Virtually every traveler I talk to advises that less is more when it comes to mileage. We see more, we experience more, we take in more by stopping to smell the roses. A few years ago I did a 22,000 mile solo trip of N. America in 50 days. Upon reflection I had "seen" a lot (like a National Geographic movie in fast forward as my wife would say) but I had experienced far less than I might have.

I ran across this quote from the 13th century Persian poet Jalaluddin Rumi that I thought provided good counsel for travelers:

“Don't go off sightseeing.
The real journey is right here.
The great excursion starts
from exactly where you are.
You are the world.
You have everything you need.
You are the secret.
You are the wide opened."

Well said.

I have seen a lot of guys (usually bikers, sorry to say!) who make huge trips in very little time. People don't always have a choice of course. Not everybody can just do a long time without working.

Next to the experience, it may also be good to note that a roadtrip does not become three times as expensive when you take three times as much time. Of course, this depends a bit. If you are in Europe with expensive hotels and food, then it is probably true.
But for a lot of big trips outside the Western world, the main costs are fuel and visas or other organizational stuff. I have seen people do the same trip as we did, they did it in 3 months and we did it in 12 months. I have been calculating it, and with all the free or cheap camping, I don't that we have paid much more.

It strikes me that this is one of the current paradigms for today.

The population now exhibits a preference for "experiences" rather than the mere accumulation of material goods, such as cars, motorcycles, smart phones, property even.

For example:
When I first became aware of the very existence of Airb&b it was "selling" the rental of property: I checked it a few days ago and top of their agenda is the selling of "experiences".

__________________
Dave

Hey don't misquote him

By that sentence you could also say we are raising the standard, and that it take more to be satisfied. Which is another discussion perhaps.

But moving to experiences is a thing of todays society. It will also mean overlanding people I guess.
However, it is another discussion.

I think of the cost of a trip slightly differently. Rather than thinking of it as the total expenses of the trip, I think of (trip expenses) + (residual expenses at home, e.g, mortgage, minimal utilities) - (normal expenses of living at home, including food, entertainment, etc.).

Because I live in a high cost of living area, it’s actually cheaper for me to travel if I do it carefully. I.e., I save money by traveling. And, if I rent my house, I net a considerable amount of money by being in the road.

Of course, that only holds true if my wife comes with me, which is fortunately the case!

I think "experience vacations", etc. are becoming very fashionable. But, I think they are often fundamentally different from what we do while adventure traveling. Typically for an "experience vacation" someone arranges in advance and pays for the experience, e.g., a hot air balloon ride, a safari, a guided trek, etc. As overlanders, we (or at least I) may have a few "must sees" on our list, but a lot of the deep enjoyment comes from unplanned interactions with people, cultures, and so forth that only occur if we are open to the experience.

When people ask me where I’m going on a big trip, my response is generally "I’m following the front wheel."

That is a good way to look at it. We will also rent out our house, also leading to income. Which will pay for a big part of our next trip. Parts of the trip will not really cost anything, untill entering more expensive areas (and the shipping).
Still, I would've made more money staying at home and working, but yeah, who cares.

Oh, I forgot that not all folks are 70 and retired as I am!

Haha you are more than twice as old

Grrrrrr!

Look at the bright side, you have all the time to travel!
I don't have that.

1981-82 i backpacked SA Colombia,Equador and Peru Yes it was the good old days of Hookers and blow, You could not spend 20 bucks a day if you tried in early 80s unless you had a real appetite and you probably would not last too many more years, it was insanely crazy and dangerous and I loved it
For 36 years i was thinking on how to get back to SA with a job
After many career changes i found a job with a Canadian contractor in Colombia dec 2016
Most on the HUBB world say i finally quit my job sold my shit, my case the lawyers did that for me and I went for it
I did not quit my job to go on a adventure i just simply moved on to another job that has adventure included with pay.So after see this beautiful country after moving around for work after 8 months, I thought this place would be ausome on a bike i bought a f700gs my first street bike Wow what a game changer i never owned a street bike before and i now have 15000 km on it in Colombia in 5 mo.
my adventure was not even planned it just happened although it took 36 years
I am at home and probably not return to my homeland Canada until i get my pension or do it on line 2.5 years to go for this
happy to slow down and enjoy the better thing in life with a motto
FT ratrace in developed countrys
my two Pesos