Well...I did it!

[F30lolz]

We'll be gentle. GL on your excursion(s).

[P1]

Originally Posted by MPerformance211

OP - you have to be happy man. Life is too damn short to be miserable. Congrats!!!!

I was in the banking industry for 24 years and last year said "fuck it"....I couldn't take it anymore (too much regulation, corp political bullshit, et al). My largest client offered me a position to run his real estate development company and one year later.....I absolutely love it. Took a 20% pay cut in base pay but I am 100% happier. I will get some % ownership in future development projects so from a compensation standpoint, I will be better off in the long run. I answer to him (owner of company) and him only and manage a staff of only 8. My suits and ties are collecting dust and I am wearing shorts/polo shirts to work and I couldn't be happier.

Good for you mate. I have friends that make loads of money, but are an absolute slave to their jobs and don't even get a full weekend off. They are miserable, and aren't even able to enjoy the money they're making because they at work all day long. Hardly see their wives, or able to tuck their kids into bed at night because they're home too late.

What is the saying, something along the lines that you are so busy making a living that you're unable to live life?

[kscarrol]

Missed this thread earlier... Good for the OP! I finally did this three years ago, in hindsight, best move I've ever made!

Life is short, enjoy it! As long as you are reasonably responsible with your finances, do it.

[BayMoWe335]

Allow me to be a fly in the ointment here. Boring perspective, but something to think about. Take it or leave it.

People fail to realize the incredible cost of quitting their jobs and then spending a majority of their savings on a world trip.

Always run to something, not away from something. And always remember, when the fun is done, you have a harsh reality to return to unless you're independently wealthy or have a nice inheritance to fall back on.

Sure, you can always save up again, but these 20 somethings that quit their $50k/yr jobs to travel for a year on a budget lose a lot more than just the cost of the trip.

Have a little balance. Struggling with work? Ask for leave. Take a short trip. Take a couple weeks vacation. Demand fewer hours. You have nothing to lose if you're already ready to just quit.

I've read a bunch of these stories lately, and they all have one thing in common. The people doing it aren't rich, something you need to be to quit your job and travel the world. All of them save for years to pile up enough cash, then spend it all in one go and give up earnings, experience, and compound growth they'll never get back. They also end up traveling on a strict budget, not necessarily the way you want to see the world.

I've traveled all over the world, but I've done it while always maintaining a full time job. If you can afford it, by all means. But if you're just doing it to have a great experience, might want to re-think it. You'll have to make up for lost time later and you'll be a hell of a lot older, and less willing/able to do it then.

[BMW F22]

^ there are always opportunity cost and trade offs. Sometimes things will make sense to some but not others. To each his own I guess. One doesn't have to be rich to take a chance and bet on himself.

[BMW F22]

So yesterday my manager said to me "you gotta use your brains and think a little." I have a masters degree. Fml.

Second to last day. It is no wonder I am leaving the place.

[TrevorM3]

so many debbie downers in here. op is a grown ass man who has made a decision to do something 90% of you are scared to even contemplate.



good for you, post pics of your travels.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by TrevorM3

so many debbie downers in here. op is a grown ass man who has made a decision to do something 90% of you are scared to even contemplate.



good for you, post pics of your travels.

Thanks man! I'll update this thread when I can while on my trip.

[M3 Number 86]

I'm on the brink as well.

I wouldn't travel though - more like I"m not allowed to.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

So yesterday my manager said to me "you gotta use your brains and think a little." I have a masters degree. Fml.

Second to last day. It is no wonder I am leaving the place.

I understand your pain! Sometimes I think to myself, does ANYONE HAVE A BRAIN IN HERE?!

[pnastyFL]

awesome, looking forward to seeing some pics and stories on here

[litxus]

Good luck OP, a life without trying something new or taking a slight chance would not be a life. If you crash and burn, it will still be better than doing nothing (playing very safe) and wondering "what if" all your life. I actually feel sad for all the people that live in one place and never travel anywhere (even to another state).

[fazman]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

Rough itinerary in my head: Vietnam first, then Thailand and Cambodia, then back to Vietnam for another week or two, then Hong Kong for a few days, and maybe South Korea or Japan for about a week.

I will then either fly to Europe from Asia or fly back to the US, spend a few days here and then to Europe. I plan on backpacking around for a few weeks before meeting up a lady friend and her sister in Iceland for a week. I'll head back to the US after that.

Vietnam was awesome, been there twice... miss the ice coffee and the awesome seafood. it was lots of fun just trying to walk across the street and also fun riding shot gun on a scooter.

i usually wait for a layoff before i go tour the world (they hand u a grip of cash for severance and vacation pay and then u get 6 months of unemployment benefits to hold you over. i can proudly say i've been laidoff from some of the best tech places to get laid off from over the past 20 years).

Been to:
SoCal
NorCal
AZ - grand canyon and kingman
NV - vegas (Many LA to vegas runs)
IL - bean town
CT
NJ (But really this should almost be considered a different country, hated it)
Drove from NJ to IL and back
Drove NJ to MD then to DC and back
WA - Seattle
Drove NY to MA and back
NY
PA
FL

Mexico
Canada (Niagara Falls, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal)
Taiwan
HK
Macau
Vietnam
Thailand
Pakistan
Qatar
UK
(Most of these places i have been to multiple times).


Places i would like to see some day after a future layoff:
India
China (Mainland)
Saudi Arabia
Dubai
Malaysia
Singapore
Indonesia
Phillipines
Korea (South... duh!)
Japan
Australia
New Zealand
Scotland
Ireland
Holland
France
Germany (euro delivery, drive the ring)
Russia
Belarus
Costa Rica
Belize
Spain
Argetina

[terryd5150]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

Lol. I read in several books that sometimes you have to "burn bridges" in order to proceed. If you know there is no going back, the only way is forward. I am a little bit scared and uncertain but I have faith and I believe that things will work out for the better.

This is true, to some degree.

When you positively can't go back, the only way to move is forward.

It can be scary, and difficult, but it can pay off in a big way.

It did for me; best wishes, OP.

[BMW F22]

Landed in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday morning. After settling in to our AirbNb place we went to Ben Thanh market to grab a quick lunch (street food), bought some flip flops for my buddy, drank a lot of milk tea at Phuc Long (pretty hip place in the city), and then went drinking/chill with the cousins. That's my buddy riding with my cousin's friend. The area across the building below is where they filmed Top Gear's Vietnam episode.

[Nkc]

How was the lineup at the milk tea place?
It was Phuc Long.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by Nkc

How was the lineup at the milk tea place?
It was Phuc Long.

Lol. Nice one. Not much of a line but it was packed with people sitting inside drinking their tea/coffee.

[bimmette]

Originally Posted by Nkc

How was the lineup at the milk tea place?
It was Phuc Long.

[bimmette]

Can't believe you're there already!!!

[fazman]

Originally Posted by Nkc

How was the lineup at the milk tea place?
It was Phuc Long.

Phuc yea! Now he needs some Pho.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by bimmette

Can't believe you're there already!!!

Chilling by the pool at my cousin's condo.

[Nkc]

Originally Posted by fazman

Phuc yea! Now he needs some Pho.

I want some Pho Phuc Noa too.