BootsnAll Travel Community

I am 55 ( my husband is a year younger but I did not vote for him) and we are 8 months into our multi year RTW trip with our 6yo. I am gimpy and overweight to add to the challenges, but it did not stop us from planning our recent adventure in to Morocco and the Sahara over night with just a backpack each.

We travel by foot,bus, bike,train,taxi,horse etc ...but mainly by small older rv around Europe. Age has not been a problem for us as we have met great people of every age and many countries. We meet very few Americans.

I'm 47 and seem to be at another of lifes crossroads. My youngest is 14 and will start high school next year. After she graduates, I would really like to do a lot of travelling. But who knows, four years is a long time and many things could change by then. It's also a long time to wait to do something Iv'e always dreamed of but I must...

Well, I turned 44 this year and I've been planning a year off to do a RTW trip starting in October. Funny thing is that I've noticed the more I travel in my head (planning and visualizing what I want to do) the more my attitude changes. Even though I'm not yet a "backpacker" my mindset is changing into one.

Just the other day as I popped out of the metro station on the way to my office building I noticed a backpacker and we struck up a conversation on the street about traveling. It was an odd, but refreshing, experience, something that I would have never done before. Of all the people on that street, including all the other corporate types, the one person I spotted that I felt I related to was the backpacker.

I also notice I feel less attached to my possessions, making it easier to part with them as I cull down what I own before leaving, which of course has been very freeing.

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I also notice I feel less attached to my possessions, making it easier to part with them as I cull down what I own before leaving, which of course has been very freeing.

I can relate to all that you say cognac, especially this. The older I get, the less stuff I want. Where are you planning to go on your RTW trip?

Hi bigmaude, for the RTW trip I plan to head in a westerly direction and spend time in Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, South East Asia (hop around to places in and around Thailand), India, head up the Adriatic coast (Greece, Croatia) and visit a few countries in Eastern Europe before seeing a few museums that I've always wanted to see, like the Van Gogh, Rodin and Picasso, before heading back to the states. The idea was to ease into the trip before taking on some more challenging places, and then to ease out of it before coming back.

Great itinerary! Sounds like you've really put a lot of thought into this trip. Just curious, how will you manage all of your stuff at home like cars, house, bills? It just seems so much easier for 20 years olds to travel than for middle aged people. There are so many loose ends to tie up!

About managing finances and such. This is one of the sticking issues. Yes, I think you're right. It's easier for those who are younger, because in lieu of doing it yourself, you can always get your parents to take care of it (which is what it seems a lot of people on the travel boards recommend). But I don't have that luxury.

So, by the time I walk out the door, I won't have any debt to speak of and no big possessions to worry about. No house payment, no car payment. A few things will have to be put in storage. And any other recurring bills will be set up on auto pay from my bank. I still haven't figured out how to get my taxes done while I'm gone, though.

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I still haven't figured out how to get my taxes done while I'm gone, though.

This does present a bit of a problem. Could the person collecting your mail just send everything that looks tax related to your CPA? I live in SC and still have my taxes done by my same old CPA in CA! I never see him...just mail and email everything and then efile!

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Could the person collecting your mail just send everything that looks tax related to your CPA?

Well, I would first have to have a CPA, but then maybe that's what I need. It's possible a tax professional would have a way to make this happen. So, thanks for the idea.

You know what, you could probably just have all tax related stuff sent directly to your CPA and he could just file it away until tax time. How much stuff could there be if you're not working in the U.S.?

Just turned 60.

I'm taking off for a year or so to do an RTW. Cannot not work for the rest of my life (unless I move to India or Bolivia) but also couldn't take this job anymore. In my profession (nursing), if you're breathing and your license is current, you can get a job.

I do have property that I will be renting. I sat down the other day and did the first true budget for my trip. Not just the $40 per diem that should take care of lodging, food, etc. plus several thousand for transportation, plus pre-trip costs but what it will cost to maintain my life at home (mortgage, insurance (house and health), taxes, etc.). It isn't pretty but what do I do? Stay home and squirrel my money away for my [much too rapidly] approaching old age, or get out and see the world and trust that the passion I have for travel has a value greater than the safety of having that money in the bank?

The one major advantage younger RTW travelers have is that they don't have to worry about keeping a health insurance policy at home. But if I let mine lapse I might not be able to find and/or afford a policy when I get home. Of course I have to buy a policy for travel and that adds another big chunk of change to my budget but again, stay to save or go to live? One lucky thing for me is that my retirement policy includes health insurance at my employers rate until I qualify for MediCare.

You go girl! You're an inspiration! I certainly agree with all that you say. It sure is hard to hit the road when you're middle aged. Youngsters have fewer loose ends to tie up before travelling. There are so many things to get in order first. I'm working on that. Health insurance is a big concern. If you let it lapse, you'll pay for it. Will you rent when you return of take your home back?

Thanks, Maude. The question is not, will I keep renting my place out when I return but rather, will I return? I honestly don't know. I love many things about living in LA and I love my neighborhood, which is actually a great place for retired people as it is in the heart of a great little city (West Hollywood) that goes out of its way to make life good for the elderly. But it's expensive to live here and I could make a very nice life on much less money someplace else. Part of the motivation for the trip is to find if I can tolerate life in Third World countries, with the idea of working for Doctors Without Borders. Along the way I will also explore the expat life. In the interim I'm willing to pay the cost of keeping my little piece of California real estate while I see what life has on offer.

I'm right behind you. Check out the expat thread in members forum. Lots of good advice and ideas there. Lots of us here are thinking along the same lines as you are. Yes, West Hollywood is a cool spot. I'm from Orange County and have been in Charleston almost three years. We're moving back to socal this summer (if I can sell my house in this depressed market) and I'm going to check out some areas in LA. Maybe we can have a coffee sometime!

I must wait until my youngest is out of high school (4 years) before I embark on the same route as you. I'll be keeping track of your progress!

Happy Trails

BM

If I'm here when you arrive I'll take you to Kings Road Cafe for the best cuppa Joe in the WORLD! (That I'm going to miss.)

I'm inspired. I'm young (mid 20s) and I'm not sure if I have the energy to do some of the things you all do.

We are a couple 62yr & 60yr and our friend who is 60yr, we've just retired after working all our lives and can't wait to start our RTW trip. We fly out of Heathrow on the 12th June and will be away for up to a year we're not sure how long at this stage. We will be camping staying in hostels hotels campervans cars, every type of transport and it's going to be a hoot.
Freedom at last do visit all the countries we never had a chance to see in our working lives.
I don't know about the lads but I still fell 25yrs old, it's only when I look in the mirror that I see this old lady looking back.
Best Wishes to you all in whatever journey you take, make the most of life.
Jean

Wow! Good for you! Keep us posted and have fun!

Jeanie - You're my kind of woman. Happy trails to you!!!

This is a good thread. At last, I feel I have a "place" on BNA where I belong. Yes, I am 42, and no, I am unable to hang with the under-30 backpackers and travelers. Not that I didn't enjoy it, but I gave up gratuitous sex and drug uses years ago...



...true.

But now, traveling is weird for me. For one, I am not going anywhere unless responsibility demands without a) a game plan, or b)$5k in the bank, or c) sponsorship. After 42 years, I have earned a modicum of respect in various fields of expertise/love, and anything less than that unacceptable - for its tediousness! That said...

...I love to travel. There is much I wanted to do but I "got old," or else the reason I wanted to do them vanished as the result of other experiences. Meaning of life? Check.

For me, the motivation for independent travel would have to do with contributing. Where can I be of use? Where are my skills needed? How can I assistance? More to the point is, how will I be fulfilled?

This is leading to a point. I WANT to travel. But I feel so obligated to a conclusion that I reached long ago as a result of travel that for the most part I feel immobilized, as if I am finished. Is this being grown up or am I missing something here?