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."

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.

I'm 65 and planning to ride to Magadan and back by various routes next year. Actually I planned to do it in 2020 but, y'know.... Keeping an eye on the virus spread and border closures I'm not very optimistic of even that date, but we'll see. I left my travelling late because I did the career and house and kids thing. In some ways it's not ideal because it can be a tough trip for an old bloke, but at least I know I have something nice to come back to. No way could I have been one of the young guys who has a great time for years on the road then comes back to no home, no family and no job. The main thing is to always keep your dreams alive, hope for the best but plan for the worst. You're never too old until your body tells you so... your mind never will

Same start but different end. But my wife left. The house is sold, kids are spread over the world...
I have nothing left there to come home to.
Total freedom. If not lock downs and state of emergencies due to Covid19.

I also hope that the body will keep healthy enough until Covid19 is under control.

=
That is what I did.I sold my house with garden and garage.
Good to have for a family. But a lot of maintenance.
And something you can't just leave.
And bought an apartment in Portugal/Algarve. Very low monthly cost. That I can easily get covered by rented out. Just lock and leave...(A lot of apartments here are empty all winter)
=

Finding decissions which will fill up the last chapters of your life with satisfaction and happiness is the game we are all in.

Some who start longterm travel travelling are running away from something; some are looking for something. Some will find something which gives their life a new direction; some will loose more and will have a big problem to return to "after travel life".

Think it`s quite normal if you look back to your life that you will detect some wrong and right decissions you made.

Your past will always be your lesson. Your motivation and your discipline will be your future.

So why should I worry or regret about my past if I can`t change it anymore?
I learned to live with my decissions equal if they later showed off as right or wrongs ones.

__________________

That is what we pray for at every AA meeting.
But is equal important for everyone.
Sober alcoholic or not.

But much easier said than done

Vaya con Dios

==

Buying a place in a foreign land other than your own may sound like a good idea But if you dont know the language or customs sounds like a bad idea only if you like to rub shoulders with other property owners Its costly but may have benefits for your family that want to go on vacations.
I was in Cape Town a couple years ago my flight was the non stop from Amsterdam Packed to the brim of mostly Dutch for there January vacation. I was surprised when I rented a moto and went cruising along the coast the local beach towns.They were full of Dutch Nationals partying and having a good time , I thought family runs deep in this part of the world the Dutch had a strong hold in this place for many generations. Good for them what way to escape if you are living in Holland one of the most densely populated places on earth
My thinking is if you want to retire or are close to retiring in a foreign place why not rent or lease this is what I do at 61 and have full privileges as a temporary foreigner pensioner in Colombia, I pay300 bucks a month for a modern apartment and 300 for all the food I could possible eat plus 300 a year for my moto to be legal the rest is a adventure