What's been your favorite place so far?

Almost without fail, this is the first question I get when discussing the past 7 months of my life as a full-time nomad. This is like asking “what was your favorite vacation of all time?” or “what is the best meal you’ve ever had?” Sure, there may be some standouts, but more often than not there are things you liked about each unique experience. For my wife and I, almost every day has provided something new; some spark of inspiration or a challenge to overcome.

In Taiwan, there were many times we had no idea what we were eating. We certainly couldn’t converse with locals in their own language and therefore had to adapt. Our first attempt at grocery shopping on the day we arrived, after landing at 5AM, was a complete failure and we ended up eating pre-packaged PB&Js from a 7-Eleven (yes that is a thing in Taipei). In Australia, our schedule was upside down and we would end our workday by walking home from the office at four or five in the morning, a very interesting time of day between the people you see on the streets and the wildlife that emerges from the city’s many parks. In Argentina we had a “normal” schedule and were very productive work-wise. My Spanish went from embarrassing to semi-functional and I consumed twice my bodyweight in red meat. Peru was full of non-stop adventure (Macchu Picchu!) and we had dinner at one of the top five restaurants in the world. In Portugal we did our first top-to-bottom tour of a country over six or seven weeks and I fell in love with it. From the centuries-old streets of Lisbon to the pristine beaches and cliffs of the Algarve to the breathtaking hills of the Douro Valley, we enjoyed every moment. We continued our tour of Europe over the summer, spending a month and a half in Croatia (amazing seafood, amazing history), Italy (Parma is highly underrated) and I am writing this from the tiny island country of Malta (perhaps the best bread on earth). Tomorrow we head to Madrid for a week and then we will spend over six weeks in Medellin, Columbia before heading home for the holidays.

I write this not to point out the number of places we’ve been this year or how different they are, but to highlight what I’ve come to believe is a key ingredient to a happy life: filling ones days with diverse experiences, ideally in the company of friends and loved ones. Many studies have shown a link between people who consider their life to be well lived and strong, lasting relationships. Those can be from decades-long friendships, serendipitous meetings with strangers or family bonds built over a lifetime. What doesn’t come up as much but is certainly becoming more widely accepted is a preference for experiences over material possessions, especially among millennials. Most Americans (myself included) have an unhealthy addition to “stuff,” especially luxury items that we don't really need. However, younger generations appear to have a greater appetite for adventure and less acceptance of the assumed default path for their lives.

Adventure does not have to mean hiking through the jungle, hang-gliding over seaside metropolises or careening around winding roads on a motorbike. Adventure has a different meaning to everyone. For some, it may mean taking their dog to a new park each weekend for a month or two. For others, it might be camping in their own backyard or driving a few hours enjoy a weekend at a bed and breakfast. Some people thrive while hosting dinner parties or book clubs, surrounded by the buzz of friends and family enjoying each other’s company. Others (again, looking in the mirror here) enjoy a solitary, painful workout with cinderblocks and pipes on a deserted island in Croatia with the sea sparkling like diamonds through the trees (yes I did that. More than once), or simply reading a book in the sun.

The point is not to chase what you think you should be doing or copy what you see others posting on their heavily-curated profile pages. Do your own thing and do it unapologetically. Surround yourself with people you enjoy. Never accept that you have to follow any path you didn’t choose yourself. Make the most of your days and remember that when you reflect back on your life, the things you fretted over most will be long forgotten and what you’ll see is a slideshow of snapshots, faded yet more beautiful than ever, from the adventures that brought you joy.