Hi all, I am the one who generate the poll/post.

My husband and I are going on a RTW trip around April. We are both in our early 30s (turning 32 this year), currently he is making about 90k and I am about 80k/year. I am wondering how much people are willing to give up in money wise is actually based on:

1. You are quite happy/satisfied with your current jobs/relationships (that you are not trying to run away or escape from where you are);
2. You are not cynical about how the corporations work in today’s society (Of course we all hope the world can work better and more fair).

For what I have seen on other forums, many people leave for a long sabbatical time because they are not fulfilled/happy with their current situation. I do wonder myself about the decision of going for a long trip at this time since everything is going great at the moment.

I do like the saying: “ You can get jobs anytime, but this traveling experience is a Once in a Life Time thing,” But what kind of jobs/pay are those that you can get anytime and being satisfied? Is that saying a justification of a hidden regret (if there is any)?

How do people cope their regrets (if there is any) of giving up what they had before they leave?
Who doesn’t want to get a better pay for the next move if they have rested and wandered enough?

I guess we all have a strong romantic gene, that’s why we choose to just quit our jobs and go travel (It is like dumping your spouse and running to your lover!!). But I want to be honest with myself, that I may feel regret in a way that I am leaving my job/pay when I am on a strong moment to earn more and getting more responsibility (which I really like more responsibility and pay). But what my (future) boss will feel about me quitting my job just for traveling? I think they prefer their lovers to be romantic but not their employees

What are your thoughts?

Hi -

First off, just wanted to say I would have answered this quite differently 1.5-2 years ago, but I'm in a different place now than I was 2 yrs ago. And also to preface...I'm not trying to push my agenda on anyone else...because everyone is motivated by different things. But you were wondering about thoughts, which I have plenty of. ;-)

Two years ago I both hated my job, and was cynical about the corporate world. Not coincidentally, I had a strong desire to escape, and that's why bna became my haven. It was one of the few things keeping me going for a little while...so I totally understand that urge, I just don't really have it anymore.

Regarding the job thing. Had I quit a few years ago, like I really wanted to, and had I not put myself through mental crap sticking out a couple of years of being unhappy and working through my feelings about all of it, I would have likely traveled, and likely had a good time. But obviously I didn't do that, and that would be because it's not ME. If it had been me, I would have done it. ;-) But I stuck it out working, because in the back of my mind I knew that, yes, there would always be a job to come back to, BUT I sure as heck didn't want another entry-level job, like the one I would be leaving. Because, truthfully, that's what I would have to come back to. Once I got beyond the entry level at work (which took me a long time *because* I was so cynical about all of it, so thus I had no motivation to try to get something better), I have been so happy. And I am SO happy I stuck it out -- had I not stuck it out, I'm almost positive it would have been a longterm regret - maybe not a shorterm one, but a longterm one. I now realize I am incredibly lucky compared to most people in the U.S., and truthfully I don't want to leave this company or move, *because* I have such good vacation time...almost to Europe standards. So I count my blessings now.

At this point, unless I get laid off, I don't plan on ever leaving if I can help it and if I can remain happy with my job, because it wouldn't be worth it, coming back and maybe having to take a job that only gives me 2 weeks off a year, or something. So for me it's not the money (I make considerably less than 80-90k!), it's my time off/benefits, that is like gold to me. Almost everyone working in the U.S. does not have this perk that I have, so I'm not gonna throw it away. Ironically I'm now at a level where I probably could leave, and come back to something similar, but now I truly don't want to. I'm determined to have it all - happy work, and happy travels. :-)

I also don't have a really strong vagabond urge to begin with...so I'm not having to fight that off as much as others might. I've just become very...practical (I suppose)....and it's a fact of life that I have to make a living, and that's never gonna go away, so I'm trying to make the most of my life, given that fact of life. If that makes sense. ;-) Another person could argue it another way though, and say that he's making the most of his life, by quitting and travelling...and that's an equally valid choice. Something similar came up in another thread, and to echo that, some choices are more geared towards the shortterm, others longterm, and I think BOTH choices involve unappealing sacrifices -- it's just which one ranks higher for you as an individual.

i quit my job at the tv station making not that much money to travel through europe and israel for 2 months...not quite RTW but still felt good to get out and travel...

I think you probably need to sit down and think about what you are going to regret more. Regretting the fact that traveling may set you back in your career and salary path. Or regretting the fact that you could have gone RTW and never did.

Odds are, if you have worked in a field long enough to have an established skill set (sounds like you do) traveling won't set your career path back to far. Maybe a couple of years. And, in time it will all be forgotten by any prospective employers. And, the ones that can't forget about it, you probably don't want to be working for anyway. Some bosses actually realize that if you can manage your time and resources to pull off an extended period of travel, you'll also be able to manage theirs.

I have taken off twice now for extended travel. The biggest hit on me financially was time spent not working. My actual salary has never decreased.

Wow.

Cool thread, never thought about this before...

The biggest problem with my airline pilot job is that the pay is purely seniority based. I took a year off between my time in the navy and picking up an airline job. So, i'm about a year or two 'behind' where i could have been salary-wise, but the year off to travel, loaf, relax, unwind, live by the sun and tides - that was priceless.

But say that in five years or so i wantd to quit my flying job and travel for a year, and then come back to flying. I'd have to 'start over' at a new company, which would be at least a 60% pay cut, and i have to ride the seniority ladder up again. Seniority means better pay and better schedules and better job security. It's a lot to give up.

However, on the upside, I only work about 12-16 days a month, so i can pretty regularly finagle a week off, and I get a total of four to eight weeks proper vacation a year, and on top of all that, i travel for free inside the US and for just the airport taxes internationally. so that'll suffice i think.

I'm planning to make travel pay now - but not with stories from beyond or fab fotos. I am going to put my bargaining powers to the test and find some products to feed the consumerism that is enveloping Australian society.

Meanwhile I will do as I've always done - keep my belongings to a minimum and shed as much as possible every time I move. At present I have about 6m3 of belongings - but luckily I have parents and relatives who don't mind storing a few things now and then. (Must get around to relieving my Grandmother of the chair and table legs I have stored in her garage soon).

lucky, this is a very interesting thread. Your thoughts and questions are the same ones many women go through when they are going to have a baby. Having done both (RTW/given birth and left a great career to do it), I can say that for me, it was the right thing to do. I would have more regrets if I hadnt taken those risks.

I found that long term travel gave me the time and perspective to step out of my comfort zone back home and reevaluate things that I would have never considered had I stayed where I was. Living out of a backpack for months gave me the perspective that I can survive on much less than I thought. Consequently, as we watch our friends and family drown in debt, we actually live much cheaper than we need to by choice. The great paying job is no longer worth as much as it was before I traveled. Time is more precious for me at this stage in life.

It sounds like you are on your way, good luck! It will be interesting to hear how you feel about these things when you return.

When I leave for my trip I will be at a 38k point, working at my job for about 2 years. I am more than happy to give that up because I know this is not the field I was meant to be in. I actually got my degree in International Studies/business and think traveling the world can only enhance my resume. And, really, I'll probably go back to school when we get back... was kind of the plan before to travel/work abroad and come back and work or school, but things happened that set that back.

Honestly, though, I think even if I were making 80k a year I would still go, but that's just me. I have a very intense "need to do now" attitude. And really money isn't that important to me (except when saving for the trip!). If anything saving for the trip has taught me, it is how to make the most of what you have. I love that. I love the feeling of not being tied to my stuff. The little things we normally take for granted are a special treat.

I was talking to my dad recently about all the places we're going to go and I can tell he's really excited for me... to actually get out there and see the world - completely supportive. I can also tell there's a bit of him that is not jealous, but regretful... that he didn't do the same years ago.

quote:

I found that long term travel gave me the time and perspective to step out of my comfort zone back home and reevaluate things that I would have never considered had I stayed where I was. Living out of a backpack for months gave me the perspective that I can survive on much less than I thought.

very well said.

many people get stuck in a "comfort zone" of a certain job, income, and lifestyle and it's very hard to break out of it. it takes a fair bit of courage and faith to do so.

great thread.

I posted this some time ago - I think it´s worth repeating at this time

THE SEARCHERS
Some people do not have to search, for they find their niche early in life, and the rest, they're seemingly contended and resigned. At times I envy them but usually I do not understand them. I am one of the searchers.

There are, I believe, millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we completely content. We continue to explore life, hoping to uncover its ultimate secret. We continue to explore ourselves hoping to understand. We like to walk along the beach, we are drawn by the ocean, taken by its power and unceasing motion, its mystery, unspeakable beauty. We like forests, mountains, deserts, hidden rivers and lovely cities as well. Our sadness is as much part of our lives as our laughter; to share our sadness with the ones we love is perhaps as great a joy as we know, unless it is to share our laughter. We searchers are ambitious only for life itself, and anything beautiful it can show us. Most of all we want to love and be loved, to live in a relationship that will not impede our wanderings and prevent our search. We do not want to prove ourselves to others or compete for love.

This passage is for wanderers, dreamers and lovers who dare to ask of life
everything which is good and beautiful.

Ok, so it´s a bit luvvy duvvy but you get the gist and it´s such a personal point of view that there is no right answer for everyone - only you. If there is, I haven´t the first Scooby what it is.

I´ve always thought that if you were happy in your job then that was half the battle won. Yes, money does make the world go round but it doesn´t dictate it and I feel that many people carry on in their safety bubble of familiarity because perhaps it´s what they´ve been brought up to believe to be right. There is an alternative - says so in my signature .

You can break away from the pounds and the pence of it all if you want and perhaps have a look at how other people cope with next to nothing, no water, no electricity - not even their health..... and yet they are still happy. It´s a sobering spectacle and I for one felt humbled by it. Sometimes we don´t know how lucky we are to have the choice.

I learnt, quite late on, that you get one really good hit at this life and with everything that the world has to offer. Wouldn´t it be a shame to let that opportunity pass by?

Forgive my ramblings - have free internet access.

elv

Elvie, enjoyed the post. And it's good to see you around every now and then! :-) I remember when you first set off! Awesome that you're still enjoying it all.

Ok, sorry to derail the thread. I'm enjoying reading everyones perspectives.

Good to see that you´re enjoying your job, Lynn. Remember the days of you seething quietly in your cubicle

elv

well, I'm mid 30's, single, make 150k+ a year, run my own department and work with some of my favorite people in the world. I own my own home and in general, have a very comfortable life. Yet, I just couldn't get rid of the feeling that this was not all there was to my life. So, I resigned, I'm renting the apartment, getting rid of most of my earthly possessions and plan to find out what else is out there. So, in a way, I am giving up a lot, but hoping to find a whole lot more.

I've never felt like I way giving anything up when I quit a job, for me they've always been a means to an end; either paying my way through uni or saving to travel.
Working until I have enough money not to for a while has been the way I've lived for a couple of years now, and while I don't regret leaving any of my jobs, however I am now reaching the age where I'm starting to regret having given up career development. None of my jobs have been anything I would want to stick with long term, but I am aware that my friends who have followed some sort of career path (instead of my career-wandering-in-the-wilderness) are earning quite a lot more than I am (and therefore able to go on more/better holidays, have nicer houses etc).
Apart from the missed holidays bit, this wouldn't bother me except I'm also getting to the age where I'm beginning to think about wanting a family, and before that happens I need to finish getting this all-consuming travel bug out my system, pay off my student loan, ad hopefully buy my own house... all of which I could do a lot quicker if I had a bit more earning power.
But there we are again, the job is still a means to an end.. I guess I'm just not very career focussed, I don't want to be boss of anything and I don't want any more responsibility than I have to; I just want to have enough money to not have to worry about it and I want to find a job I can stick to and not end up hating.

sorry, i've gone wee bit

Short answer: £24K and not regretted it for a sec.