I’ll buy a wooden house in the jungle
surrounded by coconut trees.
I’ll rent it out to tourists and travel
whenever my feet get itchy.
I’ll wake each day at sunrise
to the sounds of monkey screams.
I’ll spring out of bed with excitement
and run into the sea.
I’ll always wear flowers in my hair
and let my skin be kissed by the breeze.
I’ll live on coconut and mangos
fresh fish and organic greens.
I’ll ride my bicycle everywhere
and wave to people in the street.
I’ll meet a man who travels the world
who isn’t afraid to dig deep.
I’ll stay with him and be loving and loyal
but I can still be free.
I’ll chant in caves and climb up cliffs
and never mind if I get dirty.
I’ll live with the purpose of showing the world
that life can taste so yummy.
I’ll book a flight to a faraway land
to wander and get lost deliberately.
I’ll find myself in foreign cultures
and remember that I hold the key.
I’ll let the universe abundantly provide
everything that I need.
I’ll come back often to my jungle home
where life just feels so easy.
I’ll watch every sunset and thank the stars
for letting me be this happy.
What can I say that’s what I call
my American Dream.
What’s yours?
Yes, yes, yes!! A beautiful dream, one I hope becomes real!
Thank you Jilian <3
I read this laying in my bed listening to the downpour in Punta Uva. Today is my last full day here and I’m so sad to leave. I want to live the same American Dream as what you wrote about.
You absolutely can, all it take is believing in it xo
Yes,great dream to have and aspire to achieve. However, being older now and looking back when I did my RTW trip when I was 30, I have come to realize I could never, for some reason, comfortably live this relaxed dream lifestyle when I was backpacking the world back then. There was always a nagging feeling that I had to go back to work to earn a’nest egg’ before I can be relaxed enough in my mind to live off the land like a hippie.
I am not a money oriented guy at all but do understand the importance of how it buys you freedom.
Now being older and having saved my ‘nest egg’, doing this same RTW trip, for some reason, I am able to achieve the level of serenity to be at peace with my decision and ridding myself of that hidden devil on my shoulder telling me to go back to work as this lifestyle is not proper nor sustainable.
Everybody is an individual and has there own secret sauce. In my case, I believe that real perpetual travel is best served during a very early retirement.
Work your butt off and save, save, save in your 20’s, 30’s and reap the rewards of achieving the serenity you outlined in your article with not a care in the world.
From my experience, dropping everything in ones40’s is pretty cool when you see all of your friends working until the absurd retirement age of 65 when ones bones are too old.
I could never get my mind to fully relax and accept just living life in a beach hut in my early 30’s and it just seems so much easier on my mind at this later stage as the pressure of supporting myself is out the door.
Just one guys experience, FWIW.
Your comment resonates with me, dude. 36, wrapping up my career with very healthy savings. About to embark on a year or 5 of RTW travel. Stoked to not have financial burden / need to worry about the future. It’s a privilege, sure, granted. But I’ve worked my butt off and am lucky to have avoided debt, mortgage, marriage and kids. Let’s see what the future brings…
Todo es posible 😉
The good news is, there’s no one right way to live and no one right dream to have. Glad you found yours 🙂 <3
Doug,
I relate to with you say, but we always take a risk when we don’t live in the moment. In the saving and waiting we take the chance that things can happen, like health concerns, that will impede living a lifstyle where you can be four hours away from a decent hospital. Things start happening whether we still feel 20 inside or not. Happy, healthy travels : )
Michele
Beautiful dream 🙂 We are all different, and at the same time we are one. We have different dreams but i think one is to live simply and rich life, hopefully with loved one.
Love the way you write, keep on doing that 🙂
Thank you so much Jari, and you’re right, we all have different dreams that all come from the same source: love! xo
Lovely to follow your thoughts lovely pictures from all over your world.
can I rent your hut?
Love and best wishes always. Carpe diem and enjoy
Grethe
Thank you! Once I buy it, you most definitely can 😉 Eventually I’ll be hosting retreats in the jungle too! Can’t wait to share!
Way to go, Camille! Go where you feel most alive ) Costa Rica is so wondeful; though it has been some time for me, i truly dream of the remote tip of the Osa Peninsula and the howler monkey’s screams every day. I have my reminder picture on my bulletin board. Traveled many other places, recently to your recommended Little Corn Island, but still CR tugs at my heartstrings! Live your dream! Woot!
Ahhhh Osa, one of my favorite parts of the country. So wild and full of magic. Hope you had a great time in Little Corn, another place I love. Though, there is something about Costa Rica… I can’t imagine a better lifestyle anywhere. xo
Just love your beautiful inspirational story and beautiful outlook on life x
Thank you so much <3
AMAZING! What a dream. I’m happy you changed your outlook on the “American Dream,” I did too! This is life. More people are realizing the box we’re living in and are opening it up to discover more possibilities. Good luck with your future endeavors and adventures!! 🙂 <3
Indeed it is! Thank you so much, good luck to you as well!
This is amazing! You inspire me – it’s good to know that standards are all our own perception. You don’t need to meet anyone else’s to live the life you want.
Thank you so much Mary 🙂
It’s a great dream to have! xo
🙂 What’s yours?
Fantastic and so inspiring, thank you!
Thank you so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Hi! Where was the 1st and 14th pictures taken?
1st in Bocas del Toro and 2nd in San Blas. Both in Panama. You can see more pics of those places in my Destination Guides page 🙂
This is the first thing I read by you, when Thais shared it on facebook (which I’m not on anymore) and just loved it! That’s how I came to be reading your blog from the beginning, and it has been such an incredible journey! I’ve been reading a few pages a day, and am almost caught up. Strangely enough, that makes me sad because I don’t want the story to end! But it won’t if you keep writing about your travels, which I hope you do because 1. They are great to read and 2. they are inspiring to so many people.
Aw you are such a sweetie. I will keep blogging and eventually there will be books 😉 xo