Planning A Next Adventure: #4. Test the Lifestyle Fit

Run a prototype, not a fantasy.

Part #4 of 8 in: Thoughts On Planning A Next Adventure

Imagining yourself thriving on the road (or water 😉 is easy. In your head, you are sun-kissed, effortlessly chatting in the local language, and somehow wearing clothes that never wrinkle. Reality, however, can be less cinematic. Sometimes you discover that the “slow, simple life” you dreamed of actually makes you twitchy after day three, or that your charming little room with “rustic character” also has rustic plumbing and a colony of ants.

Give yourself a defined span: two to four weeks is enough to surface the truth of your chosen travels. Replicate the rhythms you expect to live with: work blocks if you are semi-retired with projects, volunteer shifts if you plan to serve, quiet days if you want long stretches for writing or training. Take notes that are unvarnished. How do energy, sleep, and budget behave when the novelty wears thin?

That is why a test run is worth its weight in gold. Think of it as a dress rehearsal for the grand production. Instead of quitting your job, selling everything, and flinging yourself to the far corners of the earth, start with a smaller, lower-risk version. The prototype should end with a clear verdict and one concrete adjustment, not a vague feeling that you will “know it when you feel it”. Use the prototype to price reality. Track real spend by category, the friction points you did not predict, and the small items you reached for three times and did not have. This becomes your packing, budgeting, and expectations guide. Accuracy here is worth more than enthusiasm later.

And for the couples travelling; agree decision rules in advance, especially if travelling as a pair. What signals mean the plan is working, and what triggers a change of pace or place. Partners often want the same outcome for different reasons. Testing the fit reveals those reasons without blame.

The right test depends on your travel style.

• Sailing: crew on a short voyage to see how you handle small spaces, constant motion, and mechanical unpredictability.
  
• Overland: take a multi-day route through varied terrain to test endurance and patience with slow progress.
  
• Road Trip: try living out of your vehicle for a week, including cooking, sleeping, and keeping it organised.
  
• Slow travel: rent a place in a foreign town for a month to see how you manage local systems and social integration.
  
• Volunteering: commit to a short-term placement to test both the work and the living arrangements.
  
• Nomad: spend a month working from different locations to stress-test your tech, routines, and focus.
  
• Solo travellers: take a trip alone in familiar territory first, to gauge your comfort with solitude and decision-making.
  

The point is not to replicate your full trip exactly but to test the rhythms, challenges, and small frictions that will shape your experience. If the fit feels right, you will set out with confidence. If it does not, you have saved yourself a great deal of time, money, and possible therapy; and can adjust before it is too late.

Best of all, a trial run often leads to connections with people already living the lifestyle you are considering. Their tips, warnings, and small encouragements can be worth more than any guidebook. And that reassurance, knowing people like you are doing this is often the nudge you need to take the leap.