“In your lifetime, you should have at least two impulses: one for love that defies all reason, and one for a spontaneous trip.” This line is from the book *Heaven and Hell*. I imagine the author never anticipated how wildly popular this quote would become in China. So, how hard is it to actually take a spontaneous trip?
When you can’t achieve time freedom or financial freedom
We all need to be responsible individuals, considering the responsibilities we carry. You can’t casually give up your job. You can’t live too recklessly—there’s so much to think about. A spontaneous trip may sound incredibly carefree and like the ultimate act of self-expression, but I actually find it quite irresponsible. We’re still too young. Travel requires time and money, but how many people can truly afford the time and money needed for a spontaneous trip? If you pour all your time and money into such a trip, how will you live afterward? No boss likes employees who quit on a whim. How will you secure your future? One shouldn’t act impulsively. A spontaneous trip may sound great, but it’s incredibly difficult to pull off—it requires time and money, and those are precisely what most of us lack. We need to take responsibility for our lives, especially since we don’t make a living through travel.
Of course, there are exceptions, like those who cut ties and truly have the planning skills for budget travel—or the rich, whether old money or new.
Those who can embark on a spontaneous trip undoubtedly meet certain conditions: first, they come from wealthy families and have ample free time; second, they bear no family responsibilities, or their parents aren’t relying on them yet, so they feel free to quit their jobs and go on a spontaneous trip; third, they’re incredibly selfish, failing to consider their families or their own futures. A spontaneous trip requires a lot of preparation—just ask how many people in poverty can afford such a trip. They can’t possibly sacrifice the chance to provide a better, more comfortable life for their families for an expensive journey. The poor don’t have the luxury of spontaneous travel because they can barely afford to feed themselves, let alone travel. Maybe they’ll get the chance when they’re older.
As long as you have money and time, you’re set. Having money but no time definitely won’t work—travel requires time, after all. If it’s just a nearby trip, no problem at all—just go during your days off. If you don’t have much money but plenty of time, you can still take a spontaneous trip. Of course, if you have money, you can travel however you want, but without it, you’ll have to go on a budget trip. (Don’t trust budget travel guides too much—they’re mostly unreliable, remember that.)
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