{"id":117536,"date":"2018-01-16T09:00:50","date_gmt":"2018-01-16T14:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=117536"},"modified":"2024-09-09T14:01:58","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T18:01:58","slug":"mom-said-blog-boring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/mom-said-blog-boring\/","title":{"rendered":"My Mom Says This Blog is Boring"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Matt
\nPosted:<\/strong> 1\/16\/2018<\/p>\n

Last month, my mom told me she thought this blog was boring. \u201cWhere\u2019s all the fun stuff? I want to see more photos of you traveling. I don\u2019t care about these other updates.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cMom, I live in Austin now. You know I\u2019m not on the road that much,\u201d I replied. <\/p>\n

\u201cI know but still….I want to see more stuff. It\u2019s just much more interesting, honey.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOk, Mom,\u201d I say and move the conversation on. <\/p>\n

But you know what? She\u2019s right (shhhhh, don\u2019t tell her I said that). This website has gotten a little boring. <\/p>\n

There aren\u2019t many new adventures, photos of exotic destinations, and exciting stories from the road being posted, because, well, I\u2019m pretty non-nomadic these days. I spent more time in the US last year than I did abroad. <\/p>\n

I feel this way every few years, though. \u201cIt\u2019s OK,\u201d I think to myself, \u201cI\u2019ll be on the road again, and there will be new content, stories, and tips for my website.\u201d <\/p>\n

But lately, as I\u2019ve come to terms with my move from nomadic to more stationary, that\u2019s no longer true. Last year, I only did two big trips, and after I return home from my current winter adventure in New Zealand<\/a>, it\u2019s doubtful I\u2019ll take another trip until the summer. <\/p>\n

Even if my mom doesn\u2019t like it, I\u2019ve come to terms with this change. <\/p>\n

Maybe one day, I\u2019ll sling on my backpack and a few weeks will again turn into a few years. The future is unwritten.<\/p>\n

But, after vacillating so long between staying and going<\/a>, I\u2019m pretty happy being \u201cstationary Matt.\u201d I\u2019m currently writing a new book. I signed up for Swedish and cooking classes, and I\u2019d like a relationship that lasts pasts my next international flight. <\/p>\n

So, as I put down roots, I\u2019m left at a crossroads with this website.<\/p>\n

Travel is what I do \u2014 and I\u2019m blessed that I get to share my stories and tips with everyone here. It\u2019s amazing meeting people on road who tell me that this website inspired their trip, saved them money, or helped them improve their life. It\u2019s truly amazing in every sense of the way. <\/p>\n

But I\u2019m not nomadic anymore. The kids you see on Instagram or YouTube channel filming crazy videos can take up the nomad mantel. I\u2019m going to sit home, write, practice my Svenska, figure out how not to overcook my dinner, and read a book. <\/p>\n

So where does that leave us? Is this my \u201cit\u2019s not you, it\u2019s me\u201d breakup post? <\/p>\n

No. <\/p>\n

While \u201cthe nomad\u201d is now just \u201cthe traveler,\u201d I am not going anywhere. <\/p>\n

While I\u2019ll still blog because I like to write and am never short of ideas, updates won\u2019t be as regular as they were in the past. Instead, I\u2019ve decided to turn this site from primarily a blog into primarily a travel resource. There\u2019s big plans afoot to spruce up, expand, and refresh every single page on this website. <\/p>\n

This year has another focus and that is community. I want to use this platform to connect travelers with each other. We are going to launch a major, major, major<\/em> meet-up program in a few weeks so people can meet each other while learning about travel. There will be local chapters, events, speakers, and gatherings, workshops, and getaways. Plus, I\u2019m organizing a conference for the fall. <\/p>\n

There will be also more videos, webinars, FB lives, and Q&As. My YouTube channel is coming back. I\u2019ll be interacting more on social media, sharing people\u2019s stories, and answering your questions. <\/p>\n

The team and I are committed to using this giant platform to bring people together, highlight community members, and find fun ways to take what we have online and bring it into the real world. We\u2019re going to be a lot more social this year! <\/p>\n

***<\/center><\/p>\n

When I started this website, there were always stories to share. I was always on the move. Forever the nomad I thought to myself. <\/p>\n

But life is not static. The person I was and the wants I had at 25 are not the same at 36. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m not done traveling. Far from it. I love every trip I take. There will still be how-to blogs and travel stories \u2014 just not as many. <\/p>\n

But that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t other ways to serve travelers.<\/p>\n

So while the \u201cblog\u201d will be a semi-ghost town, the community and resource part of this website will be more active and larger than ever. My goal is to expand the reach of the “cheaper, better, smarter<\/a>” philosophy and turn more people into travelers. <\/p>\n

So, yes, Mom, the blog may be boring, but so much more is happening this year than just a blog about Thailand. <\/p>\n

And that makes me (and I hope you) excited for what\u2019s to come!
\n 
\n

How to Travel the World on $75 a Day<\/span><\/h3>
\"How<\/div>

My New York Times<\/em> best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you\u2019ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It\u2019s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the \u201cbible for budget travelers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here to learn more and start reading it today!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n

\n

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n

Book Your Flight<\/strong>
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a>. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. <\/p>\n

Book Your Accommodation<\/strong>
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. <\/p>\n

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong>
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n