This Man Took 6 Month Cycling Holidays Every Year | 14 Photos

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Meet a real-life ‘castaway’ who goes on permanent holiday for half of the year.

This 35-year-old man from Connecticut won’t disclose his name, but he’s known as “Benedict” or “Ultra Romance” Instagram user. He finds the concept of going in to work day after day, year after year, spot on time “unnatural.” And it does seem true; one may become so wrapped up in work and making money that before one knows it, the life is all over.

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Benedict says he realized years ago that a conventional lifestyle was not for him.

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“I went to college and got the degree and was trying to be a PE teacher or a personal trainer and do the hustle right out of college,” he told Business Insider. “Then it was like, ‘I gotta get a house, I’m 24, I got all these student loans’ … Before you know it, things work out and you meet the right girl and you settle down and buy the house and have the mortgage payment and the cars. But ultimately that was not going to be me.”

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Benedict does work—but only for about six months a year.

He likes his job as a fishing guide on a charter boat but only does it for about half the year. For the other six months, he travels and explores the world.

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Getting intimate with nature, that is freedom for him. One learns to be humble and rely on a greater power. That is what keeps one human.

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When he’s traveling, Benedict lives on about $10 a day, so he lives a very modest and simple life.

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Minimalism is key to this kind of lifestyle.

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All he needs is his trusted bike and some camping gear. He says he models himself on early hunter-gatherers, who spent time devoted to acquiring resources, and then has leisure time until the next gathering period—a far different mentality than working five days a week, every week.

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He still embraces technology. Benedict has a lively social media presence and admits that he loves places like Whole Foods. But “Peasant foods” are the way to go; he says there’s plenty of nutrition to be found in the natural world, and therefore does a lot of foraging for his greens and enjoys eating sea-food when he’s near any coastal area.

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He lives like a real life castaway. Benedict has always had the travel itch and estimates that in the past 15 years, he’s never stayed in one place for more than six months.

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Full-time work is necessary, as it provides the means to buy the things we need in today’s world. But for anyone who just feels the need to experience a change, even for a little while, Benedict has paved the way.

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Before You Go Just Watch YouTube Videos About Bicycle Touring:

H/T: Business Insider

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