BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi all,
My first post!Thought I'd introduce myself in this section first.
I'm 35 (whoops 36, WHEN did THAT happen?!)I'm single,live alone,work in a dead end job 7.30-5.00, crap social life,due to most of my friends now being married with kids.I'm from Ireland,lived in Germany and France for 9 years, came back to Ireland a few days shy of my 30th, expecting to get the car, meet the man,get married,get the house,have a few kids.Well guess what none of it quite went like that!
Here I am now,six years on.Have the house,have the car,have the wellish paid but boring job.After spending the Easter break entirely alone (parents & siblings took off on hols,no extra room for me!)I just woke up and thought "What the HELL am I doing here"I have thought of doing a RTW for many years,but felt too old in my 30's.Now I realise just how silly that is.
I have spent and wasted the entire last six years simply 'existing'. I desperatley want to have children,I don't want to live my life without ever having experienced motherhood.I looked into the possibility of having a child on my own,it's just emotionaly and financially not an option.Now I'm also very aware that my biological clock is tick tick ticking!!But for the first time I've realised there's not a dam thing I can do to make it happen.
I don't want to waste another six years 'waiting for it to happen'
I feel like I've just 'woken up' from a drug invested sleep.
I do believe that I have it in me to do a RTW on my own, but sometimes the doubt just creeps in!I'm hoping over the next year (it'll probably take me that long to save)to get strenght from these boards,this section in particular.
For a start maybe I could get some of your ideas and thoughts on the following!
What route should I take, i.e what direction first and at what time of year should I start?In general I want to see India,China,Australia,New Zealand,south anmerica,africa.
How much all in approx would I need?I plan on staying away a year at least (don't mind working along the way)would €15K cover me?
Like I said I'm really only just at the VERY early stages.For the moment it's a dream that i AM determined to make into a reality,aany words of wisdom greatly appreciated!
Thadexxx

Hi Thade! I'd just like to say, Yes, you should really look into going travelling, even if it's for 6 months and not a full year. I mean if you don't have any ties like kids and a husband/partner, whats stopping you? You could rent the house for a while. It's all possible, take it from me as I've been talking about travelling for a long time now and that's all it was. Until I realised this is the one life you have, make the most of it. Who knows what's around the next corner? I say do it while you can. I'm 30 and I feel I have to do it now before I end up gaining ties.
Well that's my tuppence worth!

Thade,
Your post reminded me of myself as I'm in a bit of the same boat. We are close in age, single, etc. I'm way too scared to even consider a RTW trip much less giving up my job without having something in it's place. So, I'm taking baby steps. My first solo trip is to an English speaking area and it's only 4 weeks long. Time enough to see if I enjoy it, short enough that it will end if I don't and cheap enough (despite being expensive UK) that I won't be taking on a whole lot of debt.



I hear ya on the nerves too!!

quote:

Originally posted by Thade:
Like I said I'm really only just at the VERY early stages.For the moment it's a dream that i AM determined to make into a reality,aany words of wisdom greatly appreciated!
Thadexxx

Welcome Thade, you are in right place, at the appropiate moment, and if you are determined you will succeed.


Gabriela

Hooray Thade!

I'm not a RTWer, so I can't offer any advice. But I will suggest that you didn't waste the last six years.....you just "found the right time for you" to travel.

And welcome!

Better late than never...

Its great that you are thinking about the RTW..so when are you leaving...

Make it happen...u will never regret it.

Good luck!

Thanks for all your replies!
I'm so amazed at how I've been feeling the past 48 hours.
I have made my decision to just pack up and go!
It WILL take me about 18 months to save. I plan on travelling for 12-18 months.
But I know myself well enough to know that..that's it decision made and it will be done.Cronie I know as it sounds I really feel like this massive weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
I feel for the first time in years that I have a direction,a purpose.This feels so right, this is ME!
I feel alive for the first time in a very long time.I feel I can now get up and face the rat race every morning,knowing that now I'm on the outside looking in,I'm free!
I can bide my time play the game,save,and just go!
Tasha ;Thanks for your reply, as you can see I'm going longer than 6mths!Thanks for the encouragement.When and where are you heading off to yourself?
Libby :Nice to see someone like me around!I won't be doing any trial runs, but that's just me 'all or nothing'You know yourself and it's brave of you to take off to the UK alone for 4 wks,you're right it's just long and short enough!Keep me updated on how you're getting on!
Gabriela : Thanks for the encouragement,catch you around on the boards no doubt!
Travis :That made me feel better,you're right I didn't really waste the past 6 years it just took me that long to arrive here,and now I'm here I'll make the most of it!
Madhu :Have just spent the morning reading your blog.See you travelled alone too and had a great time!Many of your stories were fascinating, I loved the photo's too,it's helpt me to decide where I want to go too,so may very well be in touch soon for your advice!

Preparations underway RTW here I come!
Thade
xxx

Thade - Congrats on your decision and I'm really glad that the decision has out you in such a good place.

I'm 6 years beyond you - same situation, etc. in my eyes you seem so young! Just a matter of perspective - and remember it's never too late to start the rest of your life. (Who said that?).

I've travelled solo a lot and love it - it's very freeing, fills you with confidence and yes there are the lonely times but then you'll meet some incredible person and all is well.

Good luck

Good luck! Set a date and go for it! I am 44 now and wish I had travelled mor ein my younger days, although I am awesomely contented now after three tries finally found the right man (a nz farmer). Things always seem to work out in the end, also if you want to help make your money spread further join the Wwoof scheme, it's in quite a few countries, where you work 4-6 hours in exchange for food and board

I am in a similar age/stage in life, and I join the others in saying GO FOR IT. I think you're definitely on the right track by researching a few blogs. Surfing Dan at http://www.neverbecomplete.com also has a really cool one, with lists, how he went about it, etc. in addition to those listed on BnA's RTW guides.
The freedom and flexibility is not to be underestimated...heck, it's amazing what can happen when you just let yourself get bumped on a flight. Be warned...it can be very addicting. You'll find yourself wondering what to do when you don't have an international plane ticket in hand. And, once you've done your RTW, you'll be introduced to corners of the world you may want to go back to on smaller/shorter stints (with work paying for the vacation time ).
Enjoy!

Hi Thade. You sound almost like me! I'm 35, single with no kids going on 7 years in a job I don't like. The only things we don't have in common is that I live in Canada and I don't own a house or car. But otherwise - yep - our stories are similar. I had also lived away from home for many years. I returned when I was 28 and fully expected to make new friends (I no longer had anything in common with the old ones), marry, have kids and buy a house while going to a job I love. Yet that did not happen.

I did go back to study when I was 29 - graduated last year - and I'm really happy I did that but otherwise, I've been in a real rut for several years. I'd been searching for something to shake up my life a little and reignite my sense of adventure. And so I decided to go to New Zealand with a one-year open return ticket. I'm leaving in Nov '05 - by myself. I'm excited and a little nervous. I don't have enough money to do a RTW trip but if you can swing it you have to do it.

I expected people (mostly family) to tell me that I'm wasting my life by travelling rather than trying to get my career rolling. (My current job - the one I hate - is not related to what I studied. Having a bit of trouble finding work in my new field). Instead everyone - absolutely everyone - is insanely jealous. They've also told me that travelling is the best thing I could do for myself right now. They all wish they could do it. But they can't (spouse, kids, career, mortgage...maybe fear, etc. is holding them back).

It is a little scary but so exciting. It's better to regret the things you do than the things you don't do. You might not ever have this kind of opportunity again. Don't worry. Just do it!

Thade- you go girl. Life is agonizingly short. I was a hospice nurse for 12 years. I never heard anyone say, "I should have ironed more" or "If only I had made another house payment". What I heard was "I wish I had loved more, I wish I had gone to all those places I wanted to see, and I wish I wasn't dying". Go. See. Lyn

Hi Thade,

Your'e not too old yet to find the man and have the babies! But staying in Ireland probably won't help the situation as you sound a little down and this is probably showing! (I speak from experience!) UKP15,000 sounds like quite a lot as bear in mind Asia is very cheap to travel and live in also Australia (where I now live after running away from rainy old England!!)is a lot cheaper than Ireland. You could always try for a working visa if you have qualifications. As soon as you step foot on the plane you will KNOW you are doing exactly the right thing and you also will feel about 20 again! If you get to Perth, let me know and I can show you around and probably give you a bed and MAYBE have a few nice blokes lined up (promis no yobs!!)
I have a friend who is 35 and is just back from a brief trip by herself to Indonesia, she is now off in 3 weeks to Morroco by herself and has no qualms about it.
Good luck Thade, get a saving plan going and stick with your going to have the time of your life out there!

Go

E.

Hi Thade. few months after you posted your original message I know, but my 1st time rtw coming up rapidly. Similiar to yourself, from the emerald isle but now in london, but now past 40.never really travelled before and only felt I was doing it to travel with a mate, but he has now dropped out and now on my own and figure what is the worst that can happen and starting to feel the little pangs of excitement as the tickets are now paid for and i get closer to departure date. memories are all we will ever have and it is up to ourselves to make them as good as possible. hope your rtw dream comes true tom

Hi Thade,
YOU GO GIRL! I'm so excited for you. I, too, am in a very similar stage of life as you are, & while reading your post, it just put a smile on my face.

I've traveled before, but the longest I've been away is 3 weeks. Your 6 month+ trip sounds absolutely exhilerating! It's funny, I just created a post in "Corporate Wasteland" about if you could redo your life, what would you change? And similar to you, I would have traveled more while I was younger & not just existed which is exactly what I did too.

I hope one day to have the guts to travel for a long period of time like you. My next trip is to Australia for a month...wish it was longer...but it's a start in the right direction.

Enjoy planning your trip!
NO REGRETS!!!!
Jen

Hi Thade, Looks like you are faced with the constistency of "the same as it ever was" at home or traveling solo long term where some days you don't even know where tomorrow might be. Yes it's hard to let go even if your dealing with negative things. Last year I finally made the plunge and sold my house and invested the money to stay away forever, after returning from living in Nepal for several months. Everyone told me I was mad but that OK. Now after one year I am happily wandering in Asia. Been in China for a long time. Check out Nepal and then Myanmar. You can travel overland from Laos into China and its all good dude. Traveling solo means u get the chance to do your thing without compromise. But when u need some company cool dudes are never far away. U begin to realise there are more like minded souls to hang with doing this than in any 24-7-365 context. I meet more cool people in one week than I'd meet in years back in provinciality. I'm almost 50 but thanks to the gods and certainly not to me I feel the same as 30years ago. Maybe traveling is in the recipe for not growing old quickly. All my possessions are in my back back plus a "portable" digi-piano. But on the inside there are enough memories to last forever. Sure it takes little time to make the transition to wandering the globe but when this is over life becomes truly multi-coloured. Watching the sunrise light up the peaks on the himalayan mastiffs in Annapurna, or setting from the top of your own temple in Bagan cannot be descibes with any words or pictures. It is an experience of a life time and worth repeating indefinately. Walking amoungst the clouds where the land and sky cannot be separated on the tibetan plateau also rocks. And china is well something very special. As for money, well how long is a piece of string? I don't have to pay anything to enjoy the nature and u can always teach English in China and save money. If exotic food excites u then there is even less of a problem with money. I haven't eaten western food for a long long time. I spend more on the coffee in the morning than on food for the rest of the day. I really wish you all the very best dude and one day maybe you'll be providing feedback in the same way as I am now

Now we all want to go! lyn Clarke

Wow I can't believe I'm posting in the "Golden Oldies" section but everyone seems to be around my age here.

Thade, take the trip. I am having a similar pre-mid life crisis right now and want to take off and travel for a year but I can't at the moment. I laughed because so much of what you say is what I feel.


[QI just woke up and thought "What the HELL am I doing here"I have thought of doing a RTW for many years,but felt too old in my 30's.Now I realise just how silly that is.UOTE] [/QUOTE]


Yup I know how that feels