To travel the world or not..dilemma

Travellerinterp

It’s a question that has probably been posed a hundred and one times, but here goes.
I’m 24 and in my job for two years now. Did the whole summer away thing through college and had a blast.
My problem is I’ve still got the travel bug and I am tempted to head off into the sunset for a year, but I’m also terrified.
I’m single, friends unable/don’t want to go with girlfriends and the like so the likelihood is I’ll be travelling solo.
To complicate things even further I’m due to move into an apartment in the coming months, my first step on the property chain as they say.
I’m in a decent position in so far as I’ve worked my ass off since I was 16 and through savings from that and grandparent leaving money I’ve got 45,000 in the bank.
The other side of that is my career is a fairly specific one in which jobs are not easy to come by, and my qualification is not one which will enable me to work abroad in the same field.
IE if I go away and need to work it will not be in this industry, and if it is it would not be really well paid.
At the moment I work outside of Dublin, and the only thing I feel that would motivate me would be if I moved back to Dublin. But that isn’t too likely, and I have tried to get a new job there.
The other thing is I have this fear of coming home and being well miles behind other people, peers and the like in terms of career, and also how do I know I can drift back into a reasonably well paid job in this industry?
I’d like to get other peoples opinions on my predicement, I’m young and have itchy feet, it’s something I really want to do but another part of me is thinking I’m slightly away with the fairies and my dream of seeing the world and being financially secure..well do they match?
Should I just be happy to earn whatever it is a week, and pay my bills blah,blah, surely that’s what grown up people do? Or have I got an excuse to go?! (Sounds like I need some encouragement!)
Interested to get the opinions of other people who have taken plunge and travelled, and also those of you who didn’t..
I’ve done the maths but how easy is it practically to rent my place out for 18 months or so, paying the mortgage out of my savings (1100 per month) and having enough left from that 45k to travel the world for 18 months.
I am completely deluded here, or do I need to be here for the first couple of years of my mortgage and really try to make a dent in it.
The other thing is I could come home from travelling and not find it that easy to get a job in my field/a well paying job but at the same time I’d be straight back into a hefty mortgage.
What would you do?
Thanks folks

Beruthiel

You'd be mad not to go! You'll regret it for the rest of your life if you don't. You're young, free, single and have the money to do it.
So what if it's a bit scarey, the best things in life usually are.
You are young enough to catch up on all those things that will tie you down later.
I don't understand why you even have to think about this!!

Maccattack

Beruthiel is right (usually is)

One day you will be old. You will look back at your life and either remember your times travelling or feel a huge sense of regret for not doing it.

Yes people will move ahead of you. but so what? Nothing is permanent. Within say a year they might be made redundant or struck down with some disease and you might over take them. who cares about that cr*p?

Its not important.

Ireland will still be here when you get back and youll quickly find your feet again.

Do it. Life IS too short.

I did!

Red Hand

Do it. You have the money and the drive, so nothings stopping you.

Ruu_Old

Go travelling, experience something new, different people and cultures. You have the chance that many people owning property normally don't have, best of luck.

Sleepy

OP, I've wanderlust myself but no resources to finance it so I might be biased but GO FOR IT!

still

Go, definitely go.

You could

arrange a sabatical from work for 6 months to 18 months
take a month off and travel one part of the world and see if you like it and f you do come back and hand in notice and go then

just go, things figure themselves out, if your capable of looking after yourself then dont be worried what might happen unless you have others to look after, which you dont, your young free and single.

egt some stories to tell the kids and maybe even find their mother

you cant not go

humanji

I'm in the same position as Sleepy. Go for it, or you'll really regret it. And if you don't want to go then pay for me a Sleepy to go and we'll send you back some photos.

empirix

Man, go for it, lifes too short, i was in your exact position many moons ago and was afraid to leave the job, until one golden day arrived and voluntarily redundancy was offered, £15,000, 8 days later i was on a plane heading for Bangkok, had a magical year and a half travellling. I am actually doing the world part 2 in August, going to Vegas first for WSOP and then am heading off into central.Sth America and then who knows, although this time i am in the fortunate position of being able to work on the road with my laptopin hand and plus i make a fewbob a week playing poker. Can't wait.

missingtime

empirix wrote:

Man, go for it, lifes too short, i was in your exact position many moons ago and was afraid to leave the job, until one golden day arrived and voluntarily redundancy was offered, £15,000, 8 days later i was on a plane heading for Bangkok, had a magical year and a half travellling. I am actually doing the world part 2 in August, going to Vegas first for WSOP and then am heading off into central.Sth America and then who knows, although this time i am in the fortunate position of being able to work on the road with my laptopin hand and plus i make a fewbob a week playing poker. Can't wait.

Damn you for that story!

dvega

Ya man,leaving my job in 2 weeks and hitting for thailand and oz in 3 weeks and im 3 years older than you,just go or you'll regret it the rest of your life.
I hear 40 year olds even now tied down with family wishing they had done it in their time,go go go,dont think of it as leaving your career think of it as a career break

ChRoMe

I travelled around the world on my own.

Yes the first few days on your own on the otherside of the world can be a bit intimidating but living in hostels you cant help but make friends.

It was the best thing that I ever did. Its an amazing experience that will give you a whole new outlook on life (it also gave me a hatred for Ireland but thats another story!)

Go and do it you wont regret it.

faceman

No disrespect, you'd be a fool not too. Dont worry about travelling alone, this site has plenty of people in the same boat:

www.wayn.com

Elessar

Honestly I wouldn't. Just imagine all the things you could do with that cash. Get your own place, a nice (even luxury) car, party all you want. You can always go on a few different week/2week long holidays a year to these places you talk about AND you can go in style.

Or you could spend it all living in smelly hostels with foreigners who think they own the place and carrying your things around with you on your back constantly, always moving etc. etc. Why would anyone choose this over comfort? Boggles the mind! Plus you've got a really good paying job which is not something to drop lightly.

DemocAnarchis

Time enough for rest when you're dead. I'd love to be in your position, go for it man!

LegacyUser

'

Elessar wrote:

Honestly I wouldn't. Just imagine all the things you could do with that cash. Get your own place, a nice (even luxury) car, party all you want. You can always go on a few different week/2week long holidays a year to these places you talk about AND you can go in style.

Or you could spend it all living in smelly hostels with foreigners who think they own the place and carrying your things around with you on your back constantly, always moving etc. etc. Why would anyone choose this over comfort? Boggles the mind! Plus you've got a really good paying job which is not something to drop lightly.

What a small-minded viewpoint. You have obviously never been away travelling, or you would not have such a materialistic outlook. Spend some time in some of the worlds less fortunate countries and you will meet people who are constantly smiling, friendly, and happy to have you as a guest in their country. You look at people in the 'developed' world and they are constantly rushing around in a hurry to get to the next deadline. If you go travelling you will experience things you can never imagine, meet the friendliest people, eat the most amazing food and come back with a new outlook on life. Besides, you might decide never to come back and to settle in some far-flung place.

No-one I know who has travelled (me included) has ever regretted it. My friends with houses on the other hand, keep on saying "I wish I could have done it...". It's now or possibly never. Go for it. I just did a year away and I would do it all again tomorrow if I could.'

randylonghorn

When I finished college, the plan was to go abroad / travel for the year, but it wasn't an option for various reasons I won't go into (family / health).

Often regretted it, and still hankering ... maybe some day!

A couple of our gang went all round South America, and they're still on about it ... annoying b*st**ds!

Go for it, otherwise you'll be saying "if only" and "what if" and "I should have" for the rest of your life. Some of the saddest phrases in any language, IMO.

FranknFurter

Do it!
Lifes far to short not to take full advantage of all oppertunities to enjoy it.
Dont end up regretting not doing these things while you still can, trust me regrets like that are not easy to deal with as you get older.
You could be hit by a bus or get ill tomorrow and not have this option even remotely possible for the rest of your life.

Lifes for living, not for enduring.

B

Guess_Who

Just book your ticket & go.

I heard a quote recently, not sure where but it was basically that regrets lie in what you don't do, not in what you do.

I'm the same age as you, away travelling at the moment and not likely to be anywhere near able to afford a house in the next few years but I wouldn't change it for the world. Travel broadens the mind and no matter what anyone says a 2 week holiday somewhere isn't going to do that.

kevthecelt

If this doesnt make you do it i dont know what will its a truly inspirational quote by mark twain:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Suaimhneach

Do both man. See if you can take a career break from your job... travel for a few months. Then come back. If you really love it. Take the rest of the year out!! If you've done the travel then stay.

There are plus sides to both options, tbh. Go with your heart, not what you MIGHT or might not regret.

ciaran76

ChRoMe wrote:

I travelled around the world on my own.

Yes the first few days on your own on the otherside of the world can be a bit intimidating but living in hostels you cant help but make friends.

It was the best thing that I ever did. Its an amazing experience that will give you a whole new outlook on life (it also gave me a hatred for Ireland but thats another story!)

Go and do it you wont regret it.

This sums up my feelings also as had a similar experience as you ChRome.


Do it and of all the people I know who did it they never regretted it and still talk about their experiences to this day.

I have so many memories from my time that I would never trade anything for as it made me the person I am today. It changed my whole view on life.

Good luck in your decision.;)

djfattony2000

Yeh do it, I'm just back and in massive amount of debt!!!!

So what, it was the best thing I have ever done. The debt can be paid off in the future.

Do it do it do it, and go to South America, in fact go in the next couple of weeks so you get the Carnivale in Rio. You wont be thinkning thinking of a "nice car" or "your career" when your partying with literly millions of people on a beach.

Linford

Go for it...

I did it and it was the best thing I have ever done. Rent out your apartment for 18 months.

Another thing worth noting is that a lot of employers look favourably upon prospective employees who have already been travelling for a year or so as it means that they are less likely to up and leave for the likes of Australia shortly after starting.

ChRoMe

I do need to add a word of warning however. I went travelling and well I found I never want to come back.

Im in Spain at the moment (thank you EU no visa bull****!)

Rabies

Go for it. I did it a couple of months ago.

Like you what I'm trained in makes it tough to find work here. Back home jobs in my area are often on a who you know basis.

I had no where near what you had in you bank account, only about e7,000. Packed up my job and went to Hong Kong. I have working visa in New Zealand. Went Oz for a while over christmas and new year. Already planning to go back to America during the summer for a few months to work.

If you don't do it you will be kicking yourself in a few years. I'm 27 very soon, it is never too late to travel, but working visa in some countries are for 30yr olds and under.