A Very Warm Welcome
Hey there, and welcome! My name is Maximiliano (or “Max” and “Maxi” for friends, family, and you), and I’m so excited you’re here. I’m a thirty-something travel nut living in New York City, and I’m the founder and voice behind Out Of Office Odysseys.
Guiding Principles
I founded this site on the premise that travel doesn’t belong on a pedestal that is accessible only to the wealthy or commitment free, nor does it require chasing extraordinary moments in the pursuit of happiness. Instead, I have chartered out with my own travel philosophy and with the following guiding principles in mind:
- Travel has no definition, standard, or rulebook; You decide the what, where, when, and how.
- Travel is personal and relative; The world is big enough—you do you and let others do them.
- Travel is not really about leaving your home but about leaving your habits; Shifting brings awareness.
- Travel rewards quality over quantity; What/How much you GET surpasses what/how much you DO.
- Travel is more a matter of courage and intention than money; You do NOT have to be rich to travel.
- Travel is about the journey that brings you to your destination; Instead of a “dream”, call it a “plan”.
Basically, I view travel as a powerful tool available to all walks of life for making us better. It teaches us, dares us to step outside our comfort zone, shifts our perspective and mindset, and helps us adapt. Traveling instills presence and awareness, tests the body, recharges the mind, brings us closer to others, reconnects us with nature, and can lead us to self-discovery.
Over the course of your visit here, I strongly encourage you to examine your own motivations for traveling. Additionally, I challenge you to forge your own point of view towards travel. I promise you it will only make your future adventures all the more meaningful and memorable.
A Bit More About Me
Both my maternal and paternal grandparents set out for distant shores from Europe during the post-Second World War period in search of a better life. So, you could say an odyssey was inherently in my blood. They settled in Venezuela, a nation that would eventually become a paradise lost and follow a path from riches to ruin.
Originally born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, my family moved to the U.S. following the challenging socioeconomic and political situation which had begun to unfold in the country. Like many European Latin Americans, we moved to Miami, Florida, where I grew up before moving to the “Big Apple” for work after school.
Whether by nature or nurture, propelling others forward has always been the basis of my motivation. I’m the eldest of three brothers, a supporter of FC Barcelona, love mangoes, and, naturally, I wanted to be Indiana Jones growing up.
Why An “Odyssey”?
The Odyssey is one of the ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. The story follows the Greek hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his journey home after the Trojan War. Nerd alert!
An odyssey [od-uh-see] is usually defined as an eventful journey or series of experiences that give knowledge or understanding to someone.
Out Of Office Odysseys is based on the idea that, whether or not we’re actively aware of it, every trip we take is an odyssey in its own unique and special way. From domestic getaways to international departures, weekend trips to extended vacations, group expeditions to solo ventures, and organized tours to self-guided wanderings, each of these experiences shapes and transforms us.
“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”
Martin Buber
What Will You Find At Out Of Office Odysseys?
Unlike many of the other incredible travel websites out there, you won’t find much on here about world tours, the digital nomad lifestyle, or about nonstop traveling and living abroad indefinitely (as amazing as this all sounds… let’s be honest).
Instead, my mission with this website is quite simple:
To encourage, empower, and equip others to travel in their own way during the course of ordinary life so that they can live happier and more fulfilled.
So what does this mean in practice? For starters, it means answering questions like these:
- “How can I travel despite limited vacation time?”
- “What should I consider when planning a trip?”
- “How can I set and actually stick to a plan to even be in a position to travel?”
- “What should I pack?”
- “How can I maximize my time at any given destination?”
- “What should I budget for?”
- “How do I balance adventure, sightseeing, exploration, and/or relaxation?“
- “What realistic steps can I take to save up for a trip?”
- “How can I hack trip costs?”
- “What mistakes should I avoid?”
- “Is there anything I haven’t thought of?”
Just think of me as a good friend with perspectives and advice which you can choose to take or leave!
Needless To Say…
The purpose of this site is by no means to make travel your everything or your sole purpose in life. I’m aware that traveling and everything surrounding it is simply not a priority for everyone and, if this is the case, that’s fine! We all have different passions, interests, goals, and callings in life, and that diversity is what makes life so wonderful.
Furthermore, in no way is it my aim to promote a privileged view by assuming that everyone is on equal playing fields regarding immediate travel opportunities and accessibility. Neither am I accusing anyone of laziness or reluctance to travel with a “What are you waiting for?” line of thinking. Quite the opposite, the very framing of this site is about looking past the romanticization of travel and making it your own. What’s more, if you are, in fact, looking to reposition yourself mentally and tactically for a greater possibility of achieving your travel goals, then you’ve come to the right place!
Lastly, I wholeheartedly recognize that there are a great many circumstances and situations which would preclude someone from traveling. These include visa requirements, passport restrictions, financial instability, no real “weekend” or vacation time, weak currencies, physical and/or mental disabilities, and coping with an illness and/or disease. My ultimate wish for this site and any other travel writing out there is that they be utilized as windows to the world both for people with and without the means to travel, temporarily or seemingly indefinitely.
Prior To Our Departure
I truly hope that this website can serve as one of your many gateways to the world as well as a beacon of inspiration and information for future travels and odysseys to come. May it help you explore new places, discover new experiences, strengthen the connection with yourself and others, and find a deeper and more authentic meaning to the gift of travel.
Sincerely,
Max