BootsnAll Travel Community

I work in NYC in Corporate America in a cube - most of my friends are married / having babies and I have been thinking about leaving my job (or asking for a leave) and travelling / volunteering for 6 months. I have been thinking about this for over a year - I think most of my friends and family think I am a bit crazy(!) but I think - why not? I am bored at my job - I was going to look for something new but I am not sure that that is going to satisfy my urge to go see the world. I feel like this would be a much easier decision if I were 5 or 10 years younger. I have money saved, I have a rent stabilized apartment - if not now, then when, right? I know that this is not something I will regret although the uncertainty of job propects is a little scary....

so i understand where you are coming from. i am a professional as well and wish to work part of the year in europe or overseas and part of the year in the us. i have not gotten to the point of breaking all ties from having a "real job" as they say, however, i have a true longing to do some volunteer work. there are many volunteer vacation sites available on the internet should you consider moving forward. i truly believe that you have to just bite the bullet and just do it, although, i am trying to "raise" the funds to make sure i can do it. go figure. good luck to you. T

Anandag,

I've worked in corporate America for nearly 20 years and am finally going to take the plunge RTW next year. Like you, I want to mix travel with some volunteer opportunities. At 41, I've been wondering whether or not solo travel would be difficult from an emotional perspective, since the backpacking lifestyle seems to be the province of the younger set. Perhaps it would be better to wait until I had maxed out my retirement nest egg...

This weekend, I ran into an old acquaintance that I had not seen for quite some time. I told her about my plans for a 18 month sabbatical and that I wasn't sure that walking away from a lucrative career in the "prime earning years" was a prudent step. She got quiet for a moment then told me of her recent close call with a heart attack. This from a woman who had none of the predictors such as weight issues, high cholesterol, etc.

More and more I read stories about how people's lives have changed in the blink of an eye due to some completely unforseen circumstance, such as that faced by my friend. Wait for retirement??? Wait for a better job market? Wait for ________??? You can make up a thousand excuses and your friends, in their genuine concern, can come up with many more as to why you should follow the "normal" course of life events (a.k.a., school-job-family-retirement).

In the end, barring the euphemistic workforce reduction, no one is going to push you out of the cubicle, but yourself. You've got to grab life by the horns while you're still in some manner of control over your destiny.

You mentioned that you have money saved, so you have already begun working on a sensible plan of attack. Just make sure that you give yourself a liberal "fudge factor" in your travel budget, try to keep from having to dip into retirement buckets like 401k and IRA accounts and have at least 3 months of funds left in reserve upon your return.

All the best with your travels!
Scott

For even more motivation be sure to read through the "Still Going" and "Volunteering" threads here on BNA. I may have been unique/crazy in my old crowd for what I am doing, but here on the backpacker trail I am always amazed at how many other adults (30+yrs) are doing the same thing as me. Go for it. You will never regret the experience.

Hello Anandag.

Three words for you...GO FOR IT!!

I am an unmarried 37 year old man, who is taking off in October for six months travel thru India, Nepal, and SEA.

Everyone thinks i am crazy, except one or two fellow crazy friends.

I have gone back and forth more years then i can count, about the pro`s and con`s about traveling. This is what i have discovered... Yes i am going to be scared. Yes, i am going to be out of my comfort zone. Yes, friends and family are going to think i am nuts (leaving a great job and all )and Yes, i have no idea what is going to happen to me.

You know what... I am going anyways!!!! I am going to just pack up my bag, Hop on a plane, and fly half way around the world to India.

If you listen to others more than you listen to yourself, you will look back on your life with regret
It`s your life to live.

Take care

Patrick

Thank you all for your comments and encouragement - when I doubt my decision, I read these posts and remind myself that life is short and although this trip may have some short -term consequences (i.e. job, money), long-term it is worth it and I will not regret it.

thanks,
ananda