Frugal travel . . . . .

I received an email over the weekend from my brother and sister-in-law (the doctors), who are currently vacationing in Italy. Rome, to be exact. A wave of envy flowed through me when I read the email about visiting the Vatican and seeing Roman ruins. "Why didn't I go into a field that would allow me the financial freedom to travel like that?", I thought to myself, gloomily. I wish I loved math and science the way I love languages and culture----I could be a computer scientist or an engineer, making $80,000 a year. Then again, I would probably be working a whole lot harder and longer!

How perfect, then, that I came across this article about a gentleman named Philip Garlington, who hasn't worked full time in two years, yet travels frequently. How does he do it? He camps! Apparently, he spent last winter in a Yosemite campsite that cost $2.50 (who knows how much the propane for his heater cost. . .) He recently traveled across England in the rainy season (less expensive, then), camping out and walking from town to town to avoid spending money on public transportation.

Of his lack of regular employment, Mr. Garlington says: "I'm as unambitious as a Buddhist," and in fact avoids paying rent by house-sitting for other people. Granted, as a veteran, he has access to VA health benefits, so his healthcare needs are taken care of. He drives a compact car, and doesn't have the usual monthly bills we 'normal' people do, such as utilities and internet service.

I know that I'll never be---by choice---as frugal as Mr. Garlington, but to read about someone who "prefers leisure time to income" and actually walks the talk is kind of inspiring. I hem and haw constantly about whether I should strive for more money or more time---it seems the more money one makes, the less time one has to enjoy it. Having more free time would be lovely, but without money, what does one do with all of those extra hours? A modified version of Garlington's plan might be the ticket----travel without luxury, work without commitment. The key for me will be to find a happy medium, a balance between too much and too little. I don't know tht I'll ever get there (wherever 'there' is), but I'm certainly going to try.