Something weird happened the other day that I want to talk about. As you probably know, from mid-2020 to mid-2025 I was a full-time traveler.
I didn’t have a homebase and moved across the US and the world every month. It was a lovely lifestyle that I really enjoyed because I was able to both settle into a location, and feel like a local with “my” coffee shop where people know me and my local chippy or grocery store.
However, because we moved every month, I also got to see wildly different parts of the world and at the same time, be able to enjoy my ideal weather of 70F and sunny all year round. But in May 2025 we got a homebase in NY.
This was ahead of our semi-arbitrary schedule of 2026 and as a result, we already had 3 months of travel planned for right after we got that apartment. And we did it – we trekked around the UK and Iceland and I got to watch my Partner explore England and Scotland for the first time.
It was a lovely trip, but on our last leg of it in Denver, Colorado I felt something strange ๐ . I had been completely content galavanting around the UK and Iceland, but in Denver, despite being almost 2,000 miles from our apartment, I felt weird about not being there.
I found myself unsatisfied with longterm travel when I was in the US, and so relatively close to our new home in distance and culture. I can’t replicate stepping out of my front door to watch the Northern Lights like I did in Iceland or spot a double-decker bus driving on the left-side of the road like in London, but stepping out into Denver didn’t feel very different than walking around Upstate NY.
Having a homebase made me less happy with longterm travel within the US and now it seems to have another unintended consequence. Here’s what happened.
A Pacific Northwest Train Adventure
The college friend I went with to Japan and the UK this year told me she was thinking about taking a 2 week trip in the fall to the Pacific Northwest, which she’s never been to. I obviously love that area of the country since I lived in Seattle for 5 years and go back almost annually.
She told me I had done a fantastic job planning our Japan, England and Scotland adventures and asked if I would plan this trip for her. I said sure and that it sounded fun so maybe I’d come along too.
After I left that hangout, I felt something I hadn’t felt before about planning a trip – disinterest. I didn’t want to plan this trip for some reason. The thought of looking into all the possible travel options and lodging locations, vetting them, doing cost and experience comparisons and creating an itinerary, felt like a large challenge for some reason.
In contrast, usually I would excitedly dive into planning a new trip. I would be curious to see what the options are and excitedly read Airbnb reviews and make planning spreadsheets.
I’ve mentioned several times in the past that I’ve “accidentally” planned a whole year of monthly travel moves in a few days because I got excited and one thing led to another and suddenly I had an entire color-coded plan laid out in front of me that I was so excited to book!
But that wasn’t the case here. In fact, it felt the opposite. I sat with that feeling for over a week and kept making excuses to avoid planning this trip for my friend.
In the end, I outsourced it ๐ . I asked my lovely Editor and Travel Buddy, my Mom if she was looking for a new travel planning project since she loves that stuff in general and she said yes.
So I gave her all the specs and she came back with some awesome information. We basically learned that the original plan, a train trip from Portland to Seattle to Vancouver to Bamff is wildly expensive, specifically the portion from Vancouver to Bamff National Park. That part of the trip would also almost take up the 2 weeks my friend wanted to spend on this whole trip, so that was out for now.
That left a train trip from Portland to Vancouver, which I’ve done before. It’s beautiful, but not something I am itching to do again.
This led me to a new revelation: if this was the new trip…I didn’t want to go ๐ . This was only a tentative plan with a friend, but it’s definitely a first that looking into a travel plan led me to want to go less, even when plans change a bit.
Something really weird was going on. But it only got weirder. I broke the news to my friend that I didn’t want to go on this trip and shared all the things my Mom had researched in case she still wanted to go, but she didn’t.
A Portugal Parallel
So we started talking about alternate plans. She mentioned that she was planning to go to Spain in the summer. I said “Oooh – Spain is near Portugal and I’ve been meaning to go there for years.” She agreed that she’d been to Lisbon, but was interested in seeing other parts of Portugal like Porto…the exact city I had on my list ๐ .
As a result, another tentative plan was formed. And this time I was interested in researching it – yay! However, that excitement was sadly short-lived.
I quickly remembered the exact reason I haven’t been to Portugal despite going to Europe in 2025 and 2024 – it’s really difficult to get to from the northeast US ๐ . Few airlines seem to go there and most that do are too suspicious for me to consider flying them (I’m looking at you TAP).
And even if I considered putting my life in their hands, the cost of these flights are very similar to the cost of flights to Asia, which is more than double the distance away. Oh my ๐ .
In addition, a lot of the flights have 2 stops, which I would never consider. I rarely book a flight that has 1 stop let alone 2. No thank you ๐ . Further, Portugal isn’t a quick train ride from other nearby, large European cities.
For example, getting from Barcelona to Porto requires taking 2 trains and a bus for a total of almost 11 hours of travel. No thx ๐ . Alternatively, it’s a 2 hour flight if I want to brave a budget airline like RyanAir in my mid-30s (Spoiler: I do not๐คฃ).
So between the lack of direct flights, their cost and my lack of geographic knowledge leading me to think Portugal would be a quick train ride from other major parts of Europe, my excitement was once again drained away. Ugh!
Burnout
At first I thought this feeling was somehow related to now having a homebase, but I’m starting to suspect that’s only a part of it. I think that 5 years of constantly doing high stakes travel planning that involved different countries, languages, currencies and time zones took a toll on me that I didn’t realize.
Because travel planning isn’t just the initial effort and results in booking everything involved in a trip, it’s a constant effort when you’re traveling constantly. For example, after booking the airfare, lodging and transit for the trip, before travel days I come up with all kinds of contingency plans in case something goes wrong, such as hotels in various cities, alternate transit options and backup flights.
Then on travel days I’m constantly tracking our flight to see where it was previously, keeping track of that information along with our gate, and communication with our Airbnb host in addition to navigating us around a new city to get to our final destination as smoothly and stress-free as possible. And apparently all of that has taken a toll on me that I didn’t realize until I stopped doing it.
The past few months were the first time that I haven’t had to plan where we would be every night of the year and I think that break allowed me to realize that I’m a bit burned out from travel planning. I literally had no idea and didn’t even really suspect this, but I suppose I wouldn’t have since travel planning was something I HAD to do if we wanted to have somewhere to sleep every night ๐ .
Somewhere along the way I think travel planning went from something I would wake up early excited to do to something I was obligated to do and I literally didn’t realize until I stopped ๐ . This musing actually made me think about a quote from the below awesome article on Bitches Get Riches about Kitty’s first 6 months of retirement: “That wasnโt early retirementโthat was burnout with style!”
- My First 6 Months of Early Retirement Sucked Shit: What They Donโt Tell You about FIRE by Bitches Get Riches
I’m obviously talking about travel planning specifically, but I can see how on a much larger scale this feeling could apply to work in general and how it feels to stop in retirement.
Now What?
So what am I going to do about all of this? Taking a break from travel planning as a result of getting a homebase and not needing to plan travel revealed that I was burned out after 5 years of doing it nonstop.
And my plan, like all of retirement, is: Listen to my body ๐ . It seems to be revolting against travel planning big trips at this point in time so I won’t be doing that.
I already have travel plans booked for almost every month next year, but a few are within the US and several are roadtrips around the northeast and I think I’ll keep it that way.
2026 involves 2 international trips and the rest is fairly close to home. And everything but a few Airbnbs for those roadtrips is already booked. So I’m going to take a planning break until I’m excited to plan again ๐ .
Conclusion
So that’s what I’ve been thinking about lately ๐ . I didn’t know I had some secret burnout lurking in my life that only revealed itself when I stopped, but here we are. I’m living and learning.
I’m once again infinitely grateful that saving for retirement has allowed me to do what I want and stop doing things I don’t want to do ๐ . And that seems to be planning elaborate travel specifically, not actually traveling.
So travel planning is on pause for now and I’m just going to enjoy the travel I’ve already booked and where I am in the present moment. Safe travels!
Oh wow. I didnโt realize how much you did to plan your trips. Now I know why mine cost more. Iโm impressed you lasted as long as you did. I hate planning trips. I prefer someone else to plan them. I wish I enjoyed it, but I donโt. I hope this break brings back your joy!
Haha thank you ๐ . And fair enough – I’m currently in my “someone else plan this please” era. We’ll see how that goes lol.
Did you end up booking a trip with your friend?
No, but we traveled together internationally for a month this year and I see her twice a week these days.
It makes sense that you were burned out from travel planning. So important that you recognized this and are honoring what your body is communicating to you.
Thank you!
When I read about how you plan your trips, it reminds me of work. I tend to do the exact opposite. For me, travel is something I prefer to be different. I want to indulge in uncertainty, embrace serendipity, and live in the momentโfully willing to change even short-term plans if something else sounds more exciting than the next destination I originally had in mind. Have you ever tried traveling like that? Itโs truly liberating.
I have tried that and it was a literal nightmare for me ๐ , but I’m very glad that it works for you and am impressed when I see people travel happily that way. I’m just not built like that.
It’s not surprising that you’re feeling burnt out. You’ve done more traveling in the last few years than most people do in a lifetime!
Like you said, travel is a little stressful even when everything goes according to plan. Even when I’m having a good time, I feel like I can never fully relax when I’m away from home. There’s a sense of comfort in having a place to call your own, where everything is familiar and you feel like you belong.
I like to think that life comes in a series of seasons, where your health, your interest and your commitments naturally govern what kinds of activities you engage in. Maybe your travel season is over and done with and now it’s time for a homebody season. Or maybe in a few months or a few years, the travel bug will return. Either way, it’s nice to have the luxury of choice.
That is…a very interesting way to look at it ๐ . Thank you for that perspective! And you’re quite right now that I can compare how I feel while traveling to having a ‘home’ again. That’s very well said – seasons change and I’m going to try to accept that and just go with the flow.
I’ve been a bit like this all my life. I remember my first trip to LA (to appear on Wheel of Fortune) back in 1983 was great…but I looked forward to getting home because…I had a home to go back to. Had I been a nomad like you at the time, I suspect I’d have had fun planning my next trip. Having a home base is (mostly postively) grounding and gives you a sense of familiarity and belonging you may not have been planning on.
Long story short…if you have a home to go back to while you’re on a trip…you can’t wait to get back. True for me in 1983, true for me right now (just came back from FL…happy to be home).
That’s super interesting! Thank you so much for sharing ๐ .
I feel you on the travel planning burnout! In the last 18 months, we’ve been to (which means I’ve planned travel to) 4 continents. One trip was a long time in the making, but the other two were more last minute/deal-based/other people’s trips that I planned & then we tagged along on (since I already did all of the work!). …so a few months ago when I started prepping to book a late-winter/early spring trip for 2026, even though it was some where I wanted to go, I just didn’t have the energy to make it happen. I did, however, have the energy to turn a 3 day cross-country drive into a 2 week national parks trip, so I went with that energy and we’re skipping the international trip this year…unless I get excited about a location or a good deal falls into my lap! Your post made me realize that it’s possible to get burnt out on things I love…and that breaks are okay! Thanks for sharing!
Oh wow – that’s a lot! And it’s really kind that you planned those trips for other people ๐ . Also that national park road trip sounds lovely! But yeah it’s totally possible to get burned out on basically anything I think and breaks are indeed ok and at times necessary. Thanks for reading!
Oh no whatโs the deal with TAP?? Iโve actually enjoyed flying them to Europe haha. You should definitely visit Portugal one day but avoid the summers, even Porto gets very crowded. Iโve been in the winter and spring and had way better experiences.
I know what you mean about burnout. Currently in a 3 month stretch of NYC before traveling again. Have a lot of planning to do but spreading it out!
I’m really glad you enjoyed flying with TAP. Before flying a new airline I just do some Googling to see what the general consensus on them is and when I did that for TAP it was mostly horror stories about them being both expensive and treating customers like they’re a budget airline (e.g. bad customer service, nickel and dime-ing, bait & switches to collect fees etc). So I was too scared to book a trip with them if that was a possible way my trip would go.
And good to know about the summers! I try to avoid summer in Europe in general if I can since everyone is on vacation, but I’ll definitely keep that in mind for Porto in particular. And smart on spreading out the travel planning. Safe travels!
I see! It does seem like they were less expensive before to kind of offset the possibility of a bad experience haha. Havenโt seen a deal with them for a while now that I think of it hmm
They are a bit unorganized for sure. Worked in my favor, but a couple of years ago they issued me both a refund and a travel credit when a flight was cancelled :O
Oh wow – that’s a great outcome to their disorganization ๐ !
Maybe your partner will get the planning bug once he retires, and you can latch onto that energy! (I’m not sure I could let go and let someone else but perhaps you can!)
Smart to just listen to your body and take the break you didn’t know you wanted.
Yeah I’m too much of a control freak to let him do it๐คฃ. Also he’s a last minute planner while I’m the opposite and I think that would stress me out and make me bother him constantly, which isn’t fun for anyone lol. So I’m happy I can just stop and see if my love of planning trips comes back.
Anything can get old after awhile., even the fun stuff.
Preach!
Who knows, maybe next you will get a desire to have kids ๐
Sheโs written a lot about how she is not planning to. Plus sheโs already an auntie!
I personally had an arc of travelling extensively up through my mid-30s, and then feeling an intense desire for creating a home in my late-30s. Been to 70 countries, but my son is by far the best adventure of all.
I always appreciate your honesty, Purple, and how youโre always learning, growing, and transforming. It makes a lot of sense that you are burnt out from five years of intensive travel planning. It was a lot! Having your new homebase in Upstate New York helped your body say, hey, we can relax more now and travel less.
You lived exactly the way you wanted to live for five years while being financially independent. Pretty amazing!!! Iโm very happy for you and I look forward to hearing how things go for you in the new year.
By the way, I read that this Year of the Wood Snake is all about the shedding our old identity and our old ways of doing things. The Year of the Fire Horse is all about stepping into a very different version and new identity, but itโs something weโve been heading towards all this year. Think of 2025 kind of like a metaphysical hallway to your new self. Happy holidays and all the best in 2026!
Thank you so much Peg! Your kind words mean a lot ๐ . And oh wow – that sounds exactly right! Thank you for sharing, happy holidays and I hope you have an amazing 2026!
Being from Europe, I fly budget airlines all the time. This is how we travel here. Most of them are fine. I tried Ryanair twice. One time sucked, the other time was okay. I only fly with them if there are no other options, though.
Thereโs nothing wrong with TAP, of Easyjet, or Transavia. Please donโt let them hold you back, and just book a flight to Portugal. The easiest way is probably via Madrid or Barcelona (1 stop, sorry!). Or to Lisbon and then take the train to Porto, quick and easy. Iโve done it myself. No problem.
Totally fair ๐ . I flew only budget airlines when I lived in Europe during my 20s and it was such a stressful experience I personally don’t want to do it again if there’s any other option, but I do appreciate you sharing your perspective. And good to know about the easy train from Lisbon – thank you!
2.75 years into FIRE and I am definitely becoming a home body. And at first I was feeling weird about it, but then I was like, “Wait, I purposely bought a house in the woods…” I totally feel you on the surprise element of feeling less travel-y.
Haha yeah own it! I’ve always been a homebody – my ‘home’ just moved every month ๐ . Enjoy your house in the woods! That sounds lovely.
And yeah I didn’t expect to find as much fulfillment while staying in one place, but I currently seem to be getting it.
I’m surprised to hear that you, of all people, are getting burned out with travel planning!
“Because travel planning isnโt just the initial effort and results in booking everything involved in a trip, itโs a constant effort when youโre traveling constantly.” โ Agreed. Guess we’re finally getting older ๐
Lolol why is that ๐ ? And I’m not sure it’s a getting older thing for me – my Mom is still going strong travel planning like a wild woman. I think 5 continuous years of it for me just led to needing a break.