Sometimes the Best Plan is no Plan (or a Minimal Plan)

Full disclosure: I am a planner at heart.  So, going without a plan makes me a little uncomfortable.  This is part of why this trip is both exhilarating and terrifying. My moments of carefree excitement were punctuated with worries about traveling with a dog, the future of my career, and how we would finance our travels.

When we started this trip we sold our home, quit our jobs and said goodbye to our friends. We didn’t know exactly where we were going, how long we would be gone, or what we would do when we returned (if we returned at all).  So many unanswered questions were unsettling to say the least.

But, as anyone who has traveled knows, you can’t plan everything.  We’ve experienced unexpected changes in weather and last-minute lodging cancellations. We’ve arranged our schedules around specific destinations, only to find them closed.  And, a broken ankle certainly wasn’t part of our plan. In the end, we’ve ended up with more of an outline.

There was a time when I enjoyed thoroughly researching our destinations.  I wanted to be prepared so I could fit as much in as possible and to ensure that I wouldn’t miss out on anything.  But when we became nomads, the destination changed too frequently.  I found that preparing for the next destination began to distract us from enjoying the location we were currently in.

We now generally limit our preparation to the basics.  For us, this typically includes determining where we will be sleeping, key transportation information, cost expectations, and considerations for the dog.  We often have one or two key priorities and then let everything else fall around that.  We are then free to follow our interests as we explore a new area.  I enjoy the surprise and wonder that comes from discovering something for the first time.  Some of our favorite memories include finding something unexpected, whether stumbling into a small shop or following a local’s tip.  When we don’t have a strict schedule, we were able to linger a little longer or chat with a stranger.  This allowed us to unexpectedly meet a dog we follow on instagram and share a beer with a former merchant marine who entertained us with hours of stories (and possibly a few tall tales). 

Instead of researching a destination before we arrive, I now find that I am more likely to learn about it afterwards.  I am more engaged in the reading about the history or culture after a visit, and the quest is motivated by genuine interest rather than logistical necessity.

Earlier this year, we found ourselves in a poorly maintained Airbnb with such a foul odor that we had to leave early.  We loved southern Portugal and were initially disappointed that we couldn’t find alternative accommodations within our budget on such short notice. However, the opportunity allowed us to spend more time in Lisbon and Sintra and meet some wonderful people. It made us more appreciative of our next home and we firmly believe that we ended up with a better outcome.

We most recently demonstrated the ability to be flexible this week.  We had planned to spend a few days in Verbier so Rich could go mountain biking.  However, the arrival of snow, continued rain, and the threat of lightening (which could close the lifts if the trails were still rideable) produced less than favorable riding conditions.  A few hours before we were planning to leave, we decided to cut our losses.  We instead decided to travel to Zermatt and it ended up being one of most enjoyable days of the trip.  The weather was good, the Matterhorn was visible the entire time and it wasn’t as crowded as it can be at other times of year.

If we had followed a detailed plan, we may have visited more historical churches or noticed more hidden artwork, but I would hate to think of what we may have missed out on.