Living the Dream?
A Reflection from the Road
Travelling full-time isn’t a holiday. At least, not in the way people often imagine it.
There’s a rhythm to life on the road that has less to do with poolside cocktails and more to do with laundry days, small-town grocery runs, and the occasional “what day is it again?” moment. While we wouldn’t trade this lifestyle for anything, it has its own quieter challenges, especially for mental well-being.
Some days, the freedom feels boundless. Other days, the distance from family and friends sneaks up on you. A birthday missed. A phone call dropped in a patch of no service. The scenery might be spectacular, but your mind can be a few hundred kilometres behind. Constant movement has its own weight, especially when there’s no familiar place to put it down.
We’ve learnt that making space, both physical and emotional, matters more than we expected. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a solo stroll, reading under a gum tree, or heading out for a slow walk with Zoe. Not to escape each other, but to breathe in our own company for a while. To check in, without distraction.
There are days when we talk things through, and days when we sit in companionable silence. We’ve also learnt how important it is to stay tethered to the people who know us best.
A short video call, even just a few minutes with familiar voices, can steady the day. We share small wins from the road: A great campsite, decent bread in the middle of nowhere, a pink sky settling over the horizon, and in doing so, stay connected to the life we’re moving through, not away from.
Travelling full-time has taught us that even good days can be tiring. Even beautiful places can feel heavy when your head’s not quite in the right space. And that’s okay. Slowing down, letting plans bend, allowing room for off days. All of it has become part of how we travel, whether we meant it to or not.
We still feel deeply fortunate to be out here. But we’re learning not to chase every moment. Sometimes the best way to see a place is to stay put for a while. To take a breath. To let yourself feel whatever turns up…the wonder, the fatigue, the delight, the loneliness.
Because the road doesn’t just take you places. It teaches you how to sit with yourself along the way. And that lesson tends to travel far.
Some of our other thoughts
Photography slowed our travel down. By staying longer, noticing light, and relying on simple techniques, we learnt to photograph with more intention. Sometimes the best images arrive quietly, once a place feels familiar.