Machka 

This is a question for those who have done tours of ... let's say a month or more ... and especially tours which have involved a life upheaval (i.e quit job, moved to a new place, etc.) ...


Do you have regrets? Do you regret doing the tour? Do you regret making the changes to your life surrounding the tour?


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I quit my job, left the "safety" of a life I'd known for 13 years, went on a three month tour, moved to a new city, and have started on the path to a whole new career. Do I have regrets? Absolutely NOT!! Not a single one ... after so many years, I'm finally realizing all the dreams I once thought would never come true.
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And you?

Alekhine

I used to bartend in a popular bar in Buffalo. After 7 years of it, I had had enough of partying and socializing and having to entertain people and see them all the time doing the same things over and over, and the thing I wanted most at that point was some solitude and some quiet. People are really unabashedly quite noisy.

So I saved as much as I could in the last 6 months there and announced that I was leaving for good, and when June came by, I took off with my bike and spent 6 weeks in the woods. I wasn't even really "touring" at that time. I was pretty much in the same woods - not even 60 miles away from Buffalo - taking trips to the local supermarket when I needed to and certainly living off of my touring rig, but otherwise not traveling around. It was 6 weeks alone and away from all the noise and the people, and it was probably the most rewarding stretch of time in my adult life. I've put together more interesting bike tours since, but I haven't had that much time alone before or since, and I really enjoyed it.

I never did go back in that bar either.

No regrets. I love bicycles and I love camping and I love touring and I think they saved my life in a lot of ways.

Guest

Never.

aroundoz

For me it was a reason to quit a high paying job that I despised and the only reason I could come up with. It took a year and a half to land something permanent after I returned. Only regret was wishing I would have stayed gone longer.

jamawani 

Machka -
I'm probably twenty years older than you and could have a big house and new car and all kinds of pension plans had I opted for the nine-to-five. Instead, I have a perspective on things which is pretty rare and hard to come by. Now that I'm pushing fifty, I have a lot of friends who say they envy me. Of course, they all have health insurance, but as I like to say, my cycling is my health policy. Twenty years ago, I was stuck doing the same thing every day until I realized that nothing would change until something changed. Bicycle touring saved my life. I didn't realize it at the time, but now I do. So is there a price tag for that?
John

racpat_rtw

I left a good job in the Netherlands to ride my biike around the world. Best time of my life, met my wife on the way. We quit our jobs again five years later and spent six months riding in South America.... both found new jobs when we came back. This year August we plan to do it again and ride at least a year in Asia and Africa. So far traveling has always been better then 'normal' life.

Machka 

Ah, you're not twenty years older than me!! Let's just say I've got my hand on the doorknob of the big 4-0!!

It's interesting you should mention that twenty years ago you were stuck doing the same thing every day ...... the following is the quote I use in the signature line of another forum I frequent ... and is the quote I've attached to my portfolio as well:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain

When I made the decision to step out of my "safe" area and turn my life upside down ... I adopted that quote.

Cyclist0094

regrets? none. plenty of jobs out there, but only one life to enjoy.

sula

Regrets, Ive had a few,
But to few to mention.
...........
Cos I did it MY WAY!!

Get out there and ride.

I have this rule in life. I only ever work in one place or do one thing for a max of two years. After two years I take a trip. Ive cycled in 20 plus countries, used pack horses to travel the length of NZ, Cannoed the full ectent of the Yukon river etc etc etc.

Have I regrets well I regret not getting a better boat is Siberia, soding thing sunk. Had to walk out the bush leaving all my gear. I also have some regrets concerning a red head in York, really should have... any way enough of that.

What has this cost me. Well I actually have a prity high paying job, I have to work in odd corners of the world, Middle East, Borneo, Azerbijan etc to get the cash but hey thats what I do. I find I wear girlfriend out prity quick, you have to swap them out before they break. So I dont have kids, which is something I would like to do. So think I will bye a boat big enouf for child rearing. Go Asia and pick out a wife some time in the next couple of years

Dont regret stuff man, just do better in the future.

If you want to get out there and ride. Well get out there and ride. You will regret it if you dont

valygrl

Hmmm... I too quit my job, ditched my condo, sold my fancy car, and hit the road. I don't regret it at all. I learned a ton about how to be a better version of myself, found a better way to live (half work and half play, instead of 5:2). I also found the love of my life on the road. But I miss my friends in santa cruz, i miss having a real home of my own. I miss stability. I miss the climbing gym. I miss "normal" sometimes. I'm sick of being careful about money. And I'm not saving any $ for retirement, which is kind of scary. Regrets? no. but it's not all pefect either.

Camel

I won't regret quiting my job and going without an actual address to tour.

Mind that I like what I do, and am good at it. I figure I should allways be able to find something that will at least pay bills-when I want to. Might take a while to find something compareable to what I'm leaving.

A move to the West coast was the initial reason for this tour. I've still no idea where I'll end up moving to. I'm sure I'll end up somewhere...

I am getting little bouts of "anxious", yet not quite anxiety, as my departure date nears. Normal I figure. Much to sort out (odd kit bits, finances, move "stuff" to storage, make sure my brother is set in a new place etc), but it's all getting done in turn.

cyklehike

How's your trip going vg?? I'm assuming you are still down under.
btw, I agree with you, I miss the "normal" sometimes too, when I leave home for extended periods of time.

Thrifty1

I started my life/carreer by enlisting in military at age 17. Got married, raised 2 children, and was totally dedicated to carreer and "normal" pursuits that enabled my comfortable retirement at age 51. Regrets......I didn't know any other options or what I "missed" due to my total focus on early retirement. In my opinion, it was worth it as my wife and I have been able to enjoy a whim oriented lifestyle/schedule for the past 9 years while still young enough to maximize enjoyment. We have ridden in every state except New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
Everyone has their own priorities/needs/desires accordingly. Too late for regretting my choices now.
Gary

paul2

I worked at the same company for 12 years. I quit to spend a year cycling and backpacking through Asia. I have no regrets. And I'm planning to do it again in the next few years.

TomM

Interesting timing of this thread. I've been considering cashing in and embarking on an extended tour. I've been at my present job for 9.5 years, have the fancy car, big house etc.. I've been offered the chance to take an extended leave of absence with my job guaranteed upon my return. Big whoopee. My boss doesn't understand that it's not about a bike trip. It's about wanting to experience a life different from what I currently live.

My question for everybody is how long did it take you pull trigger and actually make the change?

Machka 

If I were you, I'd take that opportunity to try out a different lifestyle and see if it is for you.


Here's my timetable:

August 2003 - I ride the PBP, and tour England and Wales with an English friend during my vacation time from work.
November 2003 - That friend and I were chatting on the phone when all of a sudden he asked me if I would be interested in dropping everything and touring the world for 5 years. I was speechless ... I'd never even entertained the idea before. But then I started thinking ....
January 2004 - My friend came to Canada for a few weeks, and we talked more about the idea of an extended tour. My biggest difficulty was how to support myself. But more seeds were planted in my mind.
February 2004 - I attended a few meetings regarding teaching English overseas, and then started researching the reality of something like that. I discovered that it is better if you've got a Bachelor's degree of some sort before heading to work in another country ... which I did not have.
March 2004 - My parent's offered me room and board if I wanted to come to Alberta and finish my Bachelor's degree. I turned them down. They offered 3 more times ... I turned them down. They offered a 5th time ... I accepted!
April 2004 - I started preparing for my new life!!!! .... checking into colleges, packing, booking my flight for Australia, buying touring gear, etc. etc.
September 2004 (early) - I handed in my resignation at work
September 2004 (late) - My new life began!!!

paul2

From the time I first got the niggling of the idea, to the day I hit the road was probably about a year and a half.

Mr_Super_Socks

no regrets. I am planning to do it again in the next few years.

SteveFox

ive been a year in the works of my trip, and only 110 days to go till im outta here.

steve