Have you dumped the rat race? Or want to?

[dustboy]

Who here made a family decision to shed all the expectations of the rat race and just GO?

We've managed over the years to follow the standard footsteps: go to school, get jobs, buy a house, get married, have kids. All of which I have no regrets about, but I'm still haunted by the feeling that there's something more.

My wife and I have a 16-month-old boy, and we sold the house (whew!) and moved into a rental. I'm self-employed which is usually stressful, and my wife isn't thrilled with the daily exhaustion of a working mother. We plan to have one more kid.

But there's so much Earth out there to explore!! Even though many people would call what we have the "American Dream", I always feel like there is something more!

Have you and your family bailed out and gone on the road? How did you do it? How is it working out? Can it be done without a trust fund?

 

[haven]

Sure, it's possible. Here are two threads on this site written by people with kids who are doing what you're thinking about
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...ican-Family-overlanding-through-South-America
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...th-and-South-America-in-a-Veggie-Powered-F250

It helps to have skills you can trade for food and lodging. Volunteer work and internship deals can provide food and lodging. Here's one fellow's plan
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/72641-World-Apprentice-Volunteer-Overlander

You'll need to save up some funds to get ready to hit the road. Can you practice your current job from a remote location or while traveling?

Is your wife a willing participant in this plan? "If mama not happy, ain't nobody happy"

Are you looking to travel internationally? Or to find a way to live in USA without being part of the consumer society?

 

[keezer37]

Who here made a family decision to shed all the expectations of the rat race and just GO?

We've managed over the years to follow the standard footsteps: go to school, get jobs, buy a house, get married, have kids. All of which I have no regrets about, but I'm still haunted by the feeling that there's something more.

My wife and I have a 16-month-old boy, and we sold the house (whew!) and moved into a rental. I'm self-employed which is usually stressful, and my wife isn't thrilled with the daily exhaustion of a working mother. We plan to have one more kid.

But there's so much Earth out there to explore!! Even though many people would call what we have the "American Dream", I always feel like there is something more!

Have you and your family bailed out and gone on the road? How did you do it? How is it working out? Can it be done without a trust fund?

Of course you think there is more.
Ever wonder where these terms come from? Who says it's the "American Dream"? The National Association of Realtors? Whirlpool? GE? Home Depot? Ethan Allan? Ford? General Motors? And dare I say it, Toyota? I'll bet they all call it the American Dream. What a load of crap.
So then you hear it so much, it of course takes on a life of its own, people are repeating it and as the years past we know not from wen'st it springs. So we all run on our little wheel that goes nowhere. Trying to run faster than the guy on the wheel next to us.

For me it's not living on the road but shedding as many of the problems that make life miserable. May I never buy another house again. I hate the anchor I have now. As far as work goes; if I must work, it must be a stress free job. Whether it's for myself or someone else. I say let it be someone else's headache. Let the money grubbers and dollar chasers have it.

Oooh, I just got a new one: Switched cell carriers from TMobile to Verizon on Oct 21st. Set up my on line account and noticed a bill there already. Billing cycle: Sep 22nd - Oct 21st. Do I just say piss on it and let the money grubbers have? That's what they want. Is it worth the frustration of *611? Perhaps it's what I want also.

 

[dustboy]

I floated the idea to my wife this morning.

"What do you say we just sell everything, and travel the country teaching woodworking?" (my trade, and she is a teacher)

"Could we make a living doing that?"

"I'm not sure, but it's worth thinking about."

The door is left open...

Anyway, these big ideas have to start somewhere, right?

The income plan is one thing. If I sold my cabinet shop, and we cashed out all of our stuff (extra vehicle, furniture, tools etc) we would have enough to setup a decent travel rig. What we save on rent we would surely spend on fuel. If we left in 1 year we could probably save enough to survive for 3-4 mos. We have a small nest-egg, but that should be saved for our re-entry or emergency.

I think there is a demand for the business plan, since wood shop has been eliminated from nearly every public school in the country. Who would pay for it? Possibly trade organizations, and with some community fund raising I bet local parents could sell enough baked goods to bring a week-long class to their town.

The vehicle is another question. To survive an extended period on the road, we would need a real toilet and shower. So that means an RV or trailer. We have lived in close quarters before, so that's not an issue, and we prefer to do most of our daily activities outdoors anyway (cooking, eating, etc.). We would largely be sticking to paved roads, and maybe the occasional gravel road, so a serious off-road rig is not necessary. Towing a small travel trailer (<20') with my Honda Ridgeline would probably be the solution.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

In the same boat as you buddy. We have a 5 year plan going...

 

[Stumpalump]

Are we just modern gypsies or have too many cave man instincts compared to the general population? I think that may be my case but the family is more tolerant than fully on board. To serve the gypsy instinct I only take jobs that have me travel. I just got back from California on the company dime. I'll hit Texas and New Mexico by the end of the year. I met up with friends at Dumont Sand dunes after a job in Vegas a couple weeks ago. Traveling jobs rule! Now what to do at home? I bought a house a few blocks from a national forest. Still close enough to the city but even closer to the wilderness. We just had a bobcat hunting rabbits in my yard last week. It took a few try's and many years to get to this point but it's easy. Most worry about their home as an investment but a wise man told me to buy a house in the place you want to live instead. Now that's an investment in life.

 

[dirtyboots]

Green Grass

Working with your hands, owning your own business...That seems like the American dream...Others have brought valid points concerning the corporate and advertising interests influencing our ideas. It is a philosphical question about satisfaction. It came clear to me that the meaning of life isn't the journey. It is truly appreciating the moment we live in now to the fullest.

It seems like any person in America has a great opportunity to follow what path they choose. You can do whatever you want and be successful without question. The real question is what do you really want to do?

 

[rcharrette]

Doing it

On Oct. 1st 2012 we hit the road. We sold off most everything and rented out our house. We have 2 boys 8and 2 yrs old. You can check out our travels on
Www.velomom.com
Currently we are down in Sayulita, MX
5 months into this I can say it's the best decision we ever made. It's not easy by any means though. It to us years to get to our launch date in October and even on the road we've had our difficulties with mechanicals etc streatching the budget, etc.
Anyway, if you can make it happen I feel there is nothing better than living the nomadic life and checking out the world.
Good luck,
Randy

Also, check out www.liferemotely
The are traveling full time as a family.

 

[jim65wagon]

In the same boat as you buddy. We have a 5 year plan going...

The boat is crowded, we're there too. We are on about the fifth year of our ten year plan. Just waiting on a couple of kids to start their own lives.......

 

[NothingClever]

I can't WAIT to settle down. I am STOKED to diddle in the yard with my landscaping empire and be the boring guy at the Kiwanis club whose sole claim to fame is dependably flipping panckakes at every fundraiser.

Wooooo-hoooooooo! Gimmie summat rat race stuff right here!

 

[BIGdaddy]

Who here made a family decision to shed all the expectations of the rat race and just GO?

We've managed over the years to follow the standard footsteps: go to school, get jobs, buy a house, get married, have kids. All of which I have no regrets about, but I'm still haunted by the feeling that there's something more.

My wife and I have a 16-month-old boy, and we sold the house (whew!) and moved into a rental. I'm self-employed which is usually stressful, and my wife isn't thrilled with the daily exhaustion of a working mother. We plan to have one more kid.

But there's so much Earth out there to explore!! Even though many people would call what we have the "American Dream", I always feel like there is something more!

Have you and your family bailed out and gone on the road? How did you do it? How is it working out? Can it be done without a trust fund?

I'm of the opinion that if your life leaves you wanting as it is, if it leaves you with a sense of emptiness or as you put it "the feeling that there is something more", I highly doubt that you'll find that fulfillment "on the road".

Those that are "Fullfilled" bring that fullfillment with them. To them, their life at home isn't a rat race, it's just where they are, or more pointedly, where they're supposed to be. If they're called to be out on the road, that feeling follows them. Generally, and I've had my share of travels, I'd say travellers are just as prone to filling their lives with "stuff/things/extra's to try and find fullfilment just as much as joe-blow homeowner does in buying picket fencing and the newest flat-panel television.

See the first line in my sig for a clue to my personal thoughts on how to find that "fullfilment."

Just something to think about...

 

[NothingClever]

Boo-yah....totally on the mark, LargeCongenialFather.

 

[jaxs1984]

The irony is, if people didn't say f%#$%$ and go out exploring and finding alternative means of living, etc.. then man/society would of died out along time ago.

 

[2025 deleted member]

x1, clever wording not to offend or upset anyone else.

I'm of the opinion that if your life leaves you wanting as it is, if it leaves you with a sense of emptiness or as you put it "the feeling that there is something more", I highly doubt that you'll find that fulfillment "on the road".

Those that are "Fullfilled" bring that fullfillment with them. To them, their life at home isn't a rat race, it's just where they are, or more pointedly, where they're supposed to be. If they're called to be out on the road, that feeling follows them. Generally, and I've had my share of travels, I'd say travellers are just as prone to filling their lives with "stuff/things/extra's to try and find fullfilment just as much as joe-blow homeowner does in buying picket fencing and the newest flat-panel television.

See the first line in my sig for a clue to my personal thoughts on how to find that "fullfilment."

Just something to think about...

 

[jim65wagon]

I'm of the opinion that if your life leaves you wanting as it is, if it leaves you with a sense of emptiness or as you put it "the feeling that there is something more", I highly doubt that you'll find that fulfillment "on the road".

Those that are "Fullfilled" bring that fullfillment with them. To them, their life at home isn't a rat race, it's just where they are, or more pointedly, where they're supposed to be. If they're called to be out on the road, that feeling follows them. Generally, and I've had my share of travels, I'd say travellers are just as prone to filling their lives with "stuff/things/extra's to try and find fullfilment just as much as joe-blow homeowner does in buying picket fencing and the newest flat-panel television.

See the first line in my sig for a clue to my personal thoughts on how to find that "fullfilment."

Just something to think about...

Life is great, I just want to travel a lot and see what this country has before I die.....