If you have even the inkling that you might want to do this then you absolutely should.
Opportunities and projects and ventures will always be there. Your youth will not.
Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?
11–20 of 461 posts
Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?
#12Absolutely worth it, however I'd offer a few short tips:
1. Try to stay in one place for a few months, minimum. If you can stay a year or two, do that. Jumping from city to city every week seems exciting at first, but it quickly makes everywhere feel the same.
2. To quote Lao Tzu, when your work is done, forget it. If you work remotely, actively disconnect at the end of the day. It's too easy to be constantly plugged into the English-speaking media world and ignore what's right in front of you.
3. Try to blend in and adopt local clothing, culture, foods, etc. Read books by local authors, watch local films. A bit obvious, maybe, but I've met many people who insisted on only eating Western food, reading Harry Potter, and watching Netflix while abroad. At that point, why even bother traveling?
Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?
#13It can get a bit exhausting to live in hotels and small apartments because you rarely have a good work setup. Most of the time there is no good working desk and chair. Also, working on a laptop is bad for your posture. I have yet to try bringing an external monitor while I travel. Maybe that would be a solution. Or renting one where I stay.
Another option is taking a keyboard and mouse with you and elevating the whole laptop as if it were the monitor instead.
Yes. I do that.
But still the desk/chair constellation is usually bad. And the monitor of the laptop is a bit small.
Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?
#14I am always wondering how these data nomads are actually sustaining themselves. As a freelancer, I had quite some hard time to find paying gigs, not to mention that most of the time I was asked to work on premise. This said, I do not claim to be the smartest guy when it comes to business, nor to development…
There are plenty of unsexy remote jobs, especially in customer service. You won't make more than $35,000 a year, but that's enough to survive virtually anywhere.
Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?
#15I did this in 2013. I not only quit my job, but my life. I packed up my entire apartment in a uhaul and dropped it off at goodwill. I packed a backpack and bounced around a handful of pacific countries for a few months (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan). Moved across the country to San Diego after I got back and started from scratch. Then after a year of working I took another 3 months and backpacked around Europe.
It's by far the best decision I've ever made. I had no objective and was completely fulfilled. My subsequent attempts at starting a location-independent business so that I could continue traveling indefinitely failed, or I might still be out there.
Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?
#16I am always wondering how these data nomads are actually sustaining themselves. As a freelancer, I had quite some hard time to find paying gigs, not to mention that most of the time I was asked to work on premise. This said, I do not claim to be the smartest guy when it comes to business, nor to development…
I find people expect to have both a career lifestyle and remote lifestyle at the same time, but it is much easier to find the edge case employers and jobs and expect some level of disconnect from the rat race. That's the whole point right?
There are thousands of small businesses who need a developer/digital rousabout. I am talking 5-20 employees.
You make your life far more complicated if you try to freelance many clients, as it can be difficult to organise everything and be available at all the right times. Possible obviously, but why not save yourself the hassle amd just manage some small businesses ecomm website or something, and go enjoy your time abroad.
Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?
#17I did it for 6 months and it was really great. My main regret was not bringing a friend (or better yet, SO) to do it with. If I were to do it over again, I'd bring someone else with me. You do meet people, but a lot of your relationships are by nature transient, and it can get kind of lonely.
Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?
#18I am always wondering how these data nomads are actually sustaining themselves. As a freelancer, I had quite some hard time to find paying gigs, not to mention that most of the time I was asked to work on premise. This said, I do not claim to be the smartest guy when it comes to business, nor to development…
In my experience most of the "travel blogger" industry is fake in that they project a self-sustainable journey when in reality they have a lot of money to lean on or they peddle "exposure" to smaller establishments that comp their stay. Very few people actually do the couchsurfing or couponing style because to most people that approach is miserable and/or dangerous.
I have personally met dozens, maybe a hundred, people that have traveled around on a budget. CouchSurfing especially used to be filled with some really interesting people. (No idea if it still is, but my impression is that it's become more of a dating site.)
Not everything is a scam.
Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Another option is taking a keyboard and mouse with you and elevating the whole laptop as if it were the monitor instead.
Yes. I do that. But still the desk/chair constellation is usually bad. And the monitor of the laptop is a bit small.
Yep agreed, I have been interested in some of these battery powered travel monitors. They look like a big tablet but are just a screen and battery, like a Surface without the computer.
Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?
#20I've talked to a lot of people who've done this and have not found a single person who regretted that decision.
Go for it. You only have one life.