I once did a 3 month trek and when I did the math afterwards I realized that I had done it for cheaper than 3 months rent.
It was on a shoestring, but it was great. Living like a local not in a fancy hotel. Great immersive experience.
I think this is actually the hierarchy of needs.
Good olâ Maslow!
Dude failed thoughâŚ.he left off coffee and weedâŚhierarchy of needs indeedâŚ/harumph
Thatâs the way to do it. It does, however, become more difficult as we get older. I canât imagine hitchhiking to virtually anywhere today. 50 years ago I wouldnât have thought twice about hitching from anywhere to anywhere else. Today, I wouldnât think once. I donât believe I could sustain myself physically.
Ah, youthâŚ
One can do without the necessities of life provided they have the little luxuries 
Agreed. I donât think I could take that kind of trip now so Iâm glad I did it when I did.
I accidentally spent the night in a brothel. True story. âI think Iâll just sleep right here on the floor.â
I remember the nice touristy coach buses costing $50 but the buses for locals came to like $1.35
Thatâs the time to do it, when weâre young. I feel bad for folks who, for whatever reason, didnât have that opportunity (or whatever), including a lack of curiosity. Iâm a really nosy person. Iâm curious about everything. Kind of fits who I am in the sense that I did all kinds of work when I was employed. I worked as an anthropologist for the Army Corps of Engineers, I rafted logs and worked in the woods logging, cut cedar bolts for shakes and shingles, I was a Claims Examiner for the Dept. of Labor, I made candles, I was a residential re-modeller/carpenter for nearly 20 years, etc, etc. I definitely was a jack of all trades, master of none.