[intense]

Doubts about continued traveling…

I have had and continue to have a unique opportunity to travel with a modest monthly income. It allows me to live reasonably well in poorer countries but it is not enough to get by in a developed country (Canada). In the past I had a high paying job but I switched tracks for several years not so much out of choice but I was unable to continue working. With a modest monthly income this allowed me to pretty much travel indefinitely if I wanted. I love traveling and am constantly dreaming of the next destination or reminiscing about past experiences and places.

I also wonder what it would be like to go back to my previous life which I feel I could do at any point. That would of course mean working but would also mean a significantly higher income and better lifestyle. I would have a place to call my own instead of returning from my trips and leaching from my family for short periods of time. I would be able to buy a fancy oversized flatscreen and a car and furnish an apartment of my own. I could have a normal girlfriend. These are the types of things that I felt were a trap when I was younger and tried to escape from. As I get older I wonder if these comforts would have a different meaning. I am mid 30s now and really didn’t start traveling until I turned about 30. I have an intense fear of returning to the corporate world. I have been away for so long it would be something of a culture shock. But at the same time I am feeling pretty aimless with my travels.

I get the sense from others as well that it is a struggle to find meaning when traveling extensively. It is constantly restarting somewhere, making new friends, forging a new existence. It is exciting but also lonely and unstable. Friends are generally short term. I rarely meet girls that I have the same type of relationship quality that I had with my past girlfriends in Canada. Language is usually a significant barrier but also the culture. I find most relationships to have been very shallow. They have been fun in their own way but I feel like I’m over it.

On Christmas day I am unsure if I am booking a flight to a new and exciting country for the New Year or if I am sending out job applications and effectively ending my ‘dream’ life.

[Kurupt]

Thomas Jefferson offers some commentary:

Quote:

Travelling. This makes men wiser, but less happy. When men of sober age travel, they gather knowledge, which they may apply usefully for their country; but they are subject ever after to recollections mixed with regret; their affections are weakened by being extended over more objects; & they learn new habits which cannot be gratified when they return home. Young men, who travel, are exposed to all these inconveniences in a higher degree, to others still more serious, and do not acquire that wisdom for which a previous foundation is requisite, by repeated and just observations at home. The glare of pomp and pleasure is analogous to the motion of the blood; it absorbs all their affection and attention, they are torn from it as from the only good in this world, and return to their home as to a place of exile & condemnation. Their eyes are forever turned back to the object they have lost, & its recollection poisons the residue of their lives. Their first & most delicate passions are hackneyed on unworthy objects here, & they carry home the dregs, insufficient to make themselves or anybody else happy. Add to this, that a habit of idleness, an inability to apply themselves to business is acquired, & renders them useless to themselves & their country. These observations are founded in experience. There is no place where your pursuit of knowledge will be so little obstructed by foreign objects, as in your own country, nor any, wherein the virtues of the heart will be less exposed to be weakened. Be good, be learned, & be industrious, & you will not want the aid of travelling, to render you precious to your country, dear to your friends, happy within yourself. I repeat my advice, to take a great deal of exercise, & on foot. Health is the first requisite after morality. Write to me often, & be assured of the interest I take in your success, as well as the warmth of those sentiments of attachment with which I am, dear Peter, your affectionate friend.

***

Everyone is ultimately their own judge for whether this is a) still relevant and/or b) rings true for themselves. Every case is different.

I think what you're feeling is entirely natural and expected. You got it out of your system, and you will always take with you the wisdom and experience gathered from international travel. You probably know yourself better, and that will allow you to make better life/work decisions back home.

No place like home. Pick like-minded people to work with/for back home, and I think things should go fine.

[Spike]

What is a modest monthly income and where are you traveling? Give us some more info to work with.

[pitt]

The thing i like about this forum is that we are so similar in many ways, its just unbelievable sometimes.

I totallly understand you OP, i am in a similar position right now. I am in a position where i want to stop travelling for a bit and chase money and fame but the other side of me wants to go travel more. I think us human beings are never entirely happy, we always wonder whats like to have what we dont have and when we have it, we chase new things.

Actually when i stopped travelling almost 2 years ago and went to get a job for a while, i decided that i dont want to be chasing money for too long, im way happier when im just travelling, chasing money is really slavery (note: but having money is freedom). I want to have good money for this international playboy lifestyle and i think i may just chase it now a bit harder because i dont want to be in my 30s and still wondering "what if i go get a job and make more money".

If i had 5000 dollars per month of passive income for life, i wouldnt go work again, thats for sure.

[sylo]

For me, it is like ridding through waves, there are ups when your traveling and then there are downs. You start to miss everything or want SOMETHING familiar. But then you snap out of it again and are glad to be traveling. No one you know is having your experiences. Ive been back for 7 months and CAN NOT WAIT to get back out, should only be another month or so but I literally feel hollow here, back at 'home'. Everything is always the same and people are so stuck in their ways. If your really wondering what it would be like you could always go back for a bit and if you hate it, leave again. I lean towards continuing traveling, go somewhere way different than you are right now, but in the end its only a decision you can make. Good luck.

[Asaxon]

Jefferson has a point I think. When I am abroad I miss the comforts of the first world, food, people, lack of scams, crime etc. When I am home I get tired of the life there rather fast and itch to go back to where I just came from. Might be a melancholic disposition or grass is always greener effect. I have "past lives" with girls, temporary homes and friends in a dozen countries and it does sometimes make me sad to think of all these people and "lives" as lost forever.
My ideal long term situation would be a stable base somewhere and a few trips of a couple of weeks a year to wherever I want to travel.

[rudebwoy]

First of I think you have not travelled to the right places, if you had you would be yearning to get back there.
As much as I like Canada as a place to live a normal and safe life, the corporate world and girls here suck. I have been back almost three years and I am ready to claw my eyes out, I too thought that things you would be better if I just came "home".

Like Sylo sd, nothing changes. Yes there might be a few new buildings but people and there close minded attitudes are just the same.

Curious to what sort of corporate job you are applying for?

[bface]

Jefferson might have been right back then. But with the globalization and the internet we don't have to be idle anymore. I am working as much on the road as I am from home (apart from short party vacations).

If you are just traveling for a year and doing nothing productive at all... That won't be healthy long term.

[polymath]

Maybe I'm too young to make broad observations, but it seems that there is no such thing as the right lifestyle. You just manifest yourself one way or the other, and eventually you have to believe that the tradeoffs were worth it.

Having a normal westernized life with a flatscreen and an office job isn't prison, and travelling alone through unfamiliar lands indefinitely isn't paradise. Eventually you have to guess which path will fulfill you and follow its course until you come to the next juncture.

[bacon]

sometimes i wonder what the hell i am doing with my life. which is natural because anyone who does something different especially living abroad doesnt get the social reinforcement for your lifestyle decision that say a 9-5 job in a western country gives you. thankfully i go back to the US from time to time and after a couple days there i want out. i dont think there is anything wrong with a comfortable life in a western country with a 9-5 job, many people are happy with that. but ive been down that road and i was miserable. im glad i had those years of work in the cubicle however as that has only strengthened my conviction to continue my life abroad.

[Spike]

This is exactly the reason why I stay far away from the newbie threads. Newbs ask some question and posters start replying while the OP is nowhere to been seen.

[ImmoralPsychology]

The thread was only started yesterday. LOL

[RichieP]

You can carve out the life you want, if you're willing to do what it takes.

question just becomes... what do you actually, really want?

Is high income tied to being in one place for you? Depends on your profession and how you set it up. If you can telecommute, you can make as much parked up anywhere else ( and save alot more, if cost of living is cheaper).

For me I dont give a fuck about cars, TVs, etc. At some point I want to get set up in a place close to home, for a number of reasons. And I have some idea about a career I want to switch to, but that's 2-5 years away after more travel, freelancing and sorting various aspects of my life out.

I think OP needs to consider more options. It doesnt need to be "exotic jaunt or end of the dream". Have you read the case studies in the back of 4HWW? People do it all sorts of ways.

Travel doesnt have to be short stints and then back to your hometown. You can do it in different ways. e.g. move to a big hub for 2 years and take short 2-4 week trips to neighbouring countries. That way you put down roots and make friends in one place, and have some mega adventures in others. Europe is great for this, so is South East Asia.

I've got a friend who's lived in Sydney, London and New York, each for 2 years at a time. He's stayed in the same profession (well-payed) wherever he's been and advanced his career at a good rate. Then he can take short trips each year to neighbouring countries or cities. End result = career progresses well, he has 3 deep experiences of living in new places (albeit all western + developed) and he takes alot of short trips to awesome new places.

Other people I know are telecommuting, working the same job but living in a city in a different country. Many ways to incorporate stability + adventure.

[Lemmo]

(12-27-2012 07:26 AM)RichieP Wrote:  

You can carve out the life you want, if you're willing to do what it takes.

question just becomes... what do you actually, really want?

Is high income tied to being in one place for you? Depends on your profession and how you set it up. If you can telecommute, you can make as much parked up anywhere else ( and save alot more, if cost of living is cheaper).

For me I dont give a fuck about cars, TVs, etc. At some point I want to get set up in a place close to home, for a number of reasons. And I have some idea about a career I want to switch to, but that's 2-5 years away after more travel, freelancing and sorting various aspects of my life out.

I think OP needs to consider more options. It doesnt need to be "exotic jaunt or end of the dream". Have you read the case studies in the back of 4HWW? People do it all sorts of ways.

Travel doesnt have to be short stints and then back to your hometown. You can do it in different ways. e.g. move to a big hub for 2 years and take short 2-4 week trips to neighbouring countries. That way you put down roots and make friends in one place, and have some mega adventures in others. Europe is great for this, so is South East Asia.

I've got a friend who's lived in Sydney, London and New York, each for 2 years at a time. He's stayed in the same profession (well-payed) wherever he's been and advanced his career at a good rate. Then he can take short trips each year to neighbouring countries or cities. End result = career progresses well, he has 3 deep experiences of living in new places (albeit all western + developed) and he takes alot of short trips to awesome new places.

Other people I know are telecommuting, working the same job but living in a city in a different country. Many ways to incorporate stability + adventure.

Exactly. I hate the short stints since I like to get a good routine going and get to know a place, the language, etc. but I've managed to spend years overseas working and been well placed for some interesting side trips.

[garygroundwork]

great thread...as posted earlier we can all relate to this dilemma...for me the dilemma is a daily thing-it grinds at me.

i have spent my whole life going back and fourth...i have done short stints-6 weeks etc . and i have done long stints-3 years..

but i always return home. i love the money at home i love feeling a little settled and things like family and friends and sport....but i miss the adventure traveling brings.

to the OP..going home for a while isn't a bad thing for a few reasons- it makes you appreciate how good traveling is and what u had when u were there and u then get motivated to go again.

when i travel, i constantly think about how unproductive im being, how im not building wealth etc..if your young who gives a fuck but when u start getting late 30's etc u got to start thinking about money a bit more

i think it depends on where your home base is. if your home base is a cool city that has women, half decent nightlife, things you like.. sports etc and family and friends and your making good coin then its not all bad. Remember overseas will always be there...there is nothing wrong with stopping for a few years, building some wealth, spending time with family and planning your next big adventure.

make a list of pros and cons and go from there...

[iknowexactly]

I've never had a "steady" job I've liked . Never. Playing music, writing, working free-lance as a therapist/coach-- only these are enjoyable.

For me going to the same place every day and doing what someone tells me to do has always seemed bizarre.

[xsplat]

I like living in one place for a year or two before moving to the next one. Sometimes that means leaving a girl behind, sometimes I'll drag her along.

So I'm never a tourist, always have a home base, but get enough novelty over time.

[maestrobaires]

get yourself a location independent job and keep it going. no reason to go back to the slavery