You’re doing what?!
As I began telling everyone of my plans to leave my job and travel long term, I was met with shock, surprise, worry, happiness, and well wishes. To help everyone understand my decision, I am including a FAQ post with the most popular questions I received.
Why are you traveling and not settling down?
In life, there are many hard decisions one will have to make. For me, this was one of them. I won’t go into too much detail as it is personal, but I got to an all-time low in my life where I needed positivity and to do something that made me happy. Traveling makes me happy. So I started putting a list together of all the pros and cons of long term travel vs settling down and buying a house. The pros outweighed the cons in favor of traveling.
While doing it, I couldn’t help but think of a lecture I had in my college Ethics course. The professor drew a timeline on the whiteboard, mapping out a typical lifespan. Now I’m not great at explaining it, but I will try my best to summarize.
We are all born, go to school from age four to eighteen, sometimes 22, 26 depending on higher education. Then we spend 40 + years working 9 to 5 at a job we probably don’t like until we retire around 65. In the mix, we throw in getting married, buying a house, having some kids. Then we get to do whatever we want and follow our passions when we retire, right? We’ve earned our time to enjoy it as we please because we put in the hard work our entire lives?
Well…what happens if we don’t make it to retirement? What if there is a tragic illness or accident? What if you can’t afford to retire? What if you’re able to retire, but can’t do anything you planned to do because you are not able-bodied? So then you just wasted your whole life not following your dreams, because you were following societies’ life timeline.
How long will you be gone?
There is no set time frame. I have a one year Working Holiday Visa for Australia, so could be gone for up to a year, maybe less, maybe more. I could get there and realize I don’t like it and cut my trip early. I could stay there the full year. I could continue after Australia and complete an RTW (Round The World) trip. I could just come home. Who knows? That’s the beauty in it. My future is undecided at the moment, and the world is out there!
Where are you going?
I will be visiting many different states and countries during my travels. The journey kicked off in Massachusetts, then carried on to North Dakota, Montana, Oregon, California, Hawaii, and then Australia. I have a one year Working Holiday Visa for Australia so I plan to spend up to one year there, but that can always change. There are countless other countries and states I would like to visit as well.
Are you coming back?
Yes. That is the short answer. My home will always be Massachusetts and is where my friends and family are located. The real question I cannot answer is when.
What does your family think?
It took some persuading, but overall my family is on board. I presented my reasons in a way that helped them understand that I have thought this through thoroughly. They are now very supportive of me and my journey, although worried like any family should be. I gained my adventurous, wandering spirit from them! I inherited my mother’s love for travel and my father’s determination. I have adopted my mother’s goal of reaching all 50 states (and I’ve added all 7 continents) and as a ten-year-old, I watched my father ride his bicycle across the country from San Diego, CA to Newport, RI by himself! So I wonder where I got this spirit for grand adventures from!? Thanks, Mom and Dad! And with technology the way it is today, it is so easy to keep in touch! It’ll be like I never left!
What about your friends?
Friends are there to the end. They are BFFLs (Best Friends For Life). I grew up in the ’90s what can I say? Haha, I have an amazing group of friends who are nothing but supportive of my crazy adventures. I, of course, am going to miss them and their growing families, but as I mentioned above, it is so easy to stay in contact no matter where you are in the world!
What are you bringing?
All I brought with me is a 46-liter backpack and the clothes on my back. The backpack holds a week’s worth of clothes that accommodates multiple climates, shoes, toiletries, and miscellaneous necessities. I will do a detailed ‘what’s in my bag post’ later on.
Really, That’s it?!
Yup! Less is more! Think of it this way. I am a solo female traveler. Even though females aren’t less than men and shouldn’t be thought of that way, females often are targets. As a safety standpoint, I am less of a target with just one backpack. I have my arms and legs free to fend for myself. I can run easier. And I’m not laden down with ten bags, where a thief can snatch one and I can’t do anything because I have other bags to worry about.
I also should add that if my gear ever was stolen, of course, I would be distraught, but I wouldn’t do anything that would get me hurt. Stuff can be replaced, I can’t. I also understand that by only having one bag, if that’s lost or stolen, I have nothing. But don’t worry, I have a few tricks up my sleeve and a contingency plan. Plan for the worst, hope for the best!
What if you need something?
I’ll buy it along the way! You can get anything you need anywhere in the world. Except I did pack extra dental floss….that stuff is expensive outside of the US! Hey, what can I say? I worked in the dental field for four and a half years! Public Service Announcement: Teeth are important! Oral health is part of overall health! Only floss the teeth you wish to keep!
How can you afford this?
I won’t go into specifics about how I am affording this, because its taboo to talk about money. But I worked long and hard to eliminate debts and build up savings to an amount I feel comfortable with. I worked two jobs for many years to accomplish this. I made sure to cross my T’s and dot my I’s to make sure I have few financial commitments while having enough to travel where I’d like to in a style I am comfortable with, all while having a contingency plan. Also, by traveling to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa, I can work if funds get low.
Where are you staying?
I will primarily be staying in hostels during my travels. They are financially the cheapest option (usually) and also a great way to meet other people on the road. Even though I’m traveling solo, that doesn’t mean I always have to be alone. Hostels are a great way to save money and meet travel companions! Think of them like college dorms. Shared rooms with bunk beds and communal showers and kitchens. There are privately owned ones and also ones owned by large corporations. This means they have standards to meet which I appreciate. They are also usually located in the hub of the city, on the edge of a prime location. So that way I am close to the main attractions and in a safe area.
I will also be spending some time in Airbnbs. I love Airbnb! Depending on how many people are in the travel party, Airbnb can work out to be cheaper. I of course research thoroughly and choose Airbnbs based on their great reviews and safe location.
I also have the opportunity for a homestay with one of my best friend’s relatives.
Finally, once I settle in Australia (if I do), I might look to lease a short term apartment. This way I could have a home base and save some money.
Have you seen the movie Hostel?
I know as soon as I tell someone that I am staying in hostels, they are going to ask me this question. The answer is no, I have not seen the movie, nor will I ever. Not because I think what happened in the movie could happen in real life, but because I don’t like scary movies. Period.
Hostels are extremely safe from my experience. I have never had a bad experience or felt unsafe at any time. There is usually more security in a hostel than at a hotel and everyone at a hostel is in the same boat as you! Exploring the area and needing a cheap place to rest their heads. I research the hostels thoroughly online by reading reviews before I even make my choice. That way I know what I am getting myself into. And if something were to happen, there are always other people around (safety in numbers) and if need be I can just go to the nearest hotel and rent a room.
What are you going to do for work in Australia?
I am not sure yet! On the Working Holiday Visa, you are only able to work with one employer for no more than 6 months. So it will be temporary work, probably in the hospitality, retail, customer service fields. But who knows?! It is all part of the adventure!
So these were the main questions I received, please feel free to ask more below and I’d be happy to answer!
