Scroll through a travel blog or two and you’re bound to find at least one article coaxing or demanding you “ditch’ or “escape’, or even f*ck (in the words of one blogger) your cubicle and travel the world.
While that may seem like harsh language for a three-walled inanimate structure, anti-cubicleism has become a popular rallying cry among young backpackers-turned-travel-bloggers. And I, for one, am tired of it.
No, I’m not a fan of the cubicle, but I am a fan of the lifestyle it’s come to represent: mainly, a career and a steady income. Because although I love travel, I also love my house, my dog, my friends, my community and my job, too.
I know that some of you are probably doubting that last statement or wondering what I’ve done with the old Reannon. I am the girl who, afterall, once wrote an entire post dedicated to how she never wanted a career and would love nothing more than to remain happily untethered and uncareered for the rest of her life.
I guess the “rest of my life” amounted to three years, because here I am, three years later and knee-deep in a career, a 30-year mortgage and a long-term relationship with a wiener dog. But I guess that’s just getting older for ya, huh?
Mike Barish, in a post entitled “On long-term travel, snobbery and judgmental blogging” (that title says it all!) captured my opinion on the subject perfectly when he wrote:
“While there are certainly countless people who are lost in a sea of TPS reports and hollow pursuits, to write off all people with stable, non-travel lives as working stiffs is condescending at best and offensive at worst.”
Mike’s post was in response to something Matt Kepnes wrote for the Huffington Post. Though it likely wasn’t the tone he was shooting for, Matt’s piece came off sounding preachy and arrogant. Here’s an excerpt:
“We all want something different from our daily routine, something to challenge us. People thrive on variety. It is hardwired into our heads. Nobody wakes up and is grateful for sitting eight hours in a cubicle.”
I beg to differ. I think that you can have an engaging, challenging, creative career and and work out of a cubicle. I know I do. Just because I’m no longer living a life of varying degrees of aimless wandering, doesn’t mean my life lacks variety or excitement.
So why don’t we all lay off the cubicle bashing for a bit, huh?
photo credit: Royal Sapien via photopin cc
I had to laugh when I read this post. The last time I commented, I told you about a freelance web job that still left me free as a bird, no strings attached. That turned into a 3 days-per-week part time job at the client’s store. And I swore I would never dress up to work in an office… So like you, I’ve now got one foot in the door of the “permanently tied down.” But you’re right, time (and circumstances) change your ideals – and sometimes it takes a detour to help you on your way to getting where you want to go. Things work out in strange ways – and I still have my travel plans in pocket!
Best wishes!