Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#61

Post by seekingcharlie » Sun, Apr 26, 2015, 1:39 AM UTC

elwell wrote: post #56

seekingcharlie wrote: post #8

I've been a "digital nomad" for the last year. I left my full-time job in Australia & headed for Berlin & just picked up a few casual consulting gigs via Dribbble (I'm a designer). I quickly realized that I really enjoy slow traveling - staying in places for 2-3 months & trying to keep a normal routine. I work full-time now, pretty crazy hours, but I generally move somewhere new every 3 months. I spend a few months o…

I've been interested in something similar to that. How did you keep from getting lonely? Seems like 3 months is just enough time to make new (real) friends and then leave?

It is lonely sometimes, but I'm naturally pretty independent & it doesn't phase me too much. I've met a lot of random people either through renting rooms, coworking spaces or just being approached in cafes by people that also work in tech when they see Sublime open on my screen.

I have met some really cool people, but like you said, I generally leave before we can become 'real' friends so the friendships I have made haven't really been that strong unfortunately. I don't get a lot of time through the week & I usually spend my weekends doing the touristy/exploration stuff so I'm kept busy.

Sometimes I find myself wishing for a group of friends / SO to do this with, but I don't know a lot of other people that can travel & work at the same time. I'm not really keen on the whole backpacker trip either.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#62

Post by amag » Sun, Apr 26, 2015, 1:40 AM UTC

I fully agree with aidos. It's much more rewarding if you go to a place and live like a local. In my case I've done a few voluntary work trips, the longest I did together with my wife and it lasted a year. I always try to learn the language in countries when I stay more than a couple of weeks. It quickly breaks the ice when you work side-by-side with the locals, trying to speak their language. You may not get to see all the main attractions in a country but you get to see and experience much more interesting things.

However, I also agree with reddytowns. Traveling like that changes you. You'll probably not notice until you return but it's quite likely you will feel disconnected from your peers, friends and family. You have changed and they have not. I would recommend anyone planning to go on a long immersive journey to consider going together with some one you like and get along well with. Then at least you will have that connection when you get back. This is important since this disconnected state could very likely be permanent. At least that's how it feels for me, it's been almost ten years since my wife and I spent a year abroad and I'd say we lost something then that we haven't been able to get back. We've spent nearly ten years back home, buying a house, raising kids and yet we don't really feel like we belong in our own country with our own families.. maybe it's just our personalities..

So in the end, would I recommend quitting your job and travel the world? I guess it depends on how well you'll handle the disconnect. The fact that your own family may feel like strangers to you.. In my case I can't really regret going, I've got too many amazing memories, too much fun with people I got to call my friends for a while. The sad part is though, you can't really go back either. Trust me I've tried. It will never be the same. Leaving and coming home changes you yet again.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#63

Post by mistermann » Sun, Apr 26, 2015, 1:41 AM UTC

cedricd wrote: post #13

I quit my job for a year and did this with my wife. We didn't work while traveling -- it would have been too hard / distracting. This might sound odd, but traveling takes as much time as a real job -- the amount you spend just figuring out where to go next and what to do is significant. If you want to work while travel then your best bet is to taking a break from travel and live somewhere for a little while. It's not…

Reminds me of a buddy I travelled with in Thailand - we had split up for a while and then reconnected on some island, he's sleeping in a real dump, mattress on the floor, squat toilet with no TP, rats walking around, for like $10/night. Literally the next bungalows over were maybe $16 per night and VERY nice. About 10PM that night he changed his mind and came and slept at my place.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#64

Post by mistermann » Sun, Apr 26, 2015, 1:44 AM UTC

reddytowns wrote: post #42

I quit my job to travel the world about 5 years ago. I lucked out in some investments and am now in an early retirement, mostly spend my day working on my own computer projects, surfing, and occasionally going on trips to different places. I came back after a year, but after spending 18 months in the states, wanted to go travelling again. I'm currently staying in Taiwan, and periodically travel to the neighboring cou…

Have you been to Japan? man, if I was fortunate enough to be in your situation, I would go spend a very long time there. Such a pleasant country, totally different culture from the west, but first world++.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#65

Post by seekingcharlie » Sun, Apr 26, 2015, 1:45 AM UTC

reddytowns wrote: post #42

I quit my job to travel the world about 5 years ago. I lucked out in some investments and am now in an early retirement, mostly spend my day working on my own computer projects, surfing, and occasionally going on trips to different places. I came back after a year, but after spending 18 months in the states, wanted to go travelling again. I'm currently staying in Taiwan, and periodically travel to the neighboring cou…

I see myself starting to feel like this too. Granted I've only been traveling for just over a year, but I do feel like a bit of an outsider everywhere - even when I was recently in my hometown in Australia.

I've found that keeping a routine, exercising & making sure I'm still doing the things I enjoy (painting, taking photos, writing) are really important for my sanity.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#66

Post by artursapek » Sun, Apr 26, 2015, 1:46 AM UTC

allworknoplay wrote: post #51

eyeareque wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like a great trip. But did you ever get sick from the street food? :) I'm not that adventurous I guess.

Once! It was probably the most miserable day of my life, but in retrospect it's just a totally awesome story. I've gotten sicker from street food elsewhere (giardia in the amazon was insanely uncool), but this was particularly crazy. I was traveling from Varanasi (India) to Kathmandu (Nepal); you can fly, but I decided to see some scenery and do it by train and bus. I left Varanasi on the day before Holi, which is th…

Wow, I envy you. That sounds like an amazing trip.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#67

Post by kinduff » Sun, Apr 26, 2015, 1:52 AM UTC

1 year ago I quit my old job as a web developer at a startup company in Mexico City. Had been working in multiple digital agencies, small and big ones and always doing freelance projects or personal ones in my spare time.

Had the opportunity to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina for two weeks, so I asked for my paid vacations and that trip changed my mind. I've never travelled at my age (22), so when I was back and in only one month I quit my job and start selling all my stuff I bought for 3 years. In the meanwhile I started to look for more freelance projects, and just two weeks before I took the plane - I had already bought my ticket - one remote job position was opened for me. Lot's of benefits like good salary and a brand new laptop, and they agreed that I was in another country and I was going to be traveling through all latinamerica.

One year since that, I was in Argentina for the whole year - I have really good stories. One month ago I arrived back to México, I still have my remote job position, I'm using my extra hours to have more freelance projects and I'm saving everything I have because I'm planning to go to Central America in August (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panamá, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru).

The things I learned from this experience is that traveling isn't that hard, you just need to plan ahead. You can decide what kind of traveling experience you want. My sister right now is bagpacking from Buenos Aires and she's right now at Ecuador, she's selling jewelry and food on each city she arrives. In the other hand, my kind of traveling involves a stable job, lot's of food and a good place to sleep and work. But that's your choice, there are different flavors for different people.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#68

Post by muzakthings » Sun, Apr 26, 2015, 2:11 AM UTC

aidos wrote: post #31

I've done a few 3-4 month trips in the past. I was fortunate to be earning a good day rate as a freelancer before I left and I was young, with no responsibilities and no need for a life plan. It was easy to quickly save up a little money, and travel can be really cheap, especially when you don't care about sleeping in a nice bed. The first couple of times I travelled a lot. Too much. Moving on every day or two. Seein…

also curious how you found families willing to host!

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#69

Post by jsabo » Sun, Apr 26, 2015, 2:14 AM UTC

ifyoumakeit wrote: post #26

I spent the last four years doing web development while on playing drums in multiple touring bands. I got to travel abroad for free, and meet great people through it. Unfortunately I remember very little of this time because I was taking on freelance projects to make side money and using mobile broadband to work in the van. It was incredibly stressful and one of the worst ideas. Multitasking the two jobs just burned…

For what it's worth I've really enjoyed some of your output during that time though, I was actually listening to one of the o pioneers pink couch recording earlier today. Sorry to hear it burned you out though, I can definitely see how that'd happen trying to tour and work freelance simultaneously.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#70

Post by remar » Sun, Apr 26, 2015, 2:16 AM UTC

amag wrote: post #62

I fully agree with aidos. It's much more rewarding if you go to a place and live like a local. In my case I've done a few voluntary work trips, the longest I did together with my wife and it lasted a year. I always try to learn the language in countries when I stay more than a couple of weeks. It quickly breaks the ice when you work side-by-side with the locals, trying to speak their language. You may not get to see…

Could you elaborate on what you mean when you say you feel disconnected from others when you get back? Do you mean in the sense that you feel their understanding of the world is limited compared to yours because you've seen/experienced more of it? Or in the sense that you had a different kind of fun/adventure that they'll never experience or know about?