During my time backpacking, the typical ways (I used to think) have altered.  My ‘backpacker paradigm shift’ has been a complex and ongoing process.  Where do I begin?  Lets start with coffee.  During my last 14 months living in the United States, before beginning a nomadic lifestyle as a backpacker, I worked at Starbucks.  As a barista, I was able to attend  intense courses studying different regional coffees found around the world.  The more I learned about coffee, the more I became, a coffee snob.  For example, I love floral coffees from Africa, with a slight citrus zest, and they taste great brewed or chilled as iced coffee in the summer.  As can be expected, my standards in coffee became pretty high.  However, as a backpacker, if I pay for a shot of espresso or coffee and it tastes bad, I still drink it.  This is a tangible example of my ‘backpacker paradigm shift’.  Sometimes the coffee will taste so burnt that I am forced to take sipping breaks because I cannot bare the bitterness any further.  I am sure the sour expressions on my face are entertaining to the guy reading his morning paper a few tables away.

The concept of ‘Van-Dwelling’ presents another example of my  changing mindset.  I first heard of van dwelling while living in the States and even considered what my life would look like if Justin and I lived in a van.  No matter how much I thought about living in a vehicle (before I started backpacking), it always seemed rather bohemian or hippie.

That’s not me!  I could never do that!  Where would I shower?

However, meeting someone who has been living out of their van for more than a year, now seems normal.  I’ve even considered living out of a van for a year or more myself.

If I flew to Australia, bought a camper van, and worked as a free-lance barista, I could travel across Australia for virtually nothing and be able to sell the van before I ended my caffeinated Aussie adventure.

A few weeks ago, I realized I was changing.  Me, the person I am and have been for years.  Travel is changing me.  In my old life, one trip to the grocery store per week used to be plenty.  I used to feel defeated during the week if I needed to make a separate trip to the grocery store for an item or two.  Now, daily trips to the grocery store or market seem normal.  I do not have a refrigerator in my backpack, and the nomadic life tends to daily put me in new locations.  Thus,  my kitchen (and refrigerator) are also continually changing.  Most days it is impossible to buy food for more than a few meals at a time.  The ventures to the market become tedious, but I am unwilling to carry a cooler (although I have been tempted to buy a small one).  The most difficult sacrifice is being unable to sneak into the freezer for a few spoonfuls of ice cream.  I used to do this rather frequently, with great pleasure, before I traded in that life for a backpack and the world.

The ‘backpacker paradigm shift’ is occurring.  I am not completely positive how long this new way of thinking will last, but so far I like it!  Backpacking has been refreshing.  Now I meet friendly couples that invite me to park our Subaru for the night and camp out on their property.  As a bonus I also meet their vegetarian neighbors who are leading a sustainable lifestyle with an acre of avocado trees they planted themselves (15 years ago).  Cliff and Paula gave me a plastic grocery bag with 20 huge avocados.  Could life get any better?

Well, it’s not always perfect.  You should see some of the bathrooms I have used along our journey and even they don’t compare with my time studying in China.  I know the worst bathrooms are yet to come as we travel to Asia.

As I backpack my outlook on life will continue to evolve.  I am not sure what stereotypes or opinions I have tightly held onto will be challenged next.  But until then, I will learn to accept the unpleasant, and even drink the burnt coffee.

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Tags | Philosophy