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When I was 20, I had $22,000 in the bank from saving pretty much all my life waiting tables and translating, etc. and I packed up and lived in Italy for TWO years on that money.
OP, I hope you did it! You only live once and the world is a large, crazy, beautiful place. I'm going back to Italy myself. It's liberating letting go.
I did something similar when I was young-22- and had almost no savings. I quit a job to go on summer trip to Europe. Loved it. I would have done the same thing to go on a few month's vacation about 5 years ago, but my then employer approved the leave.
You're doing much better than the vast majority of people your age. More $ is always better, but you're in a great position, I think. What about health insurance? One other thing you could do is compromise-work and save like crazy for another 6 months to year, then do it.
LOL, it's great to re-visit this thread and give some feedback. I took off mid 2010 and returned mid 2011. Visited 23 countries in all and was definitely a once in a lifetime amazing experience! I got my old consulting gig back and have been back at work now for 6 months...LOL! I am so glad I took the decision to take the time off, the optimistic attitude really payed off as in the end the time off wasn't a big deal.
LIFE is nothing but a series of experiences.....if you limit your experiences for the sake of gathering more cash, you may regret that later.
As long as you can take care of yourself when you return, and you won't make life miserable for yourself, i say DO IT! There's no amount of money that equate to the experiences you'll have in your 1 (or more?) year.
i'm in the same boat.......130k a year in a highly desireable profession....but i'm married (no kids) and our savings are better than what you described....and i'm 30 (vs. you at 35)....if i wasn't married and didn't have two mortgages to pay, i would do what you described in a heartbeat!
in fact, i wanted to do that 7 years ago after school but didn't. and i somewhat regret it. we travel 3 or 4 times a year, two of which are 10 day vacations to exotic places....but i don't think that compares to a year long adventure like you're describing.
:-)
Good luck.
UPDATE: i just read the last response from the OP above and i'm so glad you did it, and i've very happy for you! truely! :-)
Last edited by Thinking-man; 01-24-2012 at 08:33 AM..
Reason: Addition
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