Does “wanderlust” have an expiration date? Does that itch to get up and just go fade away as time goes by? Or is it something that we seek within ourselves and actively hone and hear out?

I don’t actually know, to be honest. But I like to think it’s the latter. However, this pesky thing called life can and tends to get in the way of plans to set sail for Hawaii on a whim or to go live abroad for six months in the south of France. The grand plans of seeing the world may not apply to everybody, but I have my list at the ready, set to cross off far-away lands as I can.

But as I near my 30th birthday, I feel like the window on the freedom to travel at my own pleasure is coming to a close. Society tells me that I should be looking for a husband and wanting to settle down, buy a house, have some kids, get the token designer dog, build the constructed image that nets us the positive end of the neighbourhood gossip. While I am, yes, looking for a partner in crime to ride my days out with and raise some babies with, I’m not sure about the rest of it, and I can feel myself starting rail against it harder and harder. In a city like Victoria where the price of a single-family home is essentially unattainable for the average middle-class family, I have asked myself on more than one occasion: why? Is it a requirement that I own a piece of property and shoulder the responsibility of mortgage payments and taxes and utility bills? Is that the only way that I’ll be considered successful in the eyes my peers? Does that social acceptance even really matter to me?

I’m starting to think maybe there is another way. I know I’m not buying a house any time soon, and I’m not so sure I want to buy a condo, so where does that leave me?

With a whole lot of potential savings that is begging to be used.

Last September, I went to London, England and Amsterdam, Netherlands with my mom. I spent every dime of savings I had for our two weeks abroad, exploring with one of my favourite people in my favourite city and a new-found city. And I’m not sure I’ll ever get a chance to experience that again. My mom is struggling with some pretty serious health issues right now, and the trip itself held some trials for her. l can see her worsening, and I know in my heart that I may not get the chance again to show her Westminster Abbey or watch her swoon over the exceptionally good looking actor playing Macbeth at the Globe Theatre. (Seriously, though, what a hunk!) I may not get to see her sip her cappuccinos overlooking the Herengracht canal, wondering if her dad can see what she’s doing now, whether he’s proud of her. Those memories with my mom are priceless, and I can’t imagine still having the savings in the bank and never going on the trip. Doing the “financially responsible” thing and continuing to save for that down payment or whatever it might be wasn’t an option, so is it financially irresponsible if I just spent the money differently than what is expected?

Life is fragile and time is not guaranteed. We aren’t promised our tomorrows and every morning that we do in fact rise with sun is a gift, however cliche that might sound. I know with incredible clarity the way life takes a hard right turn and suddenly that bill payment you were worried about no longer matters. Life is a master of reminding you of the important things in ways that make sure you won’t forget. Life changes you, and for the better, I think. You learn to live again and appreciate the things in life that you simply took for granted.

In this moment, I am a healthy, hard-working, smart, 29-year-old writer. I certainly won’t stay 29 for ever, and I may not always be healthy, so I better take the chances that I do have to see what I want to see, in case tomorrow doesn’t happen. I can always make more money, but I may not be able to board a plane to sit on a houseboat in Amsterdam, I may not be able to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, I may never feel the beaches of Vietnam. I may not be able to hop in the car and simply drive away on the next roadtrip.

Go while you can, guys. Time waits for no one, no matter how hard we try to make sure it does. So, go. The rest will wait; the adventure may not.

– kw.