@ Rasheed – lol I didn’t really get into TV when I was young and didn’t watch it much after we moved into a new place in high school. I decided in college that it was a waste of time. I was in sports and leading adventure trips anyway, so I never really considered it a priority. It’s been funny as an adult because people think I NEED one, to the extent that I’ve had people give me their old ones (twice) because they misunderstood Why I didn’t have one. Very funny. I watch movies on my laptop for fun and occasionally dip into the reality TV if it is on at friends houses!!

@ Guester – Thanks! I love hearing from my readers! It definitely keeps me going when I have my “what the hell am I doing” moments. I appreciate your kind words

Thank you for checking out my website. You may also want to check out my blog on RVing full-time: http://www.squidoo.com/RVingVA

And I do have a professional blog: http://www.squidoo.com/RVingVA
I’m in the process of changing the focus of that one a bit since I’ve recently gone through a few professional changes (for the better).

You hit the nail on the head with Sean — the biggest thing is leaving your comfort zone behind. But then — for me — that’s the exciting part.

@Rasheed – I think mostly because I’m a nerd :0) I dug into books instead of the news and I haven’t had a TV in 18 years!! Thanks for your words of encouragement, I always enjoy hearing from you!!

@Karalyn – It is really cool what you are doing. I checked out your website and I’m excited to know of a location independent VA. I think that the biggest freedom is personal choice. When we get the opportunity to choose where we spend our time, we can get into touch with ourselves and learn what is most vital to our own happiness.

Thanks so much for your comments and I am very excited to keep up our dialog and get to know you more! Where in the world are you now?

When I was young I remember the thrill of moving to a new place — locating what I needed to survive and getting things in order. It was a real “high” that I seldom got in any other way.

Now I can experience that high any time I want it. Mostly it’s just a mindset that locks us into one place. Gradually I’ve learned what I need to know to survive most anywhere. Certainly, as a freelance journalist, I honed those skills overseas when I was young. What fun to use them now in a way that suits me!

Good post. Keep ‘em coming!

-And I am thinking about either heading down to the Caribbean and learning to sail, spending time in Central America, or going a whole different route and moving to Thailand. We’ll see what happens!

@John – Thanks so much for your comment. You are so right. I have found that pretty much everything I have done was because of conditioning. We think we need certain things because we have been conditioned to set up a life of comfort and acceptance. Once we get out of our normal environment and can see others living differently, we can adapt a new way of thinking… and ultimately a new way of life! Cheers!

My own experiences lead me time and again to similar trains of thought about the ways in which we ossify when we are in one place or situation for too long and the purpose of being there gets forgotten. I have found that it is precisely when you are in a remote location without the security of possessions and familiar faces where there is nothing but yourself and your thoughts, that you rediscover some of your original purpose or new purpose.

I agree with you that a location is important – for example I loved the Andamans where there was no sign of life on the beach and the milky way was bright in a way that made me feel amazingly small and changed my perspective on a lot of dross that had been building up – but sometimes even at home new friends and new challenges have helped kick me out of a purposeless rut, perhaps this is also a major part of the refreshing quality of the unplanned trip?