We’ve been back in the United States for six months now. It has taken about that long to get settled, but it’s hard to believe that six months has gone by so quickly. Sitting at my desk at work, the trip seems like a distant memory and I have to look at my pictures to remind myself that it was real. That this time last year, we were in the Middle East exhausted from traveling in Africa, but excited to head off to Europe. We were warned by others that we’d be dying to get back on the road six months after we returned.
The travel bug, we were told, is a relentless bug that keeps rearing it’s head.
So six months back and where are we? Well we’ve both settled back into work. It took us a while to decide what was best for us on that front and what we wanted to do. We had to make some hard decisions about where we see ourselves and what we want to accomplish in the next few years. In the end we both changed careers, me back to communications and Danny into financial planning. We’ve taken some big steps as well in the last six months, we’ve returned to Danny’s hometown in Florida, bought a house and a car. We’re living a life I never thought we’d lead, one that three years ago I would have unabashedly said wasn’t for me. It’s a life that today makes me happy.
I guess our journey around the world has quieted my soul down a bit. I feel accomplished so far in my life, but I wouldn’t say completed. Taking a trip around the world was the first of many big decisions over the last two years, but the most important perhaps was when to come home. It was the easiest and hardest decision we’ve ever made. We knew our time was up, we loathed to continue on, but at the same time we knew what waited for us at home and how much we’d have to face upon our return.
I won’t say that I had to travel around the world in order to find myself. That’s a bit dramatic. Six months later I believe I’m still the same person who left on that trip more than two years ago and who returned in December. Traveling around the world let me find peace with myself. It gave me perspective. I could tell you about how differently I view the world now, but let’s just say I view it with more ease. The consequences here at home seems so minor compared to some of the consequences of bad decisions on the road.
Traveling was the greatest gift I have ever given myself. It’s been hard to be home and no doubt there are difficult days ahead, but it’s given me an inner peace and confidence that I didn’t have before. I’m satisfied with my life in a way I never was before and I’m happy to take life as it comes. I feel so much more aware of myself, my situation and the world’s possibilities. I’m no longer yearning to prove myself, for traveling around the world proved to me that I can do it, that I can handle life.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that reading other traveler’s blogs doesn’t make me wish I was back on the road. There are so many things that I miss about traveling, but I know that right now I’m happy being home, happy setting up a new life and happy with the gifts travel has given me. It’s been a hard six months, but today I’m living life without regret, what more can I ask for?
If you’re interested in reading more about re-entry from our RTW, check out all our posts on coming home and the afterlife.
Erin says
Love, love, love this post. Perfect timing really. 🙂 Great job…
Jillian says
I was thinking about you guys when I wrote it! I couldn’t believe it’s been so long since we’d seen each other in Delhi!
Roy | cruisesurfingz says
Well done Jillian! Hopefully my travel bug will finally wear off so I can settle down, one day 🙂
Jillian says
Well settling is always temporary!
Gillian @OneGiantStep says
It’s interesting hearing how travel affects people. It certainly seems to have helped you both focus on your next steps and know more about yourselves. Cheers!
Jillian says
It definitely helped us focus, which is kind of ironic! A life of vagabonding brought focus!
Audrey says
I enjoyed reading this. I would be curious to read a post written by you again after one year back. After returning from our 15 month RTW trip I found it took at least 6 months to feel settled again and back into the swing of ordinary life. At the one year point I found it very difficult and was extremely bored of being back at home. It’s great you have bought a house. We sold our house to do our trip. During the few years since we have been back we have not figured out what we want to do. We neither saved for purchasing a house or for travel again because we were not focused. We still don’t really know what we want to do long term. It can be difficult to come back from long travel, it really changes you in ways that are beyond explanation.
Enjoy where you are in the moment, being happy is all that matters. If you decide that you want to do long term travel again it is always possible.
Jillian says
Audrey, thanks for your insight and sharing your experience! I agree with you, you just have to enjoy where you are in the moment. I’m not sure how we’ll feel next December once things have settled down and we’re fully back in the routine. Right now the routine is different and keeping us busy, so likely we’ll feel differently once it’s relatively quiet again.
It’s been difficult getting back into the swing of things for the last six months and I’m sure there will be difficult times ahead. As you said, finding focus can be a problem, we certainly struggled with that when we were first back. In fact we talked about it regularly when we first got back. Finally, we sat down and discussed where we wanted to go, just brainstormed things and finally sketched out a long-term plan for ourselves. Doing that so soon after returning from the trip helped bring focus to our re-entry. We’ve been trying really hard to find new things to do and not to slip back into old habits. It’s a struggle sometimes, but we want to maintain “the trip” in our life now.
I think it’s common for people to feel “lost” after returning from an RTW. For fifteen months you guys were completely in charge of everything, it’s hard to come back and give pieces of that up! We’ve been focused on trying to live in the moment and recognizing that most conditions in life are temporarily, albeit temporarily permanent (like buying a house- we can always sell it!). That’s really helped me get back into the swing of things.
Alethea says
I just returned from a 9-month RTW trip yesterday, so seeing your post was quite timely. The difference for us is that we did NOT have to return when we did; we were both tired and wanted to take a break. So we may actually take off again after we feel more rested. Otherwise, we have no obligations tying us down to any particular location, just limited resources. I’m a few weeks behind on my blog but will get it caught up shortly as I’m already writing about what it feels like to come “home”, even if only temporarily.
Jillian says
Congrats on the homecoming! It does feel good to take a break doesn’t it? We didn’t HAVE to return home, like you we were tired and after 21 months WANTED to be home and settled again. It’s been difficult, but we were ready to move forward with other plans in life. Sounds a bit weird, but being settled actually feels good. The first couple of days home for us were great fun, but after that it was a real emotional roller coaster. Can’t wait to hear what your experience coming “home” is like!
jade says
Love this post- it’s about at our 1 year ann. from our RTW and I’ve been writing a lot about looking back, living in the moment and loving life. It seems that your trip really put things into perspective for you and you seem so happy. Where in Florida are you staying? My parents live in St. Augustine!
Jillian says
We’re near Fort Lauderdale, just a bit further down the coast! Our trip really did provide me with perspective on life. How do you feel about one year later?
Jeremy B says
While I haven’t traveled the world, I can relate to how you feel. For me, my travel has been restricted by two little kids. While I still go places, it’s not the same as it used to be. However, being closer to home doesn’t mean you stop traveling. You just look around you rather than far away for your next destination. Travel has taught me that it is a mindset and not about where you go. It changes your perspective on how you view and look at life. In the end, that is all that matters and it’s enough to keep anywhere you go exciting – until that next big trip comes.
Jillian says
Exactly! It’s a mindset rather than an accumulation of places. Have you traveled with your kids? We met many adventurous families traveling with kids. The consensus seemed to be that it was difficult, but worth it!
theshadesofgrey says
I’m hoping to accommodate this ‘travel bug’ of mine and travel to places if budget and schedule permits. Nice post! Cheers 😉
Jillian says
Thanks! Budget and schedule, always the two ifs!
The Dropout says
It sounds like you’re in a great place right now, Jillian. I’m thrilled for you.
I’m just about to write about my one year anniversary of returning to work. I don’t think I’ll be writing about all being right in my world!
Jillian says
A one year anniversary of returning to work, not an anniversary I’d like to remember! I’ll keep an eye out for your post, I’m intrigued!
inka says
Welcome bacl to Florida, where I also live and can’t wait to return to in December. The travel bug howver IS relentless, you will see.
Adam says
Wow, great post. I wish I could say the same about feeling at ease with our lives. We’ve been back for a year and a half now, and I still can’t get into the swing of things and miss travel like crazy. I was more than ready to come home when we did, and I have gone through periods of acceptance and tell myself that this is what I want and that I am at ease. Then I have a bad week, read a particular post or see a certain picture, and my wanderlust comes roaring back and all I can think about is leaving again. I really just can’t decide where to go next with life. It’s not that I’m unhappy at home. Quite the contrary, I’m very happy. I guess I just find myself bored with everyday life at times, and that’s when the feeling comes back and it’s difficult. I know our travels aren’t over, and there are certainly many more journeys left in our lives, but I can’t help my feeling of uncertainty and my lack of acceptance of our current life at home. I wish I was more at ease, and much of the time, I am. But I can’t seem to shake the feeling that we need to be back on the road again.
Great post, and I’m so happy that you both have grown to love being back.
Laurel says
Good for you for making choices that are the right ones for you. I live abroad, but don’t think I would want to do a RTW trip indefinitely either, although for a short time I’m sure it would be an amazing experience. Besides, you’ll still be able to travel, just for shorter periods if you choose to do so.
The Travel Chica says
I am halfway into my year-long travels (my biggest decision in the last few years), and I often wonder what things will be like when I am back home. It’s great to read the perspective of someone who has done something similar.
Scott - Quirky Travel Guy says
I settled back into home life after my first big trip as well. I think most travelers are people who adapt well in any situation, so we can be fine with being on the road or at home.
Jaime says
Wow reading this gave me tears. I am on a two year RTW trip (only 2 months in) & well I dont know if I want to go home. I am going home for a wedding in 1.5 months but then heading off to Europe so that really doesn’t count. I am happy though that you are happy because in the end that is the ONLY thing that MATTERS!!!
robin says
Good for you – a very assured post that will be encouraging for a lot of people – relentless backpacking isn’t for everyone.
Jillian says
Thanks Robin. I felt like I was the only one who didn’t want to continue backpacking forever! It can be exhausting!! It took me a while to be able to say that I’m happy being home, mostly because I felt like I was betraying the trip somehow!
adventureswithben says
Returning home is always the hardest part – especially after a long trip abroad.
Jillian says
It’s a mixed bag for sure. On the one hand it’s nice to see everyone, but on the other you do miss having those experiences. We’ve been trying to capture that “travel” feeling at home, so far it’s been working out well for us.
Grace says
I feel the same way when I read other travel blogs. I just want to grab my backpack and passport then hit the road. It is so rewarding how travel can change your perspective on life.
Jillian says
I love reading everyone’s perspective on the different destinations. I love when people are honest about a destination, love it or hate it, I’d rather hear real thoughts and feelings rather than something watered down!
megan says
I’ve been back home since February and I’m still having trouble working out where my life is at now. Am about to take off again for another four months, so I can guess I can put those thoughts on hold for a little while. Interesting to read about your experiences, and great to hear that you’re happy where you are now.
Jillian says
It is really hard to make those first few life decisions when you get home. The where and when were the most difficult for us, now that we’ve got that figured out the how, what and why started to fall into place. Enjoy the next few months of travel! It will be interesting going back on the road after a few months at home, I wonder how your travel experience will change!