Why Adventure Is Always a Good Investment

Travel and adventure are not rational, but they’re in our genes. So, start planning your next excursion now.

One of the saddest stories I’ve ever heard:

There was a man with a small business and a wife whose greatest wish was to see the world. Burdened by the demands of his work, he could seldom take a break. Yet he promised that once his business flourished, they would travel the globe together. As time slipped by, his wife grew weary of waiting and begging, so ventured out with friends instead, exploring new countries and new cultures. Meanwhile, he remained tethered to his business. Approaching retirement, he recognized that their time was dwindling and prepared to fulfill his promise. Tragically, as they stood on the cusp of their travels, his wife fell ill and soon passed away, taking their shared dreams of adventure with her.

During a conversation about differing perspectives on finances among couples, a friend shared this story with me. It involved a relative of hers, and it has lingered in my mind ever since. Yet, it’s not solely the tragic reminder of life’s unpredictability or the argument for occasional indulgence against financial caution that strikes me. What truly resonates is the universality of the wife’s desire to travel.

Why is it that so many of us share this dream of travel? Travel was the most frequent last wish of those suffering from a terminal illness, according to a 2022 study. 

What is it about travel that makes it a universally accepted discretionary expense, one that we willingly incorporate into our budgets or aspire to include?

Before going further, let’s clarify: when I speak of travel, I'm not referring to vacations but to the pursuit of new experiences in new places. Our willingness to cram into airborne tin cans isn’t driven by the prospect of sipping subpar margaritas at a resort but by a deeper impulse to seek out the unfamiliar and embrace the thrill of adventure. 

Consider Theodore Roosevelt, a man whose life was a tapestry of bold endeavors. From swimming with sharks to investigate a shipwreck, to trekking across America on horseback, and venturing into uncharted waters of the Amazon, he epitomized the adventurous spirit. He once encouraged:

“Life is a great adventure... accept it in such a spirit.”

What seasoned travelers, from historic explorers to today’s travel gurus, seem to grasp – and what we can apply to our financial lives – is a keen insight into what yields enduring joy. They guide their innate desires, shaped through eons of evolution, toward meaningful pursuits that stand the test of time and leave no room for regret.

The value of spending money is subjective, yet there’s a compelling argument that investing in travel and adventure is universally beneficial. We don’t all need to live life on the grand scale of a Roosevelt. But looking at research that underscores the benefits of travel and adventure bolsters the idea that seeking adventure is not just worthwhile, it’s necessary. 

If the ultimate purpose of money is to forge a meaningful existence, then few endeavors are as compatible with this aim as the pursuit of adventure. It’s an insightful lens through which to view the potency of our innate tendencies and the significance of their role in shaping our actions. It serves as a prime example of how our ancient instincts continue to influence our modern behaviors. 

And it highlights the importance of acknowledging and productively honoring these natural drives with our time, energy and money.

Born for adventure

Legend tells us that Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton once sought adventurous souls for his ill-fated South Pole expedition with an ad promising more danger than reward:

It was his third attempt at the journey, and not his final one – he would die on his fourth voyage to Antarctica less than six years later. Shackleton’s resolve wasn’t unique. History is dotted with intrepid explorers like Lewis and Clark and Daniel Yergin. And for every household name, there were countless others ready to step into their shoes, drawn by the allure of the unknown despite the perilous journey and uncertain outcomes. 

Shackleton said:

“I believe it is in our nature to explore, to reach out into the unknown.”

He was right. We only have to follow the money. 

The world spends around $10 trillion on travel annually. One budgeting survey found the majority of respondents (53%) prioritize saving for travel over things like hobbies (29%), retirement (24%) and home improvements (24%).

Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen how much it meant to us after being mostly confined to our homes during the pandemic. As the world gradually reopened, many people engaged in “revenge travel,” the spike in dining out and travel spending to make up for lost time during shutdowns.

Why did the pandemic feel so stifling? Being locked up is against our nature. We inherently have the drive to explore, born for adventure.

For 99% of our history, we lived as nomads, constantly on the move in search of food, better land or connections with other groups. This nomadic lifestyle has ingrained in our brains a link between movement and survival. 

Therefore, our brains are naturally drawn to novelty, deriving pleasure from discovering the new and unfamiliar. This is not just a random trait; there are specific neurons dedicated to seeking out novel experiences. This inclination towards curiosity and the joy of discovery has evolutionary benefits. The brain releases dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter, when we encounter new experiences that enrich our understanding of the world. 

Some scientific research even suggests the existence of a “wanderlust gene”, DRD4-7R, which may predispose individuals to be impulsive and crave adventure. 

In essence, travel and adventure invigorate us, making us feel more alive. As legendary travel writer Bruce Chatwin put it: 

“Travel doesn’t merely broaden the mind. It makes the mind.”

The compulsion for adventure is a universal human trait, woven into the fabric of all cultures and celebrated through the stories of ancient Greek, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu traditions, among others. They often portray religious figures as wanderers who travel around to impart wisdom and interact with people. 

This concept resonates with Joseph Campbell’s “hero’s journey” story arc, where the hero embarks on an adventure and returns transformed in body, mind and spirit, with a newfound understanding of the world—even while standing on familiar ground.

Adventure feeds our soul with hope, purpose, community, work, joy, imagination, accomplishment, etc. – key ingredients for a fulfilling life. It’s about creating new memories, fostering connections, and embracing challenges that spur growth. 

So then, why are we more excited to rack up travel points than 401(k) contributions? Because adventure is etched into our DNA, retirement is not. 

The fact is, our deep-seated instincts, shaped over millennia when our ancestors led nomadic lives, still influence our decisions, including our spending habits. We can harness these impulses wisely or let them run wild. It comes down to understanding what truly brings lasting fulfillment.

Benefits of travel and adventure

If the benefits of travel and adventure could be distilled into pill form, we’d spare no expense in filling and refilling the prescription.

Here’s a short list of some of the scientifically proven benefits of travel:

• Improved health

• Lower stress

• Reduced risk of depression

• Enhanced creativity

• Increased happiness and greater life satisfaction

The mere thought of setting out on a journey boosts happiness, with a 2014 Cornell study revealing that the anticipation of an experience, such as a trip, can significantly increase happiness. It far surpasses the pleasure we derive from anticipating the purchase of material goods. Another study suggests frequent travel could make you 7% happier. 

Do we believe it’s just a coincidence that Finland is both the most well-traveled country, with the average Finn making 7.5 trips a year, and the happiest country in the world?

Following his travels in Sri Lanka, psychology professor and author Todd Kashdan reflected on the profound effects of challenging adventures. He observes that they foster “personal growth — greater emotional agility, empathy, and creativity.”

He’s supported by a 2022 study that indicates engaging in adventure can bolster our resilience and ability to sustain psychological well-being. It references a growing body of evidence that identifies various benefits associated with adventure, including stronger social connections and support, responsibility for others, perseverance, self-awareness, confidence, stress management, and a direct connection with nature.

Whew!

Recognizing and channeling our innate desire for novelty into travel is a healthy way to fulfill our quest for new experiences. It’s a powerful reminder that understanding our behaviors and consciously choosing those that yield long-term happiness is the cornerstone of a fulfilling life.

Therefore, investing in adventures can lead to a more intentional allocation of your finances, prioritizing activities that deliver enduring satisfaction over fleeting pleasures. This can naturally reduce wasteful spending on non-essential items that you won’t miss.

The good news is that you don’t need a lot of money and don’t need to venture far to find it. 

Adventure is right outside the front door

Running is one of my favorite things to do, though there are days when my enthusiasm wanes – I’m slower to lace up my shoes, my steps feel heavy, or I find myself counting down the minutes until it’s done. For a long time, I mistook this for fatigue, but I’ve since realized it’s a form of burnout from the monotony of my routine – the same route, the same pace. Introducing variety – switching streets, altering my pace, reversing my route – has been the antidote, injecting much-needed adventure into my runs.

With my children, I follow a simple rule: do the new thing. Whether it’s exploring a new park, trying out a different restaurant, or fishing a new spot, novelty is key.

Adventure doesn’t have to mean voyaging down the Nile. It can be as simple as biking to work, getting up earlier to watch the sunrise, or spending a night under the stars at the nearest campground. Even a shift from urban to rural surroundings (or vice versa) can be invigorating.

These are what adventurer Alastair Humphreys calls “microadventures”, small yet powerful diversions from daily life. The essence of adventure is not in scale or cost but in the pursuit of the unfamiliar. Spend time in new places among people whose life stories differ from your own, and you’ll succeed at stretching yourself.

Put another way: Adventure is not a luxury you attain; it’s a habit you build. Cheap adventure is still adventure. And it happens right outside your front door. 

As T.S. Eliot observes in “Four Quartets”: 

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”

Coda

The allure of travel and adventure is undeniable; the journeys we embark upon become treasures, while the ones we miss, shadows of regret. I can attest to that. When a close friend got married in South Africa years ago, my circumstances – a newborn and plans for a larger home to accommodate our expanding family – led me to decline the invitation. Despite the sensible reasons that kept me grounded, a twinge of regret lingers to this day.

Adventure is not rational, but it’s natural. Even more, it’s necessary. 

Certainly, practicality imposes its boundaries. You can’t eat a passport, and financial ruin isn’t a fair price for any trip. Yet, when we embark on that final, inescapable journey, we can’t take wealth with us. Ancient Egyptians buried with golden artifacts bear silent witness to this truth. You also can’t take the Eiffel Tower’s iron lacework, the thunderous roars of Africa’s proud lions, or the watchful stars over Alaska’s quiet wildness. 

But you’ll hold dearly the memories of such sights on your deathbed. Wherever you believe you’ll travel to after you die, if you’ve woven a tapestry of adventures with your time and resources, you can rest assured you’ll venture there unburdened by regret. 

Don’t wait. The world beckons.

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