I'm sending you this missive from the middle of nowhere. Well, that's not strictly true – it's the middle of somewhere, just likely nowhere near you.
I'm 13km east of the Queensland / Northern Territory border at a place called Camooweal. Slim Dusty fans will know it well. The rest of you… maybe not.
I'm a few days into my annual winter road trip, this time to the Top End, where we'll be checking out Kakadu, Arnhem Land and Litchfield National Park.
(For Motley Fool members, please be assured that the rest of the team are chained to their desks while I'm away, and you're in very good hands!)
Now, being only a few days in, I have no blinding new insights for you, either about investing, or the beautiful country we're bloody lucky to call home.
A couple of thoughts, though:
Did I mention Australia is sensational?
We've driven from the NSW Southern Highlands up through central NSW, and central and northern Queensland, thus far.
Some of the places I've seen before. Others were brand new to me. But all sensational. From wide plains to red dirt, to the proverbial ragged mountain ranges, and more.
Get out there. Seriously.
And the people have been unfailingly welcoming – locals and backpacking bar staff alike.
Not to mention the incredible birdlife – flocks of galahs, finches, corellas and the majestic birds of prey.
Plus, big sky country. If you know, you know.
(I won't bombard you with photos, here, but feel free to follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram if you want to follow along!)
Now, while I said there were no blinding investing insights – and that remains true – some general thoughts:
First, getting out of our usual lives is a reminder of the depth and breadth of businesses operating in Australia. I do live in a regional area, but it's not particularly rural or remote. So the companies and businesses I've come across are quite often new and different.
The lesson? It's sometimes useful to reference our own experience when considering investment opportunities, but don't forget that the investing world is bigger than that.
Second, it's incredible how much more expensive diesel fuel isn't, out here. There was a time when you could almost feel the price rise as you left metropolitan Australia. But most of the fuel I've bought so far was either no dearer, or only slightly dearer than at home. The world really is shrinking.
'Build it and they will come' is real. Yes, I know that Field Of Dreams didn't work out that way, but there are some wonderful businesses – tourism and otherwise – that have managed to build large and loyal audiences by doing the common things uncommonly well. Don't count that out as a potentially very successful business – and investing – strategy.
Lastly, and this is a theme I have – and will – return to, your portfolio really doesn't need you around. 'Trading' might, but 'investing' doesn't.
How did I prepare my portfolio for my holiday?
I didn't. At least, I didn't do anything differently, or new.
I'm investing over a 5-plus year time horizon. The next 5 weeks are immaterial. I haven't checked my portfolio. From experience, I might do it maybe two or three times while I'm away. I can almost guarantee that I won't buy or sell anything during that time, though.
Meanwhile? Meanwhile, the companies I own shares in will continue trading. Their CEOs and management will be doing their best to create value for shareholders. They'll buy from suppliers and sell to customers. I hope this is obvious, but I really don't need to be around for that to happen.
What would be different, if I was at my desk, instead? Nothing.
Well, nothing other than the human instinct to 'don't just sit there, do something' would be nagging at me.
It might just be the case that the best thing for most investors is to be separated from their brokerage accounts for long periods!
And, well, they'll probably live better lives, too!
Fool on!
