I have made a decision to quit my job of five years, and go
traveling. I am excited, and anxious, and am starting to
wonder if this was really the brightest thing. Is it
normal to have second thoughts about this? Is 29 too old
to do this kind of thing? Will I fit in? UGH!
I'm worried I'll back out at the last minute.
(I'm also kind of thinking everyone is expecting me to)
[There are 15 posts - the latest was added on Sun 9 May, 23:11]
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A platitude: There is nothing to fear but fear itself.
Just think how you'd feel if you got to ninety and had
never done it, the things that you regret most are the ones
you haven't done (cliche, cliche)
Go on, you know you want to...
DONT BACK OUT!! you always regret the things you didnt do
more than those you did. 29 is *not* old, you will meet
people, you will have incredible experiences, and you will
not want to return. relax. you wouldnt have quit on a whim,
this is obviously something you want to do. you will have
plenty of time for 9-to-5 later. enjoy.
Since this is a female forum, I'm not sure if I'm welcome
but here goes...
Do anything that will make YOU happy. I've known too many
women (men, too actually) who live their lives trying to
please others or live to how others feel they should and
end up living lives of regret. Ask yourself this, "when I
am on my deathbed, do I want to have a sack full of regrets
and what-if's or do I want a sack of happiness and
accomplishments?" Sounds kinda cheesy but it worked for
me. I am a 29 year old male who went back to post-
secondary school at 23 (I too worried about NOT fitting in
with 18 year olds) but I wanted to do what was best for
ME!!! It took some adjusting to fit in, but eventually I
did, quite well, even formed a rock band with 4 other guys
5 years younger than me who said I rocked harder than guys
their age did!! So, my advice is go for it, clearly you've
made a conscious decision to do it by acknowledging it is
smoething you wish to pursue so you should take the next
step. I tip my hat to you my friend, if I had the money, I
would definitely do it. My fiancee and I have decided that
after the wedding and before children, we would take 6
months or a year off of work and live in Costa Rica or
Portugal.
You gotta do it. Life is not about chasing the $$$ all the
time, but chasing the $$ enough so you can pursue that
which interests you.
Bottom line is happiness, because life really is TOO
short. Best of luck to you 'worried' - drop me a note and
let me know how things turned out.
PS - If everyone is expecting you to back out, channel
those negative expectations towards positive drive...all
the more reason for you to go.
Hi worried! Here are answers to your questions....of course its normal to have second thoughts..a bit like buyers remorse when buying a house but it all turns out wonderfully in the end.....old ? what is old? I will be doing the same ( but longer at my job) thing next year and I was born in 50...you figure the age....I am really looking forward to having a wonderful adventure for appx 1 yr. If I can do it so can you....Will you fit in? who cares...just have the time of you life. I went to Europe for four months in 84 (34yr old) . My only regret is that I can't be on the road all the time..I love to travel and experience new things. So enjoy ..vienna is right you'll have plenty of time for the 9-5 later...good luck and have a great time...
you will have 2nd, 3rd 4th and 5th thoughts, I know I
have. In December while reading an article in my local
paper I decided that I wanted to do more than a two week
vacation. I am 35 (soon to be 36) have an excellent job at
the Discovery Chnnel and have never been unemployed. But
guess what - I am taking a year to travel SE & Central Asia
starting February 2000. You can do it too! Best of luck
I feel compelled to respond to your post as I too am 29 and
leaving the stability of five years of 9 to 5. The one
difference for me is that my job left me (you know, laid
off in a restructuring). I too have had second thoughts but
as I've made some commitments by purchasing tickets etc. I
am just going to take the plunge. Luckily for me I have a
great support network and everyone is envious of my
upcoming adventure. Don't let a little number (29) stop
you, after all we are expected to live past 80!! Just do
it!!
I did it for the first time when I was 32 and had a blast.
When the younger travelers found out how old I was, they
always called me "Mom". It was really rather fun and
endearing. I have no regrets what-so-ever. You're only as
old as you feel.
I echo the sentiments of all of the fine women before me!!!
I left a prestigious position with the police department
after seven years of employment, at the age to 28, to
travel. My first destination was Cairo, Egypt, where I
spent the summer of 1998. This year, I plan to leave again,
this time taking my 9 year old son, to tour Egypt, Turkey,
and Greece.
I have to say, I have never felt so free and in control of
my life!!! Though I have met with opposition from certain
family members and friends, I realize that this is what I
want to be doing right now!!! I don't want to end my life
with regret. The world is a wonderful place, good luck on
your adventure!!!
Hi Worried!
I wasn't even going to post a message becuase everyone has
already said what I think! I just wanted to say that my own
travels have taken me to many weird and wonderful places
and if I hadn't taken the chance in the past to go off into
the wilderness, I wouldn't have found my own eden! So go
for it... and if you're ever going to the greek islands,
come and see me on Levos. I spend six months of the year
running the local laundry and a small womens guest house in
Skala Eressos which is the Birthplace of Sappho. The place
is absolutely fabulous... you have to experience it to
believe it! Anyway, I don't want to use this response as my
own personal advert, but if you do want to know more,
please feel free to e-mail me and I'll help in anyway I can.
Thanks everyone....I feel better about everything!
I gave my notice at my apartment yesterday...eeks! Moving
back with family, rent free for a while...
I guess it takes a fellow traveller to understand the heart
of a gypsy.
Stop being worried...I've had the heart of gypsy my whole
life but have lived for 10 years in my corporate disguise!
I've been working for the government in a great job with a
great boss and interesting work. But, my heart keeps singing
about Mt. Everest, the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat and Huashan.
My heart has now convinced my feet this is the right thing
to do. So we're on the road for 1+ years in Sept.
.
I don't care that I'm 34 - maybe I'll be a bit older than
the crowd that'll be on the trails with me. Maybe they'll
call me mom like they did to post #7. So what!!! If this
is where my heart is telling me to be, I'm finally going to
listen to it.
.
I've got a 28-year girlfriend travelling right now around
the world. She was a high priced lawyer who put it all on
hold to live her dream. I've met a couple other people
who've done it too and they've all said - it was the best
thing they had ever done. They never regretted it at all...
.
I think that guy up there, Shiney, is right on about regret.
Are you going to regret never having done this? That is
exactly the question I asked myself about a year ago when I
was really beginning to seriously think about doing this. I
knew this is what I've always wanted to do. If you feel the
same way, you cannot pass this up. Just go for it! Don't
look back!
I, too, am like #6. I just came back from dropping in at my
former office; I was laid off during a merger from my
prestigious job that I fought tooth and nail to get. But
before I got there, I travelled, I've kept travelling, and
it makes you a stronger, more truthful, better person.
You would be shocked if you knew how many people- women in
particular who didn't get cut in the merger and say they
want my golden parachute- they got swept up in the
corporate whirl and years later really wonder what "life
could have been." I don't really have a lot of patience for
that- they don't have to lose their job to redirect their
lives- but do you ever want to be in their shoes????
Please go.
Dear Worried, You have to go, you will just regret it if
you don't. I quit my job of 13 years last year, took my
savings and headed off to Mexico for a month. I also had a
lot of things I wanted to do while I'm still able, being 39
years old I wanted to be reasonably fit and capable. I know
now that I probably go back and do some of these things
later in life but there were some pretty tough activities I
may not be able to do when I'm 50. So go, enjoy yourself
and appreciate every bit of it. It's a wonderful world!
Don't use age as an excuse for not travelling to new places. Don't use the job as an excuse either. It's normal to be a little scared, but that's the thrill of it all. Setting new challenges for yourself every day. Break out of the comfortable box that we find ourselves in when we spend too long in one place. I'm going on 44yrs old,Moved to Nepal 4yrs ago as a volunteer English teacher, left the organisation I was with & have branched out on my own. I now run different programs to help the poverty stricken. Whenever I can I'm off down to different parts of India. Have joined a Uni as a full time Language student for 2yrs & have met so many interesting people from all parts of the World. Now back in Australia for a year to earn some money & catch up with my 2 daughters before Heading off back to Nepal in Dec this year. Next year I'm riding my bicycle solo through Vietnam, the year after going to Africa, the year after that........? I go out with my 21yr old daughter & people are astounded that I'm her Mum! It's not that I don't look my age, wrinkle wise, I just have a much younger attitude than the average 43yr old. Travel is what has changed my life, I couldn't imagine what it would be like had I never taken that 1st step. Good luck to you. One important thing to remember is to relax & chill out. It's not always easy, there are always lots of delays & you have to learn to be really patient. Use these times to sit & reflect on all that you have learned so far, take in the sights, smells, atmosphere. Spend as much time as possible with the locals in whichever country you're in, travel the way they do, eat cheap the way they do.....and smile!
Worried!
I wish I had your guts. I love to travel but I work in broadcasting and I earn a good living, but I have a mortgage and a new Harley that I have to pay for. I love to travel and the open road is always calling to me but I also have obligations like everyone else. The trick that works for me is not to just chuck everything, instead, find ways to "travel" for a day, two days, or two weeks. I find that my little trips usually add up to a lot. I go for solo bike trips all the time all over the US. I wish I coudl see more of the world but I have to wait. I'm more cautious because I have no family to fall back on to support me. I wish you luck and hope you Go For It. Have fun for all the 9-5 fivers!!!!