Hey gang, this sort of falls into three separate parts of the forum (Careers, Travel and Finance) but this is probably the most applicable. I'm looking for people who have done something similar, and gone totally against the norm.
I've just dropped everything I have in Calgary and am moving away. I grew tired of the daily grind so to speak. The Commute, the rat race, the whole idea that is Calgary. It seems over the past few years that even with how hard I've worked, I'm no further ahead due to the massive growth this city has seen. The 250k house I began saving for back in 2002 is no longer attainable, and I just feel there is more to life than just having a pulse. As a born and raised Calgarian, I'm looking for a change as I'm not especially keen on the direction of this city or my direction in life.
I'm leaving behind a lot of friends, a great job and a safe well known surrounding that I have grown up in for the past 25 years. I have no real obligations right now. No mortgage/kids etc etc.
People always say that if you're not happy, change it. Well, thats my plan.
Anyone ever just up and left, decided to travel for a year or 5 or forever and see the world? Keep going till you found what you were looking for? I suppose I wont have a lot of people answering yes to that last one, as Calgary (the large membership base here) wouldn't be anywhere near my top 10 in places I'd like to live and raise a family et al. But I could be wrong
First Stop is Banff for the winter, to collect my thoughts, adjust to being on my own, unwind, catch up on some skiing, and see how living with the GF works out. Should all things go well, and we can actually stand being around each other all the time, next stop is New Zealand. I've done a lot of "soul searching" based on months and months of research, and many books, consultations and a couple a few bottles of Belvedere, its where I'd like to sample first. I'd also like to rekindle my love for photography, which I have been contributing ZERO photos as of late as I just haven't been inspired. Maybe go to school somewhere else and learn something new, work interesting jobs, meet interesting people. I'm hooked on traveling, I love it, be it the Caribbean, other cities in Canada, the US, Mexico, I'd like to see more.
There is more to life than money in my opinion, spent a long time working for it and haven't really accomplished much, and so perhaps going a little minimalist and seeing what else is out there is what I really need. I'd rather drive an old assed jeep on a beach with the palm trees than roll in my Porsche stuck in traffic working for the weekend. Take what I've saved and stretch it out for a while. Those who know me know the long long long strain of bad "luck" I've gone through with various things, and recent news in my life reinforces that we're not on this earth for ever. We only go around this crazy Merry-Go-Round once. I just don't want to look back and say "%^* I wish I did that, took that risk, saw those places, did those things." I have a few regrets, and I want to make the best of the rest. After all, today is the first day of the rest of your lives.
Discuss.
All advice is valued and appreciated. The butterfly's are making themselves known.