👉 Vagabonding is a word that refers to someone who spends their days traveling from place to place without any plan or purpose, much like the vagrants of old. It's a phrase that originated in the 1980s and has become incredibly offensive over time. The slangy expression "vagabonding" was once used by comedians as an insult; now it's widely considered derogatory.
A classic example is someone who decides to travel across Europe without any financial backing or reservations, instead relying on spontaneous acts of kindness and a sense of adventure. They may spend months in small towns and cities, not planning anything ahead, but they feel incredibly happy and contented.
Vagabonding is often accompanied by the phrase "I'm just here for the trip," which can be both edgy and unsettling depending on how the speaker feels about traveling alone or with no purpose. It's a way of saying you're not in it for the long haul, just having an adventure to please yourself.
Vagabonding is also associated with the idea that life doesn't have to be planned out before it happens - that spontaneity and adventure are essential parts of living. This can lead to existential questions about purpose and what it means to live in this world.