May 2024 

 

The heart of economics is the study of how individuals and society choose to allocate scarce resources. If time, energy and money are finite, how do we choose to invest those precious resources? 

 

A few years ago, I lived in my dream apartment. It was a brand new corner condo with unobstructed views overlooking the city skyline.  I spent months curating the perfect space with unique furnishings, refurbished antiques, and custom pieces from local craftsmen. It was absolutely perfect and I loved that space. Two years ago, I worked for a company that provided me with a brand new car with an unlimited gas card. In my early twenties, I got a taste of what it was like to experience the dream home and the brand new car. Yet, as fulfilling as these experiences have been, I’ve discovered that travel yields a return on investment that is truly priceless—memory dividends that enrich your life long after the journey ends.

 

I’ve learned to streamline my expenses on housing and transportation—choosing a smaller apartment, sharing living spaces, and driving a secondhand car—to free up resources for travel. I now believe that travel is the ultimate investment in oneself, a philosophy perfectly encapsulated by Anthony Bourdain’s words: “travel is not a reward for working, it’s education for living.” I often reminisce about my travels and I know it’s something I will reflect on into my old age. Travelling has changed my brain chemistry and shaped parts of my identity in ways I could not even imagine. Through travelling, I’ve learned to be open minded, more compassionate, and a more grateful person. 

 

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Six Pillars of My Travel Philosophy

 

1. Complete

2. Plan frequent short trips

3. Contrast travelling

4. Embrace the discomfort

5. Plan bucket list items based on age and the season

 

1) Complete Immersion 

 

Living in a place isn’t just about visiting its famous landmarks; it’s about truly becoming part of its rhythm. I’ve lived in Calgary for six years, Ottawa for three, spent a semester in Germany, and spent two months in Eastern Europe. These extended stays allowed me to move beyond the tourist experience—discovering favorite local coffee shops, forming genuine friendships, and engaging in cultural osmosis. If you stay somewhere for an extended period of time, there is no need to rush to see everything, you can go at your own pace and curate an experience that is uniquely your own. I find myself imagining an alternate reality where I actually live in that place. The full immersion experience is the best.

 

2)  Planning short, frequent trips

 

I was hiking to Rio Celeste, a famous aquamarine coloured waterfall in the heart of Costa Rica’s rainforest. If there is any rain, the turbulence of the water would mix with the soil and turn the water greenish brown. During the hike, we encountered rain and so we didn’t get to see the bright blue colours. The hike was beautiful nonetheless, and I lived in Canada where glacial waters are plentiful. However, one of the hikers, who had been backpacking throughout South America for the past six months, was quite disappointed by the waterfall. When you travel for a very long time, the novelty of travelling wears off.  There have been studies where they found that short but frequent trips are optimal. 

 

Psychologists have found that pre-trip excitement and the 48 hours after arrival is usually when you experience peak happiness. Slowly we habituate to the travel and happiness plateaus. Tali Sharot, described it best, imagine you are living your best life day after day and it becomes routine, then suddenly the best day becomes a little boring. Because I just arrived in Costa Rica and it was the first international trip since covid, I was in a state of excitement and was unfazed by the greenish brown waterfall unlike the girl who has been living from her suitcase for the past six months.

 

I enjoy short but frequent weekend trips every couple months because I always have something to look forward to. I’m in a steady state of pre-trip excitement, looking forward to a break in my routine and the anticipation of novelty. 

 

3) Contrast travelling

 

Contrast travelling is one of my favourite ways to travel. A week in metropolitan Japan followed by a week in the remote islands of the Philippines. Hiking through the cloud forests  followed by a week doing yoga on the beach in Costa Rica. Two months living in Western Europe followed by two months living in Eastern Europe. Hiking through the Himalayas of Nepal followed by a culinary tour through China. Backpacking in nature followed by a luxurious hotel. The polarity of contrast travelling, the stark cultural or landscape differences, actually deepens the experiences. The extremes, dark to light, pain to pleasure, cold to hot, sweet to bitter, the sensation of one amplifies the sensation of the other. 

 

4) Embrace the discomfort

 

I don’t think I would ever go to an all inclusive resort. I can’t imagine spending a week just eating and chilling at a beach on repeat. I would be so bored. Also, it’s pretty much the opposite of feeling like a local. The local people are basically waiting on all the foreigners and something about it feels very colonial which doesn’t sit well with me. Whether it’s riding local buses, camping under the stars, or even enduring a night in a car at a trailhead, embracing discomfort has been a catalyst for genuine adventure. Embrace the discomfort, it’s all part of the experience. 

 

5) Plan bucket list items based on age 

 

When I lived in Calgary, I spent a week in Banff and Yoho National Park hiking. I got back to work and I told my manager all about my vacation. He told me about his mountain adventures, spending weeks hiking through the mountains as well, but in his fifties, it wasn’t possible. 

That stuck with me - how one day our bodies won't be as agile or resilient, and there will be a day when we can no longer climb mountain peaks or go on rigorous travel adventures. The harsh reality is we do age and so with this in mind, I’ve front loaded the upcoming years with the most ambitious trips. I can do easy-go lucky vacations later.

 

6) Plan bucket list items based on the season

 

The benefit of a little advanced planning is you can also schedule your travels during the low-peaks for very popular destinations or to capitalise on certain seasons. It was absolutely incredible to see Cape Breton during the fall rhapsody, Washington DC during the cherry blossom season and Costa Rica in February to escape the Ottawa winters. Next, I’d love to go to Yosemite in early June for their spring wildflowers, Himalayas in December for the shoulder tourist season, Spain in August for hikes in through the Pyrenees and beaches in San Sebastian, Newfoundland in June for icebergs and whale watching. If you already are planning to go to these places, why not plan it during a time when you capitalise on the seasons and experience something amazing? 

 

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In a world of finite resources, every choice is a balancing act. Travel provides an enduring investment in our most valuable asset—ourselves. By making thoughtful choices in everyday expenses, I’ve been able to devote more to the enriching and transformative experiences that travel brings. Each journey not only broadens my perspective but also leaves me with memories that, like dividends, continue to yield returns long into the future.