In many ways, my life is back to normal.

HOWEVER: the addiction has not gone away. I look at my panniers on the floor and get sad (no other word for it). I love my job, but almost every morning (on bike or not) I look at the road ahead and have to force myself take the left hand turn to work and not go to the see what i can find beyond the horizon. And although at times i hated (yes strong word but accurate) the traveling, I think it was when i was truly to my core happy.

Conrad's quote from "Hart of Darkness" (which BTW has always been one of my favorite books and think that Apocalypse Now trashed it) it as true as it can get.

I still dont talk about my trip much, I answer questions but that is about it. Odd huh? It is a huge part of my life that is now almost become private.

Summing it up I am happy, but still highly addicted. I know I cant take an other big trip for a few years, I am okay with it. In a bad way though I dont plan or dream about the next one, a bit like an alcoholic cant take a taste. I have to think small, and not compare.

I have re-read all the posts here, and one thing that strikes me as odd I never called my trip an adventure, although many people here did. I dont think of it as an adventure. To me it was travel, i dont want to say for others it is not an adventure. But to me it was more then that, and never had a goal o plan... it was just just me and my wife and the world to see. Truth be told I dont know what my point is..

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2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com

That is not true at all..... There is a lot more to the hubb than recent exchange rates and shipping prices.


I know EXACTLY how you feel on that.... You dare not dream the dream as in contrast the world around you soon starts to look really dull.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Everyone here needs to read The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin. You'll learn that sedentary life is not necessarily 'natural'. All my life I had a hunch I belonged on the road (as opposed to going on 3 month jaunts/adventures, or living as an expat), and in 2003 I took the plunge and began working/living on the road. As others have said, sometimes I hated it. It wasn't easy. But it felt 'right'. Two years ago for numerous reasons, I bought a house in Chile overlooking the Pacific. Dream view. I'm no where near as productive with my writing. I cannot wait to be on the road again! Getting all my ducks in order first...

Lorraine

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Rallying for A Wild Life — THE FILM!
http://igg.me/at/AWildLife

www.LorraineChittock.com
www.facebook.com/lorraine.chittock

Sounds like you are also suffering from what they call "Culture Shock" I had it bad when I got home after 22 months, Some People, Most Things & Many Situations that I used to relate to no longer had the same relevance they used to, what kept me sane was planning the next big adventure... Remember, You've looked behind the curtain &/or took the Red Pill

I got back home about 5 weeks ago after a 25month trip through the americas on my old XT and later, when I had to sell what was left of it, a smaller bike that I picked up in Chile.

I can´t possibly explain how incredibly bored I am with being back "home". Im working 40hours a week... learning new stuff... and everyone I meet, that somehow heard about my trip is telling me how awesome that sounds and how much they´d love to do something like that but they probably never will because of whatever reason.

Same with the sharing of my experiences. I think I´m a completely different person.. I took about 18.000 photos in those 2 years+, and I havent looked through any of them, and when people (even close friends) ask me to show them pictures I usually tell them I lost them (partly true) or that I haven´t bothered going through them yet.

Reading other peoples experiences on this seems to show that its gonna get better but right now living here seems so pointless. Just kinda felt like ... making progress or something ... getting somewhere... being able to just hop on the bike and leave... go somewhere else where youve never been.

Ah well... even thinking about deleting this after thinking about "replying" to this thread for a good 5minutes.

On one hand you´d think you´d become a more experienced/better/whatever person so the trip must´ve improved you somehow but then again if I wouldn´t have left I would´ve always kept looking forward to it but guess I woulda never noticed how pointless shit is here.

Worst is, tho, that for several reasons I know that I cannot travel again, for longer than 2 weeks at a time, for AT LEAST the next 4years. Gonna be interesting how I´ll get through that.

Oh, and it´s good to know that "it´s all in your head" but I think I´m somebody that doesn´t get any help from a statement like that. Not just because its so obvious but also because theres never really an explanation on how to get it out of your head, even though Im not entirely sure I even want it out of there....

It gets easier after the first year or so

You will find a way to make those two week holidays turn into two month holidays... If you REALLY want to !

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Its been 5 months since I got back after 4 and a half months on the road. Some things have changed, my expectations now are way beyond that of a week here or a week there.

It took me 6 weeks to get into it in the first place, I still had my head in work and other responsibilities. The shedding of worries about stupid work things and small stuff at home was the most liberating. The day then consists of finding food petrol and somewhere to stay, in the meantime having a simple purpose of heading in a general south east direction.

Now I have all those small stupid things to deal with again. This time, though, I know what to expect in future but I still feel rather down with normal life.

Another thing, after living this way for only a few months you'd expect to be able to share it with many people, this is sometimes not the case as not many are really interested in the adventure. As my mate said, "they ask you about your holiday so they can tell you about theirs"! Not many go on 4 month holidays. Despite this I occassionally get to relive some of it working on the video. Yes still working on it after 5 months. Next time I'm not taking a bloody video camera.

I have a picture of my bike in the desert in Pakistan on my screen at work. Not sure if this is a distraction to make me happy or getting me down.

Still counting down the days to the next one 677 days till Alaska to Argentina

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Steven
Perth to Perth 2012

My name is Peter and I am a recovering travel-holic...

Last trip, 9 months, 21 countries. I haven't added up the financial costs, but whatever the total, it was worth it. Adjusting to the post adventure life is difficult. Been back 4 months now, having spent large portions of that time looking for work. The energy and excitement to be back was slowly pushed down with struggling to find work. Started a consulting contract a few weeks ago, which could lead to a full-time position. I am very grateful to be back to work, but to be honest, I would rather be on the road again. Adventure travel will happen again, but its depressing to think it will be several years in the future before I can ride off into the sunset towards a new horizon. I guess its buck it up time.

Make a new goal and work towards it. I think that will help with my post adventure blues. I appreciate all the posts to this thread.

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Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

I have been fortunated to be type of persons number 3. a flexible work that allow me to go abroad twice a year just for the sake of travelling. on the other hand my longest journey ever last 110 days and it the final days I was longing for home.
I will try to keep my life style always like that. Always based in my hometown but keep travelling aborad and aroung my country whenever possible.

The long ride after…..
Lost in world of micro celebrity, a legend in my own mind, the thoughts of What Now , became a 24-7 theme. I have contracted the after-rideitis gene , a strange illness that afflicts the few.
I have done a big one, ( I restrict this to ‘a’ as I hope to complete many more) .
I rode my bike for only 9000 miles in 6 weeks in a mixture of loneliness, joyful experiences, and fantastic riding. To boot a media madness that created a strange addition to the event that turned out to be a blessing and a curse.
Busy times before the trip were not restricted to planning routes, saving the money, booking the time off, getting family blessings sorted, this was a three month wait and a mad month of press calls, radio interviews, TV film crews in my lounge, bike show attendance and all with a slight unknown element of just how long I was going for and with *whom. ( *but that’s another story).
The ride was fantastic, life changing and after many interviews and mini celebrity moments across the USA, the return to the UK resulted in another week of media coverage ending in a TV appearance at the One Show. What a rush, all that sensation overload was fantastic.
Then, that was it. The months ahead were busy whilst family and friends became my audience the thoughts of what next became paramount. I had no job and only had the thought that what if brewing in my head. Can I do more?
There was a degree of self-imposed celebrity within a very small audience of others that are riders, making plans and reading the magazine articles etc: I remember the words of another world scale rider who announced a ride of over 20,000 miles to visit someone who only invited him to stay if he ever passed through. “They want to meet me”. He said with no consideration of the bit in between.
Having done a small trip in comparison, there I sit getting thoughts of going somewhere, now. Other things in life become less important, there is a need to complete, to carry on, to return to the road. The riding, the places, the people all add to the list of why, the issue is when or if. Family, wife, work, mortgage, futures, all pail into insignificance as the depression gets hold. You can, you won’t, you want to, you can’t, all pass through the mind and the more this happens, the harder it becomes. On the road, you make up your mind what you are doing today, no others to consider. Back home the requirements of responsibilty get in the way of your need to be independent, to travel or is it to be alone.
First step is to find out why you feel depressed about being back. What is missing?
Is this the reason that so many ‘around the world’ riders are single, divorced, alone. The whole concept of travelling long term on your own requires a great amount of self-reliance and if the return to that other life that has dictated your being for so many years is not able to accommodate this need, you may be in trouble.
Call it depression or call it wanderlust, but the need to have the option is important, you may never get to go, that is up to your circumstances and willingness to take the plunge.
I got over my own demons regarding ‘getting back’ into the groove, but it’s still there. As I reach my late 50’s. I do not have much time left but rest assured that the likes of Ted Simon, Ian Coates and Simon Gandolfi are all older than I. In a stable relationship of 34 years and unless my wife kicks me out, I still have ties, still have reasons to only do short trips, most of all I can still plan in my head and dream.
My reason for the depressive state I was in for 2 years might just be the need to travel, the need to see if it is what I thought it should be, or just an age thing. (or struggling to find that job), one thing I know is that planning, dreaming, having the right bike all before you go, does not include the return kit, whatever that is.
Vicious circles create wild currents and thoughts of running away from it all has never been a good reason, and I can think of nothing worse that burning bridges, upsetting the status quo or setting out with issues back here as one day you will be back.
If you have been, returned and feel lost, maybe get some medical help. Once back ‘in the groove’ you can take another look at the madness of a long distance biker, and maybe just maybe start planning.
A few hours, days, months later you will see that the light at the end of the tunnel is not a 40 tonner heading your way in a single lane tube, it’s a new horizon which needs reaching.
found out today Mrs might have MS..... now I didn't expect that

Pete Johnson

That's it you know.......

Before you leave on a trip you have focus, direction. A reason to get up in the morning. Something definitive to aim for. There is no drifting through monotony. You are leaving on THAT date and you have THIS and THAT to do before you leave.

And when you're on your trip you are constantly on an adrenaline buzz. Every day is different. You never know what will happen next. Even being bored can be exciting.

You have become accustomed to the adrenaline. A junky... It might not be the same huge hit that jumping out of a plane might give you but you have been on an adrenaline drip for months on end. And as you get home, the drip has been turned off.

It's called Post traumatic Stress disorder.

Adrenaline and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Veterans Today

They are the two main things that I contribute to the 'Back home depression"... Focus and adrenaline.

If you have a busy, stimulating job then you might be okay. If you have a mundane repetitive job it's really not going to plug that hole is it.

Join a gym, start a DIY project, start an exciting new hobby or romance your lady...

I think it takes a very unique individual who can just do one big trip and go back to their past lives like nothing has happened and be happy with that. In my experience, these people have A LOT going on in their lives to fill that gap..

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I'll second that!

__________________
Submariner
Life Member DAV
BMW MOA member
BMW Riders of Oklahoma

Post trip Blues

Well you did it, you took life by the handlebars and you steered your way around your fears, you took on the challenges put in your way and now you struggle with the mundane and ordinary of life? Well you almost certainly aren’t alone, just as a soldier comes back from a tough tour you are conflicted between the uncertain place that inspired the best in you and the safety of normality, and you can’t relate to anyone who doesn’t understand because they weren’t there and you don’t want the memories invoked by others who are currently living their dream journey because it’s like a kick in the ribs of your decaying bloated roadside carcass, the yesterday man, the has been, the fool full of tales and bitterness that time marched past as it cast you into obscurity.

Well who told you to quit? What was the point of your journey? Was it to learn or to inspire? Do you think you know everything? or have stopped being able to give to others what you know?

That listlessness is because you have been given a greater you and you are failing to utilise that, damn right you should be depressed, and embarrassed and ashamed!
Look at the adventures in front of you, to be a success in business, in love, as a father, the next trip.

Did you really think you would be gifted a better world by your indulgence? Your gift is the knowledge of a greater world, all its joys and all its faults, the greatness of mankind and the inequality, your potential.

Now what are you doing about it? You’ve returned to find the mean average of life unsatisfactory, what are you going to do to change it? Or do you think that this is someone else's responsibility?

Go out and make it all mean something or float around and go on another trip to escape the reality that will still be there when you stop running

Change the world? that sounds kind of impossible, so here is the thing, change somebodies world, and for the better, that you can do! don't sit by doing nothing because you cant do everything, look at something that is wrong and fix it because one thing you must now see is that we are all on the same rock spinning through the universe and there is a lot to be done before our house is in order.