Hey all -
This is my situation (I think we've heard this one plenty of times in these forums). I'm 27 and holding a good stable job in the city - career-wise it's just fine for me right now, not that there's nothing for me to complain about. I've been getting that itch all of us here know - and it's been especially intensifying over the past few months. My recent birthday just compounded that feeling... I need to get out there! So I've been planning on Asia - cheap, beautiful and a place I might never have a chance to go see otherwise.
I have other reservations though. If I was a little younger and the world economy was in a different state than it is now I'd probably be much more comfortable with taking the plunge without any long term plans, and I'd be trying to do it as soon as possible. Now, however, I'm trying to come up with a plan for the fall by applying to grad schools, because last thing I'd want is to run out of disposable income and be looking for a job when there are none. At this point should I just wait for an acceptance somewhere before taking off, which will shorten my planned 6 month long trip by at least 2 months, or should I just take off on my original scheduled date (March) and milk the experience for all it's worth, damned be the plans if they don't work out? What's your approach these days given the way everything is going?
Reply to this Hello Woz 😊
The economy is always fluctuating. No point in not living your life fully because of it. Even if the most desirable jobs are not readily available when the economy is not so good, there is always something in my opinion.
And 27 is not so old. Even if you travel for 2 years you wont have hit 30 when you get back. I didnt have my first professional job until I was 28.
....last thing I'd want is to run out of disposable income and be looking for a job when there are none.
I usually plan it so I have some money when I get back. I wouldnt run to the end of my money. There is always some type of job available, to earn some money while waiting to get the one you want.
At this point should I just wait for an acceptance somewhere before taking off, which will shorten my planned 6 month long trip by at least 2 months, or should I just take off on my original scheduled date (March) and milk the experience for all it's worth,....
Why would you wait at home for the acceptance? Cant you wait in Asia. For sure you are taking a risk by giving up your job but really, some risks have to be taken in life if you want to live your life.
What's your approach these days given the way everything is going?
I try to keep a balance by being sensible to some extent, but not so much that I dont get to live my life mostly the way I want. I dont mean being irresponsible. I mean I make sure I get to do as many of the things I want, that is reasonably possible.
Mel
Reply to this Why would you wait at home for the acceptance? Cant you wait in Asia. For sure you are taking a risk by giving up your job but really, some risks have to be taken in life if you want to live your life.
I really like your reasoning 😊 It's true, I'm sure I'd be unhappy with myself if I decided to wait and then still be sitting in the same place 6 mo from now. Mostly this just comes from confusion. I've lived abroad before and did a lot of traveling already in my lifetime, but just as ingrained in me is the tendency of trying to be safe. It's not always compatible.
Reply to this Anyway, you wont necessarily be safe just because you hold down your job. Companies lay off staff when the economy gets bad because they cant afford them. You might end up having to job hunt when few jobs are available even if you dont travel.
Reply to this A lot of things will actually be cheaper now
because companies are more desperate for your dollar.
Where you wait to hear about applications won't change the results, and if you do get accepted it's going to be harder for you to get out and travel until you graduate - go now, go now ;-)
If you put aside what you think you'd need to live reasonably cheaply for about a month, go travelling, then even if you don't end up going to grad school you should be able to find a job within a month - provided you are prepared to take an 'in between' job as a source of income meanwhile.
Reply to this I agree with what's been said so far in the responses.
I'm in the same position as well, I'm 27, career-wise, I'm in a good position, lots of experience under my belt, but I have a HUGE case of wanderlust right now, and I'm torn between going on an adventure and being "practical" given the economy.
We just have to find that fine balance between being adventurous and being "wise" as far as money goes.
Good luck with everything!
Reply to this Are you going to grad school for sure...or is that your backup plan for coming home if there's no job?
I'm all for taking the plunge and going for your dreams. But the job market really sucks now...and I think will continue to suck for a good while. So if you go traveling & don't get into school...it may be difficult to find a job you're happy with (or any job at all). But I suppose that all depends on your field, location, etc.
If school is definitely part of the plan and you're confident you'll get in somewhere...go for it. After all, you're asking a bunch of travel-junkies if you should travel or not. Generally I think you'll be encouraged here to head off somewhere despite semi-cautions like the above.
Reply to this Hi Woz, if you're already thinking about going travelling now, then I would say just do it. You never know what's around the corner and if you think you'll regret it if you don't do it, then you probably will. It's easier to find reasons not to do it. I gave up a relatively good job to go travelling and I haven't looked back.
Good luck and happy travels!
Reply to this Are you going to grad school for sure...or is that your backup plan for coming home if there's no job?
Grad school is the plan, so if I get in somewhere, I'm definitely going to go. The itchy feet are just telling me to go now before I hear from anyone... which of course brings about the danger of having no backup plan if I don't get in anywhere! So I just wanted to get a sense for how difficult it may be for someone who takes an extended break to get a job during bad economic times.
True, it does depend on what I'm doing right now. I'm an accountant in NYC applying for programs in international relations. The job is guaranteed secure, so that's the reason why I'm uncertain about leaving before hearing.
And yeah, asking a bunch of travel junkies for advice does a lot to calm the nerves 😊 Thanks already so far everyone.
Reply to this Does the company you work for offer any kind of unpaid leave opportunities?
....applying for programs in international relations.
One would think that travel would be an important part of an education in international relations. 😉
Reply to this Hello! I'm sort of, almost, kinda in the same boat! I've got a nice comfy job with great prospects but a little while ago they laid off about a couple of 100 people in the UK and if I'd applied for the voluntary redundancy they'd probably have told me no because I'm doing well with them. Once everyone got the news that they had or hadn't been accepted to leave with a nice pay packet I got a bit sad that I'd have to stay working for the rest of my life while people are off travelling or even sitting at home on their nest egg! So I pouted a bit and then I forgot about it.
But suddenly it was January and it's freezing and I'm 23 and it's the rest of my life already!!!! So I've decided to work here for a year and save some money and in January next year try and get leave from work and travel the world for 6 months. If I can't get leave, which is more likely, I'll just quit. I am worried that I wont have a job but then I don't have commitments, I don't own property I don't have any kids, if I don't go now when will I go??? What I'm saying is it's no point staying put just because you may or may not have a job, yes the economy sucks all over the place but who knows??? When we get back there might be hundreds of jobs or maybe travelling will point us in a new career direction or maybe there will be no jobs and we'll have to sit on our sofas (probably in our parents house cos we're unemployed lol) and watch Maury. I don't know but so many other things could happen that there's just no point wondering what if!
I've read the "I've waited and waited 10 years but no one wants to go with me" threads and the "I wanted to travel and now I can't cos I put it off too long and now I've been diagnosed with cancer" threads (imagine that!) and it makes no sense to wait around!!! Think about it; is it really that big what we want to do? We want to get on a plane and get off somewhere different and visit for however long, it's not like we're going to Mars it's just a really long holiday. How envious do you feel when you read peoples travel blogs or when you hear people talking about trekking up mountains with the sun on their backs, think of that little pang of jealousy you feel and take it and use it as motivation. I don't know if you have anyone supporting you or if you have a family or whatever but even if you do I think now is the best time. We're only getting older, I'm already thinking I should have done this before I went to Uni! You know if you don't go you're going to get locked into a career and spend the rest of your life fighting to get to the top of the ladder and MAYBE holidaying once a year for a week in alcopulco! Either that or you'lll come back here in 10 years and start a thread about how you wish you'd gone but now you have 5 kids and your wife needs manicures and you couldn't possibly go anywhere but you don't care you're going and then your life is all upside down (a bit extreme i know lol)
Anyway, yes it's right to worry, I first started off researching threads like "Should I give it all up and go travelling" "I have a great job, to travel or not" etc but now I know I don't need other people to tell me yes, I can do it and I shouldn't have to wait for something tragic to happen to push me towards it. Obviously my advice would be better in a year and a halves time when I've gone and come back and have a job paying TWICE what I left but this advice will have to do :D And anyway travelling is about exploring the unknown, what fun would it be if you had life totally planned out for when you came back?
Reply to this oo that's a long post! I think i got carried away lol
Reply to this I don't have commitments, I don't own property I don't have any kids, if I don't go now when will I go??? And anyway travelling is about exploring the unknown, what fun would it be if you had life totally planned out for when you came back?
Right there with ya Erica. It's time to work to live, not live to work.
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