Vagabonding by Necessity

I have found myself forced into a situation where vagabonding is the only feasible financial option in my life. Not the worst situation in the world, but definitely weird.

My life is kind of a toilet at the moment. I won't bore you with the minutia - my unemployment is running out, my retired parents can't keep supplementing my income, my lease will be up in 3 weeks, I just went through an ugly breakup, and my friends are getting tired of my depression. I have no responsibilities and no debt. I usually write part-time, but there's only so much you can write about watching Netflix nonstop for 4 days.

So, I've been squirreling away money and buying supplies while simultaneously holding out for a job I recently interviewed for. I didn't get it.

I have a little online business that nets a few hundred a month, and I have a friend who works for an airline who is graciously giving me one of his standby passes. So, I basically have a free one-way ticket to anywhere. I've already been talking with the people at Sadhana Forest in India, and I think that might be a good place to start.

I'm applying for my visa tomorrow morning and am starting to assemble my pack, but I'm starting to get cold feet. I'm worried that my depression will be worse abroad. I'm worried about having the money to get home. I'm worried that everyone at home will forget me. It's weird to begin travel under these circumstances - I'm not leaving much behind. There's no going-away party or bulging savings account to drain (though I do have a bit saved up). I don't really have a plan beyond the first month.

Has anyone else here ever been in this kind of position? I don't really know the purpose of this post... I'm just having some "Holy shit, this is happening in 4 weeks" anxiety and I wanted to voice it among those who have gone before me.

I should probably define the "necessity" part....

I haven't had any luck on the job front in nearly a year, so it would be crazy to sign a new lease when I could never afford the rent. I'd be blowing all my money on the deposit, too. If I can wwoof and stay in one place for a few months, it'll last longer. So maybe this isn't vagabonding, technically, but I put this post in this forum because, should I manage to accrue some money from my online business, it could turn into a vagabonding thing.

I'm also hoping that a drastic change of environment will give my brain some kind of jolt. I've been staring at the problem from inside my house for so long that I can't think of any new solutions. I need a new angle. Does that make sense?

I can't say I've done it or know anyone who has. I have to ask though, do you have a more concrete plan for getting ahold of things in your life more than "if my internet business takes off?" Because while living in India is certainly cheaper than most places, it's not one I'd like to end up in with no money or prospects and unable to go home because you don't have enough money to do it.

For example, if you want to go home sometime (you never mention the country you're from, I'm assuming US?) and keep applying for jobs, you're pretty much unable to show up to any interview in person. Depending on your profession this might be a rather bad thing.

Another thought, is there a chance of you going standby to a place like Bangkok and then doing a cheap certification course to teach English? Because that way you at least have a new means to support yourself at the end of the day.

Just a few thoughts here that might help, good luck to you.

Andromeda wrote:
Another thought, is there a chance of you going standby to a place like Bangkok and then doing a cheap certification course to teach English? Because that way you at least have a new means to support yourself at the end of the day.

Good advise only I would suggest Phnom Penh as it's cheaper, more jobs open to inexperienced, people friendlier but most important much easier to get a work visa.

If you have very little money now, I dont see how volunteering or woofing will help you in the longer term. You should definitely find work teaching english or doing something that pays you. The key here is having money, which gives you options and that forces you to make choices. Have you ever been to India? What if you dont like it? Then you're stuck.

Have you considered being a flight attendant? Your friend could help you on the right track.

You can look into getting your teaching english certs online from India too, then go to a country to teach. Or get a job in a country that doesnt require teaching degree. China comes to mind. Hong Kong Disney is also looking for English speakers.

I have also heard of western people getting work in India as stand ins and actors in Bollywood films. I don't know more specifics on how to find that work, but is there.

In the end, you seem like you're leaving a lot of things up to fate or chance rather than taking control of your own life path. If I can suggest you grab life by the balls and get to it! I do hope things work out for you. Maybe being in India will give your life a jolt.

For what it's worth these are my comments and it might be hard to digest.

You sound to me like a person who doesn't know what he wants to do at this time and you believe traveling is a solution to your problems at home, believe me it's not.

If you are suffering from serious depression you should be seeing a healthcare professional not traveling.

Job wise if you haven't been able to secure your preferred job then get whatever is going, ok it might not be what you like but you need to earn money to live, you are responsible for supporting yourself no one else.
I assume you are an adult so what the hell are you doing taking money off your parents, if they are retired you should be helping them not creating worries for them.

THINK Tomorrow is the start of the rest of your life Face up to your responsibilities, stop thinking of running away get a job any job and plan a way out of your predicament.