Bonkers Idea But Very Tempting

[BlueStringPudding]

Okay - what do you guys think, am I nuts or wot?

 

I'm toying with the idea of giving up my job and taking 6 months out of the rat-race to cruise, paint and generally be a hippy for a while.

My job's well paid with a 3 month notice period, and I've worked out that if I hand my notice in next month and live frugally till September, I can save about 6k; which I reckon I can live on for 6 months if I'm sensible.

 

The pros seem to be: brain space, time for creativity, enjoying the countryside and regaining a modicum of a social-life (I work loooong hours at the moment and am feeling too married-to-the-job)

 

The cons seem to be: potentially not being able to get a job again afterwards, living with a lot less beer

 

What do you reckon, peeps? All opinions welcome!

[Athy]

Okay - what do you guys think, am I nuts or wot?

 

I'm toying with the idea of giving up my job and taking 6 months out of the rat-race to cruise, paint and generally be a hippy for a while.

My job's well paid with a 3 month notice period, and I've worked out that if I hand my notice in next month and live frugally till September, I can save about 6k; which I reckon I can live on for 6 months if I'm sensible.

 

The pros seem to be: brain space, time for creativity, enjoying the countryside and regaining a modicum of a social-life (I work loooong hours at the moment and am feeling too married-to-the-job)

 

The cons seem to be: potentially not being able to get a job again afterwards, living with a lot less beer

 

What do you reckon, peeps? All opinions welcome!

Depending on the nature of your work and the nature of your boss(es), why not ask them for a sabbatical?

[BlueStringPudding]

Depending on the nature of your work and the nature of your boss(es), why not ask them for a sabbatical?

 

Nature of my work is that I don't fancy doing it any more!

[paulcatchpole]

S*d it, do it, I say...

 

If I could afford to, then I'd happily take a break to both cruise and tinker with the boats.

 

PC

[Naughty Cal]

Very jealous. We would love the oppurtunity to do this

 

I say go for it whilst you can. You may not get the chance do it again.

[OldGoldy]

Okay - what do you guys think, am I nuts or wot?

 

I'm toying with the idea of giving up my job ............................

........ regaining a modicum of a social-life (I work loooong hours at the moment and am feeling too married-to-the-job)

 

The cons seem to be: potentially not being able to get a job again afterwards, living with a lot less beer

 

What do you reckon, peeps? All opinions welcome!

 

No, not nuts. There's more to life than loooong working hours!

 

Look after 'number 1' - your physical & mental well-being.

 

They say you can always get another job if you are presently in one, so get a job which allows gives you more time for yourself.

You may still have to reduce your beer intake a tad, 'cos sure as hell the pay will drop, too!

[Bill]

Okay - what do you guys think, am I nuts or wot?

 

I'm toying with the idea of giving up my job and taking 6 months out of the rat-race to cruise, paint and generally be a hippy for a while.

My job's well paid with a 3 month notice period, and I've worked out that if I hand my notice in next month and live frugally till September, I can save about 6k; which I reckon I can live on for 6 months if I'm sensible.

 

The pros seem to be: brain space, time for creativity, enjoying the countryside and regaining a modicum of a social-life (I work loooong hours at the moment and am feeling too married-to-the-job)

 

The cons seem to be: potentially not being able to get a job again afterwards, living with a lot less beer

 

What do you reckon, peeps? All opinions welcome!

 

Just do it. You only get one crack at life, this aint a dry run. Good luck.

[Bones]

Nature of my work is that I don't fancy doing it any more!

 

you might after the 3 months off. See if you can get a sabbatical, they may rather get a temp in and have you at the end, than not.

 

If not, then only you can decide, but life is too short to get stressed about work. If you are in the fortunate position to be able to get a job anywhere doing anything, then you don't need to worry.

[grahoom]

Okay - what do you guys think, am I nuts or wot?

 

I'm toying with the idea of giving up my job and taking 6 months out of the rat-race to cruise, paint and generally be a hippy for a while.

My job's well paid with a 3 month notice period, and I've worked out that if I hand my notice in next month and live frugally till September, I can save about 6k; which I reckon I can live on for 6 months if I'm sensible.

 

Do it!!!!!

[casper ghost]

I left the Bank on a sabbatical, with the intention of having 1 or 2 years off cruising around. The Bank even guaranteed to keep a job for me if i returned within 3 years. That was 6.5 years ago and i'm still off, don't think my job is still available though.. My plan didn't work out quite as planned, within 6 months of me leaving work my daughter came to live with me so not too much cruising was acheived.. Good luck, I recommend it

[GSer]

Try to plan work till you can have the summer off, not the winter, although winter is a favourite boating time of mine, there are lots of stoppages and it can get frustrating to have time off and nowhere to go.

 

If i were going to do the same as you and give up serious work totally, i'd perhaps find a summer job on the cut (hire boat bases ect) just to try an discover another line of work more matched to my leisure lifestyle. The finances would last longer and it may give me a fresh outlook on the world.

 

Good luck

 

Paul

[Daio]

Depends on dependants. If you have none, ask yourself if staying as you are is likely to be something you'll regret. If you hate your job enough, the answer is yes. If you're just a bit jaded and could modify your work environment to suit you better, the future regret is likely to be less. Only you can have an idea as to your future employability. Can you consider self employment or agency work? When can you take a pension? Five years ago I'd have had no hesitation in saying yes, clear off and enjoy but harsher times are upon us but that's not a total bummer in itself as new opportunities can arise through necessity, rather like mass extinctions, if you're adaptable.

 

If you have dependants it's a lot harder to do this without severe risk and subsequent guilt. People still do it though. Guess it's all in your character makeup. Good luck and whatever you do, try not to say "if only I'd...". Look forward, not back.

[Bones]

I left the Bank on a sabbatical, with the intention of having 1 or 2 years off cruising around. The Bank even guaranteed to keep a job for me if i returned within 3 years. That was 6.5 years ago and i'm still off, don't think my job is still available though.. My plan didn't work out quite as planned, within 6 months of me leaving work my daughter came to live with me so not too much cruising was acheived.. Good luck, I recommend it

 

you could always tell them you lost your watch and turn up for work...

[Kate and James]

Just do it! there's more to life than work... especially if you're not enjoying it, you'll be suprised at how you'll get used to frugal livng,

go for it...

Enjoy!

K x

 

...and I'm sure we can share beer if you're running low

[Lady Ga]

Im with the masses on this one, this is not a dress rehearsal(pun intended).

Go for it, you never know what's lurking round the corner.

Whatever happen's in your life you can always look back and think to yourself, at least you have done it, job's wise, if you are in a specialist job, which I think you are? there will always be some sort of work out there, freelance?

 

Plus as someone said already, I'd tend to go with doing this in the summer.

Edited May 18, 2010 by Lady Ga

[wrigglefingers]

Just do it. Your mental health is far more important than anything else.

 

I gave up a very stressful and demanding job at the end of the last academic year to help build Cobbett. I'm still building her but money is running out and I will have to go back to school in the autumn. I have however, decided to go back part-time as I discovered this year that I can survive on very little and there are other things I like doing too. Yes, fewer beer tokens but tea and coffee are just as good and I get to spend quality time with my friends and relations, not being totally exhausted and fretting about going back to work on Monday.

 

In my opinion it's not always bad to be completely immersed in a job but when you feel that your involvement with it is beyond your control, then t's time to re-evaluate. Walking away from a well-paid job is risky in these times, but watching my cousin dying from terminal cancer so soon after Dad died has really made me think about what I want to achieve and how to do it. After the best part of a year off school there are some things I really miss - the students, my friends in the staffroom, the occasionally nice parent but many things I don't miss - individual weekly learning plans for each student and the monitoring that accompanied it, the acrimonious and pointless weekly meetings with the deputy that used to make me throw up beforehand, having abuse shouted at me by parents and their offspring, the 14 hour days topped off with slogging round Sainsbury's two minutes before they close for another round of demonstration lessons.

 

I now spend my days being gently ribbed for being an appalling painter and tiler, teach people to play the concertina and spin and am far happier. I you can afford to do it, go for it.

[Lady Ga]

Just do it. Your mental health is far more important than anything else.

 

I gave up a very stressful and demanding job at the end of the last academic year to help build Cobbett. I'm still building her but money is running out and I will have to go back to school in the autumn. I have however, decided to go back part-time as I discovered this year that I can survive on very little and there are other things I like doing too. Yes, fewer beer tokens but tea and coffee are just as good and I get to spend quality time with my friends and relations, not being totally exhausted and fretting about going back to work on Monday.

 

In my opinion it's not always bad to be completely immersed in a job but when you feel that your involvement with it is beyond your control, then t's time to re-evaluate. Walking away from a well-paid job is risky in these times, but watching my cousin dying from terminal cancer so soon after Dad died has really made me think about what I want to achieve and how to do it. After the best part of a year off school there are some things I really miss - the students, my friends in the staffroom, the occasionally nice parent but many things I don't miss - individual weekly learning plans for each student and the monitoring that accompanied it, the acrimonious and pointless weekly meetings with the deputy that used to make me throw up beforehand, having abuse shouted at me by parents and their offspring, the 14 hour days topped off with slogging round Sainsbury's two minutes before they close for another round of demonstration lessons.

 

I now spend my days being gently ribbed for being an appalling painter and tiler, teach people to play the concertina and spin and am far happier. I you can afford to do it, go for it.

 

 

I think you have pretty much said what I was trying to get at, in my last post, I fully subscribe to your philosophy!

[jelunga]

I agree with the idea of asking for unpaid leave. We have recently given somebody 5 months off to do voluntry work in Africa. Provided your employer is big enough to be able to cover your work, and provided you are a valuable employee, then I think they might go for it.

On the other hand if you are useless, late, off sick a lot and winge all the time, they might be glad to see the back of you.

 

Keith

 

PS I am sure the last bit does not apply to you of course.

[Purple Fairie]

Do it!

We'd do it in a heartbeat, and will do, as soon as the kids leave home

[Lady Muck]

is it possible for you to freelance? I packed the rat race in and went freelance 8 years ago and never looked back.

it comes in very handy for the summer cruising season I can tell you.

[Natalie Graham]

Yes it sounds like a totally bonkers idea and completely mad.

 

What more reason do you need?

[Water Rat.]

I think, if I remember right, you work in a creative field. It is almost impossible to develope creatively on a personal level if you have work pressures. I was on the brink of developing a stained glass business when I was lured back into working for a textile design company, that was the end of my serious stained glass work, I just dabble now.

 

I have always worked in a creative field so try to use some of your professional skills for your own line of work to make money and develope your other interests along side.

 

Good luck

[alan_fincher]

I gave up a very stressful and demanding job at the end of the last academic year to help build Cobbett. I'm still building her but money is running out and I will have to go back to school in the autumn. I have however, decided to go back part-time as I discovered this year that I can survive on very little and there are other things I like doing too. Yes, fewer beer tokens but tea and coffee are just as good and I get to spend quality time with my friends and relations, not being totally exhausted and fretting about going back to work on Monday.

Make your mind up Jill!

 

The other day you were telling us that your new inner peace and sense of well being were due to the "butch lesbian" look resulting from too much time blacking water tanks and other boaty chores - namely that you can successfully make yourself unattractive enough to not have to suffer the grief of attracting a partner, (or so I read it).

 

Now you claim it's just down to giving up the day job.....

 

So which is it ? The first, the second, combination of the two ?.......

 

I think BSP's approach is brilliant, BTW. Put a suggestion that you label as "barking mad" up front to a forum where many of the members are barking mad. Of course you are largely going to get numerous messages of support, and "just do it!", aren't you ! Must be a good idea then, which is what I suspect you are keen to hear - clever little you!

[cloggy]

Nature of my work is that I don't fancy doing it any more!

 

theres your answer

[MoominPapa]

Do it!

We'd do it in a heartbeat, and will do, as soon as the kids leave home

+1

 

MP.