Tips For Planning Long-Term Travel

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If you backpacked around Europe or the world in your early 20s or just dreamed of doing so, you might think of this lifestyle as something that is only for young people. However, increasingly, people of all ages are embracing this lifestyle. Some are hitting the road after retirement while others are retiring early and still others are working while they travel, either remotely or in various countries along the way. The many options available are too many to cover in detail below, but take a look at some of the key points to consider.

Employment and Money

This is often the biggest obstacle to travel for many people, yet there are a number of different options. You could go into a line of work that involves travel and living abroad, from English teaching, to international business, to working for the foreign service and more. Some people freelance or start their own companies and work on the road while others convince their bosses to let them work remotely. If you want to retire early, there are a number of different strategies for doing this, and the cost of living abroad is often cheaper than remaining in the United States.

Your Home and Belongings

If you own a home, you’ll need to decide whether you want to sell it or rent it out. It can be good to let go of the responsibility of homeownership, but owning a house can also provide you with passive income on the road as well as a place to return to. It can also give you the option of swapping a home, saving on accommodation costs. If you are a renter or decide to sell your home, you can put some items into storage although you may want to downsize.

Other Practical Concerns

There are a number of other things to think about. You may want to see an accountant who specializes in expat taxes to help you make sure that you file correctly. Find out what your responsibilities and obligations are regarding residency in your state, voting, keeping your driver’s license and jury duty. You may want to consider writing a will if you don’t have one. What about your family responsibilities? You might also want to review a guide on filial responsibility laws as filial responsibility mean you are responsible for your parents long-term care. Find out as much as you can ahead of time about these and similar practical concerns so that you don’t encounter any unpleasant surprises.

Setting Goals

It may sound strange to set goals when you are thinking about following your dreams of travel, but a life on the road can become routine like any other. If you do not have any specific objectives in mind, you may find yourself losing your enthusiasm quickly. However, there is another important element of having goals. Goal setting can help you decide when it might be time to change up what you’re doing. Hitting the road for a few months doesn’t mean you have to do it forever, and if you decide within a few weeks or a few years that it’s time to go home, there’s nothing wrong with calling it quits.

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