I agree – living out of a backpack for an extended time is certainly not the norm and a lifestyle most will not (or want) to live. As far as travel, I’m not sure how many people would welcome the opportunity, but perhaps those that come with it.

I’ve had some very painful conversations with locals in places I have visited who would LOVE to leave their country and travel, to see America, Europe, even other places within their own country, and are economically constrained from doing so. Which leaves me feeling guilty for being so lucky as to be born into the developed West, and to be able to travel longterm.

I have, also, met people (among them hunter-gathering nomads), who have absolutely no desire to travel. They just, well, don’t.

And, for that matter, one of my dearest friends in the UK did not leave the country until he was 21. It just was not a big deal for him. And still really isn’t.

I think we tend to assume that many people would love to dump their daily lives and travel the world. Living out of a backpack is not for all, to put it very mildly, and there are very many real and valid interests outside travel.

And for most of human existence very, very few people would ever travel.

Yet at the same time one of the great things about travel blogs – inspiration and a way for people to see and read about the world.

She does not. She shut herself out of many things. Told me growing up that traveling is only for rich people.