Reflections

I Quit My Job 6 Months Ago – More Musings on Travel

March 27, 2016

I like to throw in some of my general thoughts and realizations every once in a while, just to let you guys know what’s going in inside this little brain of mine as it gets put into new circumstances around the world. See here and here for similar posts.

As I type this, it has been exactly six months since I quit my job to travel. Six months since I last worked! Man, the time has really flown by! (Because duh, not working is awesome.) And it hasn’t all been perfection, as you know, with the dengue and food poisoning and occasional feelings of loneliness, but it has been everything I’d expected and a whole lot more.

I’ve been keeping notes whenever my brain conjures up something exciting relating to life, work, travel and this whole entire experience, so below are some of my thoughts, having been out of the working world now for this perfectly round and significant quantity of time. (The order does not indicate importance, I don’t think…)

I Quit My Job 6 Months Ago - More Musings on Travel

I’m totally always this happy

Sometimes, even in the most spectacular of settings, I get this weird anxiety and unsettling feeling. It’s usually about the future or what the hell I’m doing with my life or just a nagging feeling of loneliness, and it really interferes with my ability to have fun. Then the fact that I can’t enjoy myself worries me even more. It’s like this self-perpetuating cycle. The one thing that stopped these feelings altogether was this particular thought:  I earned this. I worked, I saved, I purposefully didn’t buy stuff, I shopped at discount food stores (and cooked so many meals and ate so many leftovers), that I deserve this. I budgeted my face off and I planned and strategized. And this is my reward. So I should feel free to enjoy myself. Since coming to that realization, I feel so much better overall every day.

I Quit My Job 6 Months Ago - More Musings on Travel

you see, the sun here is the proverbial “realization,” got it?

Just so you know, I was actually really, really, happy at home. I wasn’t miserable at my job. Like on a happiness scale of 1 to 10, I would say that I averaged an 8 living in Raleigh, maybe even a 9. I was (and am) very, very buoyant. But I just knew I HAD to travel now or I’d regret it because it was something I’d wanted so badly. In terms of the happiness scale while traveling, life on the road definitely has a lot more ups and downs than life at home, but it is SO worth it. And so much more exciting.

A few days ago, floating in the bathtub-temperature water off the Cambodian coast, I felt overwhelmingly grateful that this is my life. And those moments of profound gratefulness come more and more frequently while traveling. Nearly every day, I feel such gratitude that I’m able to do this, and that just adds to my conviction that I’ve pursued the right course of action for me. And of course, gratitude increases happiness even more.

I Quit My Job 6 Months Ago - More Musings on Travel

this is my awkward “can you please take a picture of me” solo pose and smile

I never miss work. Never. Especially not when I’m eating crabs for $5/kilo pulled straight from the ocean, drinking sugar cane juice next to a new friend from my guesthouse, receiving a detailed lesson in how to most efficiently eat crab from a local Cambodian couple. But…

Even when I’m shitting my brains out several times a day because I have food poisoning or starving myself for two days so that I don’t have to go to the bathroom during a 14 hour bus ride across the border or when I’m sick AND sweating under my mosquito net in a room of six people with no AC*… nope, I still don’t miss work.

*all of these things happened this week, FYI

Ridiculously Good Times and Good Food in Mancora, Peru - Trailing Rachel

Other things I don’t miss:  Doing the same thing every day. Sitting indoors all the time. Driving. Watching TV (Okay, well maybe I miss watching Carolina sports).

Things I do miss:  Cooking. Easily finding healthy, vegetable-filled meals. Cheese. (Hmm, all these deal with food.)

Doing Nothing in Koh Lanta - Trailing Rachel

For less than a paycheck, I traveled Vietnam for a month. Trust me, this is not a commentary on how much I earned or bragging in the least. I AM bragging, though, about the value of Vietnam as a cultural, natural, and culinary destination. It was shockingly cheap and amazing, and it’s not that hard to afford a great trip like that… if only Americans could get that much time off work, ever.

You need friends. You just do. Even if you’re traveling solo. No man is an island… or something like that. But don’t worry, you’ll make friends. Easily. Just don’t be a weirdo. Or do. You’ll still find friends.

Take a Halong Bay Cruise, Make Lots of New Friends, Proceed to Travel Vietnam - Trailing Rachel

Speaking of, don’t be a dick to people you meet traveling. You may run into them again. It will be awkward.

Most people are good. Even the ones that won’t stop offering you a moto ride to your guesthouse that you KNOW is a block away. They’re just trying to earn that dough.

You are insignificant. Don’t take that in a bad way. Do you know how many people there are in this world? Do you know how (relatively) easy you probably have it compared to most of them? Bren has said this before, much more eloquently than me, but that insignificance gives you the freedom to do whatever you want. Seriously, stop worrying about what other people think. It really doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about what you’re supposed to do. You do what you want to do. Who cares what people at home say? It doesn’t have to be travel; it can be anything. (Personally, I’m sure there will be plenty of houses to buy and babies to have whenever I get back.)

I Quit My Job 6 Months Ago - More Musings on Travel

If you drink bottled water when your tap water is perfectly safe to drink, you’re an asshole. You don’t realize what a convenience it is to be able to drink from the sink until you can’t. (Side note: I added this to my packing repertoire and people are always like, whoahh, wait, are you drinking from the tap?!)

I love the bum gun. America, get with it. They make going to the bathroom SO. MUCH. BETTER.

(Hey, I wanted to end on a lighter note.)

That’s all of the wisdom I’ve got for now. I do apologize for the abundance of talk about poop. I’ll post again once I’ve accumulated some more life and travel knowledge that I need to pass along.

Feel free to disagree below!

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  • Bailey March 27, 2016 at 6:42 pm

    I am so glad you are living your dream. No regrets!!!

    • Rachel March 31, 2016 at 2:08 am

      Thanks Mom! It’s been better than I ever hoped for sure!

    • Jane Brothers April 12, 2016 at 3:57 am

      Jane and Warren are too! Love from Dawson’s Crossroads and Brothers Farm. Best blog post yet. Including the poop.

      • Rachel April 12, 2016 at 10:37 am

        Thanks! I’ll try to keep ’em coming. The posts, not the poops.

  • Tempesst March 31, 2016 at 11:19 am

    You deserve every bit of this travel life! I truly enjoy following along with your adventures. And glad to hear I’m not the only one who restricts food/drinks leading up to a long bus ride haha. I don’t think I went to the bathroom on any bus trip I took while in SE Asia. I spent most of the ride trying to get comfortable!
    Tempesst recently posted…I Wish I Wanted the Normal PathMy Profile

    • Rachel April 11, 2016 at 9:53 pm

      I was so thankful I did it – I took a peak at the bus bathroom and there was just no way in hell…

  • Joanna and Emma Grace ;) April 12, 2016 at 11:02 pm

    You are living the dream that we all wish we could just get up and do. Vicariously living through you is amazing! Enjoy it to the fullest and beyond. So glad you are happy and having a blast. Xox

    • Rachel April 16, 2016 at 3:00 am

      Thanks Joanna! Things look like they’re going pretty great for you as well! Still so happy for you! Give my best to everyone in the office!

  • Sel April 17, 2016 at 11:04 am

    Hi Rachel – I absolutely love your blog. In early June I’m also quitting my job and going traveling for a year, and have found so many of your posts so informative, especially the South American posts. Lovely pictures too! I was wondering how much approx you budgeted for a month on average? I know it’s very variable, and SE Asia is usually cheaper than South/Central America, and Oz/NZ etc are super expensive, but based off your experiences, how much money would you say people need to get by comfortably? This obviously doesn’t include spending on anything that would be considered ‘luxury’. Any ideas please let me know! Thanks so much 🙂

    • Rachel May 5, 2016 at 8:57 pm

      Hey Sel! Sorry for the late response (the Philippines is just so awesome). I budgeted about $50/day on average and it’s worked out pretty well so far. SEA is definitely a little cheaper than South America, but I’ve been traveling comfortably, staying in hostels with an occasional private room (and getting massages and diving) on an average of $50 per day (Nomadic Matt has a great book on this). I’m super excited for you! Definitely no regrets about quitting my job. It’s been fabulous so far. Keep me updated on how it goes and feel free to email me with any questions.

  • Rose April 26, 2016 at 4:30 am

    That’s so cool Rachel! You’re living the dream!

    It’s always great to see someone live on their own terms. You’re inspiring. I hope I’ll be able to leave my job and travel with my hubby one of these days.

    We’ve been to Southeast Asia, and it’s great! Lots of exotic places. Plus, if you choose the right places, like Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, they’re so affordable.
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    • Rachel May 5, 2016 at 8:58 pm

      Thanks Rose! Hope you get to do it! One of the best decisions I’ve ever made. SEA has been mind blowingly cheap.

  • Megan Fitzpatrick July 22, 2016 at 11:47 am

    I know I’m late to this post, but I loved everything you said here! I quit my job to travel about 3 weeks ago, and am heading out of the US on August 4th. I can relate to what you said about being really happy at home, but still knowing it’s something you have to do. Also, 3 weeks in and I do not miss work one bit, so I’m glad to see that feeling doesn’t fade after 6 months. You’re also making me seriously consider adding the Philippines to our Southeast Asia leg! Love your blog!

    • Rachel July 25, 2016 at 11:04 am

      So happy for you! Isn’t it the best feeling? Oh my gosh, even 4 months after writing that post, I have to say the Philippines were totally worth it! One of my favorite places so far. If I don’t get around to writing about it before you get there, get in touch and I can totally recommend some good places to stay / meet people!

  • :Laura Roberts January 5, 2017 at 9:17 pm

    Love this post! You capture everything so well and you’re so right
    Also I completely agree with your comment on bottled water…don’t be an asshole!

  • :Laura January 5, 2017 at 9:18 pm

    Love this post! You capture everything so well and you’re so right
    Also I completely agree with your comment on bottled water…don’t be an asshole!

    • Rachel January 11, 2017 at 12:10 am

      Thanks! I get so annoyed when I’m at home and see people buying bottled water, and then buying another one, and another. Just drink from the tap, fool! (Or at least re-fill that first one you bought!)