I was in your situation at 27 and I am a software developer, but I took a different path. At the time, I was doing great in my job and learning a ton but I started focusing on things, anything, outside of work. I started saying yes when coworkers would ask if I wanted to go out, or go snowboarding that weekend. But even as I obtained my post-college friendships, I still kept focus on personal growth and figuring out what hobbies makes me happy. Being outdoors camping and hunting is one of my favorite activities, and I would not have been open to hunting if I was not open to snowboarding. Hunting alone for the first time is what brought me more clarity and self confidence. I can't help but see that your 2 year driving trip may have had the same effect. Perhaps it's not your specific journey, but the choice you made to do something extremely fun and primal that nobody ever talks about. Perhaps you would like deer hunting (spot and stalk on public lands, not sit in a tree stand all day). I doubt repeating your same journey in a similar fashion would be nearly as fun, but maybe you realize you really enjoy the outdoors. For me, I've expanded to fishing, hiking, jeeping, exploring the western USA, and other forms/types of hunting.
I agree 100% that finding hobbies and pursuits is very important to overall balance and piece of mind. I'm addicted to snowboarding, camping, hiking and pretty much everything else outside. On my trip I estimate I camped in my tent 500 nights of the 667.
I'm a keen moose / bison / caribou hunter here in Northern Canada, and I fish every year for Salmon in Alaska, and lake trout around here. Fishing within 30 meters of a grizzly bear is something else :)
I'm actually just about to write up our recent moose trip, where we canoed a remote river for a week without seeing another person, or signs of people. We got a 58 inch moose on that trip. It will be on theroadchoseme.com when I get around to it.
