Transitional Illusions of Wealth
I've pretty well accustomed myself to this budget travel lifestyle after chugging at it for the past three and a half years (!!! woah !!!). I don't really spend much on accommodation (except in Bangkok), don't splurge that often on fancy dining out (except on BBQ pork ribs from the Smoking Barrel in Motueka), don't buy too many new unneeded clothes (don't wanna carry it all with me). And more than anything I've loved how this lifestyle has taught me that I am totally fine living with less. I spend money on experiences. When I've stopped to work, I'm always really poor to start off with and then once I'm making money, really conscientious of how much I want to save up for further travel. And then once I'm on the road, I'm pretty good at focusing on stringing out my funds for the long run. There is a dangerous exception to my frugality though. It's the transition time. Anytime I'm going from work/having been in one place to travel/moving. Or have arrived in a new country. Or SOME sort of sea change has occurred, all day I manage to whisper to myself 'EHHHH.....TREAT YOSELF!' Dunno what it is - comfort at having funds, exciting new things to see and buy, etc. I bought a few bottles of wine on my way out of Mot the other day. And fancy cheese. I'm drooling over jewelry - cheap and pricey. Even dreaming up little necklace charms that I could have made to represent all of the memories of this place. (Oh my!! I'm suddenly a rich jewelry designer!) Ooh don't I really want to get little tags and glue to keepsake sand from each beach I visit on this trip??(Pinterest, you bastard inspiration black hole). Yes it does seem like hazelnut oil is healthier and will make everything taste better. Oh, it's harvested locally too?? All of the candles smell good and the proceeds always go to someone who can't believe their life is changing because of clean burning soy drippings. (Spending for the good of others! But like also would candles be a van safety hazard?). Should I start using bronzer?? Do I need to buy some and find out?? Will an organic Turkish cotton towel change my life? Is every cookie in every cafe worth a taste? Should I remake this into a cookie review blog? Would my van's front console shrine benefit from yet another healing crystal? Will it get cold enough on my journey to justify purchasing a man's oversized camo hunting jumpsuit? And greeting cards. How can there be so many inspiring, 'so and so would SO appreciate getting this in the mail and would probably even frame it' greeting cards out there?? And yet, I'm not a total sucker. I more or less talk myself out of buying most everything (I did buy the labels and glue for the sand memories though. And a cheap pair of dangly earrings). And thankfully I am able to self regulate after a couple days of spree spending.
