This balloon is taking off. The summer is here and with it comes a rapid increase in the flow of time. I apologize, I seem to start all of these State of the Savage posts with some comment on how fast time is going by and yet, day to day, it feels like the fall will never get here. June proved to be a month of pragmatic thinking for Traveling Savage, as you probably noticed in my posts.

Plans & Happenings

I started off the month by talking about how to survive on the road without your significant other as Sarah and I chatted about possible pitfalls with the plan. I pondered the effect of pilgrimage on travel before tackling travel blogging as a business. Finally, I presented a case study of how we are saving money for travel. Reality is setting in and we need to get our ducks in a row. Beyond the posts, I’ve been spending slices of time developing a business plan and putting together an advertising rate card (though I’m waiting for Google’s impending page rank update before I really get my hands dirty).

While I wasn’t able to make it to the Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) conference this year, I did submit a short to-the-point video that was shown to the folks at TBEX. Hopefully it accurately conveyed my level of dorkiness. I had a lot of fun following the action on Twitter and via the Livestream. By the looks of it, everyone had a fun and educational time. I’m already preparing for TBEX 2011 in Vancouver! Despite missing the conference, June has been the month in which I’m starting to feel integrated in the travel blogging community. I’ve a couple more meet-ups in the works and, in general, I’m really excited to meet my fellow bloggers.

I’ve returned to my investigation of Argentina and where to stay during my month there. I’ve considered what feels like hundreds of angles but I’m starting to make progress. Posts on this are forthcoming, so keep your eyes peeled.

Features

This month I was interviewed twice on account of Traveling Savage and my future travel plans. First, the fine folks at GO! Overseas asked some questions about Traveling Savage and my perspective on the travel industry. A week later, Matt of LandLopers was kind enough to interview me about my planned career break, and I enjoyed tackling his tough questions. I managed to make an impact on a couple of other sites this month. The Brooklyn Nomad’s Travel Blog Rewind featured my post on the Importance of the Quest. I really appreciated this inclusion on a blog I respect. Also from GO! Overseas, they included me in their Top 10 Travel Blogs. I’m honored to make the list in such fine company.

A Question

The last six months have been a much-needed return to writing for me. Over the last few months I’ve sprinkled in some moody, more poetic pieces that I’ve referred to as vignettes. My question to you is do you enjoy reading these pieces on Traveling Savage, or do you find them out of place and jarring? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Well that’s it for June. Next month I turn 30 and then it’s nothing but drooling into my gray beard and trimming ear hair. But I’ll be damned if I don’t see the world first.

Original photo by bobcatnorth via Flickr under Creative Commons

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Article Comments

  1. ayngelina June 29, 2010 at 10:00 am

    I love all your posts so if you enjoy writing them I say keep doing it.

    1. Keith Savage June 30, 2010 at 10:15 am

      Thanks Ayngelina, appreciate your thoughts.

  2. Ali June 29, 2010 at 11:27 am

    I really like reading your deep thoughts kind of posts b/c I can relate to them. Can’t wait to read about Argentina!

    1. Keith Savage June 30, 2010 at 10:15 am

      Glad you like the deep thought posts, Ali. Thanks!

  3. Erica June 29, 2010 at 11:59 am

    I personally love your vignettes. While travel information is important, I really like to know what runs through people’s minds when traveling or planning travel. Not only do you write beautifully, but its nice to know that there are like minded people out there.

    You are awesome Keith! Keep it up!

    1. Keith Savage June 30, 2010 at 10:22 am

      Thanks Erica, I’m a big of yours, too!

  4. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Keith Savage, Keith Savage. Keith Savage said: New post: State of the Savage: June 2010 | http://su.pr/1wp2Ow or http://tinyurl.com/2dlreo7 #travel […]

  5. Andi June 30, 2010 at 8:26 am

    Of the posts I’ve read, I’ve loved. I traveled a lot in June, so I missed some. But, I think you need to keep doing what you’re doing. You write so eloquently. Yay, for being featured so much!!!

    1. Keith Savage June 30, 2010 at 10:24 am

      I feel lucky with the features – the kindness of the community really shows through there. Thanks Andi!

  6. Adam June 30, 2010 at 9:56 am

    Congrats on all the attention you’ve been getting. That’s awesome! Like many here, I enjoy reading your vignettes as well. I say keep it up!
    If you need any Argentina recommendations, let me know. We were there for nearly 3 months on our RTW, and we LOVED it. We also had an apartment in BA for a month, which was a definite highlight of the whole trip. It’s difficult trying to research what barrio would be best to stay in, so if you need some input, let me know, and I can at least tell you what we did and why.

    1. Keith Savage June 30, 2010 at 10:26 am

      Adam- I would love to hear what you have to say about Buenos Aires. I’ve considered skipping it entirely because of a niggling feeling that the Argentine culture might be buried beneath the cosmopolitan characteristics of a city. Anyway, send your Argentina thoughts to travelingsavage[at]gmail[dot]com. Thanks!

  7. Gareth Leonard June 30, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    Great stuff Keith! Any questions you have about Argentina or Buenos Aires, don’t hesitate to ask.

    Best,

    Gareth

    1. Keith Savage July 1, 2010 at 9:03 am

      Thanks Gareth! I will definitely get in contact with you for the scoop on Buenos Aires.

  8. Financial Samurai June 30, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    I’m surprised you are going to travel without your wife. Won’t you miss her?

    Is she not going b/c she cannot take time off from work? It’s great that you guys have decided she will be the breadwinner.

    Sam

    1. Keith Savage July 1, 2010 at 9:03 am

      Won’t I miss her? Don’t remind me, man. Absolutely and without question I will miss her! Sometimes the mere thought of traveling for a month without her is like a cold claw squeezing my nerves.

      This is my dream. She loves to travel, but she has her own dream as well. I like the way Andi put it earlier in the comments. If we can’t help each other follow our dreams, then what kind of love is that? Indeed, she will be the breadwinner, but hopefully not for too long 😉

      1. Financial Samurai July 1, 2010 at 7:10 pm

        Sounds good man. Personally, after 2 weeks, I miss her to much and would come home. Hence, I can’t do it solo for too long. I want to experience the journey with her instead. We’ve come up with a plan to do that by 40 if we still want to.

        I’m excited to hear what monetary plans you have in store!

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