How to have FUN and travel while in late 20s....

[superseiyan]

.....early career, 9-5, just married, no kids.

I'm a little terrified of doing nothing outside of my work time then suddenly 10 years have past, I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old, and I'm approaching 40 and I haven't travelled.

I just came back from getting married in Italy, and stayed on 2 weeks after that and what a fantastic feeling I had. The country, the city of Rome, and just the memories, friends and laughter.

I'm determined to discover the world now, and to have many good experiences.

What are your thoughts on travel?

For me one limiting beleif that stays stuck in my head is that you need to be a millionaire to do hop over to Brazil or Mexico or Europe. That you have to be 100 years old to get that calm demeaonor of someone well travelled. Is travel possible without being "Rich"? How would you recommend that someone working 9-5 achieve something similar?

Second, have I blown it? How late is too late. I'm 27. Is 30, 32, 35, 40 too late to see the world and journey AND ENJOY it?

Regards,

[Angela]

I travelled the world throughout my 20s and early 30s. I was not rich. I would work for a bit, earn some money, then head for the next spot. I spent extended periods (a year or two) in some places and shorter visits to others.

When I first left, I did have to break myself loose from the 9-5 lifestyle, and shake off some habitual and inherited though patterns.

I highly recommend it! I'm very grateful to have had those experiences. I don't think it's ever too late.

[superseiyan]

Where did you go?

Did you have a conventional career or field?

Were gaps in your resume a problem finding work?

Do you have kids/husband?

[Angela]

All over the place: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Portugal, Wales, Maui..... I did "conventional" work as an executive assistant, in an unconventional way. For awhile, I was working for a tax accountant, and would work from January 15th to April 15th and then take off for the rest of the year. I worked in Maui for a famous artist. Sometimes I would temp. I earned extra money by writing letters for people -- DeBergerac Word Services!

When I "settled down" back in Los Angeles, I had no problem getting a job in the field I was interested in. The people I interviewed with were delighted with my travel experiences.

I was single and child-free, except for one year I traveled with a boyfriend.

[James81]

I'd love to pick up and move around a few places just to get the experience of being in a different place and push past this "safety net" that's been in place all my life from living in pretty much the same area all my life.

At this point, though, it's not going to happen. I have two very young kids who need me in their life.

But the youngest one turns 18 when I am 42, so perhaps this will be something that I'll get to do in my 40's.

[this is fun]

Originally Posted by superseiyan

What are your thoughts on travel?

For me one limiting beleif that stays stuck in my head is that you need to be a millionaire to do hop over to Brazil or Mexico or Europe. That you have to be 100 years old to get that calm demeaonor of someone well travelled. Is travel possible without being "Rich"? How would you recommend that someone working 9-5 achieve something similar?

You don't have to be rich. At least nowadays there are many possibilities to travel cheaper depending on your budget.
I travel abroad once or twice a year, sometimes I even go to the same country but different region.
It also depends on what kind of journey you would like to undertake. I see Angela mentioned she took extended periods (a year/two), but if that's not possible for you why not organize and plan a trip once a year? That's what I do.

Originally Posted by superseiyan

How late is too late. I'm 27. Is 30, 32, 35, 40 too late to see the world and journey AND ENJOY it?

I'm too late . It's never too late!!! I see college students, people with kids, people in their 30s and 60s and 70s, people who stay in expensive hotels and those sleeping in sleeping bags, those spending a lot or not spending much, some travel for months, some take a two-week trip...and they all have fun and enjoy themselves It all depends on what you want.

If taking time off work for months (or a year) is not possible for you, take a trip somewhere once a year.
Traveling with kids is also possible, I see it all the time...my friends do it, other people do it...yes, it requires more ''logistics'' and organization, it depends whether or not you are willing to deal with all this extra effort you'd need to put into it.
If going abroad is too expensive, why not get to know your country better? I live in a tourism-oriented country, and while other people come here, I usually go somewhere else...the grass is greener kind of thing..so I've decided to mix both destinations now.

It's never too late

[brendannz]

I think as long as you're physically able to spend a whole day walking, and talking to people, and can take responsibility for yourself and your possessions, you're young or old enough to travel..

I found travelling for me to be a life changing experience and definitely glad I did it..

I'd like to do some more travel sometime, but I'm getting settled with my house, and "career" and all, so once I've got things sorted, I'd like to see another continent.

I guess you only live once, and I suppose not everybody gets the chance to travel, but I'd say if you do its worth taking!

[Angela]

Originally Posted by brendannz

I think as long as you're physically able to spend a whole day walking, and talking to people, and can take responsibility for yourself and your possessions, you're young or old enough to travel..

Just as an aside, I did some of my traveling assisted by crutches, with my leg in a cast. I even did a river-raft trip that way!

[Daffy Duck]

Nah, 27 isn't too late. Of course not.

Traveling is fun, although a bit of a "hassle" with airports and such at times. I've started doing a bit of international traveling in the past two years. Though, I'm not one of those people who want to travel the whole world. I want to see the popular places, like Rome, London (did that), and so on... but if I only visit 10-20 countries by the time I move on, I'm cool with that. It's fun visiting those places and it's new, but ultimately I've noticed that wherever I go... there I am, and I'm perfectly happy whether I'm in the U.S. or otherwise.

My girlfriend has somewhat rich parents who like to travel and by the time she was 20 she had already been to 20+ countries, so she has me beat.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

My girlfriend has somewhat rich parents

Ahhh, so THAT's why I haven't been able to lure you away!

[Daffy Duck]

Yep... I need all that money to fund my materialistic lifestyle!

[openeyes]

here are a couple starting points:

Rolf Potts' Vagabonding

The World's Cheapest Destinations

[James81]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

Yep... I need all that money to fund my materialistic lifestyle!

Hmm, does your girlfriend have a hot single sister?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by James81

Hmm, does your girlfriend have a hot single sister?

A lesbian one?

[Darren]

I’m 26 next week and have been working 9-5 for the last 5/6 years in Finance. It’s not really my thing at all and I’ve grown bored of the office. I aslo had a long term girlfriend since I was 18 until about a year ago and we lived together for two years which made me feel really trapped before we broke up I’ve now decided to leave my job behind and next year travel to Melbourne where my brother has been living the last few years. I’m really excited and looking forward to experiencing so much more than I currently do. I’ve been to Melbourne before on a holiday and loved it. I travel to London reguarly for weekend trips and been on holidays to Barcelona, Ibiza, Berlin and more so I can say I’ve been lucky as far as travelling goes.

Between now and next summer I’m saving up as much money as possible and preparing to travel with the attitude to “Go wherever the wind takes me”.

[aelle]

I'm 23, I have travelled through 3 continents and lived long term in various countries, while supporting myself and earning 2 (very conventional) college degrees. I am about to immigrate yet again to another place, with a conventional job. I met my partner abroad and, among many wonderful qualities, he has the same wanderlust as me. I certainly don't plan to stop seeing the world because of my romantic life or because of my kids (hey, if you breasfeed and babywear, you could be on the go all the time!)

Of course, it's a matter of setting your priorities. To me, being abroad is freeing, mind opening, exciting, exhilarating, pushes me to my limits, is a great tool for growth, makes me feel alive. Travelling is extremely important to me so I endured a long distance relationship for much longer than other people might have wanted, for example. I made some choices that were not the norm to fit my desires to live abroad. But if you set your mind to do it, it definitely isn't impossible, hard or limited by certain privileges or age.

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by James81

Hmm, does your girlfriend have a hot single sister?

She does have a hot sister. Not single, though.

She's not lesbian, and neither of them are into the idea of sharing a special 3-way family bond with me, if you know what I mean.

Of course, that's just me and my creepy jokes...