Nataly 38 #1 May 18, 2009 In February 2005, I quit my career, sold my car, packed two suitcases, donated everything else I owned (including my teddy-bear collection!) and left Canada to go live in England. If you had asked me then, I probably would have been prepared to travel with not a dime to my name and without my two suitcases - I was young and had nothing to lose. I've been thinking of doing the same thing again, but this time around I'm really struggling with the idea of giving up my income, my furniture, my computer, my books, my souvenirs, et cetera.. And I'm just wondering what's so different now that I just have more *stuff*? (Oh, and a mortgage.. ) Would you do it? Chuck it all in and start a totally new life?"There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SarahC07 0 #2 May 18, 2009 Why give everything up? I don't have a lot of stuff (hate "stuff"), but the things I do keep around are things I want to keep ... and for awhile. But to answer your question, no I don't think I would be able to give everything up... I've considered this on a smaller scale... like Texas to California... would be able to keep my furniture, clothes, etc. The change in life would still be there... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_Copland 0 #3 May 18, 2009 I done it and its been the best and worst times of my life. I had a decent job back home and right now i struggle to make a penny, work is sporadic and it generally sucks. But i wouldn't change it, it's been a personal growth and i'm doing the things i've always wanted to do with some of the best people i know around me.1338 People aint made of nothin' but water and shit. Until morale improves, the beatings will continue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mrwrong 0 #4 May 18, 2009 Not as long as my life is what it is today. I’ve got a beautiful apartment, a decent job, a 16 year old son and the best g/f I could ever wish for. Without all of the above, probably would consider to just walk away from everything if I got an offer to do something I really really wanted. Things can ALWAYS be replaced, personal relations can never be. So I choose “Under the right circumstances”“The sum of intelligence on the planet is a constant; the population is growing.” - George Bernard Shaw He who dies with the most toys, wins..... dudeist skydiver # 19515 Buy quality and cry once! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nataly 38 #5 May 18, 2009 QuoteWhy give everything up? I have nowhere to put my stuff & couldn't afford to put it into storage. Plus I like the *idea* of de-cluttering my life and giving everything up, but I'm really not sure I can walk away from all the security I have.. One thing that's holding me back is I feel I need to be realistic about the house.. Because of the current economy it's impossible for me to offload this responsibility. But I'm surprised that aside from this point I've become so attached to stuff I didn't even own just a few years ago."There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohanW 0 #6 May 18, 2009 I have a house, a job, two cats, some stuff, a bridge club (and a regular mate), two home dropzones and a number of friends and family I'd have a hard time giving up. There's a lot of stuff I could do without, but uprooting my life to the point where I could not keep practically anything is just too much. I like the security of knowing what I have. The question has come up, and that was the answer. Age has something to do with it, of course. There is very little stuff I would like to take with me. It's the intangibles that prevent(ed) me from taking the leap.Johan. I am. I think. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #7 May 18, 2009 I think that you (and Andy C - although I'd never tell him) are incredibly brave for making such a big life changing move. I often have 'itchy feet' and after meeting a couple of loverly folk recently who are taking some time out to travel around the world, I'm jealous. We (the Boss and I) have always talk about moving to France or Spain to run a B&B but always find a reason (financial mainly) for not being quite ready.... one yearI love the idea of roaming but am not brave enough to actually up sticks and leave...... yeah, one yearActually, I'm about to become ' between jobs' so that may just be the nudge that I need to properly re-access our priorities....... we'll see .... one year (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mamajumps 0 #8 May 18, 2009 When I was 21, I did that, but didnt go to another country, I went from Florida to Texas (which I guess in a way TX is another country...) I had my truck, and crammed what I could get into the smallest uhaul trailer... then my cat and I set out across the states. I knew no one there, had no job and no money.... it worked out ok... however, now I am 34 and have a family. But even if I did not have a family, I don't think I would give up my securities, unless I knew for sure what I was doing was a sure thing... Good luck on whatever you decided! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kbordson 8 #9 May 18, 2009 I've thought about it.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
millertimeunc 0 #10 May 18, 2009 In my line of work, you get used to moving around every 1-4 years. Not a huge deal, as long as you make sure you carry the stuff you really care about with you, and let the movers take all the rest.The best things in life are dangerous. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackC 0 #11 May 18, 2009 I did it once and it was worth it even though it was bloody hard going at times. Once was enough though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nataly 38 #12 May 18, 2009 Quote We (the Boss and I) have always talk about moving to France or Spain to run a B&B but always find a reason (financial mainly) for not being quite ready.... one year In a few months I'll be eligible for my UK passport, so it'll be a lot easier to be able to work in Europe. To me, a year isn't really what I'm looking for.. I personally would find it pretty easy to take a "break" from my life.. I could leave my stuff with my ex or some friends, and I'm reasonably confident that I'd have a job to come back to.. The problem is I don't want to come back. So it seems kinda pointless to keep all my stuff. I'm just scared this time around.. I will do it - I just need to figure out a way to make it happen.."There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #13 May 18, 2009 Best of luck (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nataly 38 #14 May 18, 2009 QuoteBest of luck Yeah.. We'll see if I grow a spine and actually do it!!! I think if I had a SO or kids or family to look after it would be a totally different story. My partner dumped me last summer and every penny I've ever earned or saved was lost in the house we bought together.. I moved away from my family a long time ago anyway.. My friends are always contactable via email.. With all that's happened in my life, I just realised a couple of months ago that actually I don't really have anything holding me back except fear.. Even if I changed my mind after just a couple of months it wouldn't be a disaster.."There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #15 May 18, 2009 As a person ages and acquires more guile, such decisions become more difficult. My wife, for example, bought a one-way ticket to Spain when she was 22 without speaking a word of Spanish. She came back, but there is certainly a romantic quality to the idea of starting anew someplace else. I quit my job, sold a bunch of my stuff and moved to Fresno almost six years ago. I already had a new job, no mortgage, no other responsibilities. It was easy. I still miss my friends a lot, though. Hey, if I didn't have student loans and kids (and house payments, etc) then it wouldn't be too difficult. The thought of quitting it and moving back to Santa Barbara and being a waiter sounds great at times. I just cannot do it. I have responsibilities to others. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #16 May 18, 2009 I did it twice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #17 May 18, 2009 Where do you want to go? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casie 0 #18 May 18, 2009 i have a little girl - i would never give up everything - granted things are just materialistic but i do need some of those things to provide for my little oneyou're not married or in a relationship - go for it. i wish i would have done something like this before I got married and had a family - but i can't take back the past and things happen for a reason - which i never regret one. best of luck!!!! ~Porn Kitty WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #19 May 18, 2009 Quote I did it twice. Leaving SC to move to BF doesn't count."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #20 May 18, 2009 Quote Quote Best of luck Yeah.. We'll see if I grow a spine and actually do it!!! I think if I had a SO or kids or family to look after it would be a totally different story. My partner dumped me last summer and every penny I've ever earned or saved was lost in the house we bought together.. I moved away from my family a long time ago anyway.. My friends are always contactable via email.. With all that's happened in my life, I just realised a couple of months ago that actually I don't really have anything holding me back except fear.. Even if I changed my mind after just a couple of months it wouldn't be a disaster.. Sounds like you've already made up your mind...There are worse things than 'having nothing' ~ like having regret, do what's in your heart. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nataly 38 #21 May 18, 2009 Quote Where do you want to go? I haven't figured that out yet. More importantly, I want to *do* something. But I don't know what yet either I just know I hate everything about my life right now and have no real reason to stay, so I want to turn things around and feel like life is worth *living*. And I want to *live* it. I don't really want to go back-packing or sight-seeing. I'm more inclined to do something like climb a mountain or cross the desert or any kind of thing that is physically challenging & will take me on a spiritual/emotional journey. I want to clear my head a little. Right now I feel like I'm just running to stay *on* the treadmill.. There's nothing satisfying about my life."There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #22 May 18, 2009 How about a stint with say "Medicine sans Frontier" or similar? You could work with them for a while and come back or move on. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BikerBabe 0 #23 May 18, 2009 well, once you can travel around Europe more easily, may i suggest the http://www.santiago-compostela.net. (Camino de Santiago) I'm not catholic, but you don't really have to be. This has always been something i've personally wanted to do. Basically, you walk across Northern Spain (which is the most amazing and beautiful area of the country, IMHO...forget Andalucia...)relying only on the aid and hospitality of those who live along the way. If i was to give it all up, it would be the first thing i would do. Though i'll admit, i might get a little "stuck" in San Sebastian for a while Whatever you decide, do it with conviction. I could see myself giving it all up, under the right circumstances, but it couldn't be half-hearted. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SassyCassie 0 #24 May 18, 2009 Its a great time in your life to travel, and the lessons you'll learn and the experience you'll gain will be worth its weight in gold! I say go for it!I think I've found a way for you and I to finally fly free. When we get there, we're gonna fly so far away. Making sure to laugh; while we experience anti-gravity. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
guppie01 0 #25 May 18, 2009 QuoteHow about a stint with say "Medicine sans Frontier" or similar? You could work with them for a while and come back or move on. This is a great idea! A few years back I looked into doing something like this.... my family thought I was nutz, and convinced me to start on a smaller scale and volunteer locally. I still want to do it... There are so many wonderful programs out there. Nataly - go for it! g"Let's do something romantic this Saturday... how bout we bust out the restraints?" Raddest Ho this side of Jersey #1 - MISS YOU OMG, is she okay? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
