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Looking to LIVE across America for 2 years

Basically, I have a plan that I've been considering which entails living in 8 major cities, over the course of 2 years, for 3 months at a time each. The major problem is finding consistent housing and work. Any suggestions?

16 years ago, May 22nd 2007 No: 1 Msg: #14219 Delete Edit

elusive_1
Steve

N Posts: 6

First of all, glad I found this website; it's good to be here.

My name is Steve, and I've been living in Los Angeles for the past few months, working in the entertainment industry. I graduated with a film degree this past January, and immediately decided to move out here for work. However, lately I've been contemplating my ultimate goal of becoming a writer/director, considering what it might take to get there, and what skills I might need to hone. I've concluded that at the root of what it takes to become a successful director lies a good foundation in writing -- a foundation that I don't think I have. I feel like I have a lot of decent ideas, but none of them are genuine, and none of them come from true life experience. So, here's where my potential plan comes into play (and at this point it's nothing more than a thought)...

I want to take a hiatus of "normal life," if you will, and travel the country, looking for this experience. I want to meet new people, work oddball jobs, and live in different areas with contrasting weather, landscapes, and industry. But if I do this, I don't want to simply travel across the country, staying in hotels or sleeping in the car along the way; I want to live across the country, so to speak. I feel like this would allow me to absorb the most from each of these cities, jobs, friends that I make along the way...I want to feel like I've actually lived a different life each time. Hence the plan: live in 8 major cities, 3 months at a time, over the course of 2 years.

Here comes the problem. As we all know, money makes the world go 'round, and although I have somewhat of a savings, I'll need consistent employment to help with all of the expenses. This is where I need suggestions from you guys. I'm pretty sure I could secure housing each time, but jobs are tough, and I'd have to mostly bet on seasonal work (which is partially why I was going for 3 month periods). But, even going through the hiring process every time: orientation, paperwork, training, blah, blah...seems like it could become impractical. Plus, there would probably be a period of at least a couple of weeks, while I'm in the process of applying for new jobs, that I wouldn't have work at all.

Questions:

1. Has anyone here ever tried anything like this before? If so, how'd it work out? How did you go about finding housing and work? Overall, how valuable was the experience for you?

2. If #1 doesn't apply to anyone, how would you go about planning for something like this, hypothetically? I'm especially interested in hearing about how you'd go about finding work.

I've heard of organizations overseas that help travelers trying to do this sort of thing. They keep them housed and employed in exchange for something (maybe working for them). Anyone know of anything like that here in America?

Reply to this

16 years ago, June 4th 2007 No: 2 Msg: #14824 Delete Edit

kevic
kevin

N Posts: 7

I have a few thoughts...

Just move to whereever you want to go with a polished resume and submit it to a whole bunch of retailers. You can also definately be a barista or waiter in any city in the US and then move quickly and do the same things somewhere else. Coming from LA, that's probably not very appealing though (I've heard that's the cliche job actors and directors get when they run out of money and sort've give up). However, if you worked for a large chain you could conceivably have a set of skills that would work almost anywhere. Being from Seattle, the most common job is being a barrista. You get to work in the hippest places and hang around with a lot of interesting people plus the hours are flexible.

Being a bartender can be a great way towards experiences and decent living, plus your days are reletively free and your schedules flexible. I have a good buddy that lives in New York and started as a bartender. The bar's claim to fame is a large fish tank that they actually have people swim around in (dressed like mermaids/mermen). He eventually quit being a bartender and was a merman for a year. He only worked a few hours a day and had plenty of time to write a couple novels and soak in a lot of culture right in the middle of Manhattan. The bartender gig is nice because your skills are very transferable and you don't need much extra training plus most bars are locally owned and they won't ask you to do that much paperwork besides a W-2.

Another good alternative is to work as a building manager. I have a buddy who graduated last year with a degree in art and wants to be a big name artist. In the meantime, he has worked this year as a building manager. He plans to move to New York in the next two months, having already secured a job as a manager there. The pay is not so good in these jobs, but you also usually get very very reduced rent (he lives in a real nice building in Seattle for no rent per month) and he has a good amount of extra time to pursue his artwork. This would be harder to do on a three month basis but you could do it for six month spats.

Another venue for varied life experience is construction. If you can learn how to frame a house (which you can pick up in a few months at a trade school or just get someone to hire you and learn on the job for a couple months) you can work practically anywhere in the US and make a great living. The days are limited to eight hours (but you work hard) and then you have all your weekends and evenings free. It's also seasonal or by the job and you'll definately have some experiences you won't ever forget. Just watch your fingers!

What do you do right now? If a large percentage of your work is done on the computer, you might be able to convince your employers to pay you to do some work for them remotely. I've been able to convince my employer that I can get work done at home and so have of the time I get paid to work I'm at home (and could easily be anywhere else in the country but I'm just about to graduate so can't travel yet).

You could also try to the website thing. I have a friend who's making moderate income from that (she sells dolls online for a small markup). It takes a lot of work and patience in the beginning but now she doesn't have to do much with it and could manage the site from anywhere.

Any of those things sound cool ^ ?

Hope that gives you a few ideas. I'm interested in doing something similar but in longer bursts (two-three years) in specific places for specific skills and interests. I like this idea as well so I can travel for long periods of time in between work.

What directors do you like? I'm not into anything too obscure. I like Bergman, Wong Kar Wei, and Kurosawa.

Good Luck Reply to this

16 years ago, June 22nd 2007 No: 3 Msg: #15542 Delete Edit

Keane
Keane Robinson

B Posts: 5

Learn to make a good latte! Starbucks is everywhere. Reply to this

16 years ago, June 22nd 2007 No: 4 Msg: #15543 Delete Edit

Keane
Keane Robinson

B Posts: 5

And by the way, I think it was Henry James that counted an empathetic glimpse as experience. Reply to this

16 years ago, June 22nd 2007 No: 5 Msg: #15549 Delete Edit

elusive_1
Steve

N Posts: 6

Kevin: Thanks for the reply; sorry it took me so long to notice. First off, I'm currently working as a tape logger/transcriber for a TV production company out here in LA. I've been looking for work as a production assistant on film sets; aside from that, jobs are limited -- especially since I want to work in feature filmmaking. I'm not even sure what I want to do anymore. In the time since I wrote this thread, I've had so many different thoughts about this idea; and they're "hot or cold" thoughts: I'm either super excited about getting out there and exploring, or I feel like LA isn't such a bad place, it's where I ultimately need to be, and that maybe I should give it more of a chance.

Anyway, I think you've given me some good advice as per employment. I've definitely thought of the retail route, but I'm not so sure a single company would want to keep transferring me around every few months. And if I kept looking for different retail jobs in each city, like I said, I feel like there's too much risk involved there. I need a job immediately when I reach each new destination. However, I should be able to apply for certain jobs in each city before I'm even living there. I haven't considered construction as a possibility, but now that I think about it, it is consistent; definitely something that I could hop around on. At the very least, it would serve as a safety net in case I wasn't able to find other work. I like where you're going with talking about having a particular skill set.

You know, even now, as I'm writing this, this whole plan sounds impractical and too risky. I think part of the problem is that I was raised fairly conservatively, and this just doesn't fit into that structure. But, that's part of the reason why I want to do this: I feel that as a writer/artist, I need to free myself from that mindset, and that it's going to take something of this nature to help me.

...I don't know, though. Like I said, I still don't feel like I've given LA a chance yet. If I want to be a director, this is where I need to be, and I feel like I should start working on set and making connections as soon as possible. But, in the back of my mind, I keep thinking that I could easily get stuck in a rut out here and never have the chance to do something like this again in my life. All it takes is that one great job, that one girl; or that one commitment -- whatever it may be -- and it just won't be as simple.

I'm glad that I'm not alone with my ambitions. It's good to hear that you're interested and might possibly pursue something like this. I was starting to think that two years total was a long time; two-three years per area is pretty hardcore. Good luck to you, also, if you decide on taking the journey. Oh yeah, I'm a big fan of Kubrick and Scorsese. I have seen Kurosawa's "Dreams," though, and thought it was brilliant -- I've never seen anything like it.

Keane: As Kevin suggested, I've thought about doing the barista thing, but I'm not so sure about Starbucks, lol. But, you're right in that they are everywhere; and it ties into the idea that I might be able to stick with one particular company as long as they wouldn't mind continually transferring me around.

Reply to this

16 years ago, June 24th 2007 No: 6 Msg: #15612 Delete Edit

deleted_41586
deleted_41586

D Posts: 3

yeah, i think you just take off and see what happens. as someone said above, starbucks is everywhere -- so are dishwashing, waitering, shop assistant jobs, packing boxes in supermarkets, all boring stuff but will support you enough to travel and live life the rest of the time. it only takes a couple of days of strenuously going through job classifieds to find work like that, it's everywhere.
im not from the states, im aussie, but ive basically been doing the same thing in oz and new zealand and now japan, since i became disillusioned and dropped out of university and decided i needed a lot more life experience before choosing any kind of life path... just picking up whatever i find on the way. i don't think that true life experience can be so solidly planned out anyway. if you find a place inspiring then stay there until the fuel, the wonder, runs out, until you feel its time to move on. that could take six months or it could take two weeks in some places.
why 8 major cities anyway? you could give country towns a crack for more of the absurd and wonderful that you wouldnt have found in your life before? hell, im going all over the world, ive only just started. but everyone's got different interests i guess, my point was just go with the flow, and you'll be fine. 😊 Reply to this

16 years ago, June 24th 2007 No: 7 Msg: #15620 Delete Edit

elusive_1
Steve

N Posts: 6

Hmm, I've never thought to just "go with the flow" before. I guess I never thought it should be that easy. And I agree with you about the fact that it doesn't have to be 8 cities, or for so many months at a time. The only reason I was setting it up that way is because I wanted to make sure that I stayed in each spot long enough for me to feel like I've almost become a local. I want to surpass the tourist level for a true feeling of what it's like to live in each place. I definitely agree with what you said about how each city doesn't have to be major. I guess I just thought that, while I was living in the "major" cities, I could still wander off into the countryside at the same time. I've also never considered doing something like this internationally. How is that working out for you? Is the language barrier a big deal if you're actually LIVING in these places (especially Japan)? How hard is it to find work in that regard? How about money -- did you start off with a good bit to work with?

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16 years ago, June 25th 2007 No: 8 Msg: #15638 Delete Edit

deleted_41586
deleted_41586

D Posts: 3

hey,
well japan isnt all that hard for me because im half japanese (im crap at speaking the language, nevertheless). my journeys barely even started! but also, i guess it's different for me because im at a stage *before* i know what i want to do with my life, trying to strip away all former prejudices, re-question what i want and who i am and blah... whereas you seem to have your direction set up, and you seem to want life experience to *add* to and enhance that vision, life ambition and whatever, not to change it... which is great, it's a completely different place to where im at. but i guess that, being lost, im therefore free. not really tied down to anything, trying not to even be tied down to myself.

i actually meant that you also might end up wanting to spend more than the estimated amount of time in some places. imagine how much you can find in a city, the people you'd meet, something inspiring that makes you want to maybe stay there awhile and work on an idea... we're constantly expanding and changing. i had a bit of money starting off here in japan, but when i was just moving about in my own country i didnt find it hard, i scraped by on the bare minimum. that said though, i dont even know what its like in the states. its probably a scary place.
ive been in a situation where i ended up in auckland nz at night, suddenly realised that i couldnt access my bank account, and was stuck on the street with nowhere to sleep, when stangers started talking to me and offered to help me out until the next day. stuff like that blows me away, makes me feel i can go anywhere, do anything, without worrying too much. i dont know if youd get that in the states. im sure you need to be far more careful there? but again, you can just set up accommodation beforehand for that. i think when it comes down to it, you wont know how itll turn out until youre in it! Reply to this

16 years ago, July 1st 2007 No: 9 Msg: #15884 Delete Edit

P05
PartyofFive

B Posts: 52

Your post reminds me of a book I read called "Nickeled and Dimed." The author travels to several major cities and starts over in each one as a social experiment. She's trying to see if your typical low wage worker can get by in America with the wages they earn. In each city she has to find a place to live and a place to work. She ends up getting hired at low paying places like Walmart and a maid company. It's a very interesting read and something you might want to look up to see how her experiences turned out. Reply to this

16 years ago, July 4th 2007 No: 10 Msg: #16000 Delete Edit

elusive_1
Steve

N Posts: 6

Thanks for the replies, guys. P05, I glanced over that book on Amazon, and I might look into buying it... good stuff.

I think I'll be staying in LA for a little while longer, though. The temptation to travel is always there, but I just gotta to do what I gotta do out here, first. I think I'm just going to go with the flow for awhile and see what happens with my career. If anything, I need to save up a little more money before tackling something like this... especially since I've been thinking of traveling internationally lately.

But, one day I just might snap and start driving. Maybe that's how it needs to happen. Reply to this

16 years ago, July 4th 2007 No: 11 Msg: #16043 Delete Edit

Daisy_T
D.T.

N Posts: 4

This was a nice reading...i've got ur same problem here Elusive... Reply to this

16 years ago, July 5th 2007 No: 12 Msg: #16108 Delete Edit

mcgrawtraveler
sarah mcgraw

N Posts: 1

Hey, I know how you feel about just wanting to get out there and check other cities out. I have worked for awhile as a traveling nurse in emergency departments. This is a great way to travel, make GREAT money, and see the sites. It is difficult to go through the schooling if you are not already a nurse, but some travel companies hire nursing aides. The schooling for that can take as little as a month. Another option that you could have is to own an On-line travel agency. It is so nice! You can travel for wholesale and enjoy GREAT tax benefits because it is a home based business. There is a company called Your Travel Biz. Feel free to check out my website and let me know what you think. THIS IS FOR REAL!!! It could also put you in the right place at the right time so you could get to where you would not HAVE to work, just TRAVEL!! If you want to learn more about it I would love to share this fantastic opportunity with you! The website is

www.ytb.com/mcgrawtravel
and if you want to email me to ask questions my email is listed on the website. I wish you the best of luck whatever you do and hope you get to live your dream! Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.

Reply to this

16 years ago, July 21st 2007 No: 13 Msg: #16691 Delete Edit

Kuno
A Kid Following His Dreams

B Posts: 20

This is directed not only to elusive_1 but also to anyone else out there that has an urge to see/do something different (for at least a year). If you have the urge to see a different part of the world, but you don't want to sacrifice too much other than time, then I highly recommend teaching English abroad. Here's the deal- I'm not a salesman, but I've had many people contact me (through my journal on here) about teaching English in an Asian country. So I figure I'll post a quick rundown out in the open for anybody that's not sure what to do "travelwise".

Here's the basics (definitely for teaching English in Korea, most likely for Japan, China, and maybe Thailand):

If you:
1. Are a native English speaker
2. Have a college degree
3. Have a valid passport
4. Have a desire to travel

Then you can:
1. Get a free round trip plane ticket from your home country to the country of employment (for me, US to Korea)
2. Get housing paid for (~ $200- 500/month apartment, for me ~ $500/month apartment paid for by the school)
3. Get a monthly salary between $1500 - $2500/month (for me, ~ $2400/month)
4. Get a bonus equal to one month's salary if you stay for a full year (12 months)
5. Get all Korean holidays off with a couple extra days here and there (basically about 4 sets of 3-5 day vacation breaks, for me I've been to Beijing, and Thailand and I'm headed to Japan and the Philippines before the end of my full year).

This basically means (in Korea at least) that you can EASILY save at least $1,000 a month (after paying for the cheap mini-vacations to the other countries), live and experience a non-Western culture (Korea's culture is amazing - check my journal for stories), visit other countries in Asia/ Southeast Asia, AND at the same time save money (for me, when all is said and done, I'm at least $12,000 richer).

All this for one year's worth of commitment.

I'm not saying that it's the best option available, but I'm not saying it isn't either. But don't take my word for it. Research this on your own and you'll see that I'm not talking out of my rear. Ultimately, I have no idea why this isn't more well-known.

Just an idea. I hope this inspires someone. Yes, it's been worth it.

www.mytb.org/Kuno Reply to this

16 years ago, July 22nd 2007 No: 14 Msg: #16698 Delete Edit

elusive_1
Steve

N Posts: 6

Kuno--

I've never thought about teaching as an option before. My only question is: wouldn't you need to know both languages in order to teach one? Also, since living in Korea, how has your life changed for the better? For the worst? I just feel like that would be such a 180; versus traveling to Europe or somewhere a little more adaptable first.

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16 years ago, July 22nd 2007 No: 15 Msg: #16702 Delete Edit

Kuno
A Kid Following His Dreams

B Posts: 20

elusive_1 --

The answer is no, you do not have to know both languages. The Asian countries (Korea, China, Japan, Thailand) have such a high demand to learn English, that they have private English Academies where they have native English speakers teach in English the whole time. Where I teach, the students also have Korean teachers that teach them grammar and reading. As foreign teachers, we concentrate on conversational English. We also teach higher level students who need to improve fluency or essay writing. Currently I am teaching SAT prep to Korean students who go to school in the US or Canada, but return to Korea for summer vacation. They are as fluent in English as any American, so they are easy to teach. Their parents just send them to us while they are in Korea so that the students will be able to keep up their English. Naturally, I have picked up a little Korean, but I am nowhere near able to communicate past ordering food and saying hello, and I get along just fine. However, in Europe - you will have to be fluent in the country's language (Spain - Spanish, France- French, etc.) if you want to teach English, so it's not really an option as for sustainable traveling.

My life has changed for the better because I have gained a world perspective that can only be obtained through experience. Had I traveled to Europe, I would still have the same Western mindset that I (personally) desired to expand. If you want easy and adaptable, then by all means, Europe (or another part of America) is the place. But if you want to LIVE somewhere different, "absorb the most" from each place, and truly gain a different world perspective (yet you don't want to go broke obtaining these experiences), then Korea is the place. I like to think of myself as open-minded, but there is no teacher like experience. I attempt to relate some of the cultural differences in my journal, but there are so many little mind-opening experiences that I just can't explain - they simply have to be experienced. I can say with confidence, that my time so far in Korea has changed who I am for the better, and will affect how I live the rest of my life.

How has it changed my life for the worst? Well, I can't say that it has, but I don't want to cop out and not answer the underlying question. Ultimately, you're asking what I've sacrificed. Well, I've sacrificed going to law school. I'm a year behind in the rat race. I'll be late starting my first corporate job (if I ever start one). I'm missing out on a good friend's wedding. I won't be able to attend Beach Week III with all my best friends from college (this makes me sadder than you think). I spent my first Christmas away from home. I left behind the woman of my dreams with no assurance that I'll ever see her again. But honestly, all these things are such minor sacrifices in comparison to the life experiences that I've gained. I would trade them every single time if given the option to do it all over again.

Yes, going to Korea is a 180. Europe is much safer and likely more adaptable. But if you have any kind of travel bug similar to the one that I know many people have, then I suggest taking this chance/opportunity.

As with anything, life is what you make it. If you jump in expecting great things, you end up receiving great things.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide! Reply to this

16 years ago, July 22nd 2007 No: 16 Msg: #16703 Delete Edit

bailey337
This side of Texas

B Posts: 21

Cool idea, good luck. Why not check out some smaller cities as well ? Like places that most people dont normally come to ? Like the Dakotas or Kansas or something. Not just the major cities, NY, Miami, Chicago, etc, but sometimes the smaller towns are just as fun ! I agree w/ some of the other posters, working bartender, waiter, retailer, starbuxer, may be your best bet since you are going to have to constantly start over ! Although I admire your dream to travel America. Most people seem to backpack across Europe or SE asia, but never America, I would love to do that, but dont really know how to start.... what about RV around ?? I've heard of people doing that, that way you dont have to always look for an apartment, room mates.... etc. Or rent !! Of course, there's gas or whatever else... keep us posted, and good luck ! Reply to this

16 years ago, July 28th 2007 No: 17 Msg: #16947 Delete Edit

kevic
kevin

N Posts: 7

Hello,
Any progress with your idea? I was just reading the posts above by Kuno and I can say that I don't think Europe would be that much "safer." I've just spent the last month and a half traveling in China, Thailand, and now I'm in Japan. China was pretty crazy and intense but Thailand would be easy to adapt to and Japan is probably more civilized than the US! I've heard similar things from other people that have done the teaching thing in Japan and Taiwan in terms of the pay and life experience. I have another friend finishing up a year of teaching in France, but he's fluent in French; even then, his pay sucked and his parents had to give him money the whole time. So for teaching English I think the Pacific is the place to look too! Having done some travels through Western Europe and comparing that to my current time in the east, I would recommend heading out here if you want to have a real eye opening experience. I haven't been to Eastern Europe, which I hear is also great, but I can say that Asia in general is a real exciting place.

If you want life experience, have you considered cycling across the US? Its probably one of the best ways to really see what the middle of this country is all about. You'll definately have some real interesting (and some very very weird) experiences. It might be a faster way to accumulate "life experience" as well. You'll meet a lot of real interesting people as well.

I'm actually moving to LA when I get back to the states. Any advice? How are the people? This forum has turned out to be a real interesting one.

Reply to this

16 years ago, July 29th 2007 No: 18 Msg: #17008 Delete Edit

elusive_1
Steve

N Posts: 6

Hmm.. never thought about cycling. I'm a big automotive enthusiast; so, any cross-country trip that I take will most likely be in something with four wheels. Lately, I've been putting some thought into obtaining corporate sponsorship for my trip. I could probably get away with everything being free if I made the effort.

Advice for moving to LA? Have lots of money, it's not the cheapest place to live. The people out here come from all over; therefore, the personalities vary. But, most are working in the entertainment industry, and consequently you have a lot of self-absorbed wanna-bes. I've made a few friends, though. LA is kind of like the internet, in that, you really have to sift through it for the good stuff -- friends, apartments, jobs, fun spots. You have to find a way to make LA work for you, because it's so cluttered out here that it becomes overwhelming. It's just a big area in general. I often say that LA feels separated from California as a totally separate state.

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16 years ago, August 6th 2007 No: 19 Msg: #17285 Delete Edit

Maddywv
Maddy

B Posts: 8

You might think about staying at or near National Parks. In Season there are usually plenty of jobs and you would meet people from all over the COuntry and world.... especailly if you get a job waitering. Just a thought. Reply to this

16 years ago, August 19th 2007 No: 20 Msg: #18189 Delete Edit

woodalbatross
Prima Strange

N Posts: 3

I would suggest that you try meeting people in your destination cities before you get there and staying with them while you're in town. I had a friend in from England, earlier this year, who spent six months doing just that -- she travelled from city to city, just staying with friends. Of course, picking up some sort of work that you can do online -- web dev, maybe, or freelance writing, is a big help because you can take your job with you as you go.

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