Undecided re travelling the world!

canavanbn@hotma

Heres' the deal, final year of college considering of heading off.
Only thing is i'm wondering will I regret it.
To those of you who did take the plunge, did you regret it?
My reasons for going are that 1) want to travel, 2) Could do with change of scenery, 3)Nows the time as I'm young, single blah,blah..basically everyone, even folks are saying there'll never be a better time.
My concerns are about, falling behind in the career ladder, and the fact that everyone will be moving on in the year ahead.
Friends have long term GF's, cars, getting houses etc..I want all those things but I know if I go when I get back I'll be living at home, and the prospect of buying a house will be even further away!
Post sounds negative, but I'm trying to be realistic too.
To those of you who have gone away, what had changed by the time you got back?
Friends moved on? Fell behind career wise?
Just curious.
How about this alternative plan of getting flat in short term, and rent it out in couple of years when im 26/27 and hit the road then?
What you reckon!

Imposter

If travelling the world is something you want to do then do it. You only regret the things you didn't do. ALso if you have nothing tying you down you'd be mad not to.

Going at 26/27 is a plan but by then you might like your cushy life, with your flat and possibly a girlfriend. Do it now while you can. It will probably also teach you a lot about yourself which will probably help you career wise. As for being a year behind does one year out of 40 really matter in the long run. Yes your friends might have more than you but will they have regrets about not doing what you've done and will they be happy with their life?

If wou can do it and you want to do it, I say do it.

frodi

Go for it, now or never.
A year spent travelling will be just as valuable career/experience wise as a year spent in an office somewhere.

Ruu_Old

you'll get some life experience if nothing else from the trip go for it

yeraulone

By the sounds of your post, I take it your in your early 20s - go travelling - you have the rest of your life to get on the "ladder".

Besides, you never know what opportunities/experiences might come your way in different parts of the world - friends, love, career blah blah.

p.pete

Career - 1 year and you won't be behind. Longer and you may have some issues but prospective companies will see that you've already travelled so "possibly" less likely to up sticks and leave again in the near future. Also they may see you as more mature, maybe.

House / Car etc. - you'll probably be in pretty much the same position when you get back as you are now, which isn't so bad really. Once you start trying to attain these things the idea of travel gets a lot more difficult.

Rossonero

I don't know if I'm the best to take advice from, but here is my opinion about the matter.

I suffer from dromomania; the compulsive urge to wander or to travel (it's an actual medical condition!)

I regard enjoying life far more important than career prospects.
I will definately be travelling the world; hiking in Alaska, tour latin america, travelling through Europe/Asia on motorbike (have to learn to ride and fix and buy a bike, but i will)

As for money, to me it's not a matter of whether i can afford to go travelling, but will i have enough money left over for important things like accomodation, etc.


Do it, travel.

Dave!

Rossonero wrote:

I don't know if I'm the best to take advice from, but here is my opinion about the matter.

I suffer from dromomania; the compulsive urge to wander or to travel (it's an actual medical condition!)

I regard enjoying life far more important than career prospects.
I will definately be travelling the world; hiking in Alaska, tour latin america, travelling through Europe/Asia on motorbike (have to learn to ride and fix and buy a bike, but i will)

As for money, to me it's not a matter of whether i can afford to go travelling, but will i have enough money left over for important things like accomodation, etc.


Do it, travel.

holy sh!t, I might have that disease! :eek:

I'm obsessed with travelling lately... I'm only 18, but I've been planning on going travelling all over the world, for about 2 years now. Seriously, it's all I think about! I've loads of books and maps and everything...

Cool

LegacyUser

i never did the travel the world thing, did the work thing, and i've a gaf and a great job.

my job also lets me take a years career break, which i may take advantge of, when my ssia matures.

i'm 29 by the way, contrary to popular belief, life doesn't end in your late 20's.

but i would say, do it before you get into a serious relationship.

Glowing

I'm 25 and i'm off on the round the world thing on January 16th, starting in Thailand, taking in China, vietman, Laos and Cambodia, NZ and Oz! Yipee!

I've always wanted to do it, and its a lot easier when you don't have a car, mortgage, kids hanging out of you etc. Its not that your life will end when you're 30 or anything, its just all these factors will make it incredibly difficult do have the care free year you've always dreamed of. I'm lucky in that i've been able to save for the past few years since college and i've worked hard, so i've no qualms at all about ditching the 9-5 thing for a while.

In the grand scheme of things, a year is absolutely nothing. However you'll see things you'll never see from your armchair, meet amazing people, and probably come back with completely new priorities. Its a definate for me, anyhow.

Do it, while you can!

Dave!

aww, you're leaving on my birthday Lucky!

humbleCounty

do it!

im 22, off for 6 months, just under a month in. Was a little nervous at the start, like yourself i suppose, but it is great. So many stories already, and a hell of a long way to go, im visiting india, nepal, thailand, laos, vietnam, cambodia, new zealand, easter island, chile, bolivia, peru, brazil, uruguay and argentina not much time in each place cos i only have 6 months, but quality nonetheless!

Thomond Pk

Six months is a long time; a year is even better; I'd have a go at it; I very much doubt any employer will hold it against you; when they are hiring everyone is hiring and depending on your career path a 'willingness to travel' may be considered a positive.

gerire

Do it! Ill let you know in a few months about getting back into a career but its not something I am worried about in the slightest now. Im back just over a week and am trying to figure out how the hell Im going to pay off my debts and save to travel again at the same time?

BC

GO!
As someone else said, its only a year, its hardly likely to set your career back too much and sure you'll catch up anyway. As regards having to start again when you get back, so what, you're only young! You have the rest of your life to get a house, settle down etc.

It sounds like you definately want to travel so why not now. There will always be reasons for going & not going. Even if you wait till you are 26, 27 there will probably be other things in your life then that make it harder.

I went when i was 24. I worked for a year or so after college to get the cash together and then i headed off. I'm 28 now and i'm not sure i could do it now. I'm too used to my home comforts and while i still enjoy travelling, the idea of slumming it for a year doesn't have quite the same appeal!!!

To the poster who said life doesn't end in your late 20's, obviously it doesn't but your ability to get certain visas does. For example you can only get a year visa for Oz if you're under 31!

d-arke

hey man, i know what your thinking. like every says, you might regret it, but then again you might not. do you really want to do what everyone else is doing and jump on the bandwagon?? i've decided instead off going on a one year break, to move to london for a while, that way im travelling, getting a change of scenery, starting a career etc etc. sure i'll be renting, forget what people say about rent being dead money etc, you'll have nothing to hold you down if you bought a house/car, so then after a year in london say, have a look into moving to somewhere else. regarding being behind in your career, as long as you hold down a job in a career related position for a decent length of time you'll be able to chop and change and still work your way up