Long Term Travel: ABSOLUTELY IN YOUR REACH
When my partner and I told our friends and family that we were quitting our 40hr/week jobs and moving to Scotland for 6 months, we typically received either one of two responses:
- "Wow, that's amazing! You're so lucky, I wish i could do that!"
- "Why? When are you coming home?"
Neither of these reactions particularly please me, becuase the underlying sentiment is that long term travel isn't accessible, isn't practical, or isn't POSSIBLE. This being my third stint of long term travel, I have a hard time replying to this sentiment politely.
First, may I address those who deem us 'lucky'. The reason I am writing this right now in a cosy living room somewhere in northern Scotland has more to do with the choices we made than luck. First of all, we made the choice that travel was something we wanted to DO. Because of who I am, 'travel' to me doesn't mean a ten day trip somewhere hot once a year. It means diving headfirst into another life. It means starting over and exploring a new place. So how do you accomplish such a dream in today's world where money is everything? Here is where we made choice number one: finding a way to stay employed on the road.
Last year, my partner and I did some research on online jobs and decided to take a TEFL/TESOL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certification Course. We are now both employed by companies teaching english online.
Our second choice was how we were going to go about living abroad without breaking the bank. Currently we are house sitting which means, drum roll please, NO RENT!
Please resteem and upvote if you would like to hear more about how to ACTUALLY manage long term travel!
Great post and I could not agree more! As the Golfer Gary Player said "the harder he practices, the luckier he gets". Luck is something we make, not something by chance.. Keep enjoying the luck you've built!
Thank you! And thanks for reading! :)
It is really cool that you made this decision. I wish you good luck in living the life you really want to live! It is important to (try to) always follow our dreams!
Thanks!!!
Where did you leave your previous life? I mean the material - keepsakes, diplomas, furniture, pets?
We got rid of most of our possessions and brought only what we could bring in a carry-on sized suitcase and backpack. We have three small boxes of stuff back in Canada, but our goal is to eventually lead a completely portable life!
Absolutely true. I've researched employment options, and chosen something which is quite a bit harder, but I have a knack for it, learned from the early age from my father, who was famous for it, and is actually something that I really like doing.
That something is massage, of the Russian medical & acupressure variety. Since it usually takes some time for massage practice to get off the ground once you move to a new place, other thing I do are Russian/English translations, and Steemit is a great opportunity in that area. :-)
I also have some income from renting out my flat, but that is somewhat offset by some financial liabilities, that I have to address to fully utilize this resource. I do plan to get rid of them by the end of the year.
Followed you, since the topic of my interest is similar to yours, as well as one of the main themes of my blog. However, I think you've made a better start, because I only plan on writing on which changes in my life I had to make, as well as the reasons why I chose such a life style.
Thanks! Will follow you too!