I'm leaving on a jet plane ...
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- funkage
... well, not just yet.
Good day, gents. I'm aware that some—if not most—of you have moved from state to state, country to country, or even continent to continent. I hope to do the same soon but would like some insight from those who have already made the journey.
So, what was the process of moving like? Did you plan for your departure? If so, how much planning did you do and what did you have to consider? Did you secure a job in your desired destination before moving?
Or did you just wake up one day and said, "Fuck it. Let's do this.", and zoomed off, thriving on the thrill of the uncertainty that laid ahead? Did you just fly over and start a job hunt there?
I've always dreamt of experiencing life abroad and somewhat had the latter happen to me. Hope I don't sound too interrogative. Or annoying. Or long-winded.
Thank you in advance and here's an awesome song for you:
- pinkfloyd0
I don't recommend it, but I just said, "f it", and moved without anything lined up.
- monospaced0
Secured job in desired destination. Sold everything except for my clothes and my computer. Never looked back.
- funkage0
How did everything turn out, pinkfloyd? Tough times?
- zr0
I was meaning to move abroad for years and in the end it was all rather sudden. I wasn't prepared enough, rich enough or knowledgable enough to make it easy - but it was still worth it.
Selling all the random shit you've accumulated until you can fit your life into a backpack is painful but exhilarating.
funkage - from FoM?
- domacle0
Just recently moved from Sydney to London (not a massive change to be honest) but it was big at the time. Left my girlfriend behind (still feel like a prick about that, but she's over here now so all good) traveled the states and Mexico with my best friend. Won big in Vegas and then blew all my money in NYC. Had an epic time.
It was more of the "fuck it" variety than planning. We planned the places we wanted to visit and the end destination, but nothing else really. We hadn't saved up enough and racked up a huge credit card debt which we're still paying off - but I wouldn't swap it for the world. Now we're both working in London at jobs neither of us expected to get, almost debt free and enjoying life more than ever.
Depends what type of person you are. I have friends who couldn't just up and leave without meticulous planning, and a lot of friends who would be happy to do what we did. Whichever route you choose it's highly recommended - traveling the world, and starting afresh in a new place is one of the best things anyone could ever do.
- dMullins0
^ Lol, Steve.
I want to pick and move to Rotterdam so badly. I just don't have the money, and I don't know how well my wife's expertise—nursing with a holistic focus—would transfer to a medical structure abroad.
- Continuity0
My first time abroad was a combination of 'fuck it' and having something there waiting for me; my next time will be much better planned if I have anything to say about it but if, by Feb or March next year, I've got nothing waiting for me in the EU, I'll go the 'fuck it' route again.
- autoflavour0
a bit of both.. the "fuck it, lets go" stage was spur of the moment, but then the ticket was booked for about 10 months in advance, so we had a long time pack up shit and purge a whole bunch of useless crap.
didnt have a job lined up.. just a bunch of money we saved between buying the ticket and leaving.
- funkage0
Well.. I don't really intend 'be back again' because what I really want is to experience life in different places. Say, maybe a few years in London, another few in Amsterdam, etc.
Thank you gentlemen for your valuable input! Seems like most of you have got balls! I guess it's now my turn to roll the dice.
- Lodnon is awesome, but expensive. Amsterdam is the perfect place, in my mind.Continuity
- carianoff0
Left Detroit for LA a year ago with nothing but a few clients in my pocket. It took a hard 9 months, and Is finally now starting to pay off. WIth that said, my journey was a total leaf of faith, still is. Wouldn't change anything and I'd do it all over again.
- moldero0
4 years ago lived in SF, paying a $3,800 mortgage, worked a minimum 60 hours a week w/ no OT. basically OT in a big agency is job security, such bullshit. got fed up, rented the house out, sold all of my furniture and moved to crazy ass Culiacan Mexico in the peak of their drug war. besides a few crazy drugwar things ive seen the experience has been pretty damn good.
I gotta say being a Filipino/Canadian/heavily tattooed/non Spanish speaking gringo in a non tourist/non english speaking/cartel ran/old agricultural city/farmer mentality part of Mexico has been difficult at times, but one cant fully live if hes always in his comfort zone. I love this crap. In 4 more years, I'de like to move the fam to Tokyo.
- bulletfactory0
My wife and I outgrew our birthplace hometown and had to get out. Put our house on the market and drove from MO to NYC almost a year ago.
Neither the wife nor I had jobs lined up. Friends looked at apartments for us and found a a great one. Rented it without seeing it in person.
Drove across the country - The day we arrived, wife had a phone interview, which turned into a face to face interview, which turned into an offer about a week later. I was able to work at my old job via distance.
I spoke to a recruiter before my last week at the old job and had a full time AD position in about a week.We totally lucked out, but it was liberating.
- Peter0
I were about to reply in candid until I noticed Arcade Fire :)
- fresnobob0
RIP John Denver