From Best Friends to Travel Partners: Chaz & Nicolas’ Vagabonding Love Story
From Best Friends to Travel Partners: Chaz & Nicolas’ Vagabonding Love Story
Is vagabonding only for solo adventurers? I used to think so—until I came across Chaz and Nicolas.
Some love stories start in the office, on a dating app, or through a chance encounter. But for Chaz and Nicolas, their journey began with a shared passion for travel—and a book that completely reshaped how they saw the world. Vagabonding by Rolf Potts wasn’t just a travel book to them; it was a mindset shift, a call to adventure, and the catalyst that transformed them from best friends into lifelong travel partners.
“It inspired us to prioritise travel not just as individuals but together as a couple,” Nicolas told me. “We’ve really taken to heart the idea of valuing experiences over things—and understanding that freedom is a mindset, not a circumstance.”
So… What Is Vagabonding, Anyway?
Vagabonding isn’t just a cool word or the title of a cult-favourite travel book—it’s a whole vibe. Coined (and championed) by travel writer Rolf Potts, Vagabonding is all about “taking extended time off from your everyday life to explore the world on your own terms.”
But it’s not just about quitting your job and hopping on a plane for a year (though it can be). It’s about a mindset shift. Vagabonding is choosing freedom over routine, experience over possessions, and curiosity over comfort. It’s about slowing down, saying yes to the unexpected, and letting the road shape you as much as the destination.
As Potts puts it, “Vagabonding is about gaining the courage to loosen your grip on the so-called certainties of this world.” It’s less about how far you go and more about how open you are to letting travel change you.
How It All Began: A Book, A Solo Trip, and a Spark
After hearing Rolf Potts on The Tim Ferriss Show podcast, Nicolas was the first to stumble upon Vagabonding. Intrigued by the idea of long-term travel as a lifestyle, he picked up the book, and suddenly, his world expanded.
“It blew my mind,” he said. “That was the push I needed to plan my first solo trip to South America, which turned into a 3.5-month life-changing adventure.”
The experience was so powerful that he made a photo album of the journey, ending it with a quote from the book. When he got home, he knew exactly who needed to read it next.
“He gave me the book, and I remember thinking solo travel sounded exciting but also scary,” Chaz told me. “But his excitement was contagious.”
She was instantly hooked and decided to test the waters with a solo trip to Portland.
“That trip changed how I saw myself and the world,” she said.
I remember the first time a friend introduced me to Vagabonding, and I had the exact same reaction as Chaz—I felt inspired but also a little intimidated. Could I really embrace this lifestyle? But the more I read, the more I realised that vagabonding wasn’t just about quitting your job and going solo. It was about a mindset shift, a new way of seeing the world. That’s why I love how Chaz and Nicolas took those lessons and made them their own.
From Best Friends to Travel Partners (for Life)
Before they were a couple, Chaz and Nicolas were just two best friends who loved to explore. They met in seventh grade after Chaz moved into Nicolas’ neighbourhood in Georgia.
“We started riding to school together and quickly became best friends,” Chaz said. “Over the years, we stayed close—even went on double dates with other people!”
They went on group trips in high school, road-tripped together, and cheered each other on through different stages of life. It wasn’t until 2020—when the world slowed and introspection became inevitable, that they realised they wanted to be more than just best friends. So, they took a leap of faith and started dating.
A few years (and many trips) later, Nicolas proposed to Chaz in Seoul, Korea—one of their favourite cities.
Vagabonding as a Couple: The Good, The Challenging & The Unexpected
Travelling solo and travelling as a couple are two completely different ball games. On the road, you see every side of a person—the good, the bad, and the “we’re lost in a foreign country and I’m hangry” side. Chaz and Nicolas quickly learned that long-term travel as a couple meant navigating discomfort, constant change, and a whole lot of togetherness.
“There’s no personal space—you’re together 24/7!” Chaz laughed. “But it’s also the most rewarding thing. You have to be flexible and navigate many (literal) foreign things together.”
For Nicolas, the biggest adjustment was shifting from a solo traveller mindset.
“When I travelled alone, I could rough it more. I didn’t have to think about anyone else’s comfort but my own. Now, I have to consider Chaz, too—but honestly, that’s been a good thing. We balance each other out.”
Hearing their story made me think about how we often romanticise solo travel as the ultimate experience. But seeing how Chaz and Nicolas navigate the highs and lows together made me realise that long-term travel doesn’t have to be a solo mission. It’s about who you share the journey with—and that doesn’t have to be just yourself.
Why Their Story Proves Vagabonding Isn’t Just for Solo Travelers
One of the biggest myths about long-term travel is that you have to do it alone. But Chaz and Nicolas are living proof that vagabonding can be even more fulfilling when you share it with someone you love.
The key? Communication, compromise, and a shared sense of curiosity.
“Vagabonding taught us that travel isn’t about luxury—it’s about the freedom to explore, grow, and create unforgettable memories,” Chaz said.
Even Rolf Potts gets it. In Vagabonding, he warns to “avoid compulsive whiners… and self-conscious hipsters” on the road and instead travel with open-minded and real people.
“We’re each other’s home base,” Nicolas told me. “And we’re always down for the next adventure.”
Could Vagabonding be for you?
Their story reminded me that travel doesn’t have to fit into one specific box. You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow or backpack across continents solo (unless you want to). Vagabonding is about being intentional with how you travel—and who you share it with.
So if you’ve ever dreamed about hitting the road but worried you couldn’t do it alone, take a page out of Chaz and Nicolas’ book (or hey, Rolf’s). You don’t have to be a solo backpacker to live a life full of adventure. Sometimes, the best journeys are the ones you take together.
