Letter to the Editor: The Act of Moving Through the World
To send a letter to the editor, simply write in. You’ll get a reply and we’ll anonymise any blogged version.
With reference to that digital nomads item, Reader C writes:
What resonated most is how they celebrate the imperfect details that form the real story: missed trains, unexpected rainstorms, street food that’s more exciting than Instagram-worthy meals. Those are the moments you don’t plan for, but they shape you more than the postcard-perfect ones.
I also loved the idea of travel as life capital. Each encounter, whether with fellow travellers or locals, builds empathy and understanding. By “investing” in curiosity and connection, you come home not just with photos but a renewed outlook on the world.
It’s a hopeful reminder that even when things go sideways, that twist becomes part of the adventure. It’s not just about collecting places. It’s about becoming more interesting, more resilient, and more open through the act of moving through the world.
In an age where travel has become easier and sometimes more commoditized, this piece brings us back to the heart of wandering: living out loud, staying curious, and knowing that regrets don’t fit when you travel with intention.
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New Escapologist Issue 18 is in the works and can be ordered today for November release.
The Wrong Existence
From Poor Artists by the White Pube:
He never had luck with funding or galleries. He worked in a shop and he told me once that he felt like he’d lost his identity. It sounds over the top but it so thoroughly destroyed the fabric of his existence to live the wrong existence. I get in my head about it, thinking he’d probably still be alive if there wasn’t such a problem with how money is distributed in this country…
The book is about the struggles of wanting to be an artist today. It’s hard to make money, to be taken seriously, to be a full-time artist without a time- and energy-sapping day job.
Mum said I could grow up to be whatever I wanted to be; school said all we had to do was go to university; university said stick together and see where life takes you. Things had not been going to plan, and I was stuck doing an irrelevant job that used up all my time and energy.
It’s hopeful though:
Most artists can’t afford to be artists, and yet, that doesn’t mean you should stop trying. It is probably an irresponsible thing for me to say, but I do believe deep down that it’s worth being skint and free, rather than a bit better off and suicidal.
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New Escapologist Issue 18 is in the works and can be ordered today for November release.
