But…..Shouldn’t you be getting a job?
Posted on 05. Apr, 2010 by Kirsty in Blog, Planning
Quiting my job to travel rtw.
When talking to one of our friends about our new travel blog, his response was “good luck with that, it’s never going to work!” This took me by surprise as everyone else had encouraged us to start the blog and thought it would be a great way to document a trip that could easily last two years.
It got me thinking why some people may have a more negative view on setting up your own website and also travelling in general. The same friend had already asked me if I had started looking for a graduate job, and looked at me with horror when I replied that not only had I not even looked that I didn’t even want one. “What about when you return? Surely you could apply for a job and then defer for a year? At least then you will have a job to come back to?”
It seemed it was difficult for him to contemplate taking a year long holiday with no job to return to, but this is perfect for Poi and I who decided that was the way we wanted it from the moment we began planning our trip. We have agreed that we don’t want anything tying us to the UK (apart from our lovely friends and family) and no time constraint for our travels. This way we could do what we want, when we wanted and the only thing that could stop us would be our budget.
Creative Commons License photo credit: Boston Public Library
Similar discussions have happened with Poi: “you’ve got a secure job and you’re crazy to give it up”, “Aren’t you worried that you will be on the dole when you return”. It seems that some people need to have secure plans about what they want to do in the future and how they will achieve it. We know people who have no desire to travel at all and have moved in together and planning their wedding. They are probably as happy with their future plan as we are with ours and if we had to swap we both would be pretty depressed.
But I have found that there are also a lot of people that are pretty jealous of what we are planning to do, commenting that they wish they could save enough money to go, or have the balls to pack in everything and travel for as long as possible.
So which is right, I guess this is where you can talk about different personality types and there is no one correct way, but something I have learnt from all these discussions is that I am never judgemental of other people’s plans as long as they make them happy I’m all for it.
Kirsty.
An English couple travelling China and South East Asia since August 2010. 
Sofia - As We Travel
05. Apr, 2010
So true! Ever since I got back three weeks ago people have kept asking me when I’m going to start studying to “become” something.
Especially older people can’t comprehend that you don’t want to study for 7 years only to get a job where you will work until you retire.
Apparently, certainty is more important than happiness.
For some reason people think you’re a failure if you don’t follow the crowd. What really successful person has ever done that?
I think you’ve made a good decision, no strings attached = complete freedom.
Poi & Kirsty
06. Apr, 2010
Our close families understand why we are going, but when I talk to other family members they seemed to be more concerned with the what if, rather than the wealth of opportunity travelling can bring. I agree that most people seem to think certainty is more important than happiness. Hopefully we have got it the right way round!
Joel
06. Apr, 2010
Slightly different situation, but leaving mid-career is also looked at with a lot of skepticism.
Why leave a secure job? Bottom line, no job is secure anyway. I’m not guaranteed I’ll be able to find a job when I get back, but I’m not guaranteed I’ll have a job if I stay. I’ve seen far too many friends laid off time and time again to believe in any real job security in 2010.
You guys are off to a great start and you’ll have an experience most people only dream of.
.-= Joel´s last blog ..Come Sale Away =-.
Poi & Kirsty
06. Apr, 2010
That is definately true, 2008/2009/2010 has not been pretty for the jobs market. I think our logic is, now is the best time (before Kirsty gets stuck in a job as well)! Some people use their jobs as an exucse not to go rather than simiply what they want. I think having no plans for when/if we come back is probably one of the hardest decisions we had to make, but once we did, we knew it was the right one.
Keith
06. Apr, 2010
I recently had a similar experience. My wife and I are really excited about my plans, and we told a couple who are close friends of ours. The husband basically ripped apart my blog for being obvious, cliche, and poorly worded. To say I was taken aback would be an understatement. I didn’t understand where the vitriol was coming from. They have two kids with a third on the way and what I’m planning is the type of thing they would have loved to do, so I’m chalking it up to the green-eyed monster. Good luck with your plans, they’ll work out!
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Around the World, One Month at a Time =-.
Poi & Kirsty
06. Apr, 2010
I know what you mean, it’s amazing how negative some people can be especially about something that sounds so much fun. It’s fine for people to want different things but to rip an idea apart is harsh and unnecessary.
Scott
06. Apr, 2010
Agreed no job is secure these days. An education awaits you out there. Not one that can be taught in books but what only experiencing it can show you. Understanding people, yourself, Reading people and situations. Putting things in perspective. There’s a big world out there to see!
Poi & Kirsty
06. Apr, 2010
Nothing beats life experience right? Everything you’ve listed is what we’re looking forward to.
Lindsay
07. Apr, 2010
I haven’t gotten to read all the comments, so I hope I’m not repeating myself. As an American with only 2 weeks of vacation a year, I always thought that everyone else in the world had the opportunity to travel more than I did. I also thought that gap years were more acceptable. But, what I’m finding is that almost every country has these types of people – the ones that have never really traveled abroad, that buy into the system really early, and stay put because they lack confidence in their skills to land another job if they do take time off. Yes, there are many employers that will judge you for taking time off to travel; this is true. But if traveling is a passion of yours, do you really want to work for those types of employers? Probably, the answer is no. I’ve learnt so much more in the past 2+months traveling than I did in the past 2 years at my job, and now have friends all over the world. These intangibles are much more valuable to me than the illusion of “job security”
Poi & Kirsty
08. Apr, 2010
Infact I was offered a few months off from my job to travel but I didn’t want to have to commit to coming back at a certain time. I couldn’t agree more though if you ever put a job before the things you love there is a problem, as I keep getting told….you only live once. Poi.
marta
07. Apr, 2010
i couldn’ t agree more with joel, there is nothing secure at this world least of all a job. you have to follow your passion and what you think is best for you now without worry of other judgments . it would be your best experience ever!
Poi & Kirsty
08. Apr, 2010
That’s the type of positive response we were expecting from everyone we know, thank you!
Heather
08. Apr, 2010
We just started following each other on Twitter (@noplacelikeoz), and I’m glad you shared this post. It’s always interesting to hear people’s reactions to decisions like the one you made, the ones many of the folks above who commented made, and the one I recently made — just turned 30 and in a few weeks I’ll be a career breaker headed to Australia on the lovely Work & Holiday Visa. I’m usually a planner, and some people have asked if I asked my employer to save my job for me or if I’m coming back. Just like you said, I didn’t want to have that commitment to come back. Other than friends and family, I didn’t want something tying me here.
When I was in Australia 4 years ago, I met this great Kiwi who was early 30s and had been traveling and working around the world for a few years. He was kind of jealous of his slightly younger brother who had the family, nice job, and great house and car but he wouldn’t have traded that for his lifestyle. Turns out his brother was jealous of him and his travels.
There are always going to be tons of reasons not to do something — kudos to you for making it happen.
Bootsnall posted a great article related to this topic recently: http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/10-03/why-its-not-crazy-for-working-professionals-to-quit-their-jobs-and-travel-the-world.html
Poi & Kirsty
12. Apr, 2010
I think there is something kind of refreshing when there are no ties.
Stay on the optomistic side and hopefully there will be more reasons to do something than not (unless it’s eating spiders!! I don’t think I can see any postive reasons to do this!!!)
Kirsty
Michael Churm
23. Feb, 2011
I’ve actually eaten a spider! Though it took many beers to do it!
Diane
09. Apr, 2010
Now having read your blog,I can see that you have been spending your free time wisely!
Good for you and Kirsty and don’t let anybody’s opinions affect your plans. You are both young and have a lifetime to sort out the mundane stuff like, jobs, houses, kids blah blah blah.
I am envious of you both, I know I have travelled but not with the freedom you two will have.
Good luck with it all and maybe, I just might catch up with you around the Antipodes, if you eventually get there – I am sure you will!
Poi & Kirsty
12. Apr, 2010
Thanks for checking it out!! It took Poi a while to convince me, not to have ANYTHING to come back to, but I’m glad we’ve done it that way. A lot less hassle!
Tracy
11. Apr, 2010
I’m new to travelblog reading/writing but I am super jealous of you two! My better half and I have also been bff’s since highschool, 16, and got together…officially…at 19, 20? guess we don’t keep track….but we’re about to graduate and both start working..I LOVE traveling where as…he goes more for my happiness than his own passion for it. We would never be able to do a year+ travel (b4 retirement) so….you’re so lucky you’re both in the same mindset and I’m sure you’ll have an amazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing time. <3
~tracy @ http://www.travelgasms.com
Poi & Kirsty
12. Apr, 2010
definately lucky, Poi first had the idea to go travelling, but it didn’t take him long to persuade me to do exactly the same. It’s crazy to think that we have been planning this for two years almost!
Erica
19. Apr, 2010
My hubby are currently planning a one year trip to South America. I totally understand when it comes to people looking at you weird or expecting “more” somehow.
I think I might have even made hubby’s mom cry because, while they are having financial troubles, we’re trying to be as unattached as possible. My dad has already given us the raised eyebrow of “where are my grandbabies?!”.
Leave us alone! Not everyone fits into a quaint cookie cutter mold!
So here we are, jumping into the blog world hoping to make something of it. :X
.-= Erica´s last blog ..Budget Blues =-.
Poi & Kirsty
20. Apr, 2010
Luckily for us both sets of parents are very supportive that’s why we we’re suprised when the negative reactions came from friends and colleagues. Hope the saving is going alright, thanks for checking out the site.
Simeon
21. Apr, 2010
I’ll be a university graduate in less than a year from now and I’m very much reconsidering what I’l be doing after that too. The price is just too high to waste it on accumulating money (oh, the pun!) and climbing up some arbitrary corporate ladder. My first step is to graduate abroad, that sounds like a good opportunity to travel and to “adjust” to the good life of seeing the world.
I don’t know how people will respond to whatever my plans will be after that but I’ll be prepared.. your blog post is not the first that expresses such sentiments.
In any case, keep traveling and doing what you love and at the same time, I’ll wish that advice for myself. I think it’s time for me to hit your subscribe button now
.-= Simeon´s last blog ..Via Londen naar Melbourne =-.
Poi & Kirsty
21. Apr, 2010
Thanks for subscibing and checking out the site.!
You’ve got to do whatever makes you happy. The only plan we have at the moment is to travel for as long as possible and see what happens.
Jeremy
30. Apr, 2010
The way I see it, there are 6 billion people out there that can have jobs and do the work. The world will still go on whether or not I’m out enjoying myself.
Poi & Kirsty
01. May, 2010
Very true, we’ll have enough fun for the rest of them….
Eli
07. May, 2010
This is something I’ve been dealing with for the last four years of my life. Everytime I make a move to new city or talk about my travel plans, there is someone that says “What? You can’t do that!”
But then there are always people who pause after the initial shock of my statement and say “You know what, go for it. Now is the perfect time.”
I guess it’s a way to find out who your “true friends” are. I think the people who throw up alot of resistance to hearing about our “crazy” ideas are really concealing somekind of fear. Maybe they really want to do something just like this, deep down, but they repress it, stick to their day jobs, and when someone else gets a similar idea they have to shoot it down to justify never following their dreams.
.-= Eli ´s last blog ..Travel Alert For Thailand =-.
Ryan & Liz
17. May, 2010
I totally agree! I’ve had quite a few very similar experiences when explaining our travel plans to friends and co-workers.
For the most part, people think we’re crazy but yet they support our decision 100%. Most people actually would love to be able to do what we’re doing. At this point now though, I’ve dealt with a few of those “negative people” along the way and I just brush it off as someone that wishes they could do it, or maybe regrets not traveling when they were younger. I always try to remind myself… “You have to do YOU!”
I believe it’s actually tougher for us as Americans when we tell people we’re going to leave our jobs to travel for a year. In America, there seems to be this conformity issue where you’re supposed to grow up and do X, Y, and Z. The truth is, that is why you see so few Americans traveling compared to Australians, Irish, English, etc. It’s more commonly accepted to take a “gap year” or take some time off to travel in places like England, Ireland, Australia.
As Eli says above, “I guess it’s a way to find out who your true friends are”. I couldn’t say it any better! Your FRIENDS will support your decisions.
Keep your heads up, worry about YOU, travel safely and enjoy yourselves!
Caz Makepeace
07. Jun, 2010
Setting on a rtw adventure like you guys are going on is too much of a stretch for some people to even contemplate. They are conditioned to living life in the box. They are so frightened to even attempt something so risky that they will do anything to try to drag their friends who are brave to get out of the box, back in. Unfortunately it’s mostly the people who are closest to you. They are afraid of change, and you leaving means big change for them. You leaving terrifies them as it means they may have to stop what they are doing and re-evaluate it- a very unsafe thing to do.
There are people who are going to come and go in your life, you have to accept that and move on to your new set of encouraging friends. It’s okay to do this. Getting out of the box and living life on your terms is what life is all about. It’s free and its fun.
Always remember to hang around people who celebrate you not tolerate you.
Poi & Kirsty
07. Jun, 2010
Thanks for all the kind words guys, it really does help us and make us realise just how excited and commited we are to our plans.
It seems there will always be some doubts and people who doubt you but we know this is right for us.
Thanks Again
Poi
flip
09. Oct, 2010
keep on doing what you love doing regardless….
life is just a one shot deal….
Mariella
09. Nov, 2010
I completely understand what you are saying. It is true that having a steady job is safe, but safe can sometimes become boring. I myself have a fixed job as a teacher in a very good school, I am very happy with my job but the thought of staying there forever sometimes drives me a bit crazy. Change is not only good it is necessary. Life is too short to think about all the possible negative things that could happen, and anyway one way or another once the adventure is over you’ll still find a job. You would have lost a year’s wage but you would have learned so many things about life, cultures and people that you would be far more mature than people your age. Giving one’s job to travel the world is a difficult thing to do, that is why people are jeolous about you because they wish they had made the same decision. Having said so, there are times when leaving a steady job may be almost impossible financially, especially if you have a family to support, that is why I plan on taking such a trip in the near future before hopefully having a family and small children to attend to.
Poi
11. Nov, 2010
I agree, I think deep down everyone knows what they want and if working all time is not it then people shouldn’t be afraid to try something else, you only live once after all!
Jill - Jack and Jill Travel The World
16. Nov, 2010
I know exactly what you mean. The few people we’ve told about our plan thought we were being ungrateful for what we have for leaving our jobs when the economy is tough like this.
But we’ve been planning this trip for 4 years and if we don’t stick to our plan there will always be something that can be used an excuse…
Anyway, that’s why we stopped telling people we know. The negativity does get you after awhile.
Kirsty
17. Nov, 2010
Exactly… who cares what other people say!!! I now think people are a little jealous!
Nicci
20. Nov, 2010
I leave for my trip to Austrailia in 10days and i have 4 working days left. I have had my job for 3 years, and never had any problems with my co-workers before, But this week they have been acting so mean and rude with snippy little coments. I t really hurt(s) my feelings. I dont talk about my trip much to anyone really, if they ask i will tell. Has anyone been treated different or in this way by co-workers or friends???
Poi
21. Nov, 2010
I’m not sure people turned on me but people would always react to my plans (when they asked about them) in a negative way, most the time with jokes etc but it got pretty annoying especialy from my boss of all people. Why not just say “good for you, sounds great”. I wouldn’t worry about it, after all you will have the last laugh, they’ve got to stay at work!