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Act your age

The never ending urge to explore

Words by Gabi Steindl (@kitegabi)

“Acting your age” is a double-edged sword. Sure, with age, you should become more tolerant, more grateful, and wiser—at least that’s the idea. Maturity ideally brings compassion, perspective, and patience, qualities you don’t often have as a rebellious teenager or twenty-something.

But as life gets more “serious”—more commitments, more responsibility, sometimes more hardship—many people lose touch with the child inside. Some grow guarded by tough experiences. Others trade freedom for comfort and security: mortgages, nine-to-fives, social expectations.

But for me, adventure and living wild are a mindset.

Get to know Gabi

AGELESS ADVENTURE: KEEP THE FIRE, NOT THE RULES

Since I broke free from trying to make others happy and doing what they thought was best for me in my twenties, I’ve been following my heart. And that heart still burns like a child’s — full of curiosity, passion, and hunger for life. That ﬂame hasn’t stayed alive by accident. I’ve had to ﬁght for it again and again. Life hasn’t always been easy — I’ve faced massive setbacks, really tough times, and deep sadness — but I’ve never let anything — no pressure, no expectation, no hardship — extinguish that ﬁre. 

Yes, I live a lifestyle that’s often associated with people half my age. That’s a conscious choice. For me, acting my age means being wiser, more grounded, more understanding—and, above all, knowing myself better than ever before. But it absolutely doesn’t mean settling into a routine I never wanted, choosing safety over soul, or checking boxes society says I should. 

It doesn’t mean having to have children. Or a mortgage. Or signing away your time and freedom.  And it deﬁnitely doesn’t mean losing your inner child. 

Surﬁng and kitesurﬁng are pure play—we dance on water, like kids. That joy is priceless. And in that sense, I’ve never grown up. I think that’s something to celebrate. 

If more people held onto that spark, this world might be a freer, lighter, happier place.

From Austria to the Ocean: A Wild Path Unfolds

I’ve always had this untamable, never-ending curiosity. Over the years, that urge to explore only grew stronger. The more I saw, the deeper the craving became—especially for wild, oﬀ-grid places.

I left Austria in my late teens and lived in all sorts of places for extended periods. I always dreamed of living near the ocean. Even as a landlocked kid, learning to surf was my biggest dream. And once I got out there—traveling, working, living overseas—the idea of “settling down” totally freaked me out. Every time life started to feel too easy or comfortable, I knew it was time to move on. 

To be honest, I’ve got no idea where this wild urge to explore comes from—it’s just always been there. As a little kid, maybe six years old, I told my dad, “I want to go to Maui.” Where I even got that idea from, growing up landlocked in Vienna, Austria, who knows? But the pull was real. The ocean had this magnetic draw on me from day one. On family holidays to Greece, Turkey, or Italy, I’d spend all day in the water. My dad used to call me “the sea urchin.” Partly because I was constantly submerged, partly because I’ve always been a bit of a rebel, doing things my own way.

Solo Missions & Shared Stoke 

I’ve always been drawn to remote places. Especially ones no one’s ever kited before. It’s part thrill, part test, part spiritual journey. Kiting alone in wild, untouched spots—it’s nerve-wracking, risky, and absolutely unforgettable. But it’s never just about the kitesurﬁng.  

It’s about going deep into the unknown and a journey to yourself. Facing obstacles, adapting on the ﬂy, and relying entirely on myself. It’s about ﬁnding rhythm with the land and sea, and treating both with absolute respect. Out there, it’s just me and Mother Nature—and that’s where I feel most alive. 

The Ocean as the Fountain of Youth

I honestly believe the ocean has helped me age diﬀerently—mentally, physically, and spiritually. Like I said earlier, surfers and kitesurfers are really just big kids playing in the sea. That interaction with this vast, powerful force—and the joy it brings—keeps you young at heart, no matter how many wrinkles start showing up on your face.

Physically, too—the ocean demands it. Especially with surﬁng, and even more so when you’re chasing bigger waves, you’ve got to be strong and seriously ﬁt. A lot of my training happens in the gym, but always with the goal of staying ocean-ready. So I will hopefully be able to get barreled as I get older, and still throw it down on the kite when it’s pumping.

Spiritually, the ocean is an inﬁnite source of wisdom. It’s a metaphor for life and the greatest teacher. The tides mirror our own highs and lows. Sometimes you get worked, held down, smashed hard. But you can’t give up. You’ve got to keep paddling. Sooner or later, you make it back to the peak—doing turns, throwing spray, dancing on the wave, feeling on top of the world.

For me, the ocean really is a fountain of youth. 

»Just looking out at the Indian Ocean here in West Oz reminds me how vast the world is and how small our problems are in the grand scheme of things. That perspective alone is grounding and healing. «
— Gabi

Soulfire and Staying True

What keeps my soul alive on those still days—when the wind doesn’t blow, the waves don’t roll, and life feels heavy—is the ocean, my dreams, and the ﬁre burning inside me. Just looking out at the Indian Ocean here in West Oz reminds me how vast the world is and how small our problems are in the grand scheme of things. That perspective alone is grounding and healing.

Physical strength plays a big role, too. Even when it’s not fun, like a tough gym session, moving my body helps me stay strong mentally and emotionally. It gives me the resilience to face the rougher patches of life with grit and grace.

And then, there are the dreams. They’re my fuel. I’ve got this wild, impossible dream of one day owning a sailboat and crossing the South Paciﬁc—surﬁng, ﬁshing, exploring, spending time with local island communities. I’ve no idea how I’ll pull it oﬀ ﬁnancially, but the dream is there. It keeps the soulﬁre lit. 

Why Settle, When You Can Sail?

I’ve never really felt pressure to slow down or settle; not from others, and deﬁnitely not from within. If anything, it’s been the opposite. My biggest fear has always been to “settle down,” to let life become repetitive or predictable. I thrive on movement, on adventure, on the unknown. My energy is constantly peaking, and if it weren’t for ﬁnancial restraints, I’d be chasing wind and waves around the globe year-round.

That said, I recently made what some might call the most “grown-up” move of my life: together with my husband, I bought a block of land in Margaret River and we’re building a small, well-engineered, solar passive, very livable version of a beach shack—a “shome,” as we call it (shed home). But it’s not about settling. I see it as an investment in freedom. One day, when the stars align and the bank account allows, we’ll rent it out and use that income to live aboard a sailboat and explore the Paciﬁc. That’s the real dream.

And sure, maybe when we’re 70 or 80, it’ll be nice to have our own little place to land. But for now, this “adult step” is just another move on the chessboard of living wild and staying free. 

Staying Real in a World Obsessed with Youth and Stuﬀ

I honestly don’t give a damn about shiny new things. That’s just not me. I’m a big advocate for sustainability and recycling, so the fast-paced, consumption-driven culture of today doesn’t sit right with me at all. Any money I spend goes only on things I truly need, not on wants or replacing something slightly older. Sure, I’d love the latest iPhone, MacBook, or Toyota Landcruiser, but I’m happy with what I’ve got. Plus, I always compare the cost to either a new surfboard or a trip somewhere. Experience always wins over material things—unless it’s a surfboard I genuinely need, haha.

As for the world’s obsession with youth, I ﬁnd it pretty disturbing and harmful to anyone who gets caught up in it. Sadly, that’s a huge chunk of modern society. I’ll never understand how material things can hold such importance for people. I’d much rather spend that money on travelling, adventuring, and creating lifelong memories.

Honestly, I think the world has gone mad. Consumerism and the relentless pace we live at are destroying traditional values, exploiting people, wrecking the environment, and messing with our heads. It’s a major driver of global warming and a threat to future generations.

So staying true to myself? That part is easy. I actually despise shopping. My worst nightmare is being locked in a mall. Those places give me the creeps. What’s hard, though, is having to interact with this world on social media—it’s part of my job, but it’s so not me. 

Soulﬁre and Staying True 

The Adventure Mindset: Beyond the Waves

I’ve always been a bit of a hopeless perfectionist, which is kind of the opposite of an adventurous mindset. I worry way too much, honestly. Taming that perfectionist streak has been a lifelong process, and I’ve deﬁnitely gotten better at letting go—slowly but surely, haha.

Luckily, my adventurous spirit has always been stronger. It’s the part that pushes me to do things others might call crazy, to keep going when most would give up, to take risks and to embrace that mix of discomfort, fear, and thrill all at once.

Adventure isn’t just about bold, daring feats like surﬁng big waves, kiting in remote corners of the world, or driving solo through the outback. It’s a deeper way of living—a mindset that’s curious, open, and willing to step outside comfort zones. It’s about appreciating the present moment, staying wild at heart, and making the most of the short time we have on this planet.

That’s what I’m really chasing: not just wind or waves, but a soul-crafted life. One that’s shaped by freedom, ﬁre, and the never-ending call of the ocean.

And in the quiet moments—watching the sun melt into the sea or sitting by the ﬁre under a sky full of stars—I’m reminded that this life, exactly as it is, is already the greatest adventure of all.