I think the more developed we become, the less time we have for such things.
We blame safety but folks used to take ridiculous risks back in the days. They didn't have global maps or network to call home for starters. There were no translation tools and there weren't as many airports or international flights in case someone needed to get back home.
I have personally realised that we pay in our own life's time to achieve the modern ways of life. We gave up our explorer ways, nature loving ways to be in nicely walled houses and the city lifestyle. We became apprehensive of the old ways.
The option to take time off and travel is still there and I think there are a larger number of people say bumming around Asia than there was when I was younger. For some reason Americans seem to have a cultural problem with taking a year off but it's fairly common in many other countries.
Also the ones who didn’t make it back didn’t write enthralling tales about their adventures. You only hear about the trips that went well (well defined as returned home alive).
We dedicate so much to the ones who perish along the way. I'm not saying we recollect everyone but it's not that they aren't known.
Being more nomadic than my peers, I have felt that rural parts of many places are much safer than cities. People are welcoming in ways we have forgotten.
Not true, there are adventurers for whom we hear the enthralling tales that preceded their demise. Or ones whose disappearance triggered enormous interest - consider Amelia Earhart or George Mallory.
Not necessarily, some of us have those career jobs while keeping the adventure level relatively high. You can still go backpacking in remote parts of the world, even 1 week trip can give you tons of experience if planned well.
Some of us do extreme sports impossible in 60s or 70s, and thats a healthy dose of risk and adventuring (ie paragliding, diving or sport climbing for me).
Some of us don't live in city centers, not because we outright hate it, but simply have a better and healthier choice (not giga cities just big enough so commuting when needed is still sane, wild forests and mountains nearby or at doorsteps).
But this all doesn't come on its own, one has to fight for it a bit, and be a bit lucky too, just like with rest of life.
We blame safety but folks used to take ridiculous risks back in the days. They didn't have global maps or network to call home for starters. There were no translation tools and there weren't as many airports or international flights in case someone needed to get back home.
I have personally realised that we pay in our own life's time to achieve the modern ways of life. We gave up our explorer ways, nature loving ways to be in nicely walled houses and the city lifestyle. We became apprehensive of the old ways.