Ten Years A Nomad by Matt Kepnes

Ten Years a Nomad by Nomadic Matt recounts how a simple vacation transformed into a decade-long journey across the globe. Leaving behind a conventional life and a steady job in Boston, he traveled to over 90 countries, stayed in more than 1,000 hostels, and explored life in ways he never imagined. 

Through his adventures from Costa Rica to Thailand, Matt discovered that travel isn’t just an escape, but a path to truly living.

Stepping Out

• Change doesn’t happen all at once – it’s slow, intentional, and uncomfortable
• Americans often have a narrow view of the world shaped by media and fear
• Travel shatters routine and forces personal growth
• The unknown makes room for reinvention; no one knows who you are on the road
• Matt started out fearful but quickly gained confidence – hiking volcanoes, hitchhiking – realizing he could be whoever he wanted
• Travel allows you to discard excuses and embrace your ideal self

Taking the Leap

• Office life was bearable until Matt knew there was something more
• A spontaneous trip to Thailand reinforced that discomfort is a sign of pushing limits
• America teaches work = worth; elsewhere, people live for living
• Travel changes not just your view of the world, but your view of home
• Thailand taught Matt that boredom and unhappiness weren’t permanent – they were cues to go

Pressures of Home

• Approval from loved ones is powerful – and its absence, painful
• Boss was understanding, parents freaked out, friends were indifferent
• People can’t process what doesn’t fit into their mental “scripts” like college or vacation
• Comfort zones are cozy but can trap you in “just happy enough”
• Real strength is pushing past societal norms and expectations to find your path

Planning

• Plans will fall apart – but planning is still essential
• Planning clarifies your priorities and builds excitement
• Financial discipline is key to long-term travel success
• The goal isn’t rigid structure, but a rough sketch
• Flexibility is freedom. Don’t recreate the 9-to-5 on the road

The Start

• No amount of planning removes fear
• Solo travel is scary – and exhilarating
• It teaches self-reliance: you realize what kind of life you want and who you want in it
• Hostel life can become a routine of its own, but you can choose better
• Everyone on the road shares the same fears and joys

Life as an Expat

• Living abroad is not the same as being a tourist
• Locals aren’t props – they live real lives. Integration takes time and respect
• Slowing down helps avoid tunnel vision of guidebooks and tourist tips
• Staying put reveals a deeper layer of cultural understanding and self-discovery

Burn Out

• Travel isn’t all excitement – routine creeps in, even abroad
• Going home is always an option
• Listen to your inner voice — there’s no shame in returning
• Coming home feels surreal: nothing changes, but you do

Going Back Out

• Friends and family might not understand who you’ve become
• People often assume long-term travelers are running from life – but many are running toward meaning
• There’s nothing wrong with settling if it’s your conscious choice
• Travel isn’t about replicating old memories – it’s about new intentions