I finally understand what it's like to not be footloose.

[*Touring Ted*]

I spent most of my twenties and early thirties footloose and fancy free.

Working just for saving to travel. Quitting jobs and throwing away potential careers for the freedom of long motorcycle, canoe or backpacking trips.

It was a total blast. No commitments, no kids, no mortgage , no worries !!! And no regrets.

I was endlessly telling people to "Just do it" or "if I can do it, you can"

And where I feel that if you REALLY REALLY want it, you can just pack up and leave. But now Ican really sympathise with what it's like to be shackled down.

Sometimes it just isn't that easy. And the sacrifices to travel are actually very serious when you have direct debits and commitments.

Maybe getting older has something to do with it (Ignorance is bliss), but I find it's much harder to just drop whatever I'm doing and disappear on an adventure for a few months.

I've recently started my own business, I have a long term girlfriend and an ageing, dependent parent. My frivolous past also means I have no house, savings etc.

I've had a long bike trip planned through central Asia, the Stans and Russia and it's just dawned on me that I've been trying and failing to get away on this trip for three years !! It was ten years ago that I left South America promising new friends that I'd be back in 12 months.


Now I'm thinking "IS THIS IT"... Am I trapped ? Am I turning into one of those people who just talk about the trip rather than actually ever doing it. What happened !!!

So yeah... I get it. Apologies for all those years of 'Not' getting it.

Ted

[chris gale]

I would not worry too much mate, you've had a blast, which is more then most people do. I'm at the other end of the scale, I don't have a mortgage cos it's paid off and I am at long last financially affluentish, so now I can go off and do what you did albeit back to front. You have years left in you, hopefully, so you can always go off again....... Look at ian Coates, how cool is that

[Walkabout]

Both of the posts above are right and both are wrong, at one and the same time; there is no single way.

Just view the most recent posts, and the video, contained in the economic crisis thread here in the HUBB Pub.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...crisis-59853-9

Try looking back at what was predicted to be the future 30 years forward from 1985; it was all a crock of bollox.

Even futher back, my father offered me some of the worst advice I have ever heard about the future, but I wasn't listening so that was OK.

[g6snl]

Many people are shackled down and so are all their friends and family, they are all very much the same.

We are different. We know it. You know it. You'll be fine don't worry.

Patience ...........................

[ridetheworld]

I can definitely relate Ted. To be honest I was going to motorcycle to Ireland but can't even be bothered buying a bike. I think it takes a lot of cosmic coincidence to be end up in a different country on a motorcycle living the dream. Some would say discipline and will power but really I honestly feel rather like life is something that happened to me, rather than me doing it. Maybe I'm just very lucky? Coming back to the UK now after a life changing trip over 3 years in South America on my motorcycle (and years of backpacking around India, Asia, etc), it's odd that most of my friends have children, mortgages and talk about house prices etc. Still, none of it seems too bad. Walks in the country on the weekend and pub lunches, seeing family and friends and the odd holiday here and there. One thing I have learnt is that being from a EU country really doesn't leave you too much to complain about once you've spent time in countries where searching for scraps in rubbish dumps or prostitution is about the best many could hope for... And yet nothing quite excites me as the idea of flying to Capetown and buying a 125 and riding it home, or cycling to Mongolia! There has to be some way to balance all this out, let me know if you find it out la!

[kpredator]

for myself I doubt I will be laying on my death bed ,saying dammit I should
have worked more.It will likely be dammit why didn't I make more trips to
africa.
everyones life is different,marriages,children,economics,family
so very many factors. all I know when you reach retirement age and realize
your mortality I wish I had traveled more often!!!

[g6snl]

Originally Posted by ridetheworld

One thing I have learnt is that being from a EU country really doesn't leave you too much to complain about once you've spent time in countries where searching for scraps in rubbish dumps or prostitution is about the best many could hope for...

Spot on! It has that effect. Over the years I've become less and less materialistic as a direct result of travel. It truly does change you inside I think. It's made me a much more considerate person than I was. Less wasteful and the list goes on... Seeing others smiling and content with what they have, when they have nothing, can be very emotional on both ends of the scale. Coming back home where for some, hardship, is bad wifi - hardly compares really does it. Many of us are so lucky to be in such a privileged position to be able to travel to far away places and be educated by it in such a way it changes our inner self to be even better people than we were when we left. Returning back home gives us all the chance to pass this on in so many ways, to our family , friends and that homeless person you now stop for. The trip may be over for a while but the journey continues every day in so many ways.

[Threewheelbonnie]

Nature will take its course. You'll be glad you stayed with elderly relatives as long as you can. You'll be either glad your relationship with the girlfriend is still going strong or look back on good times. Businesses can be converted to travel money. From 20 years out it can look a long job but you just get on with it and look forward to the shorter trips and the big one when it'll be hotels all the way and spending your winter fuel allowance on petrol.

Welcome to the club

Andy

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*

I spent most of my twenties and early thirties footloose and fancy free.



So yeah... I get it. Apologies for all those years of 'Not' getting it.

To add to my earlier post, we are all creatures of our DoB, something over which none of us had any choice or control.

If you had been born around the end of the 19th century you would have fought throughout 4 years of WW1 and now be heading towards another period of duty in WW2, assuming survival from round 1.

[greenmanalishi]

At last you understand why I and many people like me could not go when we wanted! Look on the bright side, you have been to many places and have some great memories and just because you have a business and are in a relationship does not mean you will never go again.

I can finally go where and when I please but somehow don't want to anymore. I have been doing lots of little trips though and I am pleased with that. I have just had 10 days touring Scotland and managed 1800 miles in that time. Sure it was not the Patagonian highway or the Atacama desert but I do not feel any less of an adventurer for that nor do I feel I have to prove anything to any one. For now small trips maybe weekends or three or four day events will suffice for you until the time and means are at your disposal to go on another "Big" one.

I really hope the business succeeds and I await the wedding invitation along with the patter of lots of tiny little feet (and I don't mean puppies).

[chris]

Ted
Cherish the time you have with your parent.

However with regard to the longterm gf /self employment thing, you chose these 2 paths.

As I recall, until recently you were with a previous long term gf or maybe the new long term gf is the same as the previous one? What about finding a gf with the same wanderlust as you? Easier said than done... My ex wife said she wanted to travel the world with me, but failed to walk the walk. You can't necessarily have your cake and eat it. Sadly.

I also recall you quizzing me about Siberia and 'Stans travel and buying a TTR600 for said proposed jolly. Then 5 minutes later you're self employed and "tied down". WTF!

IMHO In some ways our path is set for us, but in many others we (can) choose it, but have to make sacrifices to be able to "live the dream".

Recently I seem to like embedding videos in my posts. Here's one from the past that Mr G might remember too :-)



PS. RIP Terry Wogan

[buyarbi]

Most everyone on this site are of like mind when it comes to travel just like most people on an investment site are of like mind. Satisfaction in life can only be determined by that person.
Whatever combination of, money accumulation and adventure out of your box it is that makes for a full life , you should do it while you still can and you still want to. There will be time enough for countin when the dealins done. ( some song from the memory bank)
I found the transition from the majority of one to the other, to be a little freaky at first just as a lot of other people here. Now the line fluctuates for me too and it is still a hell of a ride.

[chris]

Originally Posted by greenmanalishi

I have just had 10 days touring Scotland and managed 1800 miles in that time. Sure it was not the Patagonian highway or the Atacama desert

NW Scotland is one of the most magnificent riding destinations on the planet. Ruta 3 and (since it has been paved) Ruta 40, both in Argentine Patagonia have to be, along with the Panam along the north coast of Chile (the Atacama desert) and Peru, the 3 most boring roads known to man. Just my opinion.

Others might think it's wonderful to ride 2000 miles in a straight line with diddly squat to see. It does however allow a lot of time to contemplate life and the universe.

Still better than working for a living, mind.

[backofbeyond]

Originally Posted by chris

Still better than working for a living, mind.

That's it Ted. Just accept your fate. The spider's web of responsibility has finally enmeshed you and as the grim reaper knows only too well you can run but you can't hide for ever.

Before you know it you'll be stuck in the traffic on yet another rain soaked morning commute, hairline receding, waistline expanding, with final demands piling up on the mat as customers flock to the guy next door as he's 5p cheaper than you.

The bin will be overflowing with empty booze bottles and every time you look wistfully at the dust covered bike stuck in the corner you'll wonder whether it's you or the bike that's decaying faster. "One day" you'll say to yourself, "one day I'll pump up the tyres and take it out for a ride", but you'll hear the lack of conviction in your voice...

Sorry if it all sounds a bit depressing but I'm just off on a two week road trip with my in-laws. Console yourself that things could be worse

[*Touring Ted*]

Hahaha... I'm reading this staring out of our flat window to a rain soaked morning. About to take on rush hour traffic to another 9 hour day at a corporate dealership... My bikes are all under cover....

I find it rather ironic that many posts on here are folk finally casting off a life of work and responsibility to finally achieve their dream of adventure travel. And I'm doing the reverse. :/