BootsnAll Travel Community

Glad to find this thread... just about to turn 50 and thinking its time to see more of the world before I get any older. I do have some flexibility in life but not sure I could skip out for a whole year or more...

what is the minimum for a RTW that's worthwhile? Has anyone done it in six to eight weeks? Is a budget of $5K to $8K (US) at all realistic?

thanks!
pvd

You guys all rock! What inspiration! I am 41, recently divorced. No kids. No house (I rent an apartment.) I am giving mostly everything away (Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui--a very inspirational book, by the way.) I'll put what little I have left in storage (either U-haul--the cheapest, smallest space they have--or a friend's house.) and then I'm off. I'll tell my boss as soon as he is back from his vacation next week. I'm giving him 6 months notice, so that's plenty of time. I work in a natural food market, a fun job, but didn't pay all that much. I can get another job like it when (if!) I come back.

It's funny to be posting in the Golden Oldie area, I don't feel that old. And when I was hostelling in Ireland this past September, I was always the last one in at night, after listening to or playing music at the pubs. Even the younger kids couldn't keep up with me, so there you go--age really *is* just a number.

Hello,

This is obviously the place I would call home on this site. My hubby and I are 38 & 41, we gaar up jobs, sold up etc and went off to Oz with perment visa 2.5 years ago. But we realised that we would be restricted finacially in Oz to travel from their so we came back to UK 18mth ago bought a house and have managed to set up some casual work for ourselves which gives us the finance and flexibility to go off again next year.

We don't do camping anymore and would rather save and spend a bit more to have some degree of comfort. We just can't decide whether to have one long RTW trip or have two extended breaks next year over different continents, Nice dilemma to have huh

Pelke man, go for it. Sounds like you have a certain amount of control over your life. You are healthy and have the drive to get out there and travel. Don't hesitate, you will not regret it. Sure there will be moments when you'll go 'What the hell am I doing?' but after a year you may actually consider continuing.

I am 42 and moved from Oregon to Bali 3 years ago. Its a great move and I support all those with the urge to go for it.

Firstly I can but echo the sentiment expressed by others here about how inspirational this thread is. I've been doing a lot of reading on travel sites in the past couple of months, partly looking for something like this. Woo and yay to all of you.

My situation is this: I'm 37 and earlier this year spent three weeks in Peru and Bolivia on an 'adventure travel' holiday that I'd spent a year saving for. I'd always wanted to go to South America without really knowing why. Originally I'd booked to go on my own but a very good friend ended up coming along as well, which was great. Had a fantastic time and fell in love with the mountains especially. Anyway, it was the first thing I've done that you could remotely call travelling (i.e. not just a holiday somewhere), though of course it wasn't really.

I'd been getting tired of what I do for a living for a while and had planned to do something different, though who knows what. Three weeks after I got back, I was made redundant. This seemed like my opportunity to do something about it and so I devised a plan to try to get a conrtact job for a while, save as much money as possible, and then head off to see more of the world. Fortunately for me, I've just landed that contract job and fingers crossed they'll keep me on for long enough to save plenty of money. And then I'll quit, stick the things I want to keep in storage, sell/give away the rest and rent out my flat - and go. My tentative plan is to leave around the end of summer 2006.

I'm banging on - sorry - but the point is that although this is something I desparately want to do - for very many reasons that I shan't bore you with now - the thought of heading off alone, something I've not done before, especially being that bit older with all the added baggage that can bring (i.e. all the things people have talked about in this post that chimed so much with my own feelings) sometimes scares me silly and I'm not afraid to admit it! It's certainly not going to put me off - I know where this fear comes from - but even so it's extremely daunting. That's why this thread is so wonderful, because it's so reassuring and motivational. It's like a little digital security blanket

So I'm going to save as much money as I can and then go for as long as possible, at least a year and hopefully longer. The only plan so far (although it's a nice hobby elaborating on it!) is across Canada east-west, down the west coast of the USA, overland through Mexico, a good long time in S America where I'm going to learn Spanish properly, then Australasia adn tehn...dunno - wherever - India, Nepal, Tibet, Egypt - see how far the money goes I spose.

Anyway - thank you all, and forgive me for rambling, as it were - it's time to get my soul to where it belongs and away from all this 'stuff' while I still have the chance.

Permit me to ramble a bit. I think I have found a home with kindrid spirits on this thread. Although at 49 I don't consider myself as having quite reached the Golden Oldie rung yet, but as has already been mentioned, the lions share of BNAers don't seem to have nearly the same number of candles on their birthday cakes.

Pelke, JUST DO IT! What's the worst that can happen? Here comes the Peter Pan syndrome peeking through - My personal dilemma is that I not only want to take a little time off to play, I simply don't think I want to do the Corporate World thing any longer at all. I'm taking off to SEA for 3 months starting January '06. Not having backpacked on this scale before it will be a great sampler. I had the same concerns as others about fitting in with a younger demographic of travellers. There will for sure be differences but if I take them as they are, and they take me as I am I don't see the problem. Having 2 kids of my own aged 20 & 18 living with me ensures that I'm not that far out of the loop with that generation.

Trying to leave as many doors open as possible I just completed the TESOL course for "in-a-crunch" teaching job opportunities while travelling. Also, through a series of fortunate family lineages I hold citizenship in Canada, the U.S., and most recently the U.K., which effectively translates into any of the European Union countries as well. A good number of friends and colleagues are wondering whether or not I'll be coming back. Keep 'em guessing, this time. A year or two down the road will be a whole 'nuther story.

Winter in Ottawa - It's that biting damp cold that flares up the old Arthritis, stiffens up my second replacement hip, makes my bionic knee a just a little wonky causing directional problems, makes my failing eyes water, and what with the hearing not being what it used to be I can never tell when the bus is coming anymore and almost die under it's wheels 3 days out of 5. Of course, with my failing memory I forget to go to work the other 2 days. I suppose that as long as I remember to change my diaper on time it's all good. OK, truthfully, I haven't felt better in 25 years and want to get out and see the world while I'm still in good enough shape to enjoy it.

I feel the travel future is looking pretty bright for this Canadian boy that's shovelled enough snow for two lifetimes. I couldn't be more excited!

I am aware not all of you are superstitious, but I've got a story to share...

I once had my fotune read by a fortune teller. After he read my palm, did some calculation based on my birthday, he held my hands and told me:

Never give up hope. I know your life literally sucks right now. Nothing will go your way, your job sucks, your love life, money, everything. That is, until you are 40! After you are 40 everything will turn out to be like a magic. And you will remember me, remember what I said, and remember this very occasion.

I'm almost 32 now. I've got 13 more years to work. I'll be 44 by then. I can raise myself enough money to buy a property and live off of my retirement paycheck. So I'll have a place to come back anytime I want to (since security is very important to me), and guaranteed income, although not much, that will support me until the day I die. I'm planning to take off and go where ever the wind will carry me, using my retirement money. I was wondering if that'd be too late... If I'd be too old or I won't be able to get to do things that spring chikens do but reading this thread makes me feel there's no time limit to travel. For right now, 1 month out of an year is all I'm allowed. Endure it for 13 more years and I'll be wandering for infinity!

Thank you, everyone.

Nic

Hi Kayajoy How did you get a working visa at 35 I am 33 and would like to get one, but all sites I look at say you have to be between 18-30. Thanks

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Originally posted by kayajoy:
Wow. I'm so glad that I found this thread. I'm 35 yrs old planning to take a year of this fall (2005). I'll be going to New Zealand with a WHV (just young enough to qualify for one). Other side trips will depend on how much money I can make/save. I had been reading other travelling boards and starting to feel a bit insecure when realzing how young most of the other travellers are.

I feel so much better now that I see that there are quite a few others who understand that age is no barrier when it comes to travel. The last time I hostelled I was 24. I do wonder if I'll have the same tolerance for drunken revelry as I did back then. Unlike some other "older" travellers I don't have a lot of savings so I'll be doing the budget thing. Hostels all the way - maybe a night or two in a hotel if I can swing it. (100 days of Ramen noodles is not something I think I can handle though, lol)

When I travelled as a youngster in my early 20s I did encounter a couple of older travellers. I remember one in his 30s and one in his 40s. The 30 yr old was a little self-conscious at first being amongst a bunch of kids. But we didn't care. Eventually, he began to fit right in with the rest of us. Very cool guy. The guy in his 40s had been travelling continually since his mid 20s. Sometimes he hung out with us kids and other times he did his own thing.

So far, everybody I've told has been very supportive of my plans. I haven't told my boss yet. But ironically, a co-worker - who doesn't know either what I plan to do - suggested that I take a year off to travel. She said that she'd do it if she wasn't married and had kids.

I hope no one feels that I'm out of place posting on this board (I'm even less of a golden oldie than the OP) but I wanted to let you know that reading this has been very comforting.

Since last year, Canadians and Americans up to age 35 have been able to get a WHV for New Zealand if they appplied via SWAP (Canada) or BUNAC (USA).

The good news is that as of this year (2006) BUNAC is also able to acquire WHVs for UK citizens up to age 35 as well. Since you live in England, it seems that you would qualify.

http://www.bunac.org/uk/worknewzealand/

Thanks great news I will look into it.

Wow, I feel as though I have finally 'come home' - what an inspiring group of people. I am 38 and am what most would probably call a 'loser' - never married, no kids, no car, paying cheap rent on a dump of an apartment share(never even had a lease in my name!). The ultimate commitmentphobe, LOL. The flip side is, I have zero debt, a relatively solid job, $30K in my retirement plan(not much but at least my net worth is positive), very low monthly expenses so I can save or spend as I like. I don't drink or party, my main vice is collecting ethnic clothing and jewelry on my travels - a sometimes expensive addiction! My mom (who took the safe path of marriage and careerism) calls me (with some pity) a 'vagabond' - I have been traveling in between jobs ever since I got out of grad school and as soon as my bags hit the floor upon my arrival home I'm dreaming of my next trip!!! In my mid-20s I TEFL'd for 2 years off-and-on in Venice(my former Shangri-la), took several more European trips, and in my 30s began studying Buddhism so got hooked on Asia travel. 5 years ago I visited Kathmandu - the new love of my life, LOL. I also visited China last summer and climbed Mt. Emei. Two women in their 60s were much fitter, faster climbers than me and encouraged me to get in shape - I have lost 30 lbs. since then and am ready to climb more mountains!!! I hope I am as fit as they when I hit 60. In the last year or so I have contemplated 'chucking it all' and going back to Asia, possibly China or Thailand, to teach English. (to be continued...)

If I do this I am thinking it will be (semi)permanent. A 'gap year' RTW trip sounds wonderful but then what would I come back to? I am fed up with the American life-script and that the necessities(housing, medical) are getting damn near unattainable for the dual-income married masses, let alone an 'old maid eccentric' with an educated pink-collar job... I've heard of long-term male expats in Thailand etc. but I think they are able to stay long-term because it's easy for them to marry a local girl, not so easy for us over-35 'eccentric' women I'm afraid. Still, I think it's worth a try - in the next couple of years I'd like to sell as many of my treasures as I can bear to part with on eBay, put the rest in storage, save up a wad of cash and get my TEFL cert. and then see what happens. Short-term, in May I am going with my bf/consort/vajrabhai/whatever back to my beloved KTM, which he has never seen, will look into the new TEFL Int'l center when I am there.

Finally I've found a thread where people can spell and don't write in undecipherable abbreviations (it's like a new language)! I have a something new to add to your inspiring stories (kids):

I'm 36, married (hubby turns 40 this year)with two kids, a boy (6) & girl (7), and have been working as a pharmacist for 14 years. I've owned a successful pharmacy for the last 9 years and have always been very focussed on my career. My husband has always been itching to travel but I've never wanted to walk away from our successful careers and comfortable(cushy)lifestyle. It's only been over the past year that I started to realize that I'm missing out on the most important times with my kids. I noticed that, when I had nothing to think about, my mind would wander to work and its demands, rather than what I was going to do with my kids that weekend. Our free time was consumed with cramming too much activity into too little time and work almost always trumped family time. We were both starting to lose interest in the financial and emotional rewards of our careers and were feeling a definite work:life imbalance.

I finally turned the corner after losing two friends to illness far too young. I came to realize what a tragedy it is that we allow ourselves to get lulled into complacency by the routine of our daily lives and put off fulfilling our dreams and following our bliss.

So…..we’ve decided to take a leap of faith and do what we’ve both always dreamed of – travel the world with our kids. Their both young enough to be safely homeschooled for a year on the road and old enough to appreciate and remember going on the adventure of a lifetime with Mom & Dad. We plan on selling most of our possessions, including our house and leaving this September. Our itinerary will have us backpacking and sailing through the South Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa before returning to Canada next summer. Along the way, we want to learn to surf and sail, trek in the Himalayas, visit our Foster child in India and go on a safari in Africa. Most importantly, we want to see how people in the rest of the world live and gain a new appreciation for our privileged life in Canada. We’re hoping this journey will help us to bond as a family and truly get to know our kids (we’ll have no choice). When we return, we will decide where we want to re-establish ourselves and try to get settled there in time for school in September.

Its nice to know that there are other travellers on these boards who have a mature outlook on travel and want more than the cheapest trip. I look forward to reading about everyone's adventures and, hopefully, getting some great ideas from the rest of you.

Yeah, me too. We'll be 47 and 48 when we leave next November with our 2 kids to go on our first rtw trip ever. I'm not sure how I'll sleep, but if I get tired enough, maybe I'll learn to sleep anywhere.

I am so glad I found this thread.

I am currently 37 and am just starting to plan a RTW with with partner, also 37. I thought of Gap Years as being either before or after university, until in a bookshop a couple of years ago I spotted The Rough Guide First Time Around The World. This planted a seed in my head but it lay dormant for quite a while.

Then a few weeks ago a colleague left for another job and made an inspiring leaving speech, the gist of which was carpe diem.

I had been feeling for quite a while that I needed a change but couldn't quite put my finger on what I wanted to do. On that day the two things came together and I decided that what I needed was a complete break from the rat race.

I mentioned this to my partner, who is also fed up of his career and is currently studying towards a new one. He agrees that this is something we should do. We have often talked about travelling when we retire, but some recent deaths of people of our own age adds to feeling of "why wait".

Anyway, we will have the mortgage paid off by the end of this year, so more opportunity to save up, we expect to be away for our 40th birthdays. We plan to rent the house out whilst away, both so we have somewhere to come back to and to give us extra spending money.

It seems a while off yet, but I feel I can see light at the end of tunnel now with something to aim for. The first thing we did was buy the Rough Guide and a world map to stick pins in of all the places we want to see to start planning a route.

Its so inspiring to see people around my age (42) taking off and seeing the world before its too late. I would love to do the same, The only thing I hesitate about is not finding a good job when and "if" I return, and also about spending $$ that I would need for retirement. I hate to live for retirement, but that is what I feel like I am doing now. I am so torn because neither of my parents made it to retirement age, and I feel like I will regret it either way/ if I chuck it all and go/or if I stay here and have a garuanteed pension (if I make it to retirement)--My current job has a state pension attached that I am afraid to give up-but I am so bored with the 9-5 and am longing to get out and see the world. I have grand visions of myself, traveling and,just picking up casual work (in some little tratoria on the beach, or painting pictures for tourists) to earn extra $$ Guess they are just dreams--its nice to see others have the same dreams too! Jeanne

Jart2b, I think you just verbalized the thoughts of many, including myself. The only difference between you and I is the whole pension thing. So, is there no way you could get a year-long leave of absence from your work?

As they say it's better to regret something you've done than something you didn't do.

As mentioned by others, this is the thread and you guys are the BNAers I feel most inspired by. I turn 40 in Oct. and I have been planning a gap year plus since last New Years.

This is the third time I have dropped my life to go live. After college for 8 months in Europe and the Mid-east, followed by an 8 yr job with a 401K and benefits. Another 8 months around the US and Canada, followed by another 8 yrs with a 401K and benefits. I'm glad I was responsible and disciplined enough to lay a retirement foundation, but the wanderlust has never been far from my mind.

Jobless and homeless by choice on a budget with no responsibilities or deadlines is the most liberating thing I have ever felt. Vagabonding truly epitomizes the Zen principle of living in the moment. All you can do about the past is learn from it. And your future can change at any moment on the road depending on who you meet next and where you decide to go. I'm excited and scared, but I refuse to get overwhelmed or afraid. Que sera sera and carpe diem are my two favorite foreign language cliches. I cant wait.

And I dont have to for much longer. My house is under contract, closing is set, the buyers financing is together, and I bought my airline ticket to Perth today!(through BNA travel of course-saved me $300 over what I had been researching) Aug 15th is the day I set out for 5 months in OZ, 3 months in NZ, and 6 months in SEA. Of course that might change at any point along the way since I only have a one way ticket. But then that was my point in the prior paragraph, so thats ok.

My final tidbit for anyone reading this far: This is your life. It is not a dress rehearsal for anything. If there are things you want to do or experience in this world it is up to you and you alone to make it happen. Peace

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Jobless and homeless by choice on a budget with no responsibilities or deadlines is the most liberating thing I have ever felt. Vagabonding truly epitomizes the Zen principle of living in the moment.

Beautifully said! Wonderfully inspiring. I'm the crone on the board, and I yearn for the vagabonding Flackattack describes: as soon as I get my last kid out and on her own. Meanwhile I'm going to backpack in Portugal & Spain this July/August, making a pilgrimage. I will say, for the benefit of those in their 40s (my elder son is 40), that I did it as a single woman: I leapt off the rails, went to Africa for 6 years, adopted two more children and brought them to the USA, and ended up in an obscure community college, which is a pretty good life, if you can live without ego-support, status, research, or a salary over 45K. Getting reestablished in the USA after that six-year stint of teaching in Africa was VERY difficult, but it eventually came together, and I am wholeheartedly glad I made those choices. It's risky. Sometimes I felt I had lost my mind and wrecked my life. Sometimes I was so lonely I thought I would disintegrate. Sometimes I get a shudder of terror thinking about what-ifs in the future as an old homeless woman(if I live that long). But the planet is ill and we are all dying. I want to hurl my wholehearted love at everything I can while I can. My model is Basho (also the name of my cat), the traveling monk who created Haiku, who lived in the present, kept moving, and kept journals. And then there's my wrinkled dog who lives entirely in the present. When I'm truly awake, in the Zen sense, I'm never lonely, never bored, never afraid.

Yeay! This thread makes me so happy! I'm 41, and looking at doing a gap year / RTW at 45 [when I become vested with the State]. Nice to know that everyone isn't 24!!!

And Hawaiiansnowlion - Aloooooha! This

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I am 38 and am what most would probably call a 'loser' - never married, no kids, no car, pay