Quit job for long bike tour-ride?

[cyclinnewbie]

I have a good friend that actuallly took 2 years off and went trecking in Nepal in the mid 90s then about 3 years ago she and her husband took the whole summer off and biked from canada to mexico. They always say " you can always find a job somewhere" Granted she's a PT and he is a computer guy. They never hold back with anything.

I wish I were that spontaneous and carefree. I could not function that way. I need my predictability/stability. I would worry so much about money, where to find a job, what will I do if I get hit by a truck and I've quit my job so I have no medical and I'm in Mexico....I am far too type A....

[shootingstar]

I wish I were that spontaneous and carefree. I could not function that way. I need my predictability/stability. I would worry so much about money, where to find a job, what will I do if I get hit by a truck and I've quit my job so I have no medical and I'm in Mexico....I am far too type A....

Methinks at least for cycling aimlessly abit for a day or so, many of us could / do it spontaneously whereas there are many others that wouldn't.

I've done my risky thing in life already...I voluntarily left a well-paying job, sold my home and moved several thousand kms.to be with my partner several years ago. Had to find a job all over again.. at mid-life it's not as simple..

No, I don't regret it. But this type of major risk taking ...once is enough. But I do envy people who just do it...several times in their life. I do know some friends who have worked for govn't for ages and can/will take a sabbatical.

[Grog]

I don't know... but I fear I won't be able to talk myself into that.

I don't have a real job currently but I'm hoping that both myself and my husband will be able to manage our financial situation and job situation to take 6 or 12 months off work every seventh year or so to go somewhere and do something different. I must say that our professional choices may not be compatible with that, though, but perhaps I'll land a job with opportunities for self-funded leave.

*sigh*

[F8th637]

That's exactly what Eloise Hanner did. I just finished reading her book which I enjoyed: The First Big Ride: A Woman's Journey. It's not possible for everyone but I would imagine that it would be a life-changing experience if you were to do it.

[tulip]

I recently left my corporate job and now I work from home with my own company (3 people in 3 cities in 2 states). It's so much more flexible. I don't see myself taking a year off or anything, but I could take a few months off as long as I had internet access and could work on my projects part time. With a laptop and the internet I could go cycle through France, for instance, for a few months. Perhaps I will do just that!

Of course, I'm very connected to my work. It means alot to me, what I do. But if I had a job that I didn't care about (like the position that I left), I wouldn't want to take that work with me.

[spindizzy]

My massage therapist is doing that ride this dummer (B.C. to Newfoundland)
Wah!..... no massage therapist. She has her own business, so she can close up shop for 3 months. I am totally envious.

About 8 years ago, I tried to convice my husband to get someone to replace him at his job (he is a physio, 1/3 partner in 2 clinics), rent out our house and go live in Whistler B.C. for a year. (I love to ski) He told me I was impractical. So we never did. But I still wish I had. Life experience. And it would have only for a year. Kids were still in elementary school. Life is too short. I think if you have planned it out well, it is not that big of a risk. And what an experience in return.

I'd ask for a sabbatical, LOA,whatever. I'd work extra. And if that is a dream of yours, I say go for it. Make it happen.

[MomOnBike]

One observation:

Generally, speaking, you are much more liable to regret the things you DIDN'T do, as opposed to the things you did. There are exceptions, of course, but this is generally true.

As the poet (Burns?) said:

Of all the words of mice and men
There's none so sad is "it might have been"

(OK, I tried to Google the quote, but it didn't come up, but that's the jist of it)