foofiter

I carried this over from the general advice thread since it got lost in the mayhem.

Thanks for all the input guys. I have decided (before this post) to pay off the student loans ($16K USD) as fast as possible regardless of my choice. I actually have my credit cards back to $0. My inspiration is to be like the "Hobo Traveler" guy. His site is http://www.hobotraveler.com . I have been reading his blog for a while and read just about everything on his site. We have emailed back and forth. He has been traveling for 8 years non-stop. His google ads on his site provide him with enough income to live and travel. He also lives very cheaply. This is what I aspire to do one day and I have created my own site which (according to TP) I am not allowed to post here.

I have looked into the REITS and actual properties for investing. I do intend to have some income generating investments if I decide to take the "travel forever" route. I think U2 is right about the MBA in Europe leads to more job opportunities. I would personally be ok with no career and just seeing the world like that Hobo guy. I also have an interest in travel writing and maybe that would one day lead to something. And if I did take the "travel forever" route and finally decided to stop for whatever reason, I could open a hostel or be a tour guide or whatever. I would cross that bridge when I got to it.

I found that all of this college education and professional designations that I have received in preparation for a career has taught me that I am not really concerned with a career at all. A major concern is retirement. If I am traveling the world and living hand to mouth then I will be unable to save for a comfortable retirement (or anything else for that matter). I would have to rely on the government and inheritances for it. Even if I traveled for 5 or 10 years and stopped it would be a major setback for retirement savings. It is an issue I would have to analyze carefully because my dad has been working all his life, is now 48 and has essentially no savings. I don't want to be in that same boat. It looks as if I must choose between retirement savings and permanent travel.

UPDATE: I have decided to screw the MBA and put my "career" on hold (if not indefinately) to work toward the single goal of traveling. The only cure for the travel bug is to travel. Then it turns into an addiction or even a lifestyle. Anyway, I have made my descision and I am now working 5 days a week and finish my last semester of college on the other 2. When I graduate I will work 7 days a week. I am hell bent on getting this done. I would especially like to hear from those of you out there that have traveled for extended periods (ie kingcrazylegs has done a 5 year stretch). I would love to hear about how to make money and where to look.

I appreciate all of the input and need more.

Cheers,

foofiter

__________________
"To Alcohol! The cause of--and solution to--all life's problems." -- Homer J. Simpson
"I didn't get to where I am today worrying about how I am going to feel in the morning." -- Ron White (Blue Collar Comedy Tour)
"I was born to lose and destined to fail." -- Mike Ness, Social Distortion
"Eat healthy, exercise daily, die anyway" -- My motto
"Everyone I know, goes away, in the end...I will let you down, I will make you hurt..." -- Johnny Cash (NIN Cover of "Hurt")

I am traveling around the world until I find something that makes me want to stop. I am an aspiring photographer and hope to find whatever it is I am looking for...