Last week I was based out of Los Angeles. Over the course of a week, my husband and I quit our jobs, packed up our possessions, moved out of town, and boarded a flight to Dublin, Ireland. Yes, Ireland!!!
Over the course of the next year, we’ll be traveling the world and posting photos and stories as we go! Let me tell you, this has ALWAYS been a life dream, and it’s been a long struggle to make it happen, but we’ve finally taken the leap!
Was it hard to quit our successful careers after 12+ years in the field of design? Hell yeah! But travel writing has always been a passion and the excitement of not knowing what comes next is the best feeling ever. I know some people think I’m crazy, but I’d trade stability, routine and all my material possessions in a heartbeat to be able to experience the world, and the pure adrenaline of adventure that is wanderlust.
The comment I overwhelmingly heard in reaction to the decision to leave everything behind and travel the world was: do it while you’re young. (followed by I’m so jealous!) I whole-heartedly agree. I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately, and I truly believe traveling is something you shouldn’t put off. Something always comes up, responsibilities grow, it gets harder and harder to leave, and it’s definitely much more challenging to travel when you’re older. Travel is something so special everyone should experience it. Once you see the world from alternative perspectives, nothing will ever be the same.
I guess it comes down to the old argument whether it’s better to eat the best thing on your plate first or to save the best for last? I’m definitely in the best things first group, because as Anthony Bourdain most gracefully put it, “what if you stroke-out during diner?” Diner aside, what if you DO never get around to it? It’s all about living in the moment.
Other questions I was most frequently asked were:
1. How will you afford it?
2. Where will you stay?
3. How will you pack for a trip like that?
4. Did you plan the whole year out in advance?
5. How do you have the balls to do that?!?
I’ll be answering these questions in depth on this blog over the course of the year, but in short:
1. Worked like crazy and saved up money in advance. I’ve also been doing travel writing on the side for the last 2 years and now get sponsorships from various countries and cities for my travel writing that will help pay for some of the bills. Plus I earn ad revenue from this website, as well as paychecks from magazines, websites and various freelance clients. Aside from all that, we’ll also be traveling on a budget and occasionally staying in hostels.
2. Hotels for shorter stays, apartments for longer stays, hostels for dangerously expensive cities.
3. I packed for 2 weeks and will need to find somewhere to do my laundry very soon! If I get sick of wearing the same clothes I’ll toss them and buy new ones, but hopefully it won’t come to that.
4. Nope, just winging it as we go, trying to stay a few weeks ahead if possible, but so far it’s been more like “what do you want to do today?” A little nerve-racking, but kinda cool too.
5. I’m just ballsy like that!
So I hope you’re enticed to follow along on the adventure. To do so, check back here often, or better yet, sign up for the Culture Vixen Newsletter (delivered 1-5x a week as new posts go up) or subscribe to our RSS feed. While you’re at it, why not add us on twitter, pinterest and facebook too?
Signing off for now from Ireland,
-Gayle
