BootsnAll Travel Community

So, exactly 6 months from now I'll be landing in Thailand for the begining of my 1 year RTW. This is going to be the first time for me to do any sort of extensive travel out of the USA and it can't get here soon enough.

Any ideas on how to make it go faster? I sit at my desk everyday and think (depending on my mood) "only 6 months to go!" or "my god, I still have 6 months of this!" Anyways, like many have asked before me, how do you hang in there and not check out early, so to speak?

Thanks, I'll make it but it aint gonna be easy
-SkiCO

I've been sitting at my desk doing that since December when I decided I would be going to New Zealand this September. It will go fast. That's not to say I haven't "checked out" already...I have. But you will make it.

I've got like 5 months and man i've been checked out since 8months to go haha. it'll come eventually :-)

About seven months to go for me, but I "checked out" so to speak a few months back when I saw that the finances for the trip were looking good. I guess it's a bit like "senioritis" in college. Can't be helped, I suppose.

I'm still putting in a healthy amount of productive hours, I just don't actively search out for new projects to manage.

quote:

Originally posted by docKaos:
I guess it's a bit like "senioritis" in college.

That's exactly how i was describing it to my friends the other day.

I graduated from college in 2006, so I haven't been working that long. I had senioritis for all of my senior year and I'm getting it again. It sure is nice being unproductive... not sure what the boss thinks or if he has even noticed for that matter.

Since I'm now in the last 3 weeks of a 6month wait, I know exactly how you feel and it's painful!!

I like to think that the 6 months before the trip is not only part of the trip but can be very exciting too.

The first 3 months will drag like crazy so I suggest you take this time to gather all the information you can about every destination you might be heading too, e.g. bus routes, safety issues, embassy numbers, things you want to see.. etc.. this will make everything seem a lot more real and close to home and allow you to start commiting things to memory. once you've done all that, check out all the neighbouring countries just in case you ever want to go there. I don't plan much before I leave but there's no harm in knowing a lot about your destinations.
try making a target of researching one country over a 2 week period to drag it out and gain maximum information.

First 3 Months -- Research, Plan and Dream

The next 2 months for me flew by, I know it might seem daft but I kinda forgot that I was leaving since I'd already researched everything I possibly could so just carried on with my life as usual, but at the same time I started getting my kit together, make a list of what you need to take and try to cross one or two things off every weekend, for some reason this helped the time go much faster and my trip no longer seemed like a distant dream.

Next 2 Months -- Gather, Aquire and Buy

Now this final month.....grrrrrrr... well, It's a bit of a road runner month, it's just flashing before my eyes and no matter how hard I try to catch some much needed time to finish the few things I still need to do... I can't.
I suggest enjoying the calm before the storm, my heart is pounding with excitment and I'm about to errupt.
Refreshing the knowledge you gained in the first 3 months is essential since things can change very quickly.
The only problem with this part of the trip is the itching to leave is growing unbearably stronger every day and it can be so frustrating! I JUST WAN'T TO GO!
best month so far though

Last Month -- Refresh, Utilise, Grin like a Chimp

Great tips! I haven't even started compiling basic logistical information like visas, embassies, etc... I just keep thinking to myself that I have plenty of time to get all that nailed down.

Maybe, I don't. And that is even more exciting.

It's never to early start researching And like I said, for me it helped time pass a lot quicker and while I was researching I almost felt as if I was already there.
It's not something you really have to do either, well, appart from some basic information as you mentioned.
Even though you can't plan for every eventuality, I just like to feel confident that I wont:
1) Anger the locals
2) Forget something that's essential
3) Get stopped from entering a specific coutry
4) Have any nasty shocks... I just like the good ones
5) Get redicilously lost in the middle of nowhere
6) Die

The time will go faster that you think Have fun planning!

Good tips Welsh! SkiCO I've got 5 months till departure and I'm definately in the plans making stage. It helps that I have a starting point and a destination but no idea what route to take in between so lots to think about. I've also plunged to new depths of productivity - or lack of - at work. It's amazing how little I can do without anyone noticing. I wonder why I'm even employed full time sometimes. Guess the trick is always looking busy!

quote:

Originally posted by Welsh Traveller:
I just like to feel confident that I wont:

6) Die

I hope these were in no particular order...

quote:

I've also plunged to new depths of productivity - or lack of - at work. It's amazing how little I can do without anyone noticing. I wonder why I'm even employed full time sometimes. Guess the trick is always looking busy!

HEHE.... tell me about it! My workplace are lucky to get an hour a day out of me now, the rest of the time I'm online here or refreshing. By always looking busy though, just like you are, I ensure my bosses still praise me... if only they knew that in 7 days I'm quitting...hehe

quote:

_____________________________________
quote:
Originally posted by Welsh Traveller:
I just like to feel confident that I wont:

6) Die

_____________________________________

I hope these were in no particular order...

Well, to be honest, I'm not so keen on death so it's never at the top of my list.

I've got 7 months 3 weeks to go. I move in between several different emotions. I have a decent amount of cash, but I want more (I'm greedy). I've been working like crazy to ensure that I meet my goal. This has helped pass the time too. Sometimes I freak out that I will never reach it and other times I feel like its in the bag.

I am also very very tired. In order to keep going I just have to think how nice it will be to lie on a beach in Thailand or wander the streets of Prague.

When I first started saving (about 2 years ago) I planned like a crazy person. Now I spend happy hours trying to figure out which hostel I should stay at in Bratislava, or any city that pops into my head at the moment.

I like to make lists and add money in excel. I think that compiling a list of embassy addresses and numbers is a great idea. I think I will get on that this afternoon.

I would really do a whole lot of nothing at my full time job, but there is just so much to do!