I live in the UK with my Peruvian wife. We're currently planning our escape to South America and we're not sure we'll bother coming back. I think I've got to the point where I've admitted to myself that travel is what I want to do and although I'll visit family I don't think I'll ever permanently live in the UK again.

There are family reasons why this decision is now even more important... when someone you love gets sick you realise that saving for a rainy day is a bit pointless. We're off... this november we'll be jetting off. Just wanted to know whether or not anyone else had decided to do this.

It feels great.

I'd love to hear from other people..... could you leave for good?

Congratulations Quellomayo! What an amazing life path you have chosen. I would love to be able to do what you are doing....but first my mate has to find me

A few years ago, I meant to travel for a year but it turned into three. I love Canada and would not want to lose my citizenship but I would definitely leave for good if it were in my cards. I still may, who knows...

"Don't be afraid to take a big step. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps."
-David Lloyd George

i could def. leave without setting a return date.. and i plan to this summer.

if i never come back to london then obviously i've found something much better somewhere else.

i don't think i'd be crossing borders permanently though, i think i'll settle somewhere before the grey hairs have taken over

'Permanent Travel, What if you never come home....?'

Congratulations on the bold move Quellomayo, what an exciting venture...

I think the problem with questions/topics like this one is the use of the word 'home'.

In September 04, I sacrificed and/or sold everything: the house, the job, the bike (oh how I miss the bike), got a one way ticket outta there and hit the road on my lonesome. I'm currently in New Zealand and will soon be heading to Australia after recently being granted a 12mth Aussie visa. Since leaving, I've never once had or made any real plan, but beyond Australia, chances are I'll be scouring more of the South Pacific or switching continents. But who knows? I love the liberating feeling that comes with changing plans at the drop of a hat - I might just head to Norway yet!

I may have been gone almost two years, but as my method is slow and one of immersion I still consider myself to be at the very beginning of my journey. I just worry sometimes whether I've got enough years to fit everything in.

So as for going back home... I really don't believe I ever left as I never felt at home where I was. 'Home' is where I'm headed. Looking back, I think I just made a simple lifestyle change, swapping one of safe predictability for one of freedom, uncertainty and adventure. Most of all, I decided to open up my life to the hands of fate. Now it's all about the journey.

When I think about it, I guess I am on my way home. I've just gotta find her. And I'm taking the long way round.

I'm pretty much with 'scottwoz'.

I gave away everything I owned and got the hell outta there mate.

Nine to five, it's a dirty dirty grind. Life not only passes you by faster and faster each year but sadly also your dreams begin to become non-existant. The grind becomes all that matters. Paying bills and fitting in with the social structure you believe you are bound to.

It took two departures before I left Australia 'with no set date to return'. I'll slowly make my way around Asia teaching English or as some say Shanelish! There is no real need to go home. Home is where you choose it to be. My home is here right now, in the south of China. Soon it maybe on the east coast or somewhere west.

Like scottwoz, I never really felt home when I was at home. I was always dreaming of being somewhere else. My friends and family got married to a girl and a house loan and I was left dreaming.

I know everyone is different in life. Somepeople can not comprehend thinking this way. They need the security and the social structure and the predictable life that 'life at home' gives.

'No set date to return', it's a beautiful line, who ever penned it needs a nice cold beer!

I'm a big fan of the "no set date of return" as well - it makes me feel very free. People keep asking me when I'm going to come back from my trip - whenever I feel like it! I'm planning on being gone for about a year, but I'll come back whenever I want to - may be sooner, may be later. Most likely I'll get a little homesick and need a bit of a break before I embark on the next leg of my trip!

Eddakath,

Well said and good on yer mate! When our paths cross, I'll shout you a nice cold beer!

Hey Jessica,

be very careful of the 'homesick' thing when you combine it with going home 'sooner'. Take all the time needed to 'think' before you book that ticket back home. I combined the two last time and it was nearing 5 years before I woke up from my sleep of passing dreams. I was 'gonna' go home for only a 'short time'.

Hey, what can I say, the beer was cold at home, got my old job back to 'save' for the next leg and then there were bills to pay and bills to pay and bills to pay....strangely the back pack was never put out of sight! It spoke and I didn't listen...

Hey Scott, ta mate, that beer sounds great!

I love those questions Jess.

Like when you get in touch with people via phone or internet and they say 'So when you comin back then?' (back??), or... 'so when you've finished your travelling thing.....' (travelling thing?!), or... 'so how long d'you think you'll be away for?' (away? do I look like a boomerang?!)

And then there are the people you meet along the way: 'Ooh my my, you've been away from home for all this time? On your own?' (Hello?)

But then of course there is always the occasional star that asks no questions, nods, and says 'ere matey, let me getchya a beer...'. Bless every one of them!

I do like the star that asks no questions.

Strangely I do like to answer alot of those questions most get sick of. Without answers people are left with the same questions. When are you coming home? How long have you been away? WOW, so long and by yourself...these really are the rippers of the bunch.

Maybe I'm selfish, but proudly answer them, each one, one at a time. I once asked alot of those questions myself. I wanted so much to just take off. I'd meet travellers in Aus and give 'em the drill. I'd ask many the same questions over and over. What I really wanted was to exchange roles and answer them myself.

Now I can and I do. Yeah, I do get sick of the same questions all the time but hey, if I can change one persons mind and give them the courage to do what we've done then there really never can be too may questions.

You are right though mate, meeting that STAR who asks either bugger all or more about things in your journey that you have forgotten or think are unimportant to others, that really is time for a real chat about real things and ofcourse a good beer.

Speaking of beer, it's noodles time as the clock says it's Beer o'clock!

PS: the 'travelling thing'. Thats the one I dislike the most. It's like its a common cold or teenage fade or something. Sometimes I just wanna grab em and say, Hello, remember I now have no belongings...it's not a faze I'm going through!

Haha! You're so right mate.

I must admit, I'm so content and at peace with my life and its direction that I can sit for hours answering these questions, even the classics. It's a pleasure to answer, and sometimes I find it simply intriguing to watch some people grow uncomfortable or disturbed by the thought of staying 'out there' and moving onward towards the 'next phase'.

But I agree. The overall aim/ideal is to make a/the little difference in someone's train of thought that will be the seed of change or flash of strength or inspiration in their lives to just......do it (for those who want to), or at least seek ways to better themselves.

The everyday, 'classic' narrow-minded questions give an opportunity to sow seeds and inspire. It won't always pay off but there's always a chance that it will. The STARS simply inspire 'you', and give back the inspiration, reminding us that we are living one hell of a good life.

I can honestly say that I am thoroughly excited about my life and loving every single second of it.

Where's those beers, cheers!

As I'm getting ready for my trip, people keep asking how long I'll be gone for etc....kinda funny the response I get when I say "roughly a year, for the FIRST leg"....

But more amusing to me is the mock jealousy. Everyone is always like, I'm so jealous you get to leave and do whatever you want...blah. Like it's totally impossible for them, not a choice!!!

I made the mistake of calling a friend on this - he was NOT impressed by my implication that if he really wanted to, he could leave his career, sell his house etc. it was just impossible.

Do you guys ever run into that?? The "I really wish I could travel, but...." people???

Totally! All the time! You've struck a common chord. This one brings huge smiles...

I generally get it from people whom I've left behind rather than who I meet. 'Oh you're so lucky!', 'You lucky b******', 'If only I could...', 'I wish I could...', 'If it wasn't for this, if it wasn't for that...'

Lucky?!!! I did nothing, I just bought a plane ticket for 400GBP.

I remember thinking that I should just have a cheat sheet...and give it to ppl with all the answer to those same same same questions. I started getting bored with the answers and found it fun ti "invent" new personas. I remember having this one guy believing I was an international spy. I always fessed up but boy you should have seen the look on his face. I also remember telling the ppl in the airport at the security when they would ask me about my job..."Professional Traveller". That got a few good looks too.


Yes Jessica, I had that ALL the time. So much (especially from my family and close friends) that I wrote them a poem about it...
Chance of a Lifetime...That shut them up for a while.

Wonderful!

Scott mate,

I've just finished those beers. I just hadda fantastic time at the market place. People stopped by my table (many bloody mozzies inc) and sat for beer, ordered more beer, cheers'd and then carried on in what ever direction they were going. Like you, I am so overwhelmed with my life that I sit and ponder why...WHY...WWWHHHYYYYY more people don't just DO IT!

Jessica, the WWWHHHYYY from above is an answer to your question..do I get the same questions? Good Gawd yes. 99% of my friends all do the same jealous reply. But is is jealousy or admiration or regret etc. I think all the above. Many I remember many years ago wanting to break free and do something different with their lives. But instead they chose to tow the line and do as everyone else.

Many show regret in many ways. Some in their eyes but they keep quiet about it, others choose to verbalise it in questions, the many 'but' questions. We must remember and thank the fact that not everyone actually does what we chose to do with our lives. I for too long didn't. I for too long chose to be a 'gonna' in my life. eg: oh yes, I'm gonna do this and i'm gonna do that. but I didn't. Then one day I woke and finally asked myself why I 'wasn't'. Then it all changed.

I was lucky. At one stage I DID choose to marry and buy a house but my dreams were too strong. I luckily chose to change before I made the mistake of ruining anothers life and leaving them later. I know I left it a little too late. Another had her dreams mixed with mine, but the dreams I was verbalising were not my real dreams. I am lucky she was understanding and was telling me prior what my real dreams were.

In life, many people want to do so much but when it comes to actually doing what they say they choose not to. you will always hear the jealous type answer but is it really jealousy? Is is really what they WANT to do. Do they really REALLY want to break ties with the norm? I don't think so.

As you converse with them, it seems such an unreal and far off life to most but to actually break ties with society and pradictability and safety and normality....no, i don't think so. It's like saying everyone REALLY wants to be a movie star or a rock star. It's a fantasy, a dream but it's not a real one. It takes a special kind of person to go against the social norm. I've never been considered 'normal' in my thoughts by most of my friends so I guess I fit.

I guess most people want to buy and house and have children. thank gawd they do, it saves me from doing it. So maybe your friend was verbalising a 'common dream', like the rock star etc. Of course he could do it, anyone actually can, but the question is...do they really, I mean REALLY want to.

I don't think so. To rid all your belongings, to buy a one way ticket, to say good bye to family and friends, to rid the ritual of the daily grind, to leave a weekly salary, to leave the safey net of society, to leave your countries customs, habits and normality........even writing this I wonder how I actually got the courage to do it. I mean I live in the south of china, no one speaks english, I sit and eat and drink beer with people I sturggle to understand.....when I travel it's to another country with another language.......

why would anyone REALLY want to do this...think about it...why in the world would you want to go live in another country where you can't read or undertand what is really going on around you. WHY? Because it excites some of us. It excites some of us to the extent that we MUST do it or live an unhappy life dreaming of doing it. I think most verbalise jealousy but all it really is, is a present moment feeling or emotion.

When your away, look for the 'stars' as Scott called them. They really do give you the inspiration to give back what you have been given. Plus like me you can choose to answer all the normal 'questions' a million times over BUT....inside be proud it is actually YOU answering them and not asking them. Asking was your past, answering is your present and future! We all have questions...the search is for someone who will actually sit, take YOU seriously and answer them them, no matter how boring, mundane and stupid the question is to them...to you it maybe a question that once answered may change your life.

ARGH, Carmella, thankfully we are not all as wonderful in the kitchen of colourful language as you. If we were, you would not be the middle piece of the main table...your an inspiration mate! No two minute noodles served here!

Jess -

I think we've all encountered the "I wish I could..." people. It saddens me to think of how many disempowering beliefs people have about their lives. They seem to honestly believe that everyone else can do it but them. And that really saddens me.. frustrates me too in the sense that I get upset to think of what society and others tell us about what is possible and what is not.

At one point I was one of them and thought it wasn't possible for me to do, but after I bought that first plane ticket... I saw the light!!!! And now I am about to take off indefinitely... and when I get those looks and asked those questions, I use it as an opportunity to plant a seed and do the "If I can do it, so can you!"

Jenn

Carmella that's a great poem! When I returned from Asia from being away for a while I got asked "So are you going to settle down and get a grown up job?" Can you imagine and it was from an aunt who has been renting a condo for 30 years, leases a car and has temp work!!!! I was shocked by the question that she would ask such a stupid question. When I get asked these kinds of questions and they make my blood boil. Everyone is different and we all have different goals in life and some people are happy having a 9-5 job, house and a car but for some of us that wouldn't make us happy. What happens if I die tomorrow? I would be kicking myself in the ass saying why didn't I go here go there do that. Oh but I could say that I owned a house and car! Instead I am living life the way I want and I'm seeing and experiencing things that most people don't because they are too scared of change. Life is short and enjoy it to the fullest because you never know when it'll end!

Eddakath,
i was in a simular situation At one stage I choose to marry and buy a house but my dreams were always there to. Tell me why didnt you just include your partner in your dreams? or didnt she want to travel the world like you?
My partner and i were about to get married and i almost walked away to follow my dreams of travel, but a wise person told me to tell her what i was feeling and im glad i did.we are know married have been travelling the world for about 3 years now and have no plans of going home, not yet anyway. I often wonder what could have happened if i hadnt spoke up about what i was thinking and feeling, i could have lost the love of my life for ever and never had this great experiance of travelling with my wonderful partner and shareing all the things we have while travelling.

Hey Hey and a big G'day to you Peter,

all situations are different and mate, I am ever so happy yours worked out and that you are leading a beautiful life with the love of your life. That is just so beautiful.


Beers and Noodles to you from Shangrila in Chinas Yunnan Province.

I've just got to tell those of you who choose to make travel the most important and necessary part of your lives, how much I respect you for doing your own thing instead of settling for the "normal" life that most of us do.

It would never have worked for me. I was brought up with the firm rules of the day that the only way to be happy and fulfilled was to marry, have children, buy that house with the white picket fence and settle down to raise our children and keep our husbands happy and content. So that's what I did, and although I will never be sorry I raised a large family of fine kids, still I feel I've lost out in some ways.

Since I've been on my own I have done some travelling and enjoyed it immensely, but unfortunately am no longer able to do so due to finances. So I'll just have to be content with reading your blogs about all the places you've been and enjoyed, your adventures and thoughts, and having the guts to do it while you are young and unattached. Some day you may decide to settle down, marry and have your own children, and I sincerely hope you do because that definitely has its' own rewards.

So...go to it and keep your wonderful blogs coming to those of us who enjoy them so much!

Thanks for the excellent and kind word Liz (and the dietary recommendations! )

Good to see you're enjoying the community and the labyrinth of material! Hope to see you around!

I need to have a word here

Permanent travel can mean so many t hings.

Personally, I think I am permanently on vacation as my home is Australia, but I have not lived there for nearly ten years. I work then go somewhere. Be it for a day, which you can do when living in the UK or Europe, or for the long haul trip.

It is always sad going back to work, but I always manage to fall onto my feet, start saving and go somewhere again.

A lot of people ask me if I get sick of it, or tell me that they could not do it themselves, but we are all different, and I generally find that the ones who don't do it, enjoy listening/reading abouth the adventures that we have