If you’ve followed this blog since the beginning (the very first post was on April 26, 2008) then you might remember this site’s tagline was once: “Quit Your Job. Travel the World.�?/p>
A lot has changed. Through the making of The Wireless Generation, we met people who found ways to travel that had nothing to do with quitting their job. As we traveled and interviewed people what became even more clear was that it was hardly about the job at all. Some people transitioned their careers to online, others started new businesses, but the big driving force behind all of it wasn’t even the travel. It was what happens next. How does cutting out your commute, getting to live wherever you want, keeping the hours you want �?and a shift to more work-life balance than ever �?change you?
Just gorgeous, you spend half an hour slowly approaching it, riding through the city, then as you’re leaving you look back for one last look. It’s a lovely way to see a place, to move towards it, around it and through it at a slow pace.
For us, it has meant Drew and I both got to be stay-at-home parents and enjoy our kids. For the people in our film it has meant everything from overcoming shyness, to honing their photography skills, to volunteering around the world, to raising children who are global citizens.
As one person put it in the film: “We decided to buy experiences instead of things.�?/p>
Filming these stories changed us too. I stopped thinking about “digital nomading�?or “work anywhere�?as a destination. It’s not about that. It’s also not about quitting your job or running out to become a writer (although I love that I did that, and for me, that was absolutely needed). It humbled me and made me see how big this digital shift really is: what if we live our lives according to our joy wherever we are? What if we save and scrimp not for more stuff, but for better experiences?
Cassie Stone(October 20, 2015 at 3:11 PM)
Wow. This post is amazing and helpful. Traveling the world is definitely something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but you’ve weighed out the pros and cons clearly and simply and I’m definitely going to keep your words in the back of my mind over the next few years as I graduate college and get a job so I may be able to save up to travel like I want to.
Christie Price(October 20, 2015 at 3:11 PM)
I love this! Super timely for me, as I have literally just quit my job to travel, and finished up my last day of work yesterday! I definitely can see both sides of it, I am so excited about this adventure that lies ahead, but I also spend a lot of time questioning how irresponsible it seems to do this �?why am I giving up a stable job and income, a comfortable house, etc, to be in a different place each week for who-knows how long!?! But I know this is a decision I am never going to regret, life is short and you need to live! Thanks for a wonderful post :)
Jane Jovovich(October 20, 2015 at 3:11 PM)
WOW! Christie that’s AMAZING! Congrats!!! You’re awesome, inspiring, and I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures. Where are you planning to go?
Christie Price(October 20, 2015 at 3:11 PM)
You’re welcome! I’m in Germany right now, pretty much have been travelling around Europe for the last 2 years! It’s been super fun. Looking to expand to outside Europe for trips ASAP and then maybe to relocate again in a year or two :)
William Freeman(October 20, 2015 at 3:11 PM)
I have to admit that I’m not sure if I would ever got the gut to quit my job. I was working 16h a day to realise I was letting my life runaway from me. I quit my job just to change to a similar one with less travel and less working hours. Not sure what I would see myself doing, but as you said doing what you love won’t always be easy and requires sacrifice. Inspiring post, thank you for sharing.
Kenny Louie(October 20, 2015 at 3:11 PM)
This post is deep�?it made me think!
I don’t like my working situation right now; the dream would be to quit and travel the world. but i have regularly thought the implications of quitting, especially the financial implications (low earnings, low savings, debt!)- and that was before i read your post. while it would be difficult, reading your post and blog lets me know that it is possible! i will be searching for a better paid job, so that i start working towards funding my wanderlust!