I have a really big decision to make! You might be thinking “what decision could be bigger than naming your trip?” While I appreciate your enthusiasm, to be fair, that’s really more of a moderately sized decision. To call it “big” might be a slight exaggeration.
To keep things in perspective, let’s make sure we’re using the same severity scale:
Small Decision = Example: “Do I want to snack on chocolate or potato chips?”
Medium Decision = Example: “What should I name my trip?”
Big Decision = Example: “Should I quit my job and travel across the world?”
This new decision of mine has some real ramifications on the trip planning process! Therefore, it’s somewhere between a medium and a big decision. To be on the safe side, I’m going to round up and call it a “big” decision.
You see, up until last week my plan for financing this trip was three-fold.
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First: Rental Income:
This is my primary method of financing this trip. The idea is to rent out my house and use the rental income to cover my home costs (mortgage, insurance, property taxes, etc.) and also give me a little left over to live off of during my travels.
The issue with relying entirely on this plan is that I have no idea what my living expenses will be on the road. What if my car has mechanical trouble, or if there’s a horrible storm and I want to stay in a hotel? How much will gas cost over a period of 6 to 12 months? To alleviate my anxiety, I need to have other alternatives:
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Second: Investment Parachute:
While this may sound like a magical money parachute (which would be amazing!), that’s not exactly what I’m talking about. That’s not to say that I wouldn’t be happy to have such a parachute.
Rather than look to the sky for falling money, my “investment parachute” is to (should the need arise) cash out some of the investments that I’ve made. I don’t have a ton of money in investments, and cashing them out is not ideal, but it is an option should I accidentally drive off of a financial cliff.
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Third: Write & Photograph:
I have a hope that deep down my writing will be engaging enough, or my photos will be decent enough, that maybe another (bigger) blog or magazine will want to publish them.
Maybe I’ll write a book about my adventures? Maybe I’ll figure out how millennials make money on social media? I recognize, however, that this is a bit of a Hail-Mary. Therefore, I don’t feel like I should count on it as a dependable financial option.
Now for the big decision!
For those of you who don’t know, I’m currently an IT Project Manager / Principle Business Analyst. I have been working in IT for 20 years, but from the business side of the house. I have some basic SQL knowledge and can read some code, but I definitely couldn’t write it. This puts me at a hiring disadvantage when competing against young computer science majors for the same job. My saving grace is my many years of experience and my ability to communicate. You’d be surprised at how many people struggle with that last one.
Last week I took a test to see if I would qualify for a UC Berkeley Programming course. It’s a 6-month bootcamp (3 days a week) that would teach me essentially all relevant website development languages that are being used today. Everything from HTML5, JavaScript & Python to MySQL.
The good news is that I passed the qualification test with a score of 100%, resulting in an automatically acceptance to the program. Now that I’ve been accepted, however, like any good business analyst I need to weigh the pros and cons.
I’m sharing this with you because 1) you’re on this journey with me, and 2) I welcome your thoughts. Want to add any Pros and/or Cons to the list?
Pros:
- If I complete this course I’d be able to work remotely while I am on the road, earning a good amount of money building out websites.
- I’d have a whole new set of skills that I could use when I return from this trip
- I’m a nerd at heart and love building things, solving puzzles and math. Programming is basically solving math puzzles to build things.
- This is a pretty fast course to learn all these languages. It’s definitely better than going back to school to get a Computer Science degree. (although, it’s not as nice as cashing in a money parachute, which would make everything so much easier)
Cons:
- This class would take every Tuesday & Thursday night, and every Saturday morning away for the next 6 months. I really love my Saturdays.
- It’s expensive! Like, really expensive! I’m thinking that I can get my union to cover some tuition reimbursement, but that would only bring it down to about $9,000. That’s money I would be trying to save for my trip.
- The course would postpone my trip to next Summer. Most likely July, since the course ends in June. The initial departure plan of March/April was completely arbitrary, but I like to stay on target when I plan things. What can I say, I’m a natural project manager.
I hope to make a decision in the next week or so and would love to hear your thoughts! Like I said, this is a big decision, so I’ll take any help I can get!
On a side note, I’m also open to receiving any old money parachute that you have lying around and are trying to get rid of.
Hi Beth-
While postponing anything exciting is annoying and difficult, and losing relaxation time you’ve counted on to make the next 6 months palatable, I think taking the course is a good option. For the reasons mentioned above but more for the way it could give you the skills you need to potentially make travel blogging a career or have a career while traveling. Not many careers can be so freeing and widely applicable as IT. You could travel anywhere in the world and be an asset. You could be the command central of your own blog/travel media company. It would be much more difficult to come back and have to do it rather than fit it in now. At least at the moment you’ve got some routine established and you are using your brain for IT on a regular basis. Coming back from a trip that will, in many ways, be the exact opposite, it might be way harder to get to a place where school and city life clicks again. And you may not want to come back and do life that way. Another bonus about IT is that it can be like a bank for you on your trip. So often, people just need something designed, a project that is finite. Having these skills could be like a bank for you. Low on financial flow? Find a small project to work on. Maybe I’m out of touch with the IT world but I know a heck of a lot of musicians and artists that need easily manageable web content put together. They can’t pay a ton, but a few hundred dollars in a pinch that took you a few hours to make could be helpful. And all made while watching the sunset in Zion National park or something great like that. Anyways, you get what I’m saying. So, while there is the financial and time issues to deal with, it seems like, if you are ever thinking of doing this education bit, this is the right time.
Thanks Brie! I agree with everything you’re saying. Having that flexibility and control over my own financial destiny is a big reason I was considering this program. You also make good points about not knowing what I’ll want to do long term. No matter whether I write, travel & blog full time, or return to the 9 to 5 working world, these skills would definitely make it easier for me to find employment. The thought of being able to help my musician and starving artist friends put something up online is additional incentive! Especially if I could do that from my beautiful vantage point of top of half-dome. 😉 Naw, not really. Heights and I don’t get along. It’s a mutual understanding. Let’s say instead from the beautiful vantage point alongside a crystal-clear lake in Banff. Ahh! Sounds lovely! Thanks for your feedback!
Hey Beth, Believe it or not, this is the first time I have actually read a “blog” on line and the first time I have commented on a blog. So, I’m glad you get to be my first blog comment recipient! I am also glad to pass on my old uncle-y conservative advise from Fresno:)
I’d bite the bullet and take the course, and look forward to your trip as a graduation present to yourself. As Tammy said, it is a good insurance policy and great skill builder and you can earn income while you are traveling with this new skill.
Sounds like fun!
Thanks Scott! I’m honored to be the first blog you’re following AND your first blog comment. I’m glad to have been able to help facilitate you’re entry into this new world 😉 Also, thanks for your $.02. I’m taking in everyones advice, and so far it seems like the scales are leaning strongly in one direction. I hope you continue to enjoy following along on this blog!
Head and heart always tug at us. I agree with your Mom about taking the course and just slightly delay your trip. Extra CS knowledge will always be useful. Looking forward to hearing about this interim journey. Interested in reading about your choices
Thanks Guin! And rest assured that I’ll continue to keep everyone in the loop on this journey. If I enter into this program my departure date may get delayed, but the planning will continue!
The more I think about it, the more I think you should take the course. It is your insurance policy and after your trip, if you are burned out on traveling (which I doubt) you will have a new skill to put on your already impressive resume. You would be surprised how fast time goes, in no time you will be full of knowledge in programming and can write programs, write Blogs and travel all at the same time!
Those are all very good points! Thanks!