LONG-TERM TRAVELLERS RETURN, ‘HOME’?

Underpinned by philosophical hermeneutics, this paper explores concepts of ‘home’ for returned long-term travellers, taking an iterative approach of multiple interviews, video diaries and interviews with long-term travellers’ significant others. Three returned long-term travellers’ in-depth experiential perspectives are explored to illustrate three alternative notions of home, namely, ‘meaningful home(s)’, ‘blurred home(s)’ and ‘(re)negotiated home(s)’. These alternatives challenge assumed spatial conceptualisations of ‘home’. As such, the paper contributes philosophically, conceptually and methodologically to tourism studies research by taking a person-centred and post-disciplinary approach to explore more pluralistic ways of knowing home(s).

► Alternative, non-spatial meanings of ‘home’ for returned long term travellers. ► ‘Meaningful home(s)’ as opportunities to pursue a desired way of life. ► ‘Blurred home(s)’ as resisting and conforming to dominant ways of being. ► ‘(Re)negotiated home(s)’ as knowing one’s ‘selves’ and feeling accepted by others.