Shall I give it all up and travel the world ???

I've sold up, got rid of everything and am ready to quit my job. Anyone else done that in order to see the world?

Read the following and found it struck a chord with me:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honest question. Do you love what you do?

If the answer isn’t a resounding, knee-jerk, “Yes! I live for this s***,” then I encourage you to seriously consider doing something about it. That may sound extreme, but seriously, in 100 years you and everyone you know are going to be dead and your great-grandkids aren’t going to get misty-eyed remembering how you got that quarterly bonus or a corner office. This is your life and every breath you take is killing you. Stop messing around.

Chances are the thought of leaving your day job terrifies you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interesting or not? Reply to this

I'm a mature adult. I've worked hard all my life. I've done all the things they said to do. Went to school, got the education, worked hard, saved money for retirement. At some point I realized I was going through the motions and the job was not as fulfilling as needed. My husband was in the same place.
We quit our jobs, sold the house, put every thing in storage. We traveled the work for 10 months. We came back and worked for 5 years. We did it again... we quit and traveled for 6 months. We worked two years and traveled for a month and a couple shorter stents.

We've never regretted it. There are times we wish we'd done it sooner but are also glad we didn't. We are glad we had some money in the retirement fund before we changed our life by all of the travel.

It enhances your life.
All we can say is do it. You won't be sorry.

It will change the way you see the world. You won't be boxed in any more.
If you are going to do this I recommend only spending half of what you have in savings. Have some money to come back to.

Book the trip.

Reply to this

In response to: Msg #186281

Good luck Reply to this

In response to: Msg #186281 Hi Caz, Hope it all works out and you get to Bruges in the middle of next year. It's a beautiful city and well worth spending a few days exploring and just soaking up the atmosphere.

We're moving along with our grand plan still. In rented accommodation and looking for somewhere to buy to rent now, so we have some income when we finish work. Jo has already packed up her full time job and starts a new part time role next week but it will be well into next summer before we're both ready.

Not sure about the motorhome idea. We were completely sold on it but on further investigation went off the idea after reading many blogs and diaries of fulltime motorhomers. Not sure how we'll do it, potentially several short term rentals in different places depending on the cost. Not ready for that decision yet. Reply to this

we have our camper, first big step has been taken! :D
Reply to this

well it's actually a van conversion, so it can be driven on a standard license. Its an Iveco Daily.
Has eveything you'd need, gas cooker, casette toilet + shower etc 😊 its pretty nice, needs abit done like a new wheel and possibly a new leisure battery but it just past its MOT no problem and is ready to go when we are (YAY)

we have a rough plan at the moment (not 100% sure when we'll be leaving), we need to be back in the UK for mid April, should be leaving mid-late January and plan to do (from Calais) : Belgium ---> Luxembourg ---> France (just passing through)---> Switzerland ---> Italy ---> Switzerland again (we have a working holiday to do here for 2 weeks) ---> France ---> UK

you'll be back in the UK for a couple weeks, should be good chance to refresh, restock etc.

then after that we have no time limit and plan to head across to Germany and then up to Denmark (have a 2 week working holiday for here) Norway (1 week w.h. here) and Sweden (not yet but looking for w.h.).

working holidays are great for saving money as they provide food & accommodation for our stay and we can use their internet, hot water, washing machines etc 😊




Reply to this

I wish I had it all worked out but Im not sure I ever will lol 😊
we have travelled together to a few places (estonia, malta, cyprus, ireland etc) but only ever as stantard 1-2 week hotel holidays. so this'll certainly be a new experience (cant wait tho!)

yes we'll be giving up work before we go, I'm lucky enough that Ive become quite good friends with my boss and will likely have no problem working for him again once I get back.
I've done a few working holidays before, I use HelpX.net , theyre very good. The work varies alot, from simple house sitting to hostels to farmwork etc. I like the latter as I enjoy working with animals. The ones we have currently planned are farmwork (chopping wood, feeding animals, gardening etc) and dog walking. But it's 1-2 weeks without fuel/food/gas costs and its a great way to meet the real local people.

I cant wait to begin this whole adventure! I've already gone and donated tons of clothes and things that I wont need, bought a 12v travel kettle and stocked up on tea bags, coffee and instant noodles 😉

Reply to this

ah sorry to hear that, Im sure you'll get him sorted and be on your way soon enough 😊

yes I've done a few before, you just have to realise that they're not free holidays, they can actually be really hard work. My last one for example was a farm with 2 horses, 3 ponies, 3 dogs, 5 cats. so I was up early everyday, feeding them all, walking them, cleaning up after them, grooming them, then feeding and walking again etc. it was tough work but quiet enjoyable and it felt good to know you've actually really helped someone 😊
it varies alot tho, you see loads of hostels/hotels/B&B's that just want free staff to wash dishes and such and in exchange you can have a free room at the place.
also teaching english somewhere rural is a common one I see on helpx.net.

I would recommend trying a working holiday, as long as you dont mind sticking by other peoples rules and some (possibly) hard work.

oh also on a different note, I'll be heading to the Algarve at the end of this month for my last cheap-and-cheerful 1 week holiday :D Reply to this

Hey Caz, great news. Next week! Sounds brilliant to me. packing isn't a big deal is it really, just throw in a few bits and you'll be fine. I take it you've both packed in work now? So away for a year definitely? How many working holidays have you actually got planned now? It was a couple in Switzerland and Denmark I think. Have you booked sites or places to stop with the van or are you going to sort that as you go? Must be incredibly exciting. Reply to this

thanks! 😊
yeah very exciting!! (and slightly terrifying lol) ohh it's not really packing that was the stress, it was the fact that we have to fully clear out and clean our flat in a couple of days (but we managed it! just about lol, got it all sorted tonight finally), will be giving our keys back tomorrow.
Our first working holiday isn't until march so we'll be taking our time sightseeing and just exploring in general until then : ) our insurance is for a year so we'll definitely be back by then, but yes one year is the goal.
we havent booked any camping sites, simply as we can't say when we'll be where, but we have a book with them all listed and our van doesn't really look like a camper from the outside so we should be able to park it on quiet streets at night also.
for now though I'll be enjoying the luxury of big bubble baths, cooking food in a microwave and my hairdryer until I leave 😉
not long to go now ! Reply to this