Rolf Potts and Vagabonding as a Philosophy of Life

Travel, not merely as a form of consumption or a "bucket list" exercise, but as a mindful, slow, and transformative practice. A different way of being in the world, even before traversing it. It is from this perspective that Vagabonding takes shape—a philosophy of travel and life that centres on time, experience, and relationships. Recently a guest at USI, the American travel writer Rolf Potts held an open lecture as part of the Master in International Tourism. Through stories and experiences, he shared nine lessons on Vagabonding, proposing travel as a transformative and accessible practice. Introduced by Professor Lorenzo Cantoni and hosted during Professor Claudio Visentin's lectures, Potts met a large audience in a packed, engaged classroom.

The encounter, titled "Vagabonding: a new art of travel?", offered much more than personal testimony; it was a structured journey through nine lessons built on concrete experiences, unforeseen detours, and reflections gathered over thirty years of travel.

The first invitation Potts extended to the audience was direct and personal: do not procrastinate. "Do not put off your travel dreams for an indefinite moment in the future," he explained, recounting the story of his grandfather, who had worked his whole life with the intention of travelling with his wife once he retired. A plan that never came to fruition, sadly cut short by his grandmother's struggle with Alzheimer's. "Their story broke my heart," the American continued. "It made me realise that the idea of working your whole life just to 'live' later wasn't for me." This led to his decision to set off early, working as a gardener and in a supermarket to fund a months-long van trip across the United States with a friend. This was followed by years of travel through Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, funded by a stint teaching English in South Korea.

Travel, the guest of the USI Master's programme emphasised, does not begin with departure, but much earlier. "In fact, it starts the moment you begin saving with a goal in mind." Quoting the naturalist philosopher John Muir, Potts reframed the concept of wealth: "Muir felt rich because he had time. That is the true currency of travel." This perspective shifts the focus from financial resources to the conscious management of one's own time.

Continuing his presentation, the 55-year-old American stressed that while preparing before departure is useful, it should not become a cage. "I always say: you must know your options, not your destiny. Besides, every day spent on the ground teaches you more than hours of information gathered remotely through a screen." Lists of "must-see" sights can be a good starting point, but they risk limiting the experience if followed rigidly. "If you get trapped in the circuit of iconic, 'Instagrammable' spots, you'll miss everything else." For Potts, the value of travel emerges precisely when one deviates from the script: "That's how, for example, I found myself experiencing 'banger racing' in Sweden, or unusual scenes like bagpipe players in Cuba."

The economic theme, inevitably important, was addressed by Potts without rhetoric. "Travel costs money, of course," the North American writer admitted. "But it doesn't have to be 'expensive' in the way we imagine." While acknowledging that conditions in the 1990s were different and more favourable, the USI guest illustrated recent examples, such as stays in high-quality accommodation in Sumatra, Indonesia, for less than $20 a night. "Budget-friendly alternatives exist; you just have to be good at spotting them. Go where your currency is strong and look for solutions that directly support the local population, putting your money into local economies." This is a choice that is both practical and ethical.

Another decisive element is the pace of travel, which Potts summarised in one phrase: "Take it slow and travel light." The Kansas native recounted participating in a television programme in the past, travelling for six weeks across five continents without any luggage, wearing only the clothes on his back. "It sounds absurd, but it works. The world is full of people ready to help and resources you can find along the way." Slowing down also means opting out of "FOMO" (Fear of Missing Out): "Always remember that you aren't travelling to tick the most boxes on a list, but to live in the present moment and engage with what is happening around you."

In this regard, one of the most practical principles of Vagabonding translates into a daily act: walking. "Walk until your day becomes interesting—it's one of my mantras," Potts explained. The American traveller recounted how he once ended up in a different city than planned during a trip to Morocco due to a pronunciation error with a taxi driver. "I could have got angry or insisted on reaching my original destination. Instead, I decided to stay where I had landed, embracing the unexpected. It turned out to be one of the best experiences of the trip." Similarly, he criticised an over-reliance on platforms like TripAdvisor: "Once in Asia, looking for a restaurant, I followed an online review instead of watching what the locals were doing. I ate worse and paid double."

By these standards, it goes without saying that there is no single model for travel. Nor should there be. "Don't set limits," Potts urged, inviting the students to immerse themselves in local cultures and participate actively. "That way, you might experience Carnival in Brazil by dressing up and taking part, rather than watching from the kerbside. Or you might explore Iceland by taking the path less travelled rather than the most photographed spots. Every step outside your comfort zone makes the journey more your own and, ultimately, one of a kind."

At the heart of the experience, however, remains a crucial and indispensable element: relationships with others. "Travel is all about interactions," Potts emphasised. "Even the simplest ones can turn into meaningful connections. Sometimes a mundane question like 'Where are you from?', asked while queueing at a bus stop, is enough to start a conversation that changes your day, or even your holiday." In this way, over the years, he has built a global network of unique relationships, maintained today through social media. He also illustrated how the presence of his wife, the actress Kristen Bush, has partially changed his way of travelling in recent years: "Now there are often two of us, so some parameters have shifted. It's a new way of living the experience—not necessarily a negative one. Quite the opposite."

Potts concluded his lecture by broadening the vision of those present, extending the concept of Vagabonding to everyday life. "It doesn't end when you return home. In fact, it's an attitude that should always accompany us." For the USI guest, it is an approach that goes beyond travel in the strict sense: "It's a mindset that anyone can adopt at any time. It means living the present with curiosity, openness, and a readiness for the unexpected, even in the most familiar of places."