More people than ever before are finding themselves working and studying remotely. They are no longer tied to a land-based office or school. Digital nomads, home-schoolers, RVers, liveaboard sailors and retirees have long been aware of the incredible freedom of global travel and we are happy to share the news: the full-time travel lifestyle is now accessible to those who seize the moment and make it happen.
A full-time travel lifestyle
Travel as a lifestyle can take the form of jet-setting around the world, living on a yacht while sailing from port to port, or permanently road-tripping it in an RV or campervan. It can be fast-paced, staying at hotels and flying everywhere or it can be slow-paced, renting a home for a few months before moving on. While traditionally this lifestyle has been a privilege for the retired and wealthy, it’s becoming more accessible and viable for many.
This is primarily due to technology and its role in enabling people to perform and deliver their work online remotely. There are countless ways of earning income online, and while most working people leading a travel lifestyle are entrepreneurs, employees have more options now as companies allow for remote work.
With a reliable internet connection, these location-independent workers have the tools for freedom of movement, allowing them to take that long-desired trip and still work, connect and explore.
Technology is not only aiding remote workers but students as well. We’ve seen first-hand that similar technologies can deliver classes online, making remote learning possible everywhere. This is now true for all ages including many college and university students who attend lectures online. Global travel as a lifestyle has become a reality for the whole family.
Lifestyle and travel in a post-pandemic world
Now that we have lived through a pandemic, we’ve all had time to make peace with what “home” means, and we’ve had plenty of time to make our house our sanctuary. We’ve had time for solace, reflection, and honesty about our life goals and what’s most important. We’ve had time to seek out the greatest road trips to appreciate the natural beauty of the destinations close to home.
But the more adventurous among are asking, “What’s next? How can we take advantage of this precious opportunity? How can we make more of our lives with this newfound freedom? How can we expand our minds and our life experiences?
We are ready to get back into the world and experience it wholeheartedly but differently. In a safer way. In a comfortable way that feels like the sanctuary of home. In a way that allows us to continue to do our work, studies and active pursuits while prioritizing a whole and adventurous life.
Have world cruisers had it right all along?
In the past, traveling most often involved moving from hotel to hotel while living out of a suitcase. We dealt with flight after flight, jet lag and rushing around to see it all. Now we value having our own safe space. We want a more immersive experience since we don’t need to rush back to the office after 14 days.
In retrospect, the world cruisers had it figured out all along. They could unpack once and sleep in the same comfortable bed night after night while waking up in a new port every day for up to 180 days. COVID times exposed the short-term vacation style of cruising for its vulnerabilities due to the turnover of thousands of people week after week, putting vacationers at risk. But the reality is that the around-the-world cruisers remained entirely safe.
Residential ships - changing the game for people leading a luxury travel lifestyle
Storylines is reinventing the long-term travel lifestyle, attracting more than just world cruisers. When COVID hit, Storylines was in a unique ‘drawing board’ position to have its naval architects easily incorporate all the safety and hygiene features needed to safeguard future residents’ health.
The ship’s residences had already been designed with long-term living in mind, including essential comforts for living aboard that ‘around the world’ vacation cruises can’t offer. Just some of these include:
- Resident kitchens
- Thoughtful storage solutions
- Pets allowed
- A leisurely itinerary with months in geographical regions
- Days in exotic ports, not hours
- A like-minded community of fellow neighbors and adventurers
Most of all, Storylines offers a long-term travel lifestyle with all the comforts of home.
Be sure to check out our ‘Meet Your Neighbor’ series as we highlight how people are making a travel lifestyle their reality. From digital nomads to home-educating families to liveaboard sailors and early retirees, we interview future residents of Storylines MV Narrative who can proudly proclaim that there truly is “no place like home.”