A full-time travel job

If you're tired with your present routine, maybe it's time to start a new life and embrace a full-time traveler career!

In 2006, Nora Dunn got tired of running her business in Canada and doing everything “right” in life; so she sold everything she owned to embrace her dreams of full-time travel. She's been on the road ever since, traveling full-time in a financially sustainable way as The Professional Hobo.

How did you start the Professional Hobo?

I initially started a blog (called Life Happens), before I even really knew what a blog was. It was simply a tool to stay in touch with family and friends; but as more people became interested in my odd travel tales, and as I developed a solid portfolio of freelance writing, I stepped it up and got a real website going.

I had been calling myself a “professional hobo” to people who I met while traveling who asked me what I do, knowing the oxymoronic meaning would get a laugh. But people really liked it, and there's some truth to the title for me. Thus, The Professional Hobo was born.

You're an expert about this, how can long-term travel be financially sustainable?

I've been traveling in a financially sustainable way since 2007....so I'm living proof it can be done.

How have I done it? Well, with my experience as a former Certified Financial Planner, I had a leg up on disciplined budgeting and frugality techniques. I've always been good at living it up with the things I want to do, by cutting spending in other areas of my life and I found a variety of ways to get accommodation....for free.

My last key to financially sustainable travel has been to travel slowly. It sounds deceptively simple, but truly – the less you move around, the less money you'll spend moving. Slow travel has the added benefit of providing a more culturally immersive experience, and it fends off travel fatigue, which can creep up if you're on the road for a while.

What do you travel for?

For me, it's all about the cultural immersion; getting to know people around the world and understand their way of life, what they eat, how they live, and what they value. I like to be able to say I've “lived” in various places around the world, albeit for a short time (ranging from a few months to a few years).

Do you have any bizarre travel rituals?

I do a standard “idiot check” when I leave a place with bags in hand (to ensure I didn't leave anything behind), and I have a slightly neurotic tendency to back things up and have backups of the backups.

Everywhere you go, what are the first things you normally check out?

The supermarket. I love supermarkets – they're a cultural insight on so many levels.

See it all or take it easy?

I like to take it easy, perhaps to a fault. I often enjoy house-sitting, which is a great way for me to enjoy the comforts of home – somebody else's home, that is! For me, travel isn't about conquering all the sights and checking activities off a list; it's simply about living around the world and experiencing local life wherever I'm going. As a freelance writer and travel blogger, I'm kept busy on average five hours a day (pretty much every day). I work less than full-time hours, but it's something that must always be balanced into the mix.

Having said all that, of course I get out of the house! But I don't travel around as actively (or expensively) as somebody who is backpacking through the area might.

What do you usually bring home from the places you visit?

I don't have a home! So anything I get usually must replace or compliment my life, which fits into a carry-on bag. Thus, my best souvenirs are usually clothes or accessories. But as I travel, everything gradually gets replaced; my bag is quite the collection of “souvenirs”!

Did you have any misadventures you would like to tell us about?

Sure, but I might scare you! I've had more than my share of misadventures on the road including natural disasters, tropical diseases, heartbreak, head-on collisions, and passport theft.

What is the most disgusting food you've ever tried?

The colon of an undetermined animal...I think it was a pig. Despite my very open mind to cuisines of the world, I feel that eating the colon of any animal is not going to be a pleasant experience.

What country or city has left the biggest impression on you?

Almost too many to mention. New Zealand is a place I'm continually drawn back to. I lived in Australia for quite some time (I'm not scared of poisonous bugs any more), and I love France – especially the island of Corsica, where I'd like to live for a while. Holland lived up to the highest of expectations, and Grenada (in the Caribbean) is a place I've called “home” on and off for a couple of years now.

What's your favourite beach?

I'm actually surprised at how different beaches are around the world. A few stand out for me: hanging out at the most dangerous beach in the world in St. Martin had its thrills, Hawaii's green sand beach was worth the hike, and the beaches of Grenada are just as idyllic as you can imagine.

What's your favourite foreign word?

I don't care what language we're talking about; thank you is the first word I learn, and thus, my favourite.

What have you learnt while travelling?

Some of the greatest lessons from traveling come when I visit home, and the people who have known me through life – who give me context in my ever-changing world. In some cases it results in a case of reverse culture shock; other times it's a realization that I have a more global perception of the world and life (for better or worse). I'm more tolerant of a lot of things, and I've learned to be flexible and adapt to my circumstances. Being in a head-on collision abroad also made me realize how important my relationships are with my family and friends – despite the distance.

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