07-31-2015, 04:28 PM | #23 |
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I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but whatever. The biggest problem with this is you have to live like a poor person. I read it cost him $60k over 3 years, but the cost is actually much steeper. The opportunity cost of not working, saving, etc at his youngest years. The same money saved for retirement would be worth $3,000,000 in 40 years. Yeah, yeah...live while you're young, but he's starting over when he gets back. Cool experience, but now it's over and reality is back. He has plenty of time to save and I hope he does.
As I was saying, $60k is super cheap for that many countries and 3 years. He probably had to stay with random people and eat street food. Of that $60k, over half is probably transportation including airfare. I spent over $20k visiting Tokyo and Caymans. I spent another $7k in Nepal. Obviously, his method is fine if you're the kind of person cool with that kind of bare bones and potentially dangerous travel. I'm sure he had a wonderful time, but he really had to rough it a lot of the time. He even mentions getting robbed in the video. Some would argue you can only experience the country traveling this way...it's personal preference. I'm not hating on this...good for him to do it, but it takes a certain kind of person to leave everything behind for 3 years to take a trip by yourself. With no one to share it with, it's a little empty. You meet your wife and you're like, "oh, I've already been there alone." I'd be much more in favor of taking a nice trip a couple times/yr and doing it right. Then you spread it out and can really enjoy each place. The positive is he did get to tick off all these places at a young age. The negative is he probably had to rough it, did it alone, and is probably essentially broke now. Last edited by BayMoWe335; 07-31-2015 at 04:34 PM.. |
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07-31-2015, 05:19 PM | #24 | |
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07-31-2015, 05:32 PM | #25 |
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There is nothing wrong or right about any of this. Some like to travel and that to them is living. Sometimes I prefer to live very humbly (only eat cheap street food when I'm hungry). Other times I want to splurge and eat Kobe steaks at Spago in Maui. I actually prefer to eat simply when I travel and experience more of the culture than spending lavishly. Again, to each his own.
A guy at work originally planned on taking a few months off to travel. He decided to continue the trip and ended up going for a whole year. He went to S America, then Africa, then Europe, then India and SE Asia. That is one hell of a trip. Even if I were to die after that, I think I would still be happy having lived and experienced that. |
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07-31-2015, 05:42 PM | #26 | |
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TizzKO: what kind of business did you run? |
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07-31-2015, 05:45 PM | #27 | |
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I guess if I sold my F80 and bought an Accord I could do the same too. Maybe, just maybe. |
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07-31-2015, 05:56 PM | #28 | ||||
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That opportunity cost is high. I traveled when I was 30, when I got out of the Air Force. However, I'd been a huge saver and economizer my whole life and had quite a bit of money for my age. I realized I needed a break and that would ultimately be beneficial, but then had another realization: A coworker who was in his early 40's and healthy went swimming in a lake with a small cut on his hand. 4 days later he was dead- sepsis. A friend of a friend had a back ache one day. Turned out to be very far along bone cancer. Dead a month later. People die in car wrecks all the time. It made me realize I might be delaying gratification I might never get to enjoy. Saving for that high ROI when you're old is definitely not without risk- if you die before you enjoy it, your ROI is negative as you didn't get to enjoy much of the money you made. I did the trip, and now I live a more balanced life. Quote:
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07-31-2015, 05:59 PM | #29 |
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I think its awesome what he did, but I dont believe I would personally do it
I enjoy my work so don't need to run away, and thoughts of the opportunity cost would likely hinder the trip for me |
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07-31-2015, 11:31 PM | #31 | |
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Also, look up ESTH and State dept. There is also NGA but that's fairly specific. |
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08-02-2015, 03:08 AM | #32 |
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I don't know that everyone needs to take a world tour, but I think all people need to at some point before 35 travel to and spend more than a couple weeks in at least three foreign countries (areas) that's very different from their own, one of which must not be a "first world" country if one was born and raised in the "first world."
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08-02-2015, 03:50 AM | #33 | ||
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08-03-2015, 09:28 AM | #34 | |
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08-03-2015, 01:41 PM | #36 |
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Oh fuck no I love my job..
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08-03-2015, 08:09 PM | #37 |
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i would rather work really hard for three years, starting a solid financial base, retire early, and spend the rest of my life traveling to wherever i want for as long as i want.
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08-03-2015, 08:16 PM | #38 |
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I would encourage everyone to get out and see something new. Even if its just a day trip to another city... seeing something "different" is always cool. Get out of your comfort zone and experience things.
Dackel
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08-04-2015, 10:42 AM | #39 | |
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Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) Officers Around the World=> There are approximately fifty Foreign Service officers located in embassies around the world who focus exclusively on environment, science, technology, and health issues within our bilateral diplomatic relationships. They engage our allies on the full range of OES issues, such as, oceans and fisheries; conservation; protection of marine mammals and wildlife; water; cooperation on satellites and global positioning systems; bilateral science cooperation; health policy; environmental capacity building under our Free Trade Agreements, and climate change and renewable energy, among others. In addition, ESTH officers represent U.S. positions in multilateral fora at the U.S. Missions to the United Nations in New York City and Geneva, and at the U.S. Mission to the European Union. ESTH officers work closely with other USG agencies and support their efforts by raising key issues at the diplomatic level. They cooperate with nongovernmental organizations to raise awareness of ESTH issues, promote good environmental governance and public participation, and advocate the use of ESTH core issues to strengthen diplomatic relations. http://careers.state.gov/work/foreig...eer-track-quiz |
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08-04-2015, 05:41 PM | #40 | |
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I'm still not sure where I stand on all of this. Many of us try to justify traveling in a responsible way. However not everybody is lucky enough to have income that exceeds their bills. In the end, all of the unlucky senior citizens have it MADE. Guys my age won't even have SSI when I am ready to fully retire. If this kid spent another few years saving and investing while also enjoying life in other ways, he would certainly be in the top 1% for his age, and free to travel a mere 2-5 years later and have the same experience, then come home and remain financially independent. Just my confused 2cents.
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08-04-2015, 06:44 PM | #41 |
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It's nice that I have a job where I enjoy what I do, get to work from home, and when I'm not home, get to travel to fun places. It's all about finding a gig that gives you the right balance.
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08-04-2015, 07:27 PM | #42 |
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Nice find and great vid! All that videography would have been a distraction to me but appreciate that he had it to share
Did something similar on smaller scale when I was younger than him, but also did army, undergraduate and post-graduate and subsequently spent a lifetime traveling and and/or living 'abroad' in my line of work including some very 3rd world experiences. Agree as some have pointed out that you definitely take a hit financially - compound interest can kick your butt, but with the right will there is always a way and whilst I know I could probably be a lot wealthier now if I had taken an alternate path, I would not give up a single moment and really have no regrets (that and saving like a mad person has put me in a decent place!) = live for now and repeat!
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08-04-2015, 08:05 PM | #43 |
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Nice thread! I am going to China in 4 weeks for vacation with my girlfriend. Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, and Hong Kong. So excited to explore the other side of the world!!
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08-04-2015, 09:23 PM | #44 | |
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i have been told i'm "lucky" in the past because of what i have chosen to do with my life. i always correct the person and let them know it is not luck, and in fact, hard work. semantics, i know, but i get mildly annoyed.
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