Taking Chances & Unconventional Lifestyles

I guess it depends on how much that insurance is, doesn´t it?

TravellerSami wrote:I guess it depends on how much that insurance is, doesn´t it?

I'm 51. I haven't checked prices yet but from others my age currently on the road, it will
probably cost me around $400-500 per month for health insurance. If I want travel insurance,
add another $275 for six months coverage. That's a chunk of money each month. Not sure I want
to dump that much money every month on something I may never need as I am healthy and take
no meds. Especially if I could get cheap treatment on the road locally if I need it.

halfnine wrote: On that note, I'd highly recommend emergency evacuation insurance to anyone so that one can get life saving treatment since it may not be available everywhere you travel.

Maybe this is all I need?

Mama-to-many wrote:It's important to understand your OWN circumstances.

I have three children...18 (in college), 21 and 25 (on their own) so I'm pretty much on my own. I'm 51 and in good health. I have life insurance.

Healthy is one thing, and sustainable if you know you're living healthily and able to sustain that with good nutrition, exercise etc.

Trauma & accidents are quite another and can be expensive. Surgery and the after effects of getting back on your feet through physiotherapy/occupational therapy can be a long journey requiring equipment and support-not always something one can do idependantly.

Not having insurance leaves others responsible for picking up the pieces.

nahanniwaterfall wrote:
Not having insurance leaves others responsible for picking up the pieces.

Actually it leaves you responsible for & compelled to live with the the consequences!

Bigmaude, let me know what you come up with--I'm looking forward to an alternative lifestyle of my own someday and I'm about the same age as you now. I have a daughter who's a junior in HS and one in college so after that. . . who knows? One thing I noticed when we were wwoofing our way RTW is that many of the projects listed in the wwoof catalog were communal living type places, so you might want to check that. Some of them are free, like wwoof Bulgaria and I know there's at least one commune there. Helpx also has some listings. I love to cook and care for people so I would have a blast in an organic farming type operation where they milk cows and make their own bread and if there's kids to watch I'll be their favorite lady.

go girl, I will surely let you know what I find. I'm hitting the road next
week on a two-year rtw and I'm going to keep my eyes open for alternative
lifestyle opportunities the world over. there are so many options out there,
i'm confident i will stumble across the perfect or near perfect communal
living option. good luck in your search.

bigmaude good luck & please report on your progress.

bigmaude, will you be keeping a blog? If so I would love to have a link to it.

bigmaude wrote:i'm confident i will stumble across the perfect or near perfect communal
living option. good luck in your search.

Each communal living situation we stumbled across had its own issues. It is being realistic, not pessimistic, to say you're unlikely to find Utopia. Nothing to stop you looking though.

Mama-to-many wrote:

bigmaude wrote:i'm confident i will stumble across the perfect or near perfect communal
living option. good luck in your search.

Each communal living situation we stumbled across had its own issues. It is being realistic, not pessimistic, to say you're unlikely to find Utopia. Nothing to stop you looking though.

You're right about that--the only communal living situations that have managed to work out over the long term have always been religious based. But for no longer than I plan to be in one of these, it will probably be fine. Also, I'm a manager of a summer camp that meets for a week and I often have fantasies that we could all stay together all the time, but there are many little problems over the week--it's just that I love these people so much.

I have no doubt that bigmaude will run into some near-perfect situations but how long will they be near-perfect before the dynamics change and then it will be time to move on? Still, she'll have fun trying.

Hi All!

Finally had a chance to check back! I've been on the road since 1/31/12 and am having a blast! Made my way through Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Heading to Myanmar for three weeks. I went with World Nomads for travel insurance only. It cost me $971 for a year of coverage. That only covers major stuff. I'll have to pay for the small stuff if the need arises. So far, I've only wrenched my knee slightly and got a nasty chest cold!

Have not found utopia yet but still looking...

Happy Trails!

go girl now wrote:bigmaude, will you be keeping a blog? If so I would love to have a link to it.

Yes, I've got a blog at offexploring.com/cshennes. Let me know what you think!

Just checked your blog, nice to see the perspective of an older traveler.

Don't worry if you can't find a travel buddy for Myanmar as it's safe as well as along with Laos the cheapest country I visited. Make sure to take the slow boat from Mandalay to Bagan the trip takes you back to Kipling's Burma.

ps you will get used to the bum-guns & wonder why they aren't used at home