I might be naive, but I think that it's possible to have all of those things — and that they can co-exist peacefully with one another!

I don't think you're naive at all...if you have discovered all of those things and they can co-exist then more power to you. I think the general message is from those who have not found that perfect balance and while it may be something we are all looking for, we don't feel we should be ridiculed in the meantime.

some people are not looking for the "perfect balance" nor are we looking for all these things to co-exist in our lives. some just aren't meant for the standard career path and the white picket fence. i understand that for many, this is all they want out of life and i respect that. so, why do people feel the need to say that i should at least balance the non traditional aspects of my life with something traditional? let's just be who we want to be and not impose our ideals on others.

Amen to that.

roscoe2009 wrote:so, why do people feel the need to say that i should at least balance the non traditional aspects of my life with something traditional?

Word.

But to address the OP's question, no, I haven't really been "ridiculed" about my plans. Before I had really built up any traveling street credit when I would mention my plans I would get the "pat on the head" and usually some sort of "Oh, that's nice." which FELT like ridicule at the time. But now when I say that I'm going somewhere or doing something, friends and family just reach for the atlas to see where it is instead of saying anything negative. It's become impressive, apparently, and no longer worthy of negativity. And everybody else? Who cares?! Frankly, if you're not generating disbelief, maybe you're just not thinking BIG enough? Ridicule is a good way to gauge how much you're NOT doing what you're "supposed to do". Or at least that's what us ridicule-ees like to think...

Well, that's an interesting bug - the quote was from Wildcat1982, not roscoe2009. Oh well... credit where credit is due. Carry on...

First off, great thread. Love to hear everyone's experience.

My parents: Sure if that is what you want to do
Wife's Dad: HOW COULD YOU DO THAT. YOU SPEND ALL THAT MONEY AND LOSE A YEAR'S SALARY
Wife's Mom: Huh?
Coworkers: Mixed bag, but largely good

Bua wrote:You nailed it Liforce. There are exceptions, but it seems like the further along someone is in regard to the generally accepted life path, the worse their response to someone breaking from the norm.

I've found this to be somewhat different. I mean there are certainly PLENTY of people with this reaction, however I've noticed lately that more people react with 'cool' or 'I wish I had done that'. I'm by far the youngest individual at work (24 compared to most in their 40s/50s). I think they've all been doing the corporate thing for so long that they realize the value to something like this.

They know that once i have kids that this will be less of a possibility.

Also, addressing the housing thing. I purchased a house this past January with full knowledge that i need to unload the thing in 2.5-3 years for out trip. It isn't a boat anchor, I'm capturing equity now where my apartment... wasn't Especially with the market being the way it is now I feel like we will actually get significant growth in our money by the time we are ready to sell.

Finally (more along the lines of the original intent of the thread), my (now wife) girlfriend cried when i told her about the trip 4 years ago, I told her that it was a priority for me and if she wasn't game, we wouldn't be getting married. A year later we re-visited the topic and since she has been very eager to be involved in the process. So the initial reaction isn't the whole thing.

This is a great topic. It is one of the reasons why I have held back to 'make it happen'. I have changed many a view on things over the past two years, and one thing I have learned, at least in my staunch, Roman Catholic conservative family, is not to mention anything about travel. As many posters here have mentioned, especially Kate and Dan, I think he nailed it right on the head. I am always told when I plan trips, or go away to Miami From Boston, or to LA, or to BVI, that I am always running from something, always on the go. Why dont you settle down, get married, raise a family, all this nonsense about seeing the world. The greatest line is: 'you live in the greatest country in the world (USA), why would you want to see places in the former Yugoslav, its crazy, people are dying to get to this country.' Pretty sad huh. I suppose my ADD has a bit to do with it, but the fact that NO ONE in my circles doanything out of the ordinary, except the cookie-cutter yearly vacations to cape cod, disney or the like, is sort of sad. I am not judging them, its not my cup of tea. I would rather do a month in Saigon with VFP, do a month in Peru or volunteer helping a organic farm in Sumatra. I am always told how foolish it is, and how I could use the money to buy a new car, put money on a house, pay student loans. Yeah they are right, but I dont want to ever have the opportunity sitting on a hospital or at 70, perhaps immobile, thinking about why I didn't DO IT. I am resilient, I can get a job in a snap of a finger, when, not if, but when I come back nearly penniless.

I am tired of hearing people say 'people don't just up and do that sort of thing.' Well perhaps not everyone in a world of 6 billion plus, but I do, we all do. While a very learned person just told me the other day, seeing the whole world in a year, wow, that sure is rushing things, you will fall in love with at least one place in your first month, make it a five year journey, make every stop memorable.'

I am ostracized nearly every day in my life, from family to co-workers. I was ridiculed going to film school in the big city, and have a family in which there is no love, no compassion, and no goal where their is a belief in something greater than oneself. I am from a different womb, I cannot wait to salivate in another world, talk to the locals, hit a pub in the middle of a country where their are no Americans, and NO Euro's, and by doing so, perhaps save their fragmented selves as well.

Thanks for this

This is a really interesting thread.
Someone asked about Europeans, travelling & gap years - and yes, I'd agree it's pretty common. A lot of my peers did a gap year pre or post uni. and now my younger relatives are doing that at 18.
When we (me & my now husband) were 21, we went to America for a few months, but never really travelled "properly".
So 10 years on, we're off, with our 2 kids in toe. As you can imagine we get a LOT of comments.
We're not going to look for happiness - we're happy with what we've got, we're just going for the experience really.
Plan is to leave the UK next September, our daughters will be 3 & 6 - not sure of our itinery yet, but looking at SEA, Oz, NZ, South Pacific islands, Hawaii, America/Canada maybe - depends on the cash really. I would love to go to Japan, but my husband isn't so keen.

m&pg wrote:So 10 years on, we're off, with our 2 kids in toe. As you can imagine we get a LOT of comments.

I can't imagine a more enriching experience for a couple of kids. Forget the comments, I'm not sure about Europe, but here in the states parents see fit to move every years, 2 years, etc. I think doing THAT is just as disruptive to the 'typical' approach, in your case they are getting an amazing opportunity with that disruption.

How old are the kids? Do you plan on home schooling while on the road? Your post reminded me of a family that did the same this (with MORE KIDS) http://www.sixintheworld.com/.

Finally, best of luck to you. I know m brothers and I when we were little almost killed each other on long trips stuck in the car etc. You will certainly need some luck and patience!

Thanks Dorfino - we think it's a good idea too!
Our eldest will be 6, so will miss a UK school year. We're looking into a scheme in Oz where foreign students can attend a school for up to 12wks on a tourist visa. It seems like a good way to get more idea of cultural changes/differences, but we'll see. I also plan to get the home school packs from the UK and I'm hoping to encourage her to write her own blog. While her education won't be traditional, I anticipate that she'll learn far more! I hope our youngest will pick up some memories, but she is a bit young (she'll be 3), but it's a now or never thing. We might end up travelling 2 years? Who knows, it depends how it goes/funds.
We've been reading lots of family's blogs too.

Interesting thread.

I remember mentioning my plans to many people about a year before I left on a two trip. Most people just didn't believe that is was going to happen. I wasn't really ridiculed though.

Just a few days ago I suggested to my friend that I was thinking of leaving again soon, perhaps for a year. They said "What? And waste another year of your life"... I really didn't know what to say... How can you even begin to explain to someone who really doesn't get it?

Oh well... sometimes I want to educate people about travel, new cultures, new experiences etc... but I understand some people just don't want to know

Paul @
TravMonkey.com

I would say that we have not been ridiculed yet.

My parents: How long did you say? (One Year) Wow, that is a long time! They are not totally happy but are supportive.

Wife's parents: Totally supportive, happy we are living our dream.

Friends, other family members: Mostly supportive. Wow that's awesome...where can we come meet you? (most of them expect something like this from us)

Co-worker/friend: You can't leave, I will die here without you, I will have to quit (I am flattered, this kind of reaction is a bit hard to deal with)

I am dreading/dreaming of the day I give my notice to my boss!

i hate how people can't be encouraging about RTW plans.
im planning a RTW trip starting next fall, and a lot of people
just laugh, and say something along the lines of "yeah right whatever"
no one believes that i'm actually going to do this, to the point where
i want to do it just to prove them wrong =x

it's stressful sometimes...

but anyways who cares about them right? hahaa...
as long as my mom supports my decision and she does...she's the only one that supports me 100% on this~

anyways sooo excited, already to do this...

i havent been good with the saving thus far, im i know i can make this into reality, and this sites actually been such a great support for me, just reading peoples posts!!!

Can't say I've ever been ridiculed over my RTW plans. Of course my plans are something I really don't talk about to anyone. It feels like I am bragging about it or rubbing my freedom in their face.

Some of my closest friends have sort of put 2 and 2 together and figured out what I am planning. They all seem envious, but come up with all sorts of reasons they could never do it. All in all they are supportive and want to live vicariously through my travels. haha