I feel for you.

I am one of those who came back from a trip with debt and it took me 2 years to become debt free after the trip.

I have been debt-free for a little while and now I am battling consumerism demons (wanting a new car and a new bike etc..)

So far I am resisting and the money is piling up in the bank account.

By my estimation by the time travel becomes sane again I'll have just enough money set aside for another year off on a bike.

For a lot of us, these long trips take a lot of planning, financial planning yes but equaly important is planning the unplugging from your regular life. Plenty of people have the monetary means to travel long temr but they cannot (or often will not)shut down their life to leave and travel.

If you are still wanting to do a long trip the best time to start planning for it is now.

Every penny spent on that trip was worth it's weight in gold and then some.

I am at that age where the generation above mine is starting to retire, get sick and some are leaving this earth. I am noticing that for a lot of people in their '60s and '70s money is not a problem but they dont have the health or the will to do anyhting interesting with the funds they have.

Do I dream of being 65, retired and buying a brand new 60k fancy pick up truck so I can look at it from kitchen window? Not me.

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Alaska 2014: Hotel Budget ZeroXmas in Death Valley, New Year in Urique