wanderlust! wandering while wondering! not all who wander are lost...

[Firehazard159]

Well, I came to the realization today that I change jobs or direction or location about once a year. Knowing how we intps like our freedom and spontaneous thought, I was curious it any of you shared my sense of wanderlust? Or, at least the desire if not the reality of it?

My assumption is that is has to do with curiousity, I learn new things wherever I go, and I think when a place stagnates and becomes routine over exploration, I begin to plan an escape subconsciously, until I decide officially I need to move on.

Thoughts?

 

[Negative Space]

Well when it comes to most things I agree with you since we typically have an innate hate of routine. When it comes to a stable, well paying job however....I would rather stay with the routine than risk the alternative...of course it is necessary to take situational variables into account as well...

 

[LAM]

Well, I came to the realization today that I change jobs or direction or location about once a year. Knowing how we intps like our freedom and spontaneous thought, I was curious it any of you shared my sense of wanderlust? Or, at least the desire if not the reality of it?

My assumption is that is has to do with curiousity, I learn new things wherever I go, and I think when a place stagnates and becomes routine over exploration, I begin to plan an escape subconsciously, until I decide officially I need to move on.

Thoughts?

I don't know about that. I have full focus on my long-term goals or dreams. I am not, will not and have never deviated from those long-term goals. Maybe I change my short-term goals every so often or I give myself another way to achieve my long-term goals. I think I am as dedicated as an INTP could possibly be to achieving those goals.

 

[Geminii]

I really like not being tied down, having lots of options open to me. While I did fly a desk for fifteen years, I've switched to being my own boss and running an international service. If someone needs me on the other side of the world, I'm ecstatic about being able to pack a small bag and hop a flight that same day.

I'm a neophile in quite a lot of aspects, always looking forward to new places, new inventions, new branches of science.

I've also known people who are outside their comfort zone if they're outside their city, and sometimes just one sub-area of that city. All their psychological investment is there. While they don't mind vacationing elsewhere, they absolutely require that home base to come back to.

Me, I'm more like that George Clooney character in Up in the Air, who's utterly comfortable spending eleven months a year in airports and hotel rooms. I could totally see myself living that lifestyle. Having the world at my fingertips, going where and when I wanted.

 

[Polaris]

I am cursed with restlessness and blessed with curiosity. The restlessness has taken me from the most extreme polar areas to the hotter areas of the world.

I want to learn as much as I can about every possible topic.

The restlessness has resulted in a never-ending resistance to settling down, and feeling very trapped when I am forced to stay in one place for any length of time. At the same time, if I am able to use my brain for some purpose that I value, stationary isn't that unbearable.

At the moment feeling quite unsettled in a new area, but reasonably content as I am learning something new.

 

[citrusbreath95]

Up in the Air[/I], who's utterly comfortable spending eleven months a year in airports and hotel rooms. I could totally see myself living that lifestyle. Having the world at my fingertips, going where and when I wanted.

ha ha, I'm like this as well.... I really love going to different places, and learning new things. I have been living in the same place for about 6 years now (which doesnt seem like much but it is!), and I am so tired of it i'm losing my mind... I am really hoping I can move soon but that doesn't seem possible now....

 

[Cavallier]

I've also known people who are outside their comfort zone if they're outside their city, and sometimes just one sub-area of that city.

Ugh. I have a few friends like this. I simply can't identify.

I've lived in drastically different parts of the the United States (Alaska and Alabama) and I've changed schools a number of time. This is pretty typical I think for many people. I've always loved the change though. I help a friend move a year ago and he was down right pissed and aggrieved to have to move. You'd think he had lost a friend. He was moving one town away.

I want to travel as much as I can. As soon as I have some money tucked away (I'm getting close!) I plan on going to Europe. I want to drink wine in Provence, see the museums in Paris, sit under an umbrella on the Côte D'azure, ride the Trans-Siberian Railroad as far as I can before getting mugged (I saw that one movie! ), eat in Bangkok, visit with a Geisha in a temple in Kyoto, sail down the Amazon and not get eaten by an anaconda, go back to those beautiful hot springs in British Columbia (wherever you may be), and visit the Guggenheim in Bilbao Spain. The list goes on and on. Basically I want to see, read, and experience as much as I can before dying.

 

[JoyRide]

I actually came here to ask the same question. It's seems to be on a 2 year cycle for me. Never holding a job more than 18 months.

A new job is always so exciting but once I've learned how it's done it loses it's luster so quickly. But it's never seems to be enough to just change jobs, it seems like I always want to sever all ties and move and start over again from scratch. No matter what I'm giving up (serious relationships, well paying jobs, friends and family) it just becomes too much and all just seems to well up. The longer I deny it the stronger the urge becomes and the more erratic my behavior gets.

It drives me crazy (almost literally) and I'm actually in the throws of it right now. Getting ready to throw away a 40k/year job, my recent promotion, and my recently repaired family ties to move 1000 miles and work for $12/hr at a pawn shop.

Those of you who have successfully fought off the wanderlust that have any pointers please share them. It's getting a little crazy (7 states and 17 jobs in 10 years).

 

[Firehazard159]

I don't know about that. I have full focus on my long-term goals or dreams. I am not, will not and have never deviated from those long-term goals. Maybe I change my short-term goals every so often or I give myself another way to achieve my long-term goals. I think I am as dedicated as an INTP could possibly be to achieving those goals.

This is kind of what I was getting. I am curious what can tame our pness, if we each have a sort of calling or interest that will stabalize our desires. It seems like some are full of wanderlust, while others share the curiousity, but some have found a focus and drive to achieve long term goals over short term, like einstein was able to settle and focus.

I feel like I cannot accomplish without settling. Thats why I bring this up. I wanted to know if its just me or an intp thing, but it seems like it does seem to be an intp thing. Anyone have tips on how to settle? Or, focus?