Will you really need to start all over again? You have your experence behind you now. I have started completely new careers several times, in completely new fields and don't regret any of it; Industrial Photographer, Agricultural Mechanic, Oil Rep, Self Employed Jeweller, Electronics Customer Manager. That last one nearly drove me mad - literally.

Now I'm a self declared Two Wheeled Adventure Traveller (TWAT) (Twat= English for idiot) So don't take any notice of me, I'm not the most reliable card in the deck.

Anyway 42 is not old, nor is 60 from where I'm standing, enjoy your kids growing up, earn lots of money, don't loose sight of your dream. and get in plenty of practice, you don't have to do it all in one go you know.

See:- two oppsite views from me in one post:confused1:

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Happy Trails

Stagbeetle

It is not the Journey nor yet the Destination, that is the Prize; it is the people you meet on the way.

Blog on http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fairless/

I like that !!

Now i wont mind being called a TWAT


Where I live, twat is rather more offensive than Idiot though... Slang for "Fagina" or a very very irritating person and general complete arse.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Oh dear, I had hoped to steer clear of this verbal minefield by defining it as 'idiot'

If you all want to go in search of it's vulgar roots you can check out the Old English origin here (did you know conversational English usually contains over 85% Old English - no, not that word, it's Dutch )

Twat - Definitions from Dictionary.com

Now following this natural break, back to the topic....

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Happy Trails

Stagbeetle

It is not the Journey nor yet the Destination, that is the Prize; it is the people you meet on the way.

Blog on http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fairless/

Up in the northwest. You can say "I was well twatted" meaning you were drunk and also "To Twat" someone is to punch them....

right.. back to the thread !

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I must be a GIT .
Geriatric Impecunious Traveller .

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

There is only one cure for grey hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine.-- PG Wodehouse

Sorry Dodger, old fruit, but Wodehouse was wrong - my hair fell out before it had chance to go grey, and Mrs MarkE has albinism, so her hair will never be anything but pure white. No grey hairs in our house (na-nana-na-na).

It appears I'm a TWAT and an apprentice GIT.

What was the original thread about again??

Here's the link to that original post which got started in 2004. It's definitely worth checking out to find out how others have managed the jobs/lives:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ight=job+money

Lorraine

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Rallying for A Wild Life — THE FILM!
http://igg.me/at/AWildLife

www.LorraineChittock.com
www.facebook.com/lorraine.chittock

Unfortunately, it would involve starting over. Being an attorney means keeping clients. If I lose those clients now, I will have to spend years trying to get them back if I tried again. Obviously, I could try a different career (and that is very tempting), but I won't make nearly the same $.

Iv been in my job for 2 years now and been working my way up and by the time I have saved enough to get away I will of been here 3.5 years.

Im giving up 3.5 years of ass kissing, appraisels and promotions to go travelling and you know what.. Im VERY glad.

I can sense myself going stale and need a change.

When I come home im going to try and set up my own business. Its something iv always wanted to do but probably never would if I wasnt already leaving my current job to go away.

Look at it an excuse to open open your horizons and find something you will truely be happy doing.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

There's always the option of going in-house as counsel when you get back, or going into the business side and still using your law skills ... law is a skill that gives you quite a bit of flexibility outside of just "being a lawyer". But you're right, it's the old golden handcuff problem! Good luck with your decision.

Giving up work? Where do I sign that contract?!!!!

I know it is a tough one. That is why I was wondering what others would do if they made that kind of money.

Man, If I was a lawyer I wouldn't hesitate. I always assumed that you guys can pick up jobs like that (I'm flicking my fingers now). Or am I mistaken, or you might not want to work for someone else. The more money I make the easier it becomes, and the quicker I feel like packing my bags.

my 2 cents

I'm currently 30 (hitting me hard right now) and work in Engineering (Civil). I'm currently working for my 12th company and this company (where I've just handed in my notice yesterday) is my first permanent job. I've been mostly doing CAD because I didn't have any drive towards a better position because I was always to busy planning my next trip. I think I've been on 7 now with one a big bike trip. This has taken me 9-10 years to organise/ fund, and I've managed to find a wife in all this time who's gotten into it.

I tried a working holiday in Oz when I left Uni and got hooked to living out of a bag not worrying about the rat race immediately. Seeing my dad losing his health over his career might have something to do with that, but in the end of the day I've moved into design and am earning the same as my peers. Same for my wife (although she's travelled less) as she has now made principle.
She's also given up her job. We're moving back to Europe to save enough money for another trip at the end of next year. We'll need to save 55k Aussie, and are confident we'll manage. I used to pack my bags when my account reached 3k GBP. Then I worked out how much I owed Visa when I got back.
She's pretty much guarenteed a job anywhere as she's a traffic engineer, and probably won't loose out on pay or position. I'm more design related. Problem with me is that it all depends on which software you design with. Luckily it's growing but certainly not market leading. So I'll always face the choice of having to take a drafty role over a design/ creative role. Easy choice for me. I realise it becomes a juggle when kids are involved. That's why we won't have any. And it also depends on what you do for a living. There have been a rare case where I had to work cleaning hotels for a while (few weeks running out of money on a trip), but you got to do what you got to do.
The way I see it is, I live now. Who knows what'll happen at the back end.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

All that babbling made me forget what I really wanted to say.

It's the notion that is leaving something forever. You'd be lucky (in some cases) if that happens. But usually we slot right back in where we left. We've come back to some companies, and because time goes so fast in an office, it's like you never left.
The longest I've ever made a trip last was 9 months. Got pretty sick of it all at the end so returned and went again after I got sick of working.
Most people I've worked with don't stay in one for for more then a few years anyway.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

I got by on £2k a year as a student (and had a great time) and get by on my current salary of £xxk a year. My overdraft and overspend is about the same.

I think when we come back I will be back nearer the £2k a year. But at a guess that is when I will learn to shop in Kwik Save for my beans rather than Waitrose.

I think what I'm trying to say is every salary I have ever had is not quite enough, because a) I waste a lot and b) aspirations increase

Change those two and you can surely take several steps back. I hope anyway ....

I think maybe the first thing you have to do is realise that if you are in any sort of carear salary then you are probably way overspending to what you really need. And you are going to have to think - Can I give it up? If you can then it's going to be easy from there .......

Obviously taking sensible precations before you go is going to mean you have to take less steps back ...

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Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009