When the adventure travel virus has taken a hold of you, it probably starts itching. You have seen or heard about long-time travelers and wonder if it could be for you, too. But, you have a good job, a career, a house with mortgage, not much money in the bank, etcetera, etcetera. Enough obstacles for you not too make the choice of a lifetime.

But it keeps on itching. You keep that unsteady feeling of “what if…”. The only way to get rid of that feeling is to just go for it!! So read on to learn how to plan for your sabbatical leave or career break. Convince yourself that it is possible for you, too. It may harm your career, yes, but it might also give it a boost. A sabbatical mostly adds to your personal development, which is good for your career, too.

Your JobSo, what are the obstacles you’re facing? First of all, let’s take a look at your career. The risk of loosing your job will be there. But, you will never have a guarantee of not being fired, will you? Although your job seems to secure an income, when things turn bad for your boss, it might be gone in a snap. And I know, it happened to me twice…

Having said that, it is always better to have the security of a job when you return from your trip. So, talk to your boss and make good arrangements. If your boss thinks you’re good at your job, he will probably want you to come back after your sabbatical. For him, the return of a good professional will always be beneficial. Point that out to him, and he’ll probably agree to an arrangement. Next, just put the conditions for you to come back on paper, signed by you and your boss.

As a sidebar, consider my story. We planned for a sabbatical leave in the beginning of 2001. In that time, the Internet bubble was still alive and kicking, and I was working in the Telecom industry. Obviously, my boss wanted me to come back, lots of work would be waiting for me. But when I did come back early 2003, the bubble was gone, and so were most of my boss’ customers. Because of our arrangement, I could come back, but after a few months, I was fired any way. Moral of the story: make sure you get that arrangement, but be prepared to loose your job anyway.

What if you do loose your job, or your boss doesn’t agree to an arrangement? Well, you will have to find a new job when you get back. Did you have several jobs over the years, or did you work for one employer for a long time? In the first case, you already know how to find a new job, don’t you? In the second case, it has been a while since you had a job interview. Well, the times have changed a bit, and nowadays it’s a little easier to find a job via the many job search engines on the Internet. It’s scary for sure, but it will work out fine, trust me. In any case, you have learned to live on a budget while traveling, so that will give you some slack.

House and mortgageThe next important obstacle is your house. A large part of your income goes into your mortgage. When there is no alternative income, your travel budget will vanish soon in the costs for your mortgage. Well, there are several possibilities to counter that.

First, consider selling your house. Many people go traveling for a fresh start, and what’s fresher than leaving nothing behind? Be prepared to start from the bottom when you come back, though. Live with your parents, or your friends. Again, you’re used to living on a shoestring now, and it sure is an experience. But you will find a new job, and a new house, be sure of that.

For the slightly less adventurous (like ourselves), consider renting your house. When you live in or near a city or industrial area, chances are that there is a market of expats searching for housing. You will learn the market price for furnished houses by contacting rental agents. Based on their advice, you may decide whether renting your house is a good option for you.

MoneyHow much money do you need for your Sabbatical? Well, it depends. Life in less developed countries is much cheaper than at home. But not if you’re a big spender or a fast traveler. Your budget is personal, but plan on it. And decide for yourself how much you can save per month for your trip. Finally, there is always the option to work abroad. But consider that those jobs will probably earn less than your job at home. It might be better to save a month longer than to work for a month abroad.

In conclusion, there will always be obstacles. But as in every day life, obstacles are there to be taken. If you want it hard enough (and you do, don’t you?), there will be a way. The travel experience will certainly be worth it, as you can see on our website. © 2007 Adventure Travel Tales and Tips