Will I regret not having fun?

LegacyUser

Hi, I'm just looking for other peoples opinions in this problem. I feel like I'm missing out on life and having fun. I'm 27 and have been working since I left college. I worked very hard in college and now I work very hard at my career. I feel like I haven't really had any fun.

All of my friends have left and went traveling or emigrated for work. I grew up in Cork, went to college in Cork and now I'm working in Cork. Traveling is always something I wanted to do but now I feel like the opportunity is slipping passed me. I feel like I can't give up my job since it gives me job security and I know that's a great thing in the current climate. However I wonder will I always regret not leaving and gaining some great life experiences. I don't think traveling for a couple of weeks in the summer is the same as traveling around the world. I just want to enjoy myself and see what else is out there. Unfortunately my work place don't give career breaks.

I have some money saved so I could leave and have a great time traveling for a year or so but of course the problem is coming back and having nothing. It may take years to find a secure job again in my area of work. I feel like maybe I'm too old to leave now because I don't want to put off my other life plans like owning a house when I'm 30 or so.

Or I could use the money I've saved and put it towards a deposit on a house in two years or so. But if I went down this path I wonder would I regret it or is it just something I would get over as I got older.

I know this may sound like a silly problem to some people but its always on my mind. I love to hear what others think of this.

edellc

only you will know later in life if you regret the choices you have made

I like you worked hard in school, college and then a career, but never was able to save enough for a deposit for a home had to move out of home and rent in dublin was so high (lived with my OH so no house shares for me lol ), I never travelled as much as I would have liked either

I dont like to use the word regret as I think we shouldnt have regrets as such as each experience moulds us into the people we are but if I was to say what one regret I have it would be that I worked too much, I let it takeover my life and yet I got no benefit from it and it all ended in tears with a horrific bullying experience with put my health at serious risk

You should never look back and have regrets if you want to travel, do it before you old and grey, do it while you have the energy to do so, you dont need to spend all your savings doing it and keep enough back for a deposit on a house

You will find work again, dont let the scare mongers tell you otherwise yes it may not be what your doing now but there is work out there

Only you can weight up the pros and cons of what path is best for you to take, but once you make them, make peace with yourself so when your lying on your death bed you have no regrets

peace and love op x

fits

Sunflower's idea is a good one. Could you ask for unpaid leave for two months? Just frame the question like you did here. I've travelled before and two months in one go was enough for me to take in, but each person is different.

hondasam

dontwantregrets wrote: »

I know this may sound like a silly problem to some people but its always on my mind. I love to hear what others think of this.

If you can afford to leave work and travel then go for it, you will get another job and you can buy a house in a few year time.
You need time for yourself and travelling is a great experience, yes you will always be thinking about it if you don't do it.
I don't know if taking a leave of absence is available to you but it might be something to think about.

good luck

TheBegotten

To quote Conn Iggulden: "Do the bones underneath our feet care who's king? All that matters is that you live a life worth living."
Ask your employer if you can take an (unpaid?) gap year of sorts. The world is there before you, and is your mollusc of choice.

Wompa1

dontwantregrets wrote: »

Hi, I'm just looking for other peoples opinions in this problem. I feel like I'm missing out on life and having fun. I'm 27 and have been working since I left college. I worked very hard in college and now I work very hard at my career. I feel like I haven't really had any fun.

All of my friends have left and went traveling or emigrated for work. I grew up in Cork, went to college in Cork and now I'm working in Cork. Traveling is always something I wanted to do but now I feel like the opportunity is slipping passed me. I feel like I can't give up my job since it gives me job security and I know that's a great thing in the current climate. However I wonder will I always regret not leaving and gaining some great life experiences. I don't think traveling for a couple of weeks in the summer is the same as traveling around the world. I just want to enjoy myself and see what else is out there. Unfortunately my work place don't give career breaks.

I have some money saved so I could leave and have a great time traveling for a year or so but of course the problem is coming back and having nothing. It may take years to find a secure job again in my area of work. I feel like maybe I'm too old to leave now because I don't want to put off my other life plans like owning a house when I'm 30 or so.

Or I could use the money I've saved and put it towards a deposit on a house in two years or so. But if I went down this path I wonder would I regret it or is it just something I would get over as I got older.

I know this may sound like a silly problem to some people but its always on my mind. I love to hear what others think of this.

Replace Cork with Galway and you've got my story 3 months ago. I'm 27. I started working part time when I was 12 years old in my fathers business. I then started working in my uncles business when I was 14. Then moved into a job in a toy store when I was 21. I had a 5 week gap between the job in my uncles shop and the toy store....I was working full time hours my final year of college and between 24-36 hours any other year I was in school or college. I graduated in 2007. I finished my exams, went out that night and went back to work the next day in the toy store...worked there for a week and started my first professional job the next week without time off.

I felt completely wiped out and worse mentally got very bitter and cynical. Never had family holidays to Majorca or Algarve or whatever. I didn't go away for a year after college or secondary school or travel during the summers because I just couldn't. Even working as much as I did, I was just getting by.

So fast forward to 3 months ago. I decided enough was enough. If I don't do it now I'll never do it. I could never afford to go travelling around and not work plus because I work in IT I can't be out of work too long or tech will pass me by.. So I put my CV on job sites. Within a week I had 3 interviews lined. Did them over the phone. Got offered 2 and took 1. Now I'm in Phoenix, Arizona.

What I will say though is what do you want out of travelling?...this isn't really "fun" what I am doing. I now have less days off and because I moved alone I incurred huge costs, it took all of my life savings and then some. I bet you are in the exact situation I am. All your friends have travelled and either came back or have settled in whatever country they are in with a girlfriend or wife. So if you are moving, you are moving alone and if you do that..it's not going to be fun. It's going to be just like your life there right now but you'll get to have new experiences..it's exciting but not necessarily fun.

Odds are your employer won't agree to give you extended leave either...unfortauntely with the recession they kind of have you by the balls. I asked my previous employers and nothin' doing..If you want any tips on the travelling craic Message me. Good luck!

Cgoodie

Hey OP,
I feel exacly like you do. When I finished school I started into full time work then I gave that up to go to college and when I graduated in 07 it was straight into full time work again, all my college friends have moved around and travelled and I feel like I've missed out and will be sorry in a few years if I don't do something now. I just need to work up the courage to leave a job for the unknown and uncertainty of what happens when I come back!

Agent J

1)Grass is always greener

Plan what you want to so & why you want do do it. I can't think of a worse senario then 2 months down the road, you're out of cash somewhere abroad & miserable. Don't take a risk just for the sake of taking a risk.

2) Timing

Do you think it'll get easier or harder to do as time goes on?

If you do try to maximize the amount of tax credits. If you quit in Nov/Dec it might seem like a good idea but unless there is a really good reason to do it you are leaving cash on the table. Of course numbers will vary depending on circumcanstances

3) Lack of Fun

Not to pry & this is your own question to think about

Why isn't your life fun at the moment? Is there something you can do now to change what you are doing either professionally or personally?

4)Hindsight

Hindsight is always 20-20 . You should've done X, Y Or Z. The truth is you can only make the best decision with the available information you have at the time. Anything beyond that is being unfair on yourself.

hi op, i never travelled either before i got my full time pensionable job, and now its impossible.

i dont regret it as such im just sorry that i didnt, think i wouldve enjoyed it.

im not telling you to go for it, but what i will say is if you're feeling now, that you might regret it, than you should try it out.
you might decide a few months in that its not for you, but at least you would know right?
at least you gave it a go, and will not have any regrets in the future!

i know i would, i got my job very young and it wasnt until a few years ago that travel really got into my head. if i had the time again, i would give it a go.

nothing wrong with trying things out right??

dearg lady

Agent J wrote: »

If you do try to maximize the amount of tax credits. If you quit in Nov/Dec it might seem like a good idea but unless there is a really good reason to do it you are leaving cash on the table. Of course numbers will vary depending on circumcanstances

How is leaving late in the year a disadvantage?

OP, you really need to figure out if this is something you personally really want to do, or if you're just feeling 'left out' as many of your friends have gone travelling. Do you have specific places you want to see? Have you friends who want to travel, or would you be going alone? How long do you think you'd like to go for?
Is there ANY scope for time off from your current job?

Lastly, don't feel time is slipping by, you're never too old to travel!

Agent J

dearg lady wrote: »

How is leaving late in the year a disadvantage?

From a purely money view.

If you left a job in December you've get no tax back for the year. If you leave say in October you'd have 2 months worth of credits.

Tax credits are over the calendar year (Jan - Dec). Varies on exact person circumstance so you'd have to do the numbers to see if there is an impact.

dearg lady

Agent J wrote: »

From a purely money view.

If you left a job in December you've get no tax back for the year. If you leave say in October you'd have 2 months worth of credits.

Tax credits are over the calendar year (Jan - Dec). Varies on exact person circumstance so you'd have to do the numbers to see if there is an impact.

well, I kinda see where you're coming from, but of course, it cuts down on your overall earning potential for the year. If OP was only going for a few months it would be less relevant, but certainly, if they were heading off for a year, would be more beneficial to spread the year over 2 tax years.

sentient_6

If your 27 now & you've been working in your 'career' job since college then that means you've 3/4 years experience built up? I reckon you'll land a job absolutely no problem when you come back. This country is far from f**ked, dont believe the hype.

Go for a year & enjoy yourself.

Danniboo

Wompa1 wrote: »

Replace Cork with Galway and you've got my story 3 months ago. I'm 27. I started working part time when I was 12 years old in my fathers business. I then started working in my uncles business when I was 14. Then moved into a job in a toy store when I was 21. I had a 5 week gap between the job in my uncles shop and the toy store....I was working full time hours my final year of college and between 24-36 hours any other year I was in school or college. I graduated in 2007. I finished my exams, went out that night and went back to work the next day in the toy store...worked there for a week and started my first professional job the next week without time off.

I felt completely wiped out and worse mentally got very bitter and cynical. Never had family holidays to Majorca or Algarve or whatever. I didn't go away for a year after college or secondary school or travel during the summers because I just couldn't. Even working as much as I did, I was just getting by.

So fast forward to 3 months ago. I decided enough was enough. If I don't do it now I'll never do it. I could never afford to go travelling around and not work plus because I work in IT I can't be out of work too long or tech will pass me by.. So I put my CV on job sites. Within a week I had 3 interviews lined. Did them over the phone. Got offered 2 and took 1. Now I'm in Phoenix, Arizona.

What I will say though is what do you want out of travelling?...this isn't really "fun" what I am doing. I now have less days off and because I moved alone I incurred huge costs, it took all of my life savings and then some. I bet you are in the exact situation I am. All your friends have travelled and either came back or have settled in whatever country they are in with a girlfriend or wife. So if you are moving, you are moving alone and if you do that..it's not going to be fun. It's going to be just like your life there right now but you'll get to have new experiences..it's exciting but not necessarily fun.

Odds are your employer won't agree to give you extended leave either...unfortauntely with the recession they kind of have you by the balls. I asked my previous employers and nothin' doing..If you want any tips on the travelling craic Message me. Good luck!

That's because you're still doing the thing you've given out about through your post, why don't you take some time off and travel around different places. You've said your sick of work but jumped straight in to a new job?????? Not trying to be mean, just pointing out what i've seen in your post.

Sleepy

I have very few regrets in life. Not travelling more extensively before becoming a father is a major one for me. I've seen lots of Europe on Ryanair weekends/weeks away but have seen very little further afield and really regret not doing J1's during the summers when I was in college or getting my act together to save enough for a "gap year" of travel.

LegacyUser

Hi again, OP here.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm grateful not to get any replies about silly "first world problems".

I think I've decided that traveling is something I definitely have to do, and it's not just me thinking the grass in always greener. Its something I've always looked forward to doing even was I was a young teenager. I feel like I just fell into my job, I started the day after I finished my final year exams and I've been stuck there since. And as another poster commented I have almost five years experience at this stage so I don't think I'd find it completely impossible to get another job.

I don't think I'll be happy if I stayed in a job (I don't even like) for security and just tipping away with my life. I'm not saying my life isn't fun, I have a good social life and a great long term partner but really its just too hum drum at this stage in my life. This will the the only time in my life that I won't have responsibilities, no mortgage, no kids and no ties really.

Luckily my OH is willing to come with me when he finishes up his contract next May even though he's probably not too pushed! I think even if we go for a couple of months and have to come home again at least I will feel I've ticked it off my list.

Thanks again for all the replies, they've all been really helpful

jester77

You have a few years working experience, so you should have a few options. Talk with your company and see if you can get an assignment working abroad for a few months, if that is not possible then ask about taking a sabbatical. Every company I've worked for have allowed this and you can usually take anywhere from 3 - 12 months off and you then return to your position. Some companies I have worked with even allow you to take a reduced salary for the year before your sabbatical so that you receive a small monthly salary while you are away.

beks101

What about combining travel with career? Would you be open to that, or do you prefer the idea of taking a career break and just globe-trotting for a year or two?

I'd be similar to you, same age and pretty career-minded. Left a good job and a decent step on the career ladder about two years ago (months before the bailout) and just took a shot in the dark and came to Toronto, not knowing how it would pan out. I've ended up getting far superior work experience in a big corp over here than ever would have been possible at home, so travel has actually turned out to be the better career move for me.

But I guess if you have saved enough and have a finite plan with a definite return date, doing something completely un-career-related might be the more fun option, especially given you've been working right through your 20s.

Best of luck whatever you do. You'll never regret travelling, as my mum always says