忙碌的生活步調、反覆的工作模式,越來越多現代人選擇利用出國旅遊,犒賞自己一整年的辛勞,在休息充電之餘,還可以體驗異地文化、增廣見聞。但礙於現實的考量,我們不得不繼續回到工作崗位、繼續奮鬥打拼。然而,也有人選擇跳脫框架、勇敢活出屬於自己的幸福劇本。
從 2015 年五月開始,Rich 毅然辭去工作、賣掉房子,開車載著一隻小黑貓 Willow 展開旅程,兩年多來他把故事一點一滴記錄在網路上,透過 Instagram 分享一路上美好的時光。
Rich x Willow
來自澳洲荷巴特的 Rich,2015 年做了他這輩子最衝動又勇敢的決定,他放棄了工作、賣掉了房子以及所有帶不走的物品,決定一個人展開旅行。所有東西他都可以果斷放下,唯獨這隻陪伴在他身邊的貓咪讓他特別捨不得,他決定帶上心愛的 Willow 、開著 Volkswagen 福斯小巴,一起遊遍整個澳洲。
“She’s the best travel buddy ever!”
歷經兩年的時間,就在今年二月 Rich 和 Willow 整整繞了澳洲一圈,經過了六個州和兩個地區,收穫滿載。一路上,不少人對於 Rich 帶著貓咪旅遊感到匪夷所思,但他特別喜歡這樣的生活方式,不在意他人的眼光和與論、繼續探索未知的世界,不僅認識到許多熱情的新朋友,他更重新認識了 Willow。
“Someone messages me and says...”
談起是什麼動力讓他持續旅行,Rich 透露是他收到粉絲的訊息。有一天,他發現自己和 Willow 的故事與圖片照亮了其他人的生活,自己也因此感到特別欣慰以及成就感。Rich 顛覆過去大家對「定著」的居住觀念,他認為四處旅行也是一種生活模式,不一定要長久定居在相同的環境才叫做幸福的生活,讓大海沙灘、樹葉叢林,甚至是整個世界成為自己的「家」。
“Why would we stop?”
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In 2016 we celebrated a year on the road and I joked about how we had only made it as far as central Qld. Today, we celebrate two years and although we have put in some serious 'kilometerage' through the NT and WA completing our visit to every state, we have still not finished our 'Big Lap'. And we are fine with that. I'm often told that there is very little stopping one from achieving their goals. I will tell these people that there is also very little stopping you from going to the beach tonight with your favourite cheese and watching the sunset. With this mentality we enter our third year, a year that I have not quite mapped out yet, nor have any good reason to do so. It is that we have settled so well into this new life that any need to get from A to B is now impertinent. In previous years I would often wake up wondering where I should be, but lately I realise that I am already there. The average size of an Australian house is over 200 metres squared. Our home is just 5m2 and provides our warmth, shelter, a place to cook, and a place to sleep. A place to work, a place to sit and watch the world go by as the tides change or a storm comes in. Where we park soon becomes an extension of our home and we have been spending increasing amounts of time doing just that. There is a deep comfort I have found in knowing that everything I need is in one spot, including my companion, a little cat whose coat is so vibrant and with temperament to match. Other travellers will ask me which way I'm headed; I am often unable to tell them, to their confusion. We are not really headed anywhere in particular and some weeks calling ourselves travellers seems untrue. Maybe 'nomad' would be a better term in that our movements are seasonal as we search for climates that best suit our days. So I thank you, each of you, for sharing in our adventure and the adventure and memories yet to come - for it is not over yet - for your messages of hope and inspiration, and for just enjoying Willow's wide eyed wonder in the land we call our Australian home. And of course, thank you Willow - The little black adventure cat who has made my van into a home and the whole of Australia her backyard!
A post shared by Willow the travelling cat (@vancatmeow) on
儘管目前已經回到家鄉、繞了一整圈澳洲,這並不代表 Rich 和 Willow 就回到了原來的生活。Rich 表示:「我們已經適應路上的生活了,這已經成為我們的生活模式,你必須選擇讓你開心的生活,既然開始了,那為什麼停下來呢?」最後,Rich 大力稱讚起 Willow,認為牠是最好的旅遊夥伴,至今仍持續前進著。如此充滿熱血又激勵人心的旅遊故事,也喚醒著許多人想出走的決心。
Cover via : @vancatmeow Instagram