Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding...

[Blixa]

Terrific RR. I have to say, your photos are really quite stunning. Looking forward to your updates.

[zandesiro]

Cool photos,Awesome adventure ride...!!!

[gregdee]

I'm loving it. Your photos and story telling are top notch, and the scenery is amazing. Some day I'd like to make it that far north and east. It's just that there is the middle half of this continent in the way and it looks awful flat and boring to traverse.

I have read a few of these long term RR's now and the questions that I know I need to answer for myself are:

• How do I justify chucking it all?
• What is my financial situation?
• What is my budget and how long can I expect it to last?
• Do I have a few million $ in the bank so I can live off of the interest?
• Do I really want to abandon my career?
• Is my life all that bad and is the grass really that much greener on the other side of the world?
• What about medical insurance?
• What happens when funds run low and the expensive German bike need some serious repairs?

Perhaps the key is to not ask "what if" but to just deal with "what ever" whenever "oh shit" happens, eh?

Could you give us some insight into how you dealt with (or plan to deal with) any of the above issues?

[h2o_snow]

Originally Posted by gregdee

Perhaps the key is to not ask "what if" but to just deal with "what ever" whenever "oh shit" happens, eh?


Could you give us some insight into how you dealt with (or plan to deal with) any of the above issues?

+1.

I'm interested how you are handling every day issues - bills (I assume cell & credit card), physical mail, heath insurance etc.

Thanks.

[GypsyWriter]

Originally Posted by h2o_snow

+1.

I'm interested how you are handling every day issues - bills (I assume cell & credit card), physical mail, heath insurance etc.

Thanks.

[SWbySWXJ]

Originally Posted by gregdee

I have read a few of these long term RR's now and the questions that I know I need to answer for myself are:

• Do I really want to abandon my career?

I think that's the most important question, especially in today's world. Many people hold on to a job they hate (not implying the OP hated his job - I don't know them). Also, do you have a marketable skill so that when you get back in a year, can you get a job? I have grad school debt so a trip like this is out for me until it's paid off, but rest assured that a trip like this changes your life. My cousin left a great job at 31. Had 401k, management position yada yada. Went to South America for "1 year". That turned into 8. You never know, you may fall in love with it and just do seasonal jobs to get you through the next leg of the trip.

Sure - what happens when you're older and need to retire. I don't know. But then again, I don't think the OP plans to do it the rest of their lives...but they might

[Blader54]

Not sure you can maintain a conventional career and also take time off for a big ride. Reading the RRs here I see people falling into a few categories: one, folks who have skills in wide demand all the time: for ex. ER doctor, professional chef, nurse; two, people who are so committed to motorcycling that as a result of their trip they end up in a new job or career that is related to motorcycling, like Tiffany Coates being hired as a guide for a company that takes tourists on adventure rides, or rtwdoug, who was already a chopper builder, working with his g/f in Bulgaria to open a moto-hostel and start a business catering to touring motocyclists; three, there are the folks who just go and go now, and worry about "afterwards", well, afterwards. Their whole point seems to be that they don't know what the future holds, but then they don't know what the future holds if they DON'T ride off now. Is long-term security really achievable, or is that an illusion? How much control over the future do we really have?

Yeah, you have to have some money stashed before you go. I think that's why you see people selling their houses, cars, and all their stuff so often. Also why some report really cutting their expenses to the bone while saving up, so they could leave sooner rather than later. And maybe why lightcycle recounts here how they eat spaghetti out of the can and camp so that they can afford to make the trip. Sure, you could also choose to put the trip off until you are financially independent. There's no right or wrong answer, no "one way" to do it; it's whatever works for you. If you want it badly enough, you'll find a way. Jes' my 2 simolians....

[Patrick46]

Originally Posted by Blader54

lightcycle recounts here how they eat spaghetti out of the can and camp so that they can afford to make the trip.

My business is in a big multi-shop building, and my neighbor at the shop is also a bike rider...but he comes at it froma completely different angle then I do...that's for sure!!

He said he can live as cheap as $200.00 A DAY when he's traveling on his bike! and he doesn't always motel it either!!

$200 a DAY???

My Gawd....I could live like a fat king for that much!! (Am I the only one who eats Ramon noodles??? )

Originally Posted by Blader54

Is long-term security really achievable, or is that an illusion? How much control over the future do we really have?

WOW....now this is the 'real' question!!


(can I QUOTE this???)

[Scooterchick]

Originally Posted by Patrick46

My business is in a big multi-shop building, and my neighbor at the shop is also a bike rider...but he comes at it froma completely different angle then I do...that's for sure!!
He said he can live as cheap as $200.00 A DAY when he's traveling on his bike! and he doesn't always motel it either!! $200 a DAY???

My Gawd....I could live like a fat king for that much!! (Am I the only one who eats Ramon noodles??? )
WOW....now this is the 'real' question!! (can I QUOTE this???)

LOL.....uh... no! We eat them too! hahaha

[eakins]

Rock on. I was living a year in Sayulita & Guanajuato Mexico (2 places you must stop in for a week or so and take in) and meet a ton of through & rtw riders who are doing the same thing. Life is very different once you head south from the US and many will never return.
Best of luck! If you're ever near Fort Collins, CO look me up.
Bill

[eakins]

Online jobs support many moto-travelers.

Originally Posted by Blader54

Not sure you can maintain a conventional career and also take time off for a big ride. Reading the RRs here I see people falling into a few categories: one, folks who have skills in wide demand all the time: for ex. ER doctor, professional chef, nurse; two, people who are so committed to motorcycling that as a result of their trip they end up in a new job or career that is related to motorcycling, like Tiffany Coates being hired as a guide for a company that takes tourists on adventure rides, or rtwdoug, who was already a chopper builder, working with his g/f in Bulgaria to open a moto-hostel and start a business catering to touring motocyclists; three, there are the folks who just go and go now, and worry about "afterwards", well, afterwards. Their whole point seems to be that they don't know what the future holds, but then they don't know what the future holds if they DON'T ride off now. Is long-term security really achievable, or is that an illusion? How much control over the future do we really have?

Yeah, you have to have some money stashed before you go. I think that's why you see people selling their houses, cars, and all their stuff so often. Also why some report really cutting their expenses to the bone while saving up, so they could leave sooner rather than later. And maybe why lightcycle recounts here how they eat spaghetti out of the can and camp so that they can afford to make the trip. Sure, you could also choose to put the trip off until you are financially independent. There's no right or wrong answer, no "one way" to do it; it's whatever works for you. If you want it badly enough, you'll find a way. Jes' my 2 simolians....

[eakins]

Originally Posted by h2o_snow

+1.

I'm interested how you are handling every day issues - bills (I assume cell & credit card), physical mail, heath insurance etc.

Thanks.

i think they have no bills left except what needs to be paid that day.
that's the idea. once you are south of the US you can pay for health related things if need be on the spot and it's cheap. the key is go leave the US and Canada and live cheaply. sure it will not last for ever, maybe it will, but who knows they might find the love Chile, stay and find jobs there. people forget they can always do something again for $ and become fearful of trying in the 1st place.

Jay's http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=556240 been on the road for along time
so have others http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161983
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480532
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161983
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=735281
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=801516
...and it goes on and on.

[eakins]

sounds like this kinda lifestyle is something you will not be doing anytime some...ever.

my advice to these 2:
watch your expenses very closely. at the start it's fun and you blow $. down the line you've got to keep it tight. make your own meals and learn to fix your bikes, which will break somewhere along the way.

Originally Posted by SWbySWXJ

I think that's the most important question, especially in today's world. Many people hold on to a job they hate (not implying the OP hated his job - I don't know them). Also, do you have a marketable skill so that when you get back in a year, can you get a job? I have grad school debt so a trip like this is out for me until it's paid off, but rest assured that a trip like this changes your life. My cousin left a great job at 31. Had 401k, management position yada yada. Went to South America for "1 year". That turned into 8. You never know, you may fall in love with it and just do seasonal jobs to get you through the next leg of the trip.

Sure - what happens when you're older and need to retire. I don't know. But then again, I don't think the OP plans to do it the rest of their lives...but they might

[lightcycle]

Hi gregdee. Everyone's situation is different, and you seem to have most of the answers to your questions in your message already, so I highlighted them for you:

Originally Posted by gregdee

the questions that I know I need to answer for myself are:

• How do I justify chucking it all?
• What is my financial situation?
• What is my budget and how long can I expect it to last?
• Do I have a few million $ in the bank so I can live off of the interest?
• Do I really want to abandon my career?
• Is my life all that bad and is the grass really that much greener on the other side of the world?
• What about medical insurance?
• What happens when funds run low and the expensive German bike need some serious repairs?

Perhaps the key is to not ask "what if" but to just deal with "what ever" whenever "oh shit" happens, eh?

Could you give us some insight into how you dealt with (or plan to deal with) any of the above issues?

For medical insurance, in Ontario, we have basic medical coverage called OHIP for only up to 2 years (actually 2 years and 5 months) after leaving the province. But that only covers care given in an Ontario hospital, so we supplemented it with an emergency medical evacuation from MedjetAssist to get us back to Canada. For local medical care, we supplemented OHIP with Blue Cross Travel Insurance (which in Ontario is underwritten by Manulife).

[pilot3]

Subscribed....and envious! Enjoy