Where Is Your One-Way Ticket Taking You?

This article was originally published in August 2016.

I’ve been reading a lot of business and lifestyle books lately. Whether it is spending more time with the family, learning a new skill, or experiencing a different language, most of these books focus on creating a life that one would dream of.

One of the biggest things that I took away from these books was traveling or even living wherever you want.

Of course, for traveling/living, the books don’t equate money, where your job’s office is, or your kids that could potentially stop you from going anywhere, but I met someone on vacation that helped me put this into perspective.

In La Jolla, California, my family and I got a ride from one of the hotel’s shuttle drivers. He was a couple years out of college and was now working at the hotel where we were staying. In our brief conversation with him, he told us that he was originally from Massachusetts, but moved to California after spending a few weeks there. He fell in love with the area and told his parents he wasn’t coming back.

Yes, this story is kind of nuts, but just think about how liberating his experience must be.

Unlike the conventional moving to a location once you retire or moving somewhere for a job, this guy literally moved just so he could be where he wanted to live.

I think that’s inspiring.

I think that we generally wait too long or simply never do the things that we really want to do, one of which is living in a certain place.

For some, they currently may be living exactly where they want to live, but for others that are unhappy, you have to go where your dreams take you.

Sure, some areas may be expensive, but there are ways of getting around it. The shuttle driver really liked La Jolla, but it’s really expensive, so he found a place to live more south where rent was more affordable. Still the same beach that attracted him to California.

Overall, I don’t think that it’s unreasonable to move to wherever you want to live. Sure, my perspective may be shifted because I’m only 19 and don’t have kids or a full-time job, but I feel like I’ll be able to get by wherever I go. If I really wanted to live somewhere, I don’t think anything can stop me.

It’s just that life is too short to be unhappy. If you are living in a place that doesn’t make you happy, you have to move. It’s that simple.

I know, it’s easier said than done, but the least you can do is give it a try.

Where is your one-way ticket taking you?