The question ‘Aren’t you afraid?’ is often asked. I think that being afraid or having fear is part of it. Usually, it refers to animals. Whether I’m afraid of wild animals when I go wild camping or walk somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

My answer: I am not afraid of animals, but I do respect them. When I go to a certain area, I always read up beforehand. Are there dangerous animals? If so, what should I do? How likely is it that something will happen? If necessary, I take precautions. For the rest, I just keep an eye out. Especially when animals have young ones, because it can get risky. So don’t just walk through a herd of cows when they have calves.

Moreover, fear gets easier with time. I don’t think anyone has fond memories of their first nights of wild camping. I also couldn’t close my eyes. You hear every little noise and think the worst. But after a while, that passes. In nature, there are always sounds. The wind, a bird, a rodent, or a deer. Generally, animals are afraid of humans and take off as soon as they see or smell you.

And yes, I am sometimes afraid of getting lost, falling, or losing my phone or having it break. I do not find thunderstorms pleasant at all. And sometimes I think about how vulnerable I really am when I’m alone. What if I get seriously ill? Or get injured?

But my biggest fear? Humanity! Not in nature, but in the big city or places where there are a lot of people. That’s when I feel uncomfortable. I have all my possessions with me. Everything I own is in my hiking cart. If I were to be robbed, I would have a real problem. So yes, in crowded areas, I often don’t feel at ease. Perhaps that’s the strange thing about fear. In nature, where I seem most vulnerable, I usually feel safe. Among people, where I should actually feel protected, I am on my guard. But… fear doesn’t have to disappear to keep moving forward. Sometimes it just walks alongside me.

Asking costs nix. Do you have a question? Every Sunday I answer one. Ask them in the comments or anonymously via the contact form.

Vragen kost nix is Dutch for “Asking costs nothing.” Nix is a playful, made-up word. It doesn’t actually exist in Dutch. It’s a phonetic spelling of niks, the Dutch word for nothing, and it’s also a nod to my name, Marnix, shortened to Nix. Every Sunday, I publish a new edition of Vragen kost nix, where I answer a question from one of my followers. It can be about my travels, life on the road, or anything else they’re curious about. So, if you have a question, just ask. Asking costs nix!