How is your life after the RTW?

[alfredosouza]

I´m planning a RTW and I want to know how will be the life after come home. Someone that finish the RTW can say how is your life after? I know that is much personal, but this ask is more for have someone idea.

[mika]

Hi Alfredo,

yes its a very personal question and also not every RTW is the same ... some people take six months other take fourteen years to complete their rtw journey.

I needed 6,5 years and this are a few words that sum it up for me.

talking about home, that is not home anymore.
changing the ideas of living.
returning to a place that has not changed.
understanding that I have changed.

not only for the moment
but for ever and for the better.

......... Europe had become to regulated and boring for me, so I live in South America now.

Good luck on your journey and to the Hubb

mika

[tmotten]

Awesome. Can't say it was life changing though. I get the feeling that people have huge expectations from these trips given how often this seems to come up.

[Davey bee]

If these new experiences don't change you then why go.


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[tmotten]

Because it's fun.
A walk to the shops can change you. Bit less fun though.

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[mika]

If these new experiences don't change you then why go.

... just to go on a longer holiday than others ... because you are bored at home ... show people that you have money ....because its the newest fashion thing to do .... to have something different on your fakebook profile ... to confirm your world view (that Iran is dangerous) ... to take exotic pictures with your bike .... to test all your touratech add ons ... to tell your friends that you crossed a desert on your bike ... just not to work for a longer period of time ... see your face in a newspaper ... complain about a certain travel product ... write a book ... try to be famous .... find a new girl/boyfriend ... go to the beach .... I think I could go on for hours.

saludos mika

[grumpy geezer]

When I flew back from South America after traveling by myself for 1 1/2 years, I left the airport and hitchhiked from Miami to New York to visit some friends. They commented how I seemed more confident--they didn't know anyone who had done either. Of course, I could have disappeared anywhere and never been found. On the way I met people who were a##holes during their rides, and probably were before and after it. IMO the trip may or may not change you,, it depends on how you approach the trip.

[Robbert]

For me it was both easy and disappointing.

The easy part is, you come home and before you know you're back in the life you where used to before you left

the hard parts:
- you come home, and your friends and family are telling the exact same stories as before you left. That was sort of confronting.
- In my case... I was 30, and I just finished with what I had been dreaming about the 20 years before. Those 20 years before, I knew what I wanted to do next. I've done other exciting trips after, but it's never again going to be your first big trip.

[ta-rider]

Life will never be the same. You cant change Africa but Africa will change you. Scince my big trip I cant work in a bouring office anymore and cant understand all the scary Germans but traveling made me strong. If lost all my future fears that are typical for Germans: http://afrikamotorrad.eu/?report=en_westkueste

[Tenere99]

I wish I was dead.

[backofbeyond]

Originally Posted by Tenere99

I wish I was dead.

[Tomkat]

I'm still planning my Big One so I can't answer this directly. But it's not the only life changing experience you will ever have, so ask yourself how you have handled others. Starting a family is the biggest one most of us will have and we seem to manage that. Even though others round us might be going on doing the same things they've always done, we know it's something special.

On a bike I felt I'd somehow changed the first time I raced on the Isle of Man. I had, and it was a special feeling each time I did it, living so intensely, even though I'd get back home afterwards and most people never knew I'd been away. But it's not about them, it's about you. You come back a richer person (in experience if not in money!), a more interesting person and a wiser person. What you do with that wisdom is up to you. It doesn't mean you have to change your life, start a business, start a religion, etc, but as a more rounded, more experienced human being you can take a smarter, more informed view of the world, take a quiet pride that you've done something that most others can only dream of, and be guided in your future by what you have learned and experienced.

[*Touring Ted*]

I have not done your tradition RTW, but I have done a fair amount of extended trips on motorcycle, canoe, backpack, camper etc...

I can say that in comparison, 'normal' life seems incredibly dull and boring after I made these expeditions.

Once you eyes have been opened, you'll never be able to close them again.

But everyone is different.

[arrius]

Still in the planning stages as well but I reckon nothing will be the same after it. It is just a life changing experience imo. You see all those different people, countries, cultures and once you get back I know I will be a bit bored. I hope I won't be too bored

[tmotten]

I'm finding all travel doing this. Bike travel is just another version. "Normal" life was never an option for me but it wasn't bike travel that made me realise it. Now bike travel bores me. Time to look for the next thing.

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