F*** it – I am going backpacking in Southeast Asia
Most of the time, I miss a ton of opportunities. However, every once in awhile, they are just too good to pass up. This opportunity is one of them. It reminds me of the Dolly Partner movie “Working 9 to 5” – ok – my workplace is nothing like that, but I guess this song keeps popping up when I think of quitting. Maybe “Take this job and shove it” is better – but not applicable since I was not jilted by my lover and I am not leaving my job because of it. I am not sure why a bunch of country songs comes to mind. Maybe it reminds me of Julie’s father when I was young, where the days were carefree and going on a hunting trip with our dads was driving to a great steak house in the middle of nowhere and drinking my first sarsaparilla. Those were the days!! Carefree, no bills, no responsibilities, having a chauffeur, and listening to John Cash songs like “Ring of Fire“.
So here it is, I have the opportunity to quit my job and take off to travel the world for the next 6 month – 1 year. So my gut says, take it! Besides I will have to work another 15-20 years anyways – what is 1 year off. Right? Who would disagree with that logic?
How did I pick Southeast Asia? Well, it is a time zone and age thing. The older I get the harder it is to travel longer and longer distances. So I start at the furthest distance away and work my way back to my time zone. It also helps that Meg and her family live there!! So I am not completely by myself. Australian and New Zealand has been on my bucket list forever. They are just across the ocean from where I will be anyways – what is a couple of inches on a map?
Now the Planning part:
- Pick up a guidebook on Southeast Asia – The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia On A Budget.
- Read the 1st 50 pages – travel essentials, health, etc.
- Schedule Dr. appts – travel shots, annual exams, dental – all of those responsible things, since health insurance will not be provided by a kind loving company when I leave.
- Contact Meg!! Really – how else are we going to get this done in ~ 3 weeks.
- Communicate to friends and family just in case they try to reach me at my work email address.
- Bills and home responsibilities come in here somewhere.
- Build a first aid kit.
- Packing.
- Oh yeah – somewhere in between the start and end of this list – I should tell my Boss I am quitting!
If you had the chance to do anything you want for one year, what would you do?