Can one practise self-sufficiency while travelling?
It’s time for an adventure.
I have spent most of my life so far, aside from holidays and visits to family, in North Queensland, Australia. It is a beautiful place in the world and I definitely appreciate it more than I did when I was a bit younger. However, it is now time for something different (it’s overdue really!) and we will start by exploring the lands of our most recent ancestors - Europe! Maybe we’ll find a new place to call home or at least a new way of life for the time being.
Trying to be self-sufficient in areas of everyday life is something I have been trying to practise for reasons including wanting to be closer to nature around me, valuing decentralised communities, wanting to have a more sustainable, ideally regenerative, relationship with the environment and learning practical skills to both appreciate where humanity has come from and to be prepared for where it might go.
I don’t want to give up this attitude just because I am travelling, but is it possible to travel while practising self-sufficiency?
What does it mean to be self-sufficient?
Fundamentally, it is to be able to look after oneself without the need of help from others. Independence.
Can one be completely self-sufficient? As living creatures, we cannot survive in isolation. For example, the nutrients we need to live are derived from other creatures. We are part of many complex, interconnected systems. But let’s just stick with defining self-sufficiency as independence from other humans. What would 100% self-sufficiency look like? Is it possible? I am sure it is possible but it would look a lot different to the average modern life.
As mentioned in my previous post - - being self-sufficient can be an incremental journey and the destination does not have to be 100% independence.
Perhaps we can estimate self-sufficiency by considering different factors. For example, who are we talking about? Is it an individual, a group, a small community, a country or even the entire human population (the entire human population would be 100% self-sufficient but this is kind of meaningless)? How much is that person or group self-sufficient, do they need anything from anyone else? Can they produce everything they need by/within themselves? The individual or group could be self-sufficient at some tasks but not others.
There could exist an individual or a small group that is mostly self-sufficient, but needs some raw materials and specialised help. There could also be a community that is 100% self-sufficient.
If one still trades or engages with the other groups this doesn’t mean one is not self-sufficient in my opinion, as long as one isn’t dependent on those trades.
Is it possible to practise self-sufficiency while travelling?
Obviously, the type of holiday or travel will effect how self-sufficient we are able to be. Camping or a long road trip by caravan already assumes more independence than a continent-hopping adventure.
During the latter, we can most likely agree that we are not expecting to be 100% self-sufficient. The travelling part alone is no doubt going to involve relying on transport that we did not devise ourselves!
However, no matter how insignificant they seem, there are always ways to incorporate even a little bit of independence into everyday travelling life.
Ways to be self-sufficient while travelling or on holiday
Cut your own hair
One of the simplest tasks to be self-sufficient at is cutting your own hair. There are many tutorials online by people with varying hair types and styles. All I need for my long, straight/wavy hair are a pair of hair scissors, a comb and a clip or hairtie to tie sections of my hair up as I go. You might also want to use water to keep your hair wet while cutting, but I find it easier to predict what the final cut will look like when I keep it dry.
Make your own food
While growing your own food is not really possible while travelling, making your own meals from ingredients is.
Mend your clothes
When clothes start showing wear and tear, instead of throwing them out and buying new clothes, you can use a simple sewing kit, to make repairs by hand.
Make your own body care products
Although potentially challenging with limited space, equipment and ingredients, it is possible to source local ingredients to make simple products such as , moisturisers, etc. .
Use reusable/long-life items
A sturdy water bottle, cut-throat/straight razor, reusable shopping bags, refillable toiletry containers and food containers/utensils are just a few of the reusable or long-life items one can have to reduce what you need to purchase.
Use your own transport
Depending on a few factors, including the country or countries you’re visiting, you could use a car, van or something similar for travel. You might even be able to buy a relatively cheap one if you are overseas for a long time. Other options could include bicycle or motorbike.
Exercise without a gym
Going to the gym is something you might have already given up due to travel. Sometimes you can find a gym at your travel destination, but you can always make . If travel alone isn’t enough exercise for you, bodyweight exercises are an easy way to incorporate strength training into your days, wherever you are.
Maintain an income as you travel
Having an income doesn’t necessarily mean you are self-sufficient. In fact, having in income probably means you are trading the currency for something that you need. Meaning, as an individual, you are not 100% self-sufficient. But when it comes to being able to obtain those things through exchange, you are able to do so.
People can trade their skills for something else. Some skills allow us to be a little more self-sufficient than others.
Those travelling usually have to give up this income and consider travel or holidays as an expensive treat. However, there are ways to maintain an income while travelling such as becoming a freelancer that can work over the internet or that can sell their skill/product “on the road”. One could also consider a working visa.
Obviously, depending on your type of travel or holiday, some of these ways of being more self-sufficient are more feasable than others.
