When we were on the road, we knew we would have to go back to work. While we had savings, we knew it wouldn’t last long, and indeed – with our car dying & Samantha needing surgery, it went even faster than we had planned.
So we started searching for a place we could go and enjoy, even if we had to get back to the grind. Our search led us to Portland and we started thinking about a 3-5 year plan where we could pick up and leave again debt free.
We’ve been here 6 months on October 1st and we are ready to leave. Crazy, I know. It’s not the city – we LOVE this city. We’ve loved where we rented, and we have thoroughly enjoyed the surrounding area. We get how people arrive and then don’t want to leave, the city is that great. But, we aren’t those people. We are our own type of crazy, with hitch itch settling in. Hell, after the first few months we were getting antsy.
So now what?
Our jobs aren’t fulfilling. I especially am having a hard time readjusting to cube life. Everyone stressing over the most ridiculous things just isn’t what motivates me. Working remote for 2 years was great, but it’s made adjusting to the politics of work even more difficult. With my father’s recent passing, now more than ever I feel like I have to make the most of each day – and that won’t work for me in a cubicle. A few months ago, we paid off the credit debt that accumulated while we on the road and we have started saving again. We know now that taking permanent jobs isn’t for us.
So what’s next?
We’ve gone back & forth on this. The logical part of us says stay an extra year – it won’t kill us and we could pay off my student loans & the car, leaving only the RV payment to weigh us down. The other part that is screaming much stronger is saying GOOOOO! GOOOO NOW. Or at least go when you have a chunk saved again – like in March or April.
We’ve started working on side projects that may or may not bring in modest income down the road. Mine is I Love My Rescue – a site where I hope to have a comprehensive listing of rescue organizations and find ways to publicize the amazing work they do. Call it my volunteering in a way – we’ve always adopted rescue animals, and now that we are no longer in adoption mode, I feel I need to do something! Keith is working on SideBlink to share his IT security and management knowledge and provide tools to help other security geeks get their work done more easily.
We have some other ideas and something that I’ve been toying with for awhile is trying to work seasonally with the National Park Service. I chatted with a few rangers during our travels and think it would be a great experience, and who knows, maybe even what I continue to do.
All we know is we need to start living more, and if we are working – work at what makes us happy, in an environment that makes us happy, instead of what fills the bank account.
Is hitch itch very painful? It sure sounds like it.. LOL! I would love to have you back on the road, it’s an easy way for me to see the country without the cost, but I’d rather you do it when you can afford it. Leaving in March and heading around the northern part of the US isn’t such a great idea, lots of late winter storms can cause problems. Wait the extra time and take long weekend trips while waiting.
Veronica – ha! It does sound painful doesn’t it? We know the time may not be ideal, but we should be able to head east slowly while spring arrives. We will play it by ear of course!
Hey guys. Good luck in the side jobs. You never know what’s going to take off and what’s not. We’re crossing our fingers for you so you can get out there again.
One side note…I went to Keith’s site and he may want to correct the spelling on the title “computers”. He’s missing the “t”.
Thanks Brenda! Yeah, these are just to start getting the creative juices flowing – and we are not opposed to work..then travel..then work if we have to. We would just rather stay on the road.
Thanks for the spelling correction – I asked him if he spellchecked. lol
You guys are awesome and this post/your observations and thoughts make me feel so normal. Great… plans. Go for it. See you on the road… again. Cheers.
You guys are the awesome ones – still on the road! Good luck in your yeti search and we hope to see you guys soon!
We know quite a few people who work on the road from oil gate watching to Amazon to just about everything else. After being free for a while I can imagine how difficult it must be going back to the little cubicles. Ugh. There are jobs at National Parks other than working directly for the park system. Lots of luck!
Yes – I am not limiting it to just NPS, but also State Parks and I know a lot of places in park areas hire seasonal help. While I know we can’t rule out headed back into cube world again, we are definitely going to try & pay down the rest of our debt without having to or at least make it not as often.
I was wondering how long you guys would enjoy life without wheels. Cube life after the freedom of life on the road would be…challenging. Sounds like you’ve got some great plans in the works though.
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Challenging is one word for being stuck in a cube! We really do miss the freedom of moving around and the challenges & experiences that come with that. Enjoy your time in Mexico!