Hey folks!

So I have a chance of taking voluntary redundancy from work (I’ve applied for it and just waiting on confirmation whether I will get it or not)
My wife and I have travelled many many times in Europe, we’ve been to North Africa and ridden the dunes of Erg Chebbi. We’ve shipped the bike into Iceland and travelled round the island for a couple of weeks and we’ve always dreamt of eventually giving it al up one day to go travelling “proper”.

We’re not loaded with cash, but the funds from this redundancy can give us the finance to actually live the dream. Riding east from the UK through Europe and beyond, The Stans, Russia, Mongolia et al. Or more recently with thought about riding the Pan American Highway all the way down to Ushuaia.

I’m also thinking that being the wrong side of 50, I’ve got a good job I enjoy, a decent pension and maybe thinking am I getting cold feet, now the dream is quite possibly a reality?

Those of you who has packed it in and followed your dream, what made you take the plunge?? Any thoughts or advice appreciated!

Thank you

Gav & Jack

Hey Gav and Jack

In a nutshell - my mom was 65, diagnosed with cancer, dead three weeks later.

I am now 55 so thats only 10 yrs older than me now.

Did the sums, renting our house out will comfortably pay for us to travel so today we finally decided to do it. Taking our daughters and heading OS later next year.

We are not going to take a vehicle at this stage, but will have one prepared back home just in case we change our mind. A good friend is an immunologist and has concerns that the Covid mutations may shut everything down again so I want to be able to get out of dodge real quick. So monthly AirBnB’s and public transport - at least we will mingle with the locals

Once that changes we may go vehicle based.

Good luck.

The biggest risk is not taking any risk.

I have never met anyone who has done someting like that and regretted it, I can also think of several examples of people who had planned something like it later in life and had either not lived long enough, not been physically capable or just plain lost interest and said I wish I had done it when I was younger so I think if you have the opportunity take it.

Co-worker/friend of mine died from leukemia; he was 54 a year older than me.

Do it while you can you don't have an eternity. And you don't need much If you are frugal and make right choices; friend of mine manages to travel on $500-800 a month using money from renting out his place. I don't know how he does I guess he doesn't put many miles I need $30-40 a day but I ride 10-14hr if I can.

As for getting cold feet it's normal, I get jitters every time. Goes away quickly just stay positive and take one day a time. There will be good days and bad days but you know what? If every day was perfect how would you know it's good?

Recently I signed up to a FB site for retired people from the service I was with.

They have a section for those who have passed. OMG there are lots in their 50’s and early 60’s. Time ticks…

Hey Homers GSA sorry to hear about your Ma mate.

Thanks for the positive vibes you good folks! We spoke at length about it last night (travelling) and we kept coming back to the same, “yeah we have to do it” like one of you guys say, yes there’ll be bad days, but hopefully plenty of good days in between. We’ve got everything crossed now hoping I can be successful with my VR and we can make real in roads and get some things tied up ready for the off!

Thanks again guys

Just don't put all your money and cards in one wallet; waiting 6 days for FrfExed replacement in Central Asia will make you some friends but may leave you hungry and needy for a few days roflol.

I did decide to start, because it will get harder to do it any year.

Career, Kids (or grandchildren), Income (who gets higher at age), Setting (close friends)

Did start three times, with 2month / 6 month / 2 month

We did discuss here about that topic recently:
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...t-ideal-101733

Was a very good discussion and should be a good read!

Surfy

__________________
About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

I've done various kinds of moto trips for decades; never around the world, but all over North America, Mexico, and some of South America in 2 to 8 week stints. Always some apprehension a few weeks before departure, but that goes away after the first 10km are behind, or sooner. Just let the apprehension be there, knowing it will go away when you are on the road. It's totally worth it!

Here's why: Travel is good for your brain health; check this out: https://advrider.com/how-adventure-t...es-your-brain/ along with Rick Steves Ted Talk about traveling, on the same link.

Mark Twain gave excellent advice :

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do."

Hello

"...being the wrong side of 50, I’ve got a good job I enjoy, a decent pension….taking voluntary redundancy from work"
I don't know what that means in your situation and country.

Go for travelling, but if you have to come back and earn a living again, don't forget that.

Only break bridges you don't need anymore or can build up again.


sushi

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My RTW:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrXt660ztenere

I dont like such statements so much. Because you can "do" different things.

Often it is not just the decision for doing an longterm trip. It is more an tradeoff between severall options in your life.

I am disappointed in 20 years:

- that I dont buy a flat/house
- I didnt do more out of my career
- I dont had kids
- I dont did a longterm trip
- I dont have good financial reserves

No, a longterm trip dont avaid that you buy a house. But 60`000$ more or less can do the difference at the end at example.

Correct is - you will regret when you did nothing

Surfy

__________________
About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

During a couple of years

* I had done 2 surgeries for Arthritis,. Both heaps. => 3-4 years in total as invalid. Sick, waiting for operation, Operation 1,operation 2, recovery... Time passed

* I survived a heart attack. 25% does not survive the type of incident that I had

* I was totally exhausted from the combination of work and bad health => Almost ended up with a mental collapse

* My wife decide to leave and look for something fresher.....

* Constant redundancy and reorganization at work. At the ago of 61, I got an "offer" for lay off including a "package"

* My father got Parkinson's disease and never got any useful retirement. Died at 69

=> I made a 3 year plan to prepare for travelling (The redundancy contract and other stuff had requirements so I could not just leave). But I did a trip to Nepal during these years. And a lot of smaller trips. The plan was to start with a 4-5 month trip in South America 2020. And to do smaller trips i Europe during the summer periods.

But. When it was time to leave.... Covid 19....
+ The knee stopped working. More arthritis ?. No, only a cracked meniscus. But.... queues to hospitals for "none urgent issues" during Covid19 times....
But surgery has been done and I am recovering again.

I feel like Sisyfos.....

But. Decision is made, Plans are done. Just waiting for opportunity. Hopefully next winter => Argentina and Chile. Or Vietnam, if it opens. Or Tibet ???

Time is running. I hope it opens while I still can travel.

=
So no long term trip so far. But I have during the last half year done:
* Pilgrimage to Trondheim in Norway
* Part of the Swedish TET
* Touring the French and Italian alps
* Riding N2 in Portugal
* Touring Douro Valley in Portugal

And done a huge amount of one day trips.
=> No RTW trip. But there is a lot to do and see anyhow.

=
My plan for Argentina is to buy a small local bike. No preparation needed to arrange shipping and stuff..
For Vietnam: rent for 4 weeks (30 days Visa was easy to get, pre Covid 19 times)
=
Travel requires

* Money
* Time
* Health
* That the borders are open..

I hope that all conditions will happen at the same time

Being on the other side of fifty, my only suggestion is if you have the ability, is to buy a piece of property before you go OS.

Doesn’t matter what it is or its size, get it and get it rented out so it pays for itself.

you are locked into the market for later.

But each to their own of course.