Quitting a good CAREER for RTW trip

[Hughes9115]

I keep up to date with what's going on with you guys quite often by reading this site. However, I don't often post so I thought I'd give you an update.

I'm 25 years old (male).
I live in Columbus, Ohio and work as a Designer in the Auto Industry (Engineering)
This September will mark 2 years in that job. (+7months in the same department when I was in University)
I've done a decent amount of SOLO traveling in the past few years. Internship and traveling in Europe for a total of 9 weeks when I was in University. 3 months in W. Europe and E. Europe after graduation. 2 weeks in Morocco last Christmas / New Years.

That being said. I'm addicted to traveling and want to go on a 1 year (approx.) trip before its "too late". The thought of settling down with wife, kids, house, more possesions, etc without taking this trip scares me to death because I know I would look back thinking I missed out on a golden opportunity.

However, I have a great group of friends here and the beginnings of a career that some young mechanical engineers probably dream about (designing cars). I don't really know exactly why I'm posting all of this. I guess I need a "kick in the pants" or something to go through with this. Reassurance if you will.

Based on some other opportunites that I have I'm thinking that I either want to leave this coming December or December 2007. If I decide to leave this December I need to start planning (mental preparation more than logistical). If I'm going to wait until next year I'm just worried that something (ANYTHING) might happen to put the stoppers on my trip. Relationship, financial problem, family problem, anything. Oh yeah....currently, I've saved up enough money to get me started on a RTW trip. Who knows how long my funds would last but I would think at least 7-9 months (without stopping to work).

What are you views of my situation? I think I basically need help quitting my "good" job in exchange for my freedom.

Thanks for you help.
Andy

[bluepea]

Well, last year, my husband quit his job, which was very decent to take off for our own adventure. He got 3 job offers before we left. We weren't sure how long we were going to be gone or anything... only ended up a few months. Anyhow, came to Chicago, he's in a great job now, if he stays, he'll be in the six figure range within the next couple of years. Alas, a traditional, settled down life is not for us either, money aside. Next year(ish), we're giving it all up yet again to join either the Peace Corps or another organization to volunteer abroad. I wonder if I'll ever be able to settle down.

[Hughes9115]

NICE......THATS what I like to hear.

How old are you and your husband?.....If you don't mind me asking.

[bluepea]

We're actually only 23. My husband has been in IT since he was... 17? Youngest person at the company - always is. We kind of got a jumpstart on adulthood, then in the throes of it realized we were more the adventurous types and have been transitioning back and forth. Guess we get the best of both worlds.

[worldwidemike]

Hey Hughes...Columbus, OH, eh? Well, you may know that's where Jengt, Brookers13 and I all live! We'll have to get together and talk some travel...

Anyway, I know a certain lovely Tpunker who also had a satisfying career (and was quite a bit further along) who chucked it all, and took off traveling, too. Atchoum is an inspiration to me, as she's closer to my age than most Tpunkers, and had the courage to do that.

I'd say to go for it (surprise, surprise). Look at it this way: Once you take that "dream job," your dream of traveling around the world for a year is going to be very, very difficult to do. How many engineering or automobile industry positions offer 12 months vacation? None, of course. And you know you want to do it...to have that kind of desire and drive to have saved for this, so far, means you're a worldly person. When you come back from this trip, you'll be that much more worldly. And if you're determined to get that dream job back, you'll be more mentally willing to relocate...you'll have the entire country/world to look for that engineering position instead of just Central Ohio, or whatever. Make sense?

Do it.

worldwidemike

[omisan]

Hey Hughes - I believe we met in Barcelona right before you started your engineering gig, and you sounded pretty damn excited about it... SOoooo, based on that alone, I'd recommend sticking with it until you're really ready to move on. This is a chance to make some $$$, stash it away, and plan your attack on this big, wide world, and when the time comes, you'll be ready to take it on, can afford to do whatever you like (within reason, I guess) and not worry about other entanglements (relationships, family, work, etc.) because it's all part of the plan anyway, right?

A buddy of mine, he's doing it now. Over the last several years, he's been envious of all my travel time, adventures, yadda yadda yadda, but now the tables are turned. He'd been busy saving up, focusing on his career, and being a grown up... and now he's sold his townhouse, quit his job, and is ready to go RTW for at least a year. He's got pretty much a load of time to do whatever the hell he wants now, all because he was patient and put some of the big travels aside for a while.

I see it as really difficult - I'm more impulsive than a planner - but now that I see the grand adventure he's taking on, and that he has the means to do it, I wish I'd done the same!

[U2fan]

Hey Andy, I've met you too!

I also remember you being excited about it. I guess I don't know enough details to put my vote in one way or the other. Can you come back to your job when your trip is over or would you have to give it up potentially for good? Decisions, decisions...I do hear you on the "if now, then maybe never" aspect; I think that's something we all think about!

[Hughes9115]

WWM.....yeah, those of us in C-Bus should meet up sometime. Do you live near downtown by any chance? I live in Victorian Village / Short North and there are plenty of cool bars down here for a lil meet up. Thanks for your input on my situation

Omisan and U2Fan.....I'm glad you guys remember meeting me in Spain last year....good times

I think I have been doing what Omisan is talking about. I've been working for about 2 years now and stashing away cash. If I get too much saved up I'll end up buying a house or something (good investment but bad for being able to pick up and leave for long term travel at the drop of a hat).

I guess I WAS kind of excited / proud to be going to work in the automotive industry as a designer. It has its moments I guess. However, I don't see myself in this same job for 3-4 more years or anything like that.
I would definitly have to quit my job for the trip. I think that IF (thats the key word) I wanted to come back to the same company I could probably get another engineering job. Maybe as a designer, maybe as a test engineer, or maybe doing some other function at the factory.
One encouraging idea is that I could PROBABLY leave, travel for a year, and then jump back into my old job, in the same room, with the same people who are doing the same thing......and never miss a beat. That would be funny to me.

"What have you been up to Bob?"........Bob: same old stuff. I got a 1.459 percent raise!!!!

"What have you been doing Andy?"........Andy: not much, just traveling around the world for the last 12 months.

Thanks for your input guys.

[omisan]

I don't know how your company works, but at many, if you stick around long enough, you can get a sabattical or leave of absence and come back to the same or similar position. Unfortunately, this isn't one of those things you can go and ask HR about, because then they immediately start thinking of replacing you! So if you have the employee handbook handy, look up sabatticals or leaves and see if they have anything to say

[U2fan]

Hmm....well there is something to be said about having that safety net there; that you could go back to the same thing...

[worldwidemike]

Originally posted by Hughes9115@Jun 8 2006, 04:23 AM
WWM.....yeah, those of us in C-Bus should meet up sometime.* Do you live near downtown by any chance?* I live in Victorian Village / Short North and there are plenty of cool bars down here for a lil meet up.

[snapback]124892[/snapback]

Sure thing! I'm leaving for Hilton Head this Saturday, but if you want to meet up with Jengt and I this Friday, and who knows, Brookers might be ready to celebrate the end of exams, we'd be up for it...Other than that, it might be July before I can swing it.

I hear you on the buying the house tying you down. I bought mine up on the north side of Columbus (near where Northland Mall used to be) two years ago, and it has been drop-kicking my finances ever since!

Let me know whether you're up for a meetup this weekend...

worldwidemike

[Hughes9115]

WWM....I'd like to but I will be out of town all weekend. I'm going to PA for a race.
Maybe some weekend later this summer when you guys are avail. Or even during the week is fine with me!!

Race Car

That's me..in the grey number 17!!!!

[Brookers13]

ya im out this weekend too...

Buffett is tonight in Cincinnati!!!!!!!!!!1

and then I have to be moved out by Saturday and go home to the A-K cuz I have a few things left to do before my flight leaves on TUESDAY!!!! ahhhhh

[Sabrosa]

Do it!! What better time than now? I agree completely with WWM on this.
While you have the inspiration, the desire, the need and the money.....do it. You'll never regret it. You never know what doors the world will open up for you.

[MeTurk]

As I see it chucking in a job after going through all the collage stuff maybe like throwing all that work down the toilet. Or is it? Do companys not hire people who travel or something? You have two years experience which puts you ahead of the rest.

Maybe you could be on the lookout for a more interesting aplication of your learnings while you travel.

Whatever you do the world won't end, I don't think you can make a bad desiccion here it's just a mtter of picking whatever you want more.

[Sabrosa]

Also...think about acquiring a 2nd language while you're away. The way I see it...atleast you're acquiring some valuable skills while travelling, which...could pad your resume a bit. Kindof make up for that void on your resume? Just a thought.

[Working Nomad]

Yea I quit the corporate rat race and now I am an independent web publisher and writer who can work and travel at the same time.

I may not make the same sort of money but I am a lot happier and have freedom like noting else!

[millmuff]

Yeah, sorry I'm a little late on this one but just wanted to say thanks for your post. I've been hovering around the site for a few months and have acquired some great info and ideas for my travels but I have the exact same problem as you.

I've recently gone through some tough personal situations and unlike most people my job is one thing that has been an absolute rock in my life. Having said that I still feel like I need to do something and quick before it "passes me by" and I regret it forever.

Unfortunately I haven't dropped my job as of yet so my advice can't tell tell you exactly to quit, but my plan is this. I'm going to put all my holidays together for early next year and head out on approx a month to two trip. When I get back if I still feel the itch then I'll ask for a leave, if they wont give it to me I'll quit. I figure its worth the troubles of having to come back....or not...and find another great job rather than not go and think about how big of weak baby I was to never do what I wanted. It sucks that sometimes you have to make decisions that might now work out for you but a at least you had the balls to try.

This probably wont help your situation out much but just wanted to let you know that theres lots of us out there and no matter what people think your doing wrong or throwing away if you feel it then you should do it. Good luck bro.....get busy living or get busy dying.

[@dam]

I'm more than a little late to this thread, but it really caught my eye. I've been in the Air Force for seven years. I'm currently a Captain and make pretty decent money, but I don't think this is the life I want. Two weeks ago, I found out the Air Force is cutting 40,000 positions. They were looking for volunteers and offering a severance pay of ~one year's wages. I had just been cruising along in my career path because I wasn't sure what to do, but this really forced me to make some quick decisions. I applied, and I'll be done this summer. As soon as I sell my house, my wife (32) and I (30 in a couple of months) won't have a thing in the world tying us down, and will have a years pay sitting in the bank with no expenses. After a trip to Thailand last year, we knew we wanted to travel more, so this is a perfect opportunity to take a trip similar to the one you're thinking about.

I found out they accepted me to seperate last week. I was scared to death at first- my entire adult life has been wraped up in this career. It is IMPOSSIBLE for me to withdraw my application though, so off I go. I actually feel a sense of great freedom and opportunity now. I'm also a mechanical engineer, and there are lots of good jobs out there. My wife was talking to an old friend the other day and telling her about our plans. This friend's dad recently died, and she said it made her think of her own mortality and what she wants to do before she dies. Life is short, and you can never be sure when your time is up. A day will come when you might wish you'd done certain things, but now it's too late. Most people die without really experiencing the world or following their dreams. I don't think we're going to have that problem.

Also, think of the wonderful opportunity we have for being born at just the right time and place to have money for major leisure activities, a relatively stable, clean, prosperous world, and cheap, fast air travel. It is a very, very narrow window of time. We're a very fortunate generation right now. If you wait until you retire before you travel, the world will have 3x as many people as it has today, and fewer resources. It may be a good idea to see the world as it exists today. Furthermore, oil and energy will likely be so expensive that, once again, only the elite will be able to afford global air travel. I'm really glad with how this timing has worked out. My wife and I were going to try to have a kid soon, but now we'll wait until we return. If you have an opportunity to do this, it is a good idea to take it. Most people who have ever or will ever live will never have the luxury of making a choice like this, let alone actually doing it.

Good luck.

[Esterina]

^^^I salute your courage and integrity ! And thanks for your inspirational words, they'll find here the right hearts.