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Quitting Your Job to Travel

Mr. Wade Garrett

Mr. Wade Garrett

VUSports.com Addict
Dec 11, 2007
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I realize this isnt for everyone but i fight to get out of bed every morning and NOT quit my job and jump on a plane one way.

Any of you guys ever done it? Slightly worried id never land another high paying job.

Have a good amount of dough in savings and zero percent of my heart in my work anymore.
 
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How old are you?

How much would you spend and what percentage of your savings would that represent?

How quickly after you re engage can you get another job?

I am guessing that you don't have any dependents.

I think you should strongly consider it and perhaps it may lead you to work you really love. Its a ballsy move and if you do it your diary should be posted on benchwarmers.
 
Give your company to your secretary and book the next flight out of town.

Godspeed.
 
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Not married? No kids? Plenty of cash in the bank? No brainer - do it.

If you are talented, you'll get work down the road.
 
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Id feel comfortable dropping $100k doing it.

Have good amount saved. Not going to be fooled into telling benchwarmers my net worth. Nice try though.
 
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Obviously, you want to make smart decision, but live your life the way you want. Things happen for a reason. Go with your heart. They'll be other jobs when you're ready for that again.
 
Mr. Wade Garrett said:
Id feel comfortable dropping $100k doing it.
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You're a fool not to do it. You're not gonna look back and say "I wish I didn't do all that fun, interesting stuff. I could have gotten half a condo in Fort Myers instead." If you're looking to make it even more interesting, change to a more flexible career upon return.
 
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Mr. Wade Garrett said:
I realize this isnt for everyone but i fight to get out of bed every morning and NOT quit my job and jump on a plane one way.

Any of you guys ever done it? Slightly worried id never land another high paying job.

Have a good amount of dough in savings and zero percent of my heart in my work anymore.
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Absolutely go for it, Wade. NOTHING beats traveling to different places in the world. If you put it off, you'll probably never go. You'd rather be old and looking back on what a great experience it was than thinking I really wish I had done that. Go tomorrow - you'll love it!
 
Quit my job in May 2013 but started traveling in feb of that year since I knew I was leaving. Was originally supposed to just be a summer but ended up stretching it until July 2014. Spent a year's severance and then some but totally worth it. Mixed international travel with festivals and sporting events. Made a 27 minute recap movie of the trip. I don't want to get married or have kids so I only have to worry about myself which made the decision easier. Plan to take a year off every 7/8 years or so. Highly advise to anyone not looking to play the standard role of responsible adult.
 
I quit my finance job in Philly in June 09. I had a little money saved, the real reason i quit was i couldnt stand my co workers, i just had enough. so i bailed. within a week i was bored. the first week i golfed daily, went to the borgata, and played basketball, swam , worked out. it felt great, then the second week i felt worthless.

it took me 5 months to find a new job and for those five months i worried constantly. it was not worth it.

If you are rich then do it. if not just take a long vacation, if you come back and want to quit then do so. but id test the waters first.
 
novabball2 said:
I quit my finance job in Philly in June 09. I had a little money saved, the real reason i quit was i couldnt stand my co workers, i just had enough. so i bailed. within a week i was bored. the first week i golfed daily, went to the borgata, and played basketball, swam , worked out. it felt great, then the second week i felt worthless.

it took me 5 months to find a new job and for those five months i worried constantly. it was not worth it.

If you are rich then do it. if not just take a long vacation, if you come back and want to quit then do so. but id test the waters first.
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There's a big difference between quitting a job without a plan and taking a sabbatical.
 
novabball2 said:
I quit my finance job in Philly in June 09. I had a little money saved, the real reason i quit was i couldnt stand my co workers, i just had enough. so i bailed. within a week i was bored. the first week i golfed daily, went to the borgata, and played basketball, swam , worked out. it felt great, then the second week i felt worthless.

it took me 5 months to find a new job and for those five months i worried constantly. it was not worth it.

If you are rich then do it. if not just take a long vacation, if you come back and want to quit then do so. but id test the waters first.
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Fair response, but a couple of points:

- I wouldn't be quitting just to quit. I'd be quitting because i want to see the world and i cant do that in standard alotted vacation time.
- i just did two weeks in europe and it wasn't nearly enough.
- I'm not "rich" but i do have a couple hundred grand saved and would be willing to part with about $100. Realistically see myself maxing at $50k before wanting to come home.
- I also plan on returning and launching a private investment, which requires time that my career wont allow for.
- Lastly, like i said, ive lost the passion for my current career and could use some time to reevaluate.

Truth is, still scared shitless to actually do it.
 
couple hundred grand saved? how old are you? is this all your savings or did you inherit money?
 
very true, i was 28 and miserable at work. anyway it forced me to start my own thing which worked out. so all in all it worked out but a very scary 5 months. it was a short term mistake but long term the best move i ever made with my career.
 
i did two weeks in Europe last summer, after 10 days of travel i wanted to come home. im a home body but did love Europe. i just missed work (scary) and my routine.

i went to Amsterdam, Germany, Belgium.

ill go to Ireland eventually and thats it for me. could care less to see France or England.
 
i also got sick in germany and shit for a day. i drank raw milk and it almost killed me. my face swelled up like a beach ball and i was on the can for a day. not on and off. just ON.
 
high paying jobs are tough to come by.

i was making 70K plus bonus of about 5% yearly in 2009 and was 28. great bennies, great 401K match. great hours. was not a good move to up and quit. but since starting my own business my income has gone up and i am happier with a lot more flexibility in my life and work life.
 
Mr. Wade Garrett said:
Fair response, but a couple of points:

- I wouldn't be quitting just to quit. I'd be quitting because i want to see the world and i cant do that in standard alotted vacation time.
- i just did two weeks in europe and it wasn't nearly enough.
- I'm not "rich" but i do have a couple hundred grand saved and would be willing to part with about $100. Realistically see myself maxing at $50k before wanting to come home.
- I also plan on returning and launching a private investment, which requires time that my career wont allow for.
- Lastly, like i said, ive lost the passion for my current career and could use some time to reevaluate.

Truth is, still scared shitless to actually do it.
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Wanna go together, I could throw $50k out for no reason and go to Europe for half a year.
 
Longshot... but maybe ask your employer for unpaid leave of absence? Again, longshot they do it, but if they value you, who knows?

Back in 2001 I quit my job abruptly and moved back east without a plan. I regretted the move within days of moving back. Struggled big time for two years. Around the same time I resigned, a co-worker was taking a six month leave. Thought to myself, maybe I should inquire about this just in case. I didn't. I should have.
 
I have a friend (30 y/o) who works at Goldman who is in the midst of 3 months of unpaid leave. Granted she was transitioning groups, so the timing worked out, but might be worthwhile to see if you can do something like that (if you are a valued employee). She went on a 21 day camping trip in Africa and has been in Bali for about 3 weeks. If after however many months you don't want to go back, just quit then.
 
Africa and Bali are two places i never want to go.

My next vacation is Atlantis Bahammas, was there in 2011. place is the best. Im not a tent kinda guy. i need a 4 star hotel. i can do 3 but only if its a wedding for one night. im soft.
 
novabball2 said:
Africa and Bali are two places i never want to go.

My next vacation is Atlantis Bahammas, was there in 2011. place is the best. Im not a tent kinda guy. i need a 4 star hotel. i can do 3 but only if its a wedding for one night. im soft.
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You are a true CoP'er with all of these comments. Got homesick in Europe. That's a burrsie move.
 
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not really homesick, just tired of stuffing my face with Chocolate , Beer and Pastries. im not a good vacationer. in Atlantis i use the gym every morning, the lap pool, then ride the water slides all day before hitting the casino after dinner. i need physical activity. its a great resort for that.
 
In 2007, I decided to quit my job and travel mainly for the reason Mr. Wade Garrett stated....it was just going to be impossible to see all the places I wanted to see on two or three weeks of travel per year over the course of my life. I was single at the time, no kids, had been at my job for about seven years and the company at which I worked had recently sold off a good chunk of its assets. I was able to afford it, so I decided to give it a whirl. Perhaps this was foolish, but at no point while considering the trip, did the concern of not finding a job when I returned come into play.

I traveled out of a backpack from December, 2007 until February, 2009....I came back to the States twice during that period...once for the NCAA Tourney (and to switch out clothes and obtain travel visas) in March 2008 and again in May 2008 for a brief visit with a girl whom I had met during my time home in March.

I did about three months in Africa, three months in Europe, three months in Asia/South Pacific and three months in S. America. I did some tours, some travel alone and some travel with American friends who joined me along the way.

Best decision I ever made. Traveling for that long definitely isn't for everyone, but I found it really, really relaxing and low stress.

If you do it, I recommend buying and reading, The Practical Nomad beforehand.

In terms of costs, you can really do it at almost any price point.....just depends what you like in terms of accommodation and how much you value train/plane travel over bus travel.

Happy to provide you with any other suggestions/advice if you'd like it.

ONE NOTE: Vaccinations are very expensive and not covered by insurance
 
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Just move to Manhattan. There is a ton to do every day and you will never get bored.
 
Mr. Wade Garrett said:
Awesome response RStrick.

Thanks homie.
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$200k saved up in your early 30s? Impressive. Since you've done that on your own, I'd be more in favor of making this move. If you've been able to put that much in the bank this early, you're probably good at your job and will be an asset to someone when you return.
 
Strick, how much time did you spend doing advance planning before you embarked on your journey? I'm wondering how much you need to map out when doing such a trip and how much you can plan as you go. It takes me many hours to plan a simple vacation to Europe. Not sure I could get my act together to plan such an extended trip, even though it sounds great.
 
novabball2 said:
Africa and Bali are two places i never want to go.

My next vacation is Atlantis Bahammas, was there in 2011. place is the best. Im not a tent kinda guy. i need a 4 star hotel. i can do 3 but only if its a wedding for one night. im soft.
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Not sure how it is now, novabball2, but when I went to Bali in the 70's I seriously considered quitting my job and just staying there. If there was a paradise on earth back then, Bali was definitely it!
 
Every situation is different, every person is different. Personally, I couldn't do it. However, it sounds like you have been smart with your money, have an initial plan on next steps if/when you decide to quit and hate what you are currently doing. My guidance is simple: life is too short to be doing something that makes you miserable. Compartmentalize that for a moment. You need to figure that out regardless of what you do. That is not the reason to just quit and go travel. The flip side is to firm up a re-entry plan. You seem to have some initial ideas but I would work to have certainty around your next venture. Greece could go off the rails, another EU country collapses and you might find a much different workforce prior to leaving. I would take these things in isolation, make a plan and then make your decision. Regardless of whether you go travel the world you need to find another job. You are too young to be that unhappy and the problem is you're making too much cash that you'll become hostage to your job. You must break that cycle. From my seat that needs to be your primary goal. Taking a vacation and then going back to what you were previously doing (or something similar) will solve nothing.
 
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