Abstract

This conceptual paper is oriented within leisure studies towards psychological constructions of the ‘self’. The paper is largely underpinned by Csikszentmihalyi’s (1975) theory of flow, Maslow’s (1971) construction of the self-actualising moment, Aristotle’s classical leisure ideal, and existentialist notions of personal authenticity. The discussion is focused within the context on the long-term travel lifestyle, as an investigation into the perceived experience of the search for self of long-term travellers. Drawing upon critical interpretation of the abovementioned constructions, the paper provides an integrated conceptual understanding of the search for self that bridges the gap between leisure, tourism, psychology, and existential discourse on self. It is argued that the long-term travel lifestyle is saturated with episodes that allow for defining moments in the search for self, and that identification of the internal state of being associated with these moments allows for elicitation of subjective meaning for the individual. Negotiating tensions between perceived freedom and enculturation, identity and self, and the work/leisure divide, the argument serves to present an original interpretation of the meeting point between alternative lifestyle and the broader human condition of the search for self, as well as contextualising long-term travel within the wider state of the leisure experience. Related to Cary’s (2004) work on the ‘tourist moment’, Desforges’ (2000) study of travel and identity and Steiner and Reisinger’s (2005) recent effort to understand existential authenticity, the paper provides an approach that allows for a more nuanced understanding of why individuals may travel as a lifestyle alternative.