With One Question, You Could Build a Rocket Ship

My ability to get cheap flights and travel deals served me well as a nomad. It also sharpened my decision-making ability. During several years of being “homeless,” I mastered the art of finding sublets, cheap hotels, and other hacks to travel on a budget. My buddy Bobby, who happens to have a PhD in physics (a true rocket scientist), was even better at it than I was.

My first big trip was in 2006 when I was living in New York City. When I looked at my budget after two months in Thailand, India, and Europe, I saw that I actually made money.

I got so good at the game that for ten years I rarely had a home address. I loved it. And like most things in life, it worked until it didn’t.

The benefits were clear: freedom and living in beautiful places without spending much money. I didn’t have to get a job or take on unwanted freelance projects because my quality of life relevant to my expenses was so high.

The important question I finally asked was: What were the costs?

Forget the obvious trade-offs. You can make a case for being grounded, having a kitchen, not having to pack, and enjoying your own bed.

For me, the real cost was mental capacity.

The opportunity cost was a great unknown…and I wanted to find out just what I was missing out on.

I said to Bobby, “We’re winning this travel game. But what exactly are we winning? And what would happen if we directed all that mental energy to something else?” Then I asked myself, “If I eliminated the question of where I’m going to sleep next week—a question that requires a ton of planning—what would I fill my brain with instead?”

I looked to build a home. I even signed a one-year lease! Soon after, I bought a place. The amount of time I now spend on travel sites has decreased tenfold. I finally bought bamboo sheets for king-size bed that I own. And it feels like home.

The benefits: More money, more creativity, and better health.

The costs: Minimal, especially since I can still put that travel know-how to use when needed. If all goes well, I’ll be in Thailand in December for six weeks.

I believe envy can be an effective compass. When I feel it, it leads me to more inquiry. Since Bobby has continued his nomadic ways. it allows me to check in. As he moves from one exotic location to the next, I’ve yet to feel any envy. If anything, it’s a reminder of how grateful I am for my current situation.

Whatever you’re spending a lot of time on, ask the questions:

What is it costing you?

What could be gained if you used that mental capacity elsewhere?

Not all of us are rocket scientists like Bobby, so maybe you can’t build a rocket ship. But if you can ask that one important question—What is your time and attention costing you? —you just might surprise yourself with what fills that space.