Introducing Adventures of an ALMOST fifty-year-old backpacker
I chose the Gregory Zulu 30. The 30 stands for liters, because apparently that’s how backpacks are sized. Why did I chose said backpack? Because I’m about to embark on a six-month trip through NZ, AUS, SE and E Asia. For those not already in the know, I quit my corporate job a year ago, I’ve completed a draft of a novel, and I plan to edit to on the road. More on that decision here.
The last time I purchased a backpack was in 1996. My time at UT Austin was coming to a close, and I was about to travel Europe with Matt, the Frick to my Frack. Oh what a wonderful cliche our backpacking adventure would be. From Spain to Prague to Poland and back again, the OG Bill Bryson had nothing on us.
I don’t remember the process of buying that backpack, but I’m sure I obsessed less. I didn’t spend weeks online, researching every possible bag and size, and I didn’t watch an unending array of YouTube videos reviewing those bags, because of course neither of those things were a thing in 1996. I think I went to a store, tried it on, and said, yeah, that’s big enough to fit my stuff, but not too big that I’m going to fall over.
Since that coming-of-age journey through Europe, I’ve been on several epic adventures, usually hosted by incredibly generous friends. It began with two weeks in South Africa to visit Gerrit, my friend since 7th grade who was stationed there with the Peace Corp. I traveled to Brazil for work (something about Coca-Cola and the World Cup). And then Australia, France, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ecuador, and Colombia with my uber-talented and hilarious friend Marshall. So I’m not a novice traveler, but I’ve never traveled non-stop for six months with a backpack strapped to by back (and a rolling-suitcase on my side, because let’s get real, I won’t be fitting everything in a backpack).
Sound like another cliche in the making? Man nearing fifty blows up his life. Pretty much, but it’s really not about fifty. I don’t see fifty as the end of anything, but a mile marker along the road. I’m forty eight and I feel as good as I did when I was thirty, except I go to bed most nights by 11 pm and wake up by 6 AM (whether I like it or not). Ok, maybe I don’t feel as good as when I was thirty, but I’m as clear eyed as I’ve ever been and I know this is exactly what I want to be doing with my life.
Adventures of an ALMOST fifty-year-old backpacker will be a chronicle of self discovery, if you’re into that kind of thing, but will also detail how an almost fifty-year old travels. You won’t find me in a hostel bunkbed, but maybe in one of their private rooms. You won’t find me at the Four Seasons, but maybe at kick-ass, yet affordable, AirBnB that one could only find in Chiang Mai, Thailand. You might find me eating Peruvian street food for lunch and world-class meal at Central that night. Basically, I’ve got change in my pocket, but I need to make it last.
My partner on this journey is Curtis. He’s my boyfriend. He’s also a nurse. There’s a thing called travel nursing where you nurse at a place for a few months, they pay for everything, and then you can travel for awhile before find another gig. I’m not suggesting it’s an easy life, but it has its benefits. He’s not only my companion on this odyssey, but inspired much of it, as he’s gone on several solo international adventures and he helped me believe that this might not be so crazy.
Our first stop was Peru last Spring, which served as a test run and went splendidly. More on that in my next post.
The big one, and the reason for this newsletter, will be our six month trip through New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea and Japan, which begins on December 15.
I hope you’ll follow along. It won’t cost you a dime and it won’t clutter your inbox as it will appear only twice per month.
Finally, if you have suggestions related to any of our upcoming destination, please leave them in the comments of contact me directly.
More to come…
Can’t wait to read more!!
This is fantastic news, Michael!! What an adventure you're about to have! Can't wait to keep up with you on your travels. Stay safe and have an amazing time!