As humans we realize that life is made of the decisions we make on a daily bases. It is a roll of the dice; something we decide today can turn out to be amazing or come back and haunt us later. I had been putting off writing this post because I feel that once its written it’s set in stone (I guess a cyber stone). Recently I have posted about two things I needed to make a decision on. One was about what I was going to do with my car “Tyler” and the other was about school and finding out I was not going to be graduating in December.
It was over a month ago that I told you about “Tyler”. When the thought to backpack around the world came to my mind one of the things I kept asking myself was what about “Tyler”. I honestly had no clue what I was going to do with him. In the previous post I posted several thoughts and well I have decided to go with thought #2.
- Thought #2: I will save the $18,000 I need for my trip & sell my car; put whatever I make from it (should be about $15,000) in my savings account. I would go on my RTW trip come back home in a year (or longer). When I get back I can then decide to rest a bit and use the money I have in my savings account from selling the car to continue backpacking.
I have actually thought a bit further into what I would do when I get back with that money. I would either a) continue backpacking but this time through Central & South America or b) get a working visa to Australia and live there a year. Anyway that’s far off so for now I’m just gonna keep the horrible news from Tyler. I don’t want him to go all crazy on me and start acting up. It’s going to be tough to sell him but in the end I know it will be the smart thing to do.
My Baby Tyler
A few weeks ago I found out that I was not going to be graduating and receiving my Associates degree in December because the counselor forgot to tell me I needed two electives. I wrote about it and gave myself several thoughts (options) and I decided to go with thought #1.
- Thought #1: Part of me just wants to say fuck it drop my Biology class (it’s the only class I truly hate) and finish these other three classes (even I know it would be stupid to drop them all). I can then get a part time job now start saving more and go on about my plans. Then when I come back from my year or two backpacking trip decide what the hell I wanna do with my life. Hell I may never even come back.
It took me a while to finally decide that I just want to be happy and being in school and finishing it is not going to do that. So I ended up dropping my Biology class & am going to go ahead and finish the other three classes. School will always be there, so when I get back if I decide to finish up I will have at least gotten 3 class out of the way.
I hope I'm not gonna need to know the type of bacteria groups while I am backpacking the world.
In the end these are decisions I am making now that I have no clue how they will affect me in the future. They were not easy to make but for now these will make me happy and help me get towards where I wanna be.
I think it’s good you put your decisions out there — that means we can encourage & support you.
Have you started looking for the job? Good luck!
Heather recently posted..Epic East Coast Trip- The End
Thanks I’m going to need it when the time comes to sell Tyler…lol!!!
As for looking for a job I’m gonna wait a few more weeks and then begin my search. I have to take care of something before I can begin my search. It should be over in 2 weeks!
Thank you for finally writing your damn post! Seriously. 😉
Anyways, yes it is scary to write things on your blog because your now personally accountable for those decisions you write. I think that this is good because now you must not let people down and are more likely to follow through on that goal. The bad part is, it’s sometimes hard to do… you know like I procrastinated starting to go through my apartment because it would mean that selling everything to travel was becoming real. There is no back-up plan and that is extremely scary. We can choose to either procrastinate (which could become indefinitely) or to take action. Your taking action and that’s a great step to take.
Jenny recently posted..Warning- Selling everything sometimes sucks
Jaja your welcome, I hadnt written it cus I was being lazy but also I really was scared to put this in stone. Im more worried about letting myself down but I know I wont. I really have put a lot of thought into it and I know I am making the best decisions for now. As for you I know going through all your belongings and getting rid of so much has really made things more real. We have less than 3 months to get you ready for traveling indefinitely.
I agree with Jenny that putting your decisions out there helps you stick to those decisions. I know a lot of us (myself included) tried encouraging you to finish your degree, but if it’s just not making you happy and it’s not where you want to be, then you made the right decision for yourself. You’re right, school will always be there, and if you decide someday you want a degree, at that point you will most likely know what sort of career you’re aiming for and what degree you need. I am proof that doing all those things you’re just supposed to do (college, career, home ownership) can be a huge roadblock to accomplishing your dreams when those dreams finally make themselves known. I try not to regret things, but if I could go back 10 years, I would’ve traveled like crazy. I think it’s great that you’re planning this trip, and I can’t wait until the day you get to say “I’m leaving!” so we can all follow your journey.
Ali recently posted..Pichincha Volcano in Quito
Yeah it was a few of yall that really wanted me to go ahead and finish school but I just know its not what I want. At least its not what I want right now. Who knows what future Jaime will want. I actually see what you and Nick are having to go through to follow yalls dream and it just makes me realize how doing what you are supposed to do can really prevent you from living your dream.
Oh & girl I can not wait for the day I say “Im leaving” as well cus trust its going to be one crazy journey. Porque voy andar con mi pelo suelto. ja ja ja!!!
Well everyone else has kind of already hit it on the nose. It’s good to finally be honest with yourself in that sense, and really SEE what you are going to do. Now that you’ve committed yourself to all these things, it will be a great feeling of accomplishment each and every time you finish each of those. It’s funny because when you decided to sell all sorts of things earlier, you didn’t really think twice, but for some reason “Tyler” is different. I know it’s easier said than done, but what is “Tyler” really? He’s a car… just like millions of others that get used, abused, and stolen each and every day. It’s just funny to think that we hold some things closer to us, but we really don’t know why. Yes I know its your car and you worked hard for it, but guess what? When you get back, you can get a nice new shiny one 😉
Jorge recently posted..I Miss The Race Track
Ayyy Jorge, I know its just a car but its my baby!!! He really means so much to me its the 1st brand new car I bought & I told myself I would keep him till he falls apart, he has also been through so much with me. I had no clue my life would lead me this way but I know I am doing the right thing by selling him. Also it is easier said then done. What if you had to sell your bikes and car before you left off to live in Spain (if you ended up doing that)??? I also know when I get back I can get a shiny new one or a nice used one or hell maybe I can get Tyler back…jk!
It’ll all work out in the end, I promise you that!
Andi recently posted..Europe- Day 3 Part 1
Thanks for the positiveness!!! <<<—is that a real word???
You’ll get more and more comfortable with decisions and uncertainty as your “new” life becomes more and more real. Don’t look too far into the future and don’t worry too much about possible outcomes – it can get overwhelming.
Focus on what brings you peace and makes you happy.
Tandem World recently posted..Finding Travel Deals – A Starter Kit
Thanks for the “Tandem” advice!!!
I will be sure to just that. Life is short to not be happy!!! ;)~
Hi Jaime! No matter how much time you spend analysing things you can’t anticipate every possible outcome of your choices. It gets easier after you make a decision and just hope for the best. Good luck with everything! 🙂
What you said is true “It gets easier after you make a decision and just hope for the best.” thats all we can do! Thanks for the luck~
Just thought I would add my two cents about college. There has never been a time in my life where I have regretted not finishing my degree. I’m really close, about 3 classes also. But I have always found well paid jobs without a degree. It’s all about experience. At least that is how it has been for me. 🙂 Good luck on your job search!
Christy @ Ordinary Traveler recently posted..Photo of the Week- Drunk Nuns in Prague
Thank you for saying that. I feel the same way, I think it all about experience and connections anyway.
I kind of understand what you feel with selling the car, for me it wasn’t a car but there were a few items that nearly broke my heart as they left with their new owners. Know what? Until now I hadn’t thought about them at all during my travels.
Letting go is hard but it sounds like you’re on the right track to finding your happiness. 🙂
Catia recently posted..Been Travelling Too Long When…
Ja ja thanks for sharing that. I guess thats how it is it hurts at first but then you forget about them. In the end its just a material item.
Jamie D, Things are just things and they are replaceable, memories are not.
We have been traveling for 2 years…we left all of it..the homes, cars, things….don’t miss them at all!
Best to you Breaking Free!
You are so right memories aren’t replaceable and a car well that is!!!
I totally agree with what others have said. Putting your decisions out there is a great way to help you stick to them. Making the decision is the most important part, the next step is the fun or not so fun part.
Nick Laborde recently posted..Stay Hungry Stay Foolish
Jaja yes the next step is the fun or not so fun part… most of the time not so fun but gots to be done!
Well done on making the decisions and putting them on here, no more worrying about them this way – it’s done, now you can be excited again!
Yes I am excited again. Sometime I over think things and i know i shouldnt.
It is so funny that your trip sounds so familiar to ours!
I think we are also considering the idea of doing the work/visa thing in Australia after our Central/South America trip. Seeing as I will be 29 by that time, it will be cutting it a bit close but here is to the best! I really hope that we run into each other a bit. <3
If we do decide to go to Aussie-land, we are definitely selling out car at that time. I think it is a great decision.
Erica recently posted..Road Trip to Burning Man- Reno to San Francisco
Oh yeah y’all will need to go right after because its only up till 30yrs old!!! Maybe we will all be down under together…lol~
Free fallin’! LOL I’m glad you came to a decision because now you can over analyze the next issue in your life. 🙂 jk
Thanks for keeping me inspired.
xoxo
QueenB
ja ja ja cabrona~
xoxo
I just discovered your blog.
I think you should turn left. You turn right and you aliens might take over the world.
Go round in circles! Round and round the world:)
Andrea recently posted..How to Have a Great Flight – Real Insider Tips from a Flight Attendant Part Two
if you are really planning to go to the world trip say goodbye to Tyler and said good bye for me. about your studies if you can get through with it first, you wont have to worry with them again and you will be able to travell around the world comfortably who know you could get a job abroad. great post 🙂
making decisions is always tough… good thing you were able to decide about your classes… for smaller concerns though, i leave it all up to a coin. i just toss it and let it decide for me hehe…
flip recently posted..Three Places that Made me Cry
Ahh i wish i could leave it up to a coin. I could never do that.
I could never leave it up to a coin, either!! too scary! I’m really bad at making decisions because I never want to make the “wrong” one. It takes a lot of guts, balls, whathaveyou to state your decisions (especially out in the blogworld). You are braver than I- but something I strive for!
Jade recently posted..Mexican Food Tour- Silverlake- CA
I what have guts & balls…lol!!! Oh & yes it was hard for me to publish this cus now its OUT there… in “BLOGWORLD”!!!
Well done on making the decisions! I’m a terrible decision maker myself, I recently moved back to my parents to save more money for my RTW trip, and have spent the past 3 weeks agonising what colour to paint my room! Even simple decisions like that panic me…. I’m having to make all these decisions at the moment though in preparation for my trip. What to sell and what not to sell…. It’s the more expensive things that I’m having difficulty parting with! My Macbook Pro… Too expensive and too heavy to bring on the trip with me, I’ll have to buy a smaller, lighter, cheaper one. But I don’t want to sell the Pro, I love it so much! Hahahaha 🙂
You definitely made the right choice to finish school though 🙂