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

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

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 :mchappy:

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.

:rofl: 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 ...........................

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!

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!!!

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.

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 :rofl:

Andy

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.

Finally
 

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).:D

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

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.

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.

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 :rofl:

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. :/

All I can say is been there, done that. In my twenties I travelled and even ended up in a new country, then I started the trip up the corporate ladder, got married, had kids. Thirty years pass, the kids are grown up the marriage had gone the way 50% of them do and I suddenly thought I've got new opportunities and now I'm traveling again.

Do I regret those thirty years, not a bit - they were an essential part of making me who I am and I enjoyed them (well most of them). For me what kept the connection alive during that time was always owning a bike and trying to use it almost everyday (just because you wear a suit doesn't mean you have to give up commuting on a bike - though I admit living in Australia this is probably easier than UK). Enjoy the next few years, variety is the spice of life.

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Ditto! I spent from the day I left school until I was 36 travelling either with work or on my bikes. Earned good money never saved etc etc. at 36 I got all sensible but the travel thing is in you! I realized after a while of resenting my "normal" life that it was merely an interlude....which lasted ten years but in that ten years I managed to lay the foundations for the future and to resume my reason for living..... Now I'm 53 and resumed all be it shorter travels 5 years ago.... Just to let you know it is possible to have a happy medium and travel the world without turning your back on your world. Knowing what your missing will make you appreciate the moments no matter how short you can get on the bike and travel because not all of it has to be epic! ( well not as epic as my ramblings here!! )

Mal.

Oh my, that's a cruel reality to yearn for isn't it :rofl::clap:
Don't worry too much Ted, just treat this time like a flat tyre. Sometimes you have to stop, repair & look around you. Enjoy it regardless :thumbup1:

Ted's original post made me feel somewhat depressed because it appeared to be signalling the end of something for him but thanks to you, backofbeyond, I am now enveloped in a new burst of enthusiasm, joy and adventure. You should become a motivational speaker for people who are feeling down on their luck! :clap::clap:

I spent most of my twenties forging a career and climbing the property ladder - it seemed to be the thing to do, I worked with people who were exactly the same and I suppose it was mildly competitive. My job involved a huge amount of worldwide travel anyway. Once in my thirties I was pretty keen to break free from the career thing, don't really know what changed but girlfriend was up for a career break as well. We sold our house and set off and had a great time but other things come into play not least the biological clock so we now have two children and the memories of a great time travelling.

Heading towards retiement in a few years I'm really glad we didn't do what many do and wait until we retired to scratch the travelling itch but we are looking forward to a few more adventures in our more sedate years.

Horses for courses ol mate, you did the right thing and you're still doing the right thing! Come what may, you have the adventure spirit well instilled and it will never leave you / us! I'm in a similar boat, housing market in free fall, cant get what I need to retire, even if I did I'm the primary carer for my 86 year old overly independent Mum! I can still manage day rides maybe a weekend away with a bit of planning. Just glad I did the miles when I could regardless of the $$$ consequences. There will be more, lots more, it's just a time thing mate :thumbup1:

The grass always looks greener
 

Hi Ted,

I had a relative who lived in Netherlands, he spent the last 20 years biking all over Europe. He had a 9 to 5 but was away to a rally, or a festival every weekend throughout year. He met lots of interesting people and had many good times making for great stories. Granted not quite a RTW life changer but never the less I was always wishing I could do that. Meanwhile back int the UK I did the whole Career, Wife, Mortgage, kids Thing. Whenever we met I would say how jealous I was of his lifestyle. He said it was great but he just wanted what I had, a family of his own. Now he is back in the UK, working and married. Does he miss it? yep but another chapter in his life has begun. At least doing it that way round he (and you) gets best of both worlds.
For myself and most others who wait till the mortgage is paid off and the kids are old enough to fend for themselves are finding that now we need to look after our aging parents. We are also quite content and by all accounts we're hard wired for comfort after 40.
Your new business sounds exiting and I wish you all the best, I might roll by that way and say Hi sometime (if there is a Starbucks nearby, don't want to scratch the GS :rolleyes2:).

Anyway I recon you could still do a big trip it would just take some good planning! :thumbup1:

Best regards,
Dave.

Kettle is always on :)

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It’s good to see the opinions from both sides. Personally I’m the opposite to Ted as I spent the early years settling down with my wife, 3 kids, career and big mortgage. No regrets at all as I’ve always had a bike, done the rally scene and short ish trips to France, Belgium etc.

Now approaching 50, I manage to get away a few times a year around both UK and Europe. Yes there is a dream of doing the big one but for me it’s all about the time, the money and the compromise.

Last year I did a 13 day 3K ride from UK to Croatia and back on an old 99 plate Fazer 600 with 50K miles. People said I was mad taking a ‘small old bike’ on a trip like that. WTF???

For me it’s not about having a big GS with all the TT dogs danglies that get little or no use (apologies to those that do use them!). I took what I have been maintaining and riding daily for the past 6 years. I just slung over some soft panniers, packed a tent and off I went with 3 mates. I know it’s nothing compared to what a lot of you have done, but for me it was ‘my trip’ with limited time and budget.

I had a great time, especially the passes in Slovenia, Italy and France :mchappy:. And regarding the compromise… well it cost me a family holiday to Egypt for the wife and kids :Beach: 

Last weekend I did a round trip of 700 miles from Bristol to the Lake District (its certainly rains a lot up there:stormy: ) and if you know who was the white van man that nearly took us out on the Hard Knott Pass, please tell him politely (big stick optional) not to do it again. :nono:

It was funny though to see a mate being chased on his bike by a cow at the bottom of Wrynose pass (Cow = Moo Moo type… and not the variety that sits on the back and nags a lot)

Have fun all – do what you can, when you can, no matter how small the trip, just get out and enjoy it while you can still get your leg over (the bike that is)…

Bones

They're always the best trips....

Humble and simple is the way.

Forget all the bling and glamour

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Enjoyed all the contributions to this thread. My story may help in your choice of a path to take.

As a Kiwi we are known for our nomadic lifestyles. Three of us went abroad after university aged 22. I landed a corporate job, bought a house , got married, had kids. By 36, I had nearly paid of my house. My job was interesting, took me all over and gave me financial freedom and satisfaction. It was not all smooth sailing - had a couple of peaks and a few deep troughs- but they help mould who you are

My two friends continued to travel and finally settled down at 36, and took on marriage, kids and at 68 are still working to make ends meet.

My corporate job gave me a pension, I invested into some property over the years and took early retirement at 58. I am lucky to have good health and an understanding spouse who while not accompanying me on my bike travels does not stop me from going as long as I stay in daily contact.

Now live on the beach in NZ, about 20 minutes from a small service town and travel 6/9 months of the year. We have motor homed through Europe for 4 years, I did some bike trips through Europe, Morocco, Turkey, New Zealand and rode three months around Central America on a Suzuki 125. Currently we are Rving in the USA and plan to do this for 4/5 months a year for the next few years. Last year I rode a push bike around Cuba for 7 weeks and covered 2000 miles.

I had plenty of five star travel when I was working so the luxury end does not appeal. As long as the room is clean, reasonably quiet and I can get a cold beer, reasonable food and wifi I am happy. And of course my Kindle

Am I happier than my mates? Happiness is subjective but I have more options than them so am probably more content.

My lifestyle is not expensive compared to my golfing and cruising friends. I don't drink a lot, pay no rent in NZ and survive without an smart phone and branded gear. I like driving around in my 4wd diesel pickup and my V strom is 8 years old. I got rid of all my suits and ties and have some jeans, shirts and a nice jacket and trousers for going out. Live mainly in shorts, t shirt and flip flops.

My next bike tour is 3 months through Peru and Ecuador starting in late Sep 2016. I have bought a Chinese bike and had it prepped etc. If it fails or I cannot sell it at the end well I lost $1600 spread over 3 months or $20 a day.
Cheap really for the experience.

A phrase I heard at a retirement seminar was "at 60 you have 10 good years. " Not so I have met many seniors who are still travelling in RV's and on bikes at 70 plus. Maybe not doing the hard yards . I still ski and dive with younger mates and although not as quick or air friendly I am not that far behind.

My plan is to keep riding and travelling for as long as I am not a responsibility on my host country. When I am I will take up golf - but cruising no way.

Ride safe

Peter

Ted, you aren't alone mate, I managed to travel and dodge marriage until my mid 30's - the only saving grace is the wife likes to travel too and we have been through West Africa and South America together. Now at 47 Im sat here on a small island in Western Canada with 2 mortgages, a dog and a cat wondering - like you, when the next trip ( Vladivostok to Europe) is going to happen, I've resigned to the realty that it may be a while and at least I've got plenty of local riding to do here in our 'back yard'

Chin up mate :)