Traveling while sober

Howdy friends,

Do you know what happens to medication in your bag when it’s left out on the tarmac during a thunderstorm?

It disintegrates. Learned this one the hard way and that’s what motivated us to create our latest article about the top waterproof luggage options.

This week also marks one year since I stopped drinking alcohol. In short, my life has vastly improved as a result — and in ways I never expected.

Let’s dive in.

Hey, this is Kelsey, and you’re reading the SiteSee newsletter. Expect an email from me every Friday filled with personal travel stories, cutting-edge research from our team of globetrotting writers, and insights on embracing a location-independent lifestyle and the gear to get you there.

I stopped drinking alcohol for several reasons, but the primary one was simply being over the feeling of waking up and feeling like death, wondering if my friends still liked me.

The hangxiety was horrible.

So I decided to throw in the towel for good. But part of me was scared to see how it would affect my relationships, my social life, and how I’d make friends while traveling.

Work hostels such as Selina, remote work programs, and travel communities frequently revolve around alcohol-related activities. It's common to be greeted with a welcome drink upon arriving at a new hostel, socializing often includes happy hours, and group travel regularly involves alcohol-centric events such as bar crawls or visits to wineries.

Surprisingly, I managed to navigate all of these situations — and the best part — I still had fun. In fact, I had more fun.

Here are the key lessons I've learned from quitting drinking for one year.

1. Real, meaningful connections have taken center stage, while those centered on drinking gradually faded away.

When you’re drinking, you’re given a false sense of connection. In the moment, it may feel like you’re really connecting with someone, but that tends to fade along with the hangover the next morning.

Now when I’m with a friend, or I’m meeting someone new, all of me is there. I’m not just giving off a false sense of identity — i.e. a super chatty Kelsey pumped up with liquid courage who isn’t really me.

Obviously, the friendships that centered around drinking have faded away with time. Even though I’ve had to let some friendships go, I've found that I can connect with people on a deeper level and now have the time to nurture more meaningful relationships.

2. There’s a whole other world of people doing cool sh*t that doesn’t involve drinking.

I thought when I quit drinking my life would be a lot less fun. Maybe even a bit boring.

Quite the opposite.

I eventually discovered communities of like-minded individuals engaged in a wide range of thrilling activities. These people weren’t just sipping on margaritas into the late evening — they were getting up at the crack of dawn to climb mountains, go camping, or head to the ocean for a freediving session. Since joining these groups, my days have been so filled up with activities that I quite honestly couldn’t imagine trying to bake in a night drinking and partying.

On random occasions when I do find myself out at a bar, I remember my conversations and genuinely enjoy them. And the people I talk to don't pass judgment on me for abstaining from alcohol. In fact, they show a lot of curiosity and eagerness to learn about my experience and how I'm feeling.

3. I no longer feel like I’m strapped for time.

Drinking alcohol is a weird form of time travel. You skip out on moments of life. Conversations are fuzzy the next morning and you spend hours (even days) recovering from a hangover.

Since quitting, I feel like I was given that time back.

I’m able to easily finish all my work during the week so I can completely disconnect and relax on the weekends.

In the past, I felt like I was always struggling to keep up. Nowadays I feel sharper. I have less anxiety. My skin has cleared up. I lost weight. My overall energy is lighter. And it’s no surprise that financially, I’ve had one of my best years yet.

Every day, I hear about more and more friends who are opting to take a break from or completely quit drinking. It's fascinating to witness how Gen-Z is collectively moving away from alcohol consumption. And the sheer variety of excellent non-alcoholic beer options available is also quite impressive.

It’s been a beautiful experiment to see that life doesn’t shrink when you quit drinking.

It expands in the best way possible.

Things I’m Mulling Over

• What I’m obsessing over: This Nomadix towel. I use it for mat pilates, the beach, and just about everything else.

• What I’m reading: Five Stars: The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great — lots of great gems in this book.

• What I’m saving up for: Away launched new products and updated their classic suitcases in vibrant colors. I’m personally saving up for this bad boy.

Thanks so much for reading and, as always, please let me know how I did. Which part of this email was your favorite? What do you want more or less of? Other suggestions?

​Have a wonderful weekend, all.

Onwards,

Kelsey

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