Why worry about road trips in a 100k mile car? Most post-2000 cars will last for 200k if well maintained, if not longer.
Nothing wrong with travel if approached intelligently. Rent out the house on AirBnB, Craigslist, or to a friend through your network for a month, travel light, like college student backpackers. Or take a camping trip and rough it for a weekend.
Travel is part of education, not something to be avoided.
