The logistics of how I ended up living in a small pueblo in Costa Rica for a year were a happy accident, one small step that led to another, leading me to the life change that I so desperately needed. I had been a workaholic. But that lifestyle started to wear on me, leaving me impatient and unhappy, confused as to why the magazine career I had always wanted had left me wound so tight, yet empty.

I lost my job in October 2008, and my world seemingly ended. Like so many other career-focused men and women, I had let my identity forge itself to my career. I was my title. And then it was gone.

It was a long time before I could get out of my lease and put a stop to my expensive bills in Los Angeles. I dove into debt, something I’d worked so hard to never do. Still, I did not reach out to every contact I had or pound the pavement looking for a job.

If I had, I would have restarted the same life that I so needed to pull away from. Sure, I freelanced to make money, but I also cried a lot during marathons of CSI. Then my TV broke. No one said change was easy.

The two things I’ll give myself the most credit for: even if I was too upset to articulate it, I know deep down that I did not want to go back to where I’d been. When I landed a similar job, I walked out after a month, even though I was absolutely broke. The job was simply not for me. That experience left me even emptier and more scared than before. But it was comforting, too, knowing that even if I didn’t know what I wanted, I knew what I didn’t.

The second thing is that there was no way I was going to waste a good recession. The cheapest way possible, I went whale watching in Mexico, visited a friend in Borneo for a month, and visited Italy, France and Germany with a friend. Little did I know that these travels eventually led me to a life- changing year, one that led me full-circle in a way I never expected.

My fourth post-lay-off trip was planned for Costa Rica. It was to be my last trip, my airline miles dried up. I was leaving after my lease was finally over, so I could throw everything into storage and not have an expensive rent hanging over my head. I was to stay with friends for a month and then figure out what to do next.

Those friends ended up lasting about two months in Costa Rica; by the time they left town, I had moved into a tiny one-room house in a modest Tico neighborhood on a dirt road. It was to be the happiest year of my life.

In 12 months, I learned to get good, sound sleep for the first time I could remember. I lived so frugally (my rent was $150 a month) that I was able to start my own company, using borrowed wireless from across the “street,” to pay off all of my debt and actually start to save money again. My stress melted away, after many, many nights of girl talk with my new neighbors, having no TV or even a phone for a long time, mornings waking up to howling monkeys… I etched out a fantastic life for myself, and I no longer cared about that silly career as a magazine editor that I’d always held onto so tightly.

I’d enjoyed my years in the high-paced world of publishing and then mourned when it was over. And then I’d started my next chapter, as a travel junkie/small business owner, an expat who finally slept well and had all the time in the world to study (Spanish) and hang out with her friends.

And then, just like that, that world ended, too. I was on a dream vacation in Nicaragua when I got a fateful email, with a job offer I couldn’t refuse. Within weeks, I was living in Las Vegas, my year as an expat but a happy memory.

It turns out that I needed a complete life restart, and my career break gave that to me. I needed to know that I am not my job, that life goes on even when you’re not working, that I can separate my career self from every other part of me. I date nicer guys now, and I know that my inner peace and happiness are noticeable.

My career is again the love of my life, but I no longer hold onto it so desperately. I am happy, and in awe over the fact that stripping down to the simplest lifestyle led me straight to my dream job in a very cutthroat business. I don’t understand how or why it all worked out that way.

But it did.

Abby Tegneglia chronicled her year in Costa Rica on her website, The Jungle Princess, and now updates it from life in the “Neon Jungle” of Las Vegas. You can also follow her on Twitter at @AbbyTegnelia

It all started on New Years Day 2009. After two months of dating, my ladyfriend Shara and I made an impromptu decision to celebrate our upcoming birthdays in London and Paris, which would be my first big international trip.

So, one month later, we went. We ate, drank, saw the sights – loving every second of it. You could say we caught the “travel bug.” At that point we had a similar revelation: we were merely content with our jobs; the word “happy” was never used. She being 29, me 31, and both kid-free, thought it was the ideal time to take a leap. Like many other dreamers, we wanted to leave our jobs and travel the world. Easy decision, tougher reality.

We spent March and April figuring out how we could actually do this (i.e. budget), where we would potentially go, length of trip and what would we do when we returned. After much research, we decided with great excitement to make the leap, however we figured we’d need the next 8 months to work the details out.

First up, we worked somewhat backwards. We determined we’d resign from our jobs at the end of 2009, and travel in early 2010. After 8 successful years of working in sales in NYC, Shara wanted to give it all up to pursue her passion, and return for her masters in Psychology. Using that as a guide, we figured 5 months of travel would be ideal. We could return by June, then settle into a location for next Fall. For me, I was thrilled to go along for the ride not knowing where we would wind up. I wanted to use my 10 years of marketing experience and turn it into freelance work wherever we landed. Time would eventually tell if that would pan out.

After riding the high of determining our timeline, the real fun began. Next, we spent the summer mapping out our route. Australia, Vietnam and Portugal topped my list, while China, Cambodia and Spain led the way for Shara. So we plotted along our route – starting in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand, moving our way across China and Southeast Asia, then onto Egypt and Israel, eventually closing the world tour in Europe.

We then started to get other details in order – such as insurance, storage, hotels, visas and travel medications. Taking care of as much as we could prior to our departure allowed us to freely immerse ourselves into every aspect of the trip.

We continued to crank out our to-do list, eventually getting to our departure date. On January 19th, after 17 hours of flying, we took off and landed in Fiji! The feeling was unlike any other. It was a bit unsettling to think we just left our jobs, our apartment, our family, friends, and country, and wouldn’t see it again for five months, but we felt like it was going to be worth every second of it.

It took a few weeks to get use to the lifestyle, but we eventually settled in and experienced a five-month, 17 country stretch that changed our lives. We drove the coast in Australia, hiked the Great Wall in China, went skydiving in New Zealand, biked back roads in Cambodia, prayed in Israel, witnessed protests in Bangkok, and tasted the fine green wine in Portugal. We met a lot of great people along the way, and learned a lot on different perspectives that other cultures have on every day life.

While the actual trip was a bit surreal, the best part to us was that we were able to take this time to evaluate our life and see what we really wanted going forward. Quality of life was priority number one, and enjoying our work was priority number two.

This led to our decision that when we returned, we’d re-locate to South Florida, where Shara would embark on her masters program. We love the sun, and for me, the thought of freelancing from home with the windows open and sun shining couldn’t have been more appealing. Plus, we were still on the same coast as our family and friends, which was the most important factor in our decision.

Since we’ve returned, we’ve settled in smoothly. Shara is rocking and rolling at the University, and after a few months of determination & persistence, I found steady freelance work and have enjoyed it.

Our career break not only provided us with the direction we wanted for our next steps in the working world, but also led us to our next steps in life. There’s no set way to do it, there’s a million ways to make the break. But for anyone who can take that step and make the leap, it may be the best decision you’ll ever make.

Oh, and one more thing for any couples out there, many wondering how spending 5 months together for 24/7 works out. Well, for us, it did, and soon after we returned, we got engaged. Five months and counting until the big day!

ANGIE KALOUSEK
Angie Kalousek shares with us how choosing to take a “Leap of Faith” and venture off on a two-month career break in Europe affected her life.

Prior to my career break, I had traveled quite a bit, which I suspect is what gave me the bug. I’d spent time in most countries of Europe, Russia, Chile, Thailand, Israel, Australia and Costa Rica…and of course the more proximate Canada and Mexico. I also have visited roughly half of our 50 states…but I don’t really consider that traveling.

I think the past experience traveling was really beneficial in that I knew how to “tone down” my American-ness…which goes a long way with the locals. Always be gracious by learning at least a few phrases in the local language – and smile a lot. I would have to say that as much as my previous travel prepared me for my trip, corporate life did little to prepare me. Maybe that was why I was going – to learn something new.

Angie Kalousek Continued

REBECCA ZANATTA
In 2006 my husband and I sold our house in Chicago; quit our jobs; hung up our tailored suits; and spent eight months on an adventure of a lifetime. We backpacked (only three pairs of shoes) and limited ourselves to one 14kg backpack each. We traversed 25 countries on four continents that included 25 flights, 46 bus rides, 12 boat trips, 11 trains, and multiple other modes of transportation including a pedi-cab my husband peddled himself in India and a donkey in Petra. Our journey allowed us an opportunity to see parts of the world many don’t ever have the opportunity to see. I couldn’t even spell Uzbekistan let alone tell you where it was located before our trip!

Rebecca Zanatta Continued

DOMINIQUE DORON
Dominique Doron took a 2-month career break in the beginning of 2009. She shares with us how she adapted to life in Ghana and how it became a reaffirming experience for her.

ADAPTING TO A NEW CULTURE
I was somewhat prepared for the cultural differences of an undeveloped country, but hadn’t thought about how it would affect the passing of time, being productive, and general organization. Getting places took forever, mail and packages often weren’t received, taking a child to a doctor’s appointment meant waiting in line all day, and various tribal languages made for difficult communication, even in an English-speaking country.

I was also surprised by how oppressively hot it was. I prefer warm, tropical climates, but I wasn’t prepared for the unusually high heat and humidity and how it would affect my energy and mood. The people were very friendly and welcoming, but I was surprised by how resistant they were to progressive or westernized ideas.

I was most surprised by how quickly and easily I adapted to a new culture. I expected the transition to bucket showers, no indoor plumbing, and rice three times a day to be frustrating. However, I quickly learned to embrace the differences, while being creative and resourceful.

Dominique Doron Continued

4SUITCASES
In June of 2009, Marc and Danielle Hoffmeister completed a 9-month trip through the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific and Asia with their daughters Hannah (11) and Olivia (8) – which they chronicled on their travel blog: 4Suitcases. They took the time from readjusting to life back in Texas to answer some of our questions about their experience.

What made you decide to take a career break and travel with your family?
Danielle: There wasn’t any one thing in particular, it was more of a gradual realization that our secure and stable life wasn’t completely fulfilling.

Marc: Yeah, we were definitely stuck in a rut. I realized I was spending way too much of my time driving in traffic or staring at a computer screen and not enough with my family. The kids were in a rut, too – spending too much time at school doing mindless busy work or preparing for tests and not enough time really learning and growing. I decided something drastic had to be done!

4Suitcases Continued

AMANDA PRESSNER
Amanda Pressner is one of The Lost Girls, three twenty-something New Yorkers who ditched their media jobs in 2006 to embark on a yearlong, round-the-world journey in search of adventure and inspiration. Amanda shares with us how she found self-fulfillment not through a successful career but through travel. You can read about her adventures with Jen and Holly on their blog, The Lost Girls, as well as their book The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World. which was released in May 2010.

I can still remember staring at a bizarre, other-worldly reflection of myself as I zipped up the skirt on a black Ann Taylor sale-rack suit just before heading out the door for my first-ever internship interview. My hair had been yanked into some sort of severe French twist and I was wearing matching black pumps that I probably thought made me look older and more professional. Realistically, I probably looked like I was my way to a funeral.

Perhaps to some degree, I was.

Back then, as my teens were transitioning to my twenties, I simply assumed that becoming an adult meant the death of childhood, a sacrifice which would require me to toss out the flip-flops and frayed jeans I’d worn growing up in Florida and totally abandon my carefree ways of being. No longer would I ditch class to hit the beach with my girlfriends, watch sunsets over the rim of a rum runner and sneak back home just as morning rush hour was starting for somebody else. Now was the time for me to dive into that very rat race, to begin a new the chapter of my life. It was time to get a real job.

Amanda Pressner Continued

DAVID LEE
David Lee’s path to a life of travel started with a job layoff. And after spending 20 months on the road, David is still keeping the travel spirit alive through GoBackpacking, MedellinLiving, and Travel Blog Success. He shares with us his career break experience, including some great preparation advice.

What made you decide to take a career break?
My first unofficial career break occurred after a layoff. I suddenly had the free time to reflect on how I’d lived in my early 20′s, and spent my money. I realized backpacking was not a part of those years, and committed to making my next job a means to travel around the world. Ultimately, I chose to save money to spend on experiences, rather than material wealth or a new home.

What was your travel experience like prior to your break?
Aside from family trips when I was younger, my first backpacking trip abroad was a Summer spent in Europe after college graduation. I started off with a few of my best friends, and when they went home after just a few weeks, I stuck around to explore on my own, developing a newfound sense of independence and self-reliance in the process.

David Lee Continued

We realize that there are probably many more career breakers out there, yet unless they’ve kept a blog or website on their travels, it’s hard for us to know who they are – and they may not realize that we are out here as well. But the recent article in The New York Times changed that, and we are thankful!

Here are a few comments we received from career breakers past and present:

“Congratulations on the Career Break mention in the NYT. I attended the event recently in Toronto. I just wish I could have harnessed the energy in that room.

My family (amazing wife and 3 great children ages 6, 9, and 11) had just returned from an Around The World 37 country, 41 flight adventure lasting 322 days. It was a career break of immense proportions. After losing my job July 31st, 2009 we departed on September the 3rd with a world map, a lap top and a curiosity to explore the world.  We met people who shared their lives with us.  We experienced places that we’ll never forget.  And we enjoyed things that changed our lives.

Never Stop Exploring (Borrowed from my North Face back pack), whatever the world has to offer you.”

“My husband and I quit our jobs this past January and are in the midst of a round the world trip.  Today we happened upon your website and got very excited because we could relate to your content 100%.  We have no regrets about our choices to travel, and it makes us happy whenever we see others promoting and supporting those who choose to make such a big decision.”

“I found your website referenced in the New York Times article.  What a great site!  I have really enjoyed reading the articles and posts.

I was more or less forced into my own ‘gap year’ at 48 years old, when I was laid off from my job.  I was working for American Express in Manhattan after the September 11th attack in 2001.   Since the industry of travel came to a halt, American Express laid off 14,000 employees of which I was one.  So I took my severance package and turned it into a 28 leg round the world ticket, backpacking solo through 33 countries.

At the time, ‘blogging’ was not really mainstream, and there were very few resources for planning an around the world journey, particularly for a middle aged woman traveling solo!   So it is great to see your site as a reference to encourage people to have this experience.  It was the greatest year of my life thus far!   I have since been rehired back by American Express, but still contemplate doing it all over again.

Thanks for helping plant the seeds of wanderlust in other US citizens, as travel is the greatest educator on the planet!”

“I just wanted to say thank you.  I found your website through the recent NY Times article.

I’ve just passed the 2-year mark of my intended 3-year career break and more than once I’ve wondered if I was the only person “crazy” enough to leave a 6-figure salary and all the trappings of upward mobility for the life experiences that come with traveling the world.

As I start preparing for re-entry, I’ll look to your website for what I’m sure is a wealth of information.”

We look forward to many more voices in the future.

When Sherry, my friend of twelve years, launched her company Briefcase to Backpack with Michaela Potter, I immediately latched onto the name. I took the two new-ish business partners up to Sonoma for some wine tasting and declared myself a proud, unrepentant Briefcase. “Me Briefcase, you Backpack” entered the vernacular alongside “Me Tarzan, You Jane.”

You see, I like being a Briefcase. I see my share of places on business, and my travel (often at company expense) has afforded me glimpses of places around our country and around the world. I have accumulated passport stamps from (A)ustralia to New (Z)ealand and Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Fiji, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the UK, and Vanuatu in between. I have climbed the Great Wall, seen the Western Wall, and hit the Wall at pubs in Ireland. I have eaten fried shrimp on the Bayou in Monroe, Louisiana, savored grilled shrimp where Bill Clinton used to eat lunch in Little Rock, Arkansas, and munched shrimp cocktail in a skybox at Yankee Stadium. So while I may spend my Type A life working for the man, I am not by any means a resident of cubeville.

That is not to say I don’t have incredible admiration for my friend Sherry. I absolutely do. Anyone who has a dream and pursues it relentlessly – regardless of the financial consequences – gets props in my book. To do what you want to do – and only then figure out how to make money at it – is an amazing way to live. Apologies to (Duke basketball coach) Mike Krzyzewski for misquoting him, but years ago he said something like “I’ve never made a decision primarily because of money, and I’ve made a lot of money.” My parents did it – starting an opera company in 1976 in Cleveland, Ohio was not a terribly astute financial decision. But it worked out great for twenty-nine years. To a large extent, I’ve done it – I love what I do and I have been fortunate to be successful. (Confession: Would I do the same thing if you could get stock options for dog training? Maybe not.)

So I think Sherry’s choice is all the more amazing. Traveling for a year – then two, then four and counting – is not a way to pad one’s bank account. But she started with an idea to take a break and turned it first into a passion and then a business. Trust me, she works as hard as anyone I know. If you think her entire life is waffles, frites, and faux Midwestern strip clubs you have clearly not paid attention to the deafening roar of tweets from her Twitter account or seen her up until 2am uploading photos and preparing the next day’s blog post.

Which brings me to the recent adventure I had with her. You see, part of following my dream has been to reenter the entrepreneurial world and try to grow a company with no safety net beneath me. So after six years as a sales VP at Oracle, I took a position in a small tech company in Silicon Valley. But between jobs, I had my own mini-version of a career break. I took two weeks of staycation when I was still fully plugged in – to some extent, doing two jobs while I exited the first and prepared for the second. But the third week, I wanted to do something different – to see places I would never see on business. I invited my vagabond Backpack friend to come with me. I wanted the company, I thought Sherry would be fun to travel with, and I figured our shared obsession with pulling dangerously off the highway to take the perfect picture would make her an ideal travel companion.

We did the travel Briefcase style, staying in actual hotels, eating actual food, sitting in good seats at Cirque in Vegas, and tooling around in a navigation-equipped sedan. In a week, we saw Las Vegas, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Zion National Park, Snow Canyon, and Bryce Canyon. We were always on the move and had a lot of fun, although I was constantly and ironically reminded that Sherry was always at work! Taking pictures was a perfect distraction, since figuring out the right angle and exposure allowed me to obsess about something other than email and my new job, which would start only a few days later.

I’m not going to tell you about our trip. That’s Backpack’s job. Besides, she took notes along the way and will undoubtedly have more interesting stories than I would. I reserve the right to challenge her assertions in comments on the Ottsworld blog. But I’ll trust her to be accurate and entertaining. (Have you noticed that she can write endlessly and engagingly on absolutely nothing?)

But I would like to say a few words to the other Briefcases out there – the ones who like the idea of a career break but who are a little intimidated by reading this site and the idea of dropping out of society for four years! My few pieces of advice:

1. It’s ok to like business. I do. But if you don’t like what you’re doing, you will probably suck at it. And so you won’t like it. And so it will suck more. Get it?
2. If you only have a job so you can afford vacations, you are kind of missing the point. Find something you really like to do. Do it. I’ll bet you can find a way to make enough money at it. You can learn a lot more from Sherry by following this advice than by learning what kind of waffle is best. (Correct answer: Brussels waffle.)
3. It’s ok to unplug. No one knows better than I do how easy it is to skip vacations. But the office will function without you. I may be a business junkie and mild workaholic, but I still spent a week in a cave house on Santorini last year and a week traveling national parks last month.
4. Your career break can be planned for a week, a month, a year, or a lifetime. It’s ok to start small. See where it takes you. You may (re)discover a passion, as I have done with my camera or Sherry has done with traveling itself!

I’m still a Briefcase. I probably always will be. I will still obsess about maintaining my Starwood Platinum and my United Global Services status. I’ll still get a little antsy if the Westin forgets to leave complimentary bottled water in my room. I’ll still do emails late into the night.

But it was fun traveling with my favorite Backpack and being reminded of the importance of following your dreams and – for a week or a lifetime – to unplug.

Steve Bamberger is an unrepentant Briefcase and may be reached at steveb@alumni.duke.edu. His Twitter handle, where his infrequent and generally uninteresting 140 character musings may be found, is @sbamberger

Brian Setzer experienced his first career break in 2006, taking a leave of absence from his job to travel for a year. That break inspired him to take yet another one four years later, this time leaving his job. He’s now riding his motorcycle around the US before heading overseas. He is documenting his current travels on Bike and Boots.

What motivated you to go on a career break the first time in 2006?
In 2005 I went a on a Grand Canyon rafting trip with my dad. One of the guides went to New Zealand to travel and work for their summer. It got me to thinking how cool that would be. After returning from the trip the concept kept coming back to me. I found Bootsnall.com a month later and realized that there were other people, including Americans, who took career breaks or even left corporate jobs altogether. Upon realizing that I wasn’t alone, the dream that was forming of taking a break to travel started to become more concrete. I wavered between quitting or asking for a year leave of absence. Ultimately, I realized I liked the company I was with and thought that a year trip would be enough.

How did you approach asking for a leave of absence to travel? What advice would you give to others?
My career break started July 1 and I asked for the leave sometime in March. I had planned to wait a little bit longer, but received a call about a potential promotion (and move) before I asked to take a leave. My boss and I were close so I told him about the offer, which he knew about, and that I had planned to ask for a LOA in a few weeks. After his initial surprise he could see how the leave was for me personally and not about my job. His opinion was that if the offer was there now, it would come around again later, and that I should do what was best for me. I agreed and after declining to be interviewed for the promotion submitted my request for a one-year leave of absence.

As for advice, I think that talking to my boss first helped so that I could explain where I was coming from instead of handing him a letter out of the blue. He wasn’t the one who was going to make the decision regarding if the LOA would be approved, but it was nice to have him on my side early on. I didn’t know about anyone asking for something like this before and didn’t know how it would go over. To my surprise it was very smooth. Within a week our VP of Operations said that he couldn’t say exactly what I would be doing when I came back, but that they would find a job for me. After a few calls and emails from HR it was all setup.

You said in your website that things didn’t go exactly as planned on your first career break. What obstacles did you run into and how did you overcome them?
Yes, I wasn’t referring to the normal itinerary changes that always appear with a big trip, this was health related.

My plan was to spend 3 months traveling in the US driving Oklahoma – Illinois – Oregon – California and then 9 months around the Pacific and SE Asia. Two months into my trip I woke up in the middle of the night and could barely move. I had a severe pain in my back that appeared out of nowhere. After trying to crawl my way around for a couple days I knew I needed help. I drove to my sister’s in Portland and a week later flew to San Diego where my parents lived.

After getting an MRI I was put into the hospital to treat an infection in my spine. At that point I was using a walker to do what little moving I could and was simply relived that they found something they could work on. I was in the hospital for two of the next four weeks and on a six week IV antibiotic treatment after that to get rid of the infection. No one ever figured out what it was or how it got there, but they were able to get rid of it. After that was 6 weeks of physical therapy to return my range of motion.

I was ok in early December and went to Australia with my family for three weeks as a test. (They had already bought tickets to meet me on my trip for two weeks at Christmas.) Once that trip went well I came back and bought a ticket to SE Asia for the remainder of my time off. In all I lost about most of 5 months of my year off.

I’ll also quickly mention that I have Ulcerative Colitis which is similar to Chron’s Disease. I knew that going into my trip and chose to do it anyway. In preparation, I had stockpiled medicine ahead of time as best I could. Mainly though, I have learned to listen to my body and know when to back off. Having chronic (and unplanned) illnesses are something that can be dealt with to travel.

I’ve been involved in the travel community since 2005 and can’t remember anyone coming back saying they regret it. Usually the question is, “when can I do it again?”

Upon returning to the US, what was the most challenging thing about returning to your job?
I ended up coming back to the promotion at a different location. Simply moving up would have been a challenge on it’s own, but this was a job situation that was by far the most difficult I’ve ever been in. I was immediately working long stressful hours just to get by. A far cry from how I’d spent the previous year.

Oddly, one of the hardest parts for me was getting all of the policies and procedures back into my head. After not thinking about them for a year they tend to get a little fuzzy. I’d be in a conversation with my boss and he was taking those things for granted before moving onto other issues. Identifying and troubleshooting problems at the new plant was actually easier to dive into since each of them are looked at uniquely and you aren’t relying on a set of rules on how to proceed.

What things did you learn on the road that you applied to your career?
I learned a lot about how to give orders that could be followed and asking critical questions. When you’re on the road most of the tour guides, hosteliers, etc are dealing with a new group of people everyday and aren’t always concerned about your personal experience. As I picked up on this I became pickier about who I chose to provide my services. I tried to be clear about what I was expecting from a tour or room and find out if what that is what they provided. I’m a very laid back person and I wasn’t doing this as the ugly American. I was mainly trying to find out if what they were going to do anyway is what I was after. There are always going to be changes and the unexpected, that’s part of the joys of seeing the world. Still it developed my abilities to know how to give clear directions and ask questions to find out the information I needed.

Now you’ve decided to take off again, did you prepare differently for this break? What motivated you to do this again, this time cutting ties from your job?

This time was very different. Instead of thinking that a year break would be enough to see what I wanted to, I am accepting that my travel bug is really a flu and trying to incorporate that into my life going forward, whatever that brings. I also own a house this time, which I am still trying to sell – anyone interested?

If I return to a career it will be closer to friends and family where I haven’t lived for a long time. That is a long ways down the road though.

You are actually taking the first part of your break and traveling through the US via motorcycle. What has been the most surprising thing so far on your journey?
This trip is just getting going, but I really enjoyed New Mexico. I love open spaces and natural beauty. Deserts are very subtle – they make you slow down to find pockets of color and hidden wonders. In two weeks I saw so much – Carlsbad Caverns, the International UFO Museum, White Sands NM, Native American Ruins and Rock Art, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, great stuff.

Any advice you can give someone who is considering asking for a leave of absence for a career break?
Put yourself first. Decide what’s important to you and then find a way to make it happen. I find travel rewarding and enriching so that’s the path I chose to follow. I’ve been involved in the travel community since 2005 and can’t remember anyone coming back saying they regret it. Usually the question is, “when can I do it again?” Each situation is going to be different about how much time should you give or how long to go for. Once you’re moving towards an end you desire you’ll find a way to deal with the challenges that appear.

Enjoy your break and I hope to see you out there!

You can find Brian Setzer
on the road at
BikeandBoots | Facebook | Twitter

Barbara Pagano & Elizabeth Pagano

What made you decide to take a sabbatical?
Each of us had different reasons. For me, life was good – but predictable. I had been successful in my career, had a nice home and marriage; yet I wanted to put myself in a challenging situation to “see if I could do it.” My daughter, Elizabeth, was in her mid-30s and had a string of life and career questions stretching in front of her. She hoped that time away might offer clarity… and maybe even answers.

What were you doing beforehand career-wise?
As an executive coach to leaders worldwide, I was busy with corporate client initiatives on leadership and developing a reputation as a facilitator and speaker. Elizabeth was a newspaper reporter before spending a few years working for her father’s manufacturing business.

What was your sailing experience like prior to your break?
This question always makes us laugh! We had sailed for 15+ years as second-mates and galley queens with my husband, Herb. We’d never handled a boat alone and certainly never sailed at night. So, Elizabeth went to a week of sailing school in Key West, and I went to navigation school (and flunked the test).

We practiced docking for a couple of days and watched the mechanic change the engine oil once. Seriously, we weren’t very experienced, and we knew we’d learn a lot along the way. But we had confidence in our ability to learn quickly, and we promised people we’d make good decisions. We put a whole lot of books on “bad weather sailing” and “boat systems” onboard, just in case!

Desire outranks skill and experience. If you really want to do something, you’ll learn what you need to know.

What were some of the ways you prepared for this new experience? Were there any experiences from your corporate life that helped you in the preparation process?
The best things we had going for us were our enthusiasm and a pretty good mother-daughter relationship. We communicated openly and frequently. That doesn’t mean we saw eye to eye on everything, because we didn’t! (Slammed teak cabin doors make a loud bang.) The absolute best thing we did was to not declare a “captain.” This aggravated many of the cruisers we met who’d say, “but you have to have a captain.” But it worked for us. In fact, because neither of us carried more weight, we were forced to “work it out.” And the quicker the better, because we were in tight quarters, you know?

We built on our communication skills, worked through our conflicts, and shared stunning daily vistas that made us smile. Plus, we enjoy one another’s company and like to laugh. That helped.

Did you face any anxieties while preparing? If so, how did you deal with them?
The reactions from family and friends were mixed. While Elizabeth’s friends tended to think it was cool and were supportive, my friends said things like: “Are you out of your mind?”; “This is dangerous”; “You don’t know what you’re doing.” My husband asked me if I’d consider putting a captain on board. But it was important to me to try to do it on our own. He accepted that and was totally supportive (but fearful as well).

How did you decide on what to do and where to go?
Our approaches were very different. I just wanted to “head south for as long as we can.” Elizabeth needed a goal. One afternoon, we rolled out a map of the Caribbean and I said, “Pick a place.” Elizabeth chose Trinidad…that became the goal.

But we never made it that far. And in hindsight, the goal was too aggressive given the time of year, wind direction and the length of our sabbatical. In the end, the goal wasn’t important – the journey was.

What surprised you the most about yourself during this trip? About each other?
I was challenged with pushing a little boat through big water, and there was much I didn’t know. Navigation was a puzzle and so were some of the boat’s systems. And while I was determined, I realized I was slower than my daughter to pick up things and “get it”. At first that was so frustrating to me (and to Elizabeth). Accepting the fact that age changes things just meant I had to be persistent and plan for a longer learning curve – but I’d eventually get it!

Elizabeth had always known me to be a very confident, in-charge, decisive woman. Then, a couple of weeks into the trip, she realized I was none of those things. Her nickname for me was “Nervous Nelly.” I didn’t like that at all. As the trip unfolded, Elizabeth watched me work through my self-doubt and show vulnerability. And she respected that.

Don’t wait. Go before you are ready.

While on the road, what helped you through any doubts or struggles you encountered?
We found a community of cruisers who gave us plenty of help along the way, from teaching Elizabeth to fiberglass our water tanks to helping us re-wire our power system. Best of all, they encouraged us and built our confidence.

We also worked every day to do things better. At the end of each day, we’d sit in the cockpit and have a conversation: What did we do well? What could we have done better? Our focus on becoming better may have been because we anticipated times when Mother Nature might slap us around (which she did). But it also built our confidence. And each day we really did do some things better!

Did you feel you could have been better prepared in any way? If so, how?
Some would say that we should never have left until we proved to be good sailors. Had we waited for that, we’d probably still be at the dock. We left before we were ready….and we’d encourage others to do the same.

How was your experience returning home? Did you struggle with reverse culture shock?
The hardest part of the whole trip wasn’t 10-foot waves breaking over the bow or the fish pot that wrapped around our rudder during a night sail. It was getting off the boat. We were out of money and out of time, so we had to go back to our land lives. But we loved our life at sea … we were learning to be better sailors every day … and there was a new island to explore just around the bend. Re-entry was really tough.

Reflecting on your sabbatical, what insight did you gain?
Desire outranks skill and experience. If you really want to do something, you’ll learn what you need to know. It won’t be pretty, and you’ll make lots of mistakes. You might even be afraid.

Bottom line for us: We learned to be brave.

How did you apply lessons learned from your experience to your life and work now?
We make fast decisions. On the boat, all kinds of things happened – the wind picks up, that darned current is stronger than anticipated, the weather forecast turns out wrong or the jib is jammed. Should we reef the sail, turn around, or plan on entering an anchorage after dark? We learned to take in the information and make the best decision we could, because we had to.

We also learned that changing a decision or reversing a decision is no big deal. So what if you’ve got 8 knots under your keel and you are almost to your destination when a pod of whale goes by, traveling in the opposite direction. With one turn of the helm and a couple of sail adjustments, you can be right there in the middle of the pod!

In our business, there’s always the unknown, and we’ll never have ALL the information. We make the best decision we can and adjust it if necessary.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of doing this?
Don’t wait. Go before you are ready.

David Lee’s path to a life of travel started with a job layoff. And after spending 20 months on the road, David is still keeping the travel spirit alive through GoBackpacking, MedellinLiving, and  Travel Blog Success. He shares with us his career break experience, including some great preparation advice.

What made you decide to take a career break?
My first unofficial career break occurred after a layoff. I suddenly had the free time to reflect on how I’d lived in my early 20′s, and spent my money. I realized backpacking was not a part of those years, and committed to making my next job a means to travel around the world. Ultimately, I chose to save money to spend on experiences, rather than material wealth or a new home.

What was your travel experience like prior to your break?
Aside from family trips when I was younger, my first backpacking trip abroad was a Summer spent in Europe after college graduation. I started off with a few of my best friends, and when they went home after just a few weeks, I stuck around to explore on my own, developing a newfound sense of independence and self-reliance in the process.

The knowledge that I was about to do something amazing always trumped my fears.

What were some of the ways you prepared for this new experience? Were there any experiences from your corporate life that helped you in the preparation process?
As I’d been backpacking for a few months before, I knew how it worked to travel by way of hostels and guidebooks, so I didn’t have to prepare too much. In 2005 and 2006 I took short trips to Costa Rica and Belize to stay motivated for the bigger trip around the world which began in late 2007.

I used my experience with Microsoft Excel at work to create a few spreadsheets using Google Docs to track both my pre-trip “to-do” list and budget, along with my actual costs once I hit the road. By posting my plans online, I was able to ask for feedback on my budget and itinerary in the BootsnAll message boards.

Did you face any anxieties while preparing? If so, how did you deal with them?
My biggest anxieties were breaking the news to my parents about the trip, which I did 2 years before I eventually left home, and notifying my boss at work, which I did about 2 1/2 weeks before I was ready to hit the road. I found the best way to deal with both situations, as well as the lesser anxieties about which malaria medication to use, and so on, was to remind myself how amazing my trip would be once I boarded that first plane. The knowledge that I was about to do something amazing always trumped my fears.

How did you decide on what to do and where to go?
Since this was my dream trip, I drew up a long list of countries that sounded appealing. My knowledge of most of them came from talking to other travelers, reading about them in magazines like National Geographic Adventure, or seeing them in TV shows or movies. The list ended up being at least 30 countries long. I knew I wouldn’t be able to visit them all, so I prioritized, selecting “must-see” destinations that I wanted to visit the most.

As for my route, I decided to head west to the Pacific and Asia first, as I wanted to arrive in Nepal during good weather for trekking (April). I also figured that if I started off with the countries farthest from home, then as I ran out of money toward the end of the trip, the countries I missed would be the least expensive to visit in the future.

What surprised you the most about the destinations you went to? What surprised you the most about yourself?
I was surprised at how easy it was to get around despite my lack of language skills. Even in places like Chengdu, China, I’d manage to get around with smiles and body language. Of course it was always a richer experience when I could speak to someone in English, or knew a little of the native language (such as Spanish in Colombia), however it showed me that not being able to speak the language is a very weak excuse for not traveling somewhere.

While on the road, what helped you through any doubts or struggles you encountered?
When I got a throat infection on Phuket in Thailand, it was leaving me so lethargic that I considered coming home. It was a little scary to feel such a lack of energy, and not have had the chance to make any travel friends. I e-mailed my parents every day, and just hearing them say that I could always come home for a break helped a lot. In the end, I stuck it out, recovered, and spent the better part of another year traveling!

I remember after having been in Asia for 7-8 months, feeling unenthusiastic about some of what I was seeing and doing. I messaged Gary from Everything Everywhere and he suggested jumping to a new continent. I decided to skip Vietnam, and hasten my jump to South Africa. It worked like a charm, as the minute I was flying over the African continent, peering out the airplane window, I felt that special sense of excitement again.

Did you feel you could have been better prepared in any way? If so, how?
Nope, I don’t think you can ever be fully prepared for long-term travel, and that’s part of the excitement.

How was your experience returning home? Did you struggle with reverse culture shock?
The last 6 months of my trip were spent living in Medellin, Colombia, so it was especially strange to return to suburban Virginia after living in a Latin American city. After a few weeks though, it felt like I’d never left, except for the fact that I was far more confident in myself as a result of overcoming all the challenges – physical, mental, financial, and emotional that I experienced while traveling.

To overcome the reverse culture shock, I started doing yoga regularly, which I didn’t get the chance to do much of in India, and I kept up with my salsa dancing which I had begun in Colombia.

Reflecting on your career break, what insight have you gained?
It feels incredibly empowering to set a big goal for yourself, work toward it every day for years, and then realize it. In my case, since traveling was my goal, I felt as though I had the chance to realize my dream every day for 20 months.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of doing this?
My best advice would be to set a dollar amount you want to save, and a time frame for achieving it. Then work backwards by setting yearly, monthly, and even weekly goals for getting there. It’s like the Confucius saying, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Also, it helps to find a support system of likeminded people. Luckily, the online travel community is incredibly supportive.

What next?
I’m excited for the February 1st launch of my new online community, Travel Blog Success. I’ve spent the last few months building an online course around everything I wish I’d known about travel blogging when I got started back in 2007. In addition to the lessons covering everything from buying a domain name to making money online, there will be an exclusive Blog featuring audio interviews with popular travel bloggers and a Forum where members can interact, collaborate, and support each other.

Be sure to vote for Go Backpacking as Best Travel Blog and Medellin Living for Best Latin American Blog in the 2010 Bloggies!

Amanda Pressner is one of

I can still remember staring at a bizarre, other-worldly reflection of myself as I zipped up the skirt on a black Ann Taylor sale-rack suit just before heading out the door for my first-ever internship interview. My hair had been yanked into some sort of severe French twist and I was wearing matching black pumps that I probably thought made me look older and more professional. Realistically, I probably looked like I was my way to a funeral.

Perhaps to some degree, I was.

Back then, as my teens were transitioning to my twenties, I simply assumed that becoming an adult meant the death of childhood, a sacrifice which would require me to toss out the flip-flops and frayed jeans I’d worn growing up in Florida and totally abandon my carefree ways of being. No longer would I ditch class to hit the beach with my girlfriends, watch sunsets over the rim of a rum runner and sneak back home just as morning rush hour was starting for somebody else. Now was the time for me to dive into that very rat race, to begin a new the chapter of my life. It was time to get a real job.

Despite my best efforts to the contrary, I never did manage to retire my rebellious inner teen in order to become a full-fledged grown up. I felt grateful once I landed my very first position in New York City, but after three weeks as a sales assistant at a major television network, I started to feel restless. I knew I wanted to leave such a corporate environment but had to wait nearly two years before I scored a copy-writing gig at a major publishing company. When that job didn’t quite feel right, I jumped again and became an editorial assistant at a women’s magazine in the same Times Square office. I figured I’d finally seized the brass ring–surely I’d be happy doing something creative and glamorous for one of most widely read publications in America, right?

But after another two years and one promotion, I still wasn’t. And so, when the opportunity arose to take the ultimate of all career breaks—a year around the world with my best friends and fellow Lost Girls Jen and Holly—I leapt at the opportunity.

That should have been the turning point for me, the “ah-ha” moment when I realized no job could ever bring the self-fulfillment that travel can, but old habits die-hard. But ever the overachiever, I tried to work from the road, to turn our adventures into story pitches I could sell to magazines back home. Without consciously deciding to do so, I tried turning our round-the-world adventure into yet another stepping stone for my career.

It took me eight of our twelve months on the road to put down the laptop, but just as we were rounding our 10th country, Indonesia, I finally wore myself out and relinquished control. I gave up pitching, gave up working, gave up trying to validate my life through achievements. I lived 100 percent in the moment of our daily lives. And I eventually learned my lesson.

What, after all, do many of us people put on their suit and go to work every day for?

Most people have to wait their whole lives to retire and do the very things that I was all too eager to give up as a career-bent, success motivated college grad in a bad black Ann Taylor suit. Here I was at 28, being given a very rare second chance to appreciate that freedom, and to crawl the globe in search of wild and wondrous new possibilities. Finally, with the help of Jen, Holly and several new friends along the way, I seized the opportunity. I only had four more months to immerse myself in the adventure–but in many ways they were the richest and most fulfilling ones of the trip.

After we eventually returned to the States, Jen, Holly and I debated on whether or not we should go back to desk jobs. I rationed that I probably should take a position that I’d just been offered at another magazine, just to confirm that I was actually “still capable of working in an office.”

“You could,” Jen said. “But what would you really be proving? That you’re able to sit behind a desk…that you can do the exact same thing that millions and millions of people have to do every single day?”

She pointed out it was no great accomplishment to learn to survive in an office. Learning to carve your own unique path in the world, however—now that’s that a goal worth working for.

Read our review of “The Lost Girls”

What made you decide to take a career break and travel with your family?
Danielle: There wasn’t any one thing in particular, it was more of a gradual realization that our secure and stable life wasn’t completely fulfilling.

Marc: Yeah, we were definitely stuck in a rut. I realized I was spending way too much of my time driving in traffic or staring at a computer screen and not enough with my family. The kids were in a rut, too – spending too much time at school doing mindless busy work or preparing for tests and not enough time really learning and growing. I decided something drastic had to be done!

What was your travel experience like prior to your break?
Just occasional week-long vacations (mostly cruises) that never seemed to last long enough. Before this trip, the longest we’d been away from home was 8 days.

What were some of the ways you prepared for this new experience?
We decided the best way to prepare was just to go out and do it. We didn’t take any test trips or stock up on travel guides or language courses.

How did you prepare the girls for the experience?
The kids were just as excited as we were to take the trip, so we didn’t have any issues there. And we used our blog and other social media tools to stay in touch with family and friends.

The obvious questions here is – did your family, friends and co-workers think you were crazy?!
Probably, but they also thought it was an awesome idea. Once they got over the shock, most of them seemed to “get it”.

How did you prepare for your long-term travel – what did you do with your house/possessions/pets?
We made a clean break and sold almost everything – house, cars, appliances, and most of the furniture (we didn’t have any pets). We‘d been doing our banking online for years, so we just went paperless with our few remaining bills, and got a PO box where a family member could check it periodically.

How did you decide on what to do and where to go?
Marc: Besides spending more time together as a family, we wanted to test-drive some of our retirement fantasies, so we started our trip by living on cruise ships in the Caribbean for a few months. That was fun!

Danielle: Seasons and budget also played a part. We had originally planned to go to Europe after South America but it was just too expensive, so we opted for SE Asia instead.

How did your children adjust to life on the road and home-schooling? What did they miss most?
The girls adapted to life on the road surprisingly well. They enjoy playing together and are at an age where they still want to be with us, too. That helped a lot.

Home-schooling wasn’t really an ordeal for us. We’re fortunate to live in a state without many requirements, so we didn’t have to bring a whole suitcase full of books or anything. They’ve learned far more this past year than they ever did in a year at school.

They did miss the grandparents and other things about “home” (we all missed the food!), but the trip has given all of us a whole new appreciation for things that used to be taken for granted. Priceless!

We look at a lot of things differently now. It’s amazing how little we miss all the stuff we sold, and how much more we’ve enjoyed the experiences we got in return.

While on the road, what helped you through any doubts or struggles you encountered?
Danielle: Have you heard about our family motto, “Suck it up”?

Marc: We were fortunate not to encounter any serious crises, and getting through all the little problems and struggles was one of the most rewarding aspects of the trip. We all learned to worry less and be more flexible, and the girls are so much more confident and adventurous now.

What was each family member’s favorite destination/activity?
Danielle: It’s actually hard to pick just one thing and when we ask the kids, their answer changes constantly. Maybe the fact we can’t choose is one of those signs that we must have done something right.

Marc: Yeah, it was all good. But I think the places we’re most eager to visit again someday are St. Thomas, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, New Zealand and Thailand.

Reflecting on your career break, what insight have you and your family gained?
We look at a lot of things differently now. It’s amazing how little we miss all the stuff we sold, and how much more we’ve enjoyed the experiences we got in return.

This trip has really helped us figure out what kind of life we’d like to have in the future, too, and we’re excited to work on making that a long-term reality.

What advice would you give other families thinking of doing this?
Don’t stop thinking about it! When we first got the idea to do this, there were dozens of obstacles that came to mind. But as we continued to work on it, we found solutions to every single one.

Also, when it comes to actual planning, we found it helpful to build in plenty of “down time”. Packing up and moving too frequently, sleeping in too many different beds, and running around every day looking at stuff can be especially hard for kids. Some of our happiest days were the laziest ones.

Is traveling with a family of four around the world for a year expensive? Do you think you would have spent more money if you had stayed put and not traveled?
It can be. Street food and hostels aren’t always our thing, so we had to take that into account when budgeting. I think we spent about the same on the trip as we would have back home. Our next trip should be a lot cheaper though, because we don’t plan to move around as much.

Did you meet many Americans doing long-term travel? Why do you think Career Breaks are a foreign concept to Americans?
Danielle: We met very few Americans – and even fewer American families. I think most Americans are too addicted to their illusions of security.

Marc: A perfect example – last week I was chatting online with a friend back home who said, “I would love to be in a position to do what you’re doing, but I’d be worried about things like health insurance.”

What next?
We are back in Dallas, Texas, where we get to start over with a clean slate and build the lifestyle we really want. We plan to keep home-schooling the kids and get an apartment in the city, where Marc already has some freelance work lined up with his former employer. We’ll try to keep our possessions and expenses to a minimum, so when adventure calls again we’ll be ready. No more ruts for us!

You can read more about the Hoffmeister Family’s world adventure on their blog – 4Suitcases

Dominique Doron took a 2-month career break in the beginning of 2009. She shares with us how she adapted to life in Ghana and how it became a reaffirming experience for her.

ADAPTING TO A NEW CULTURE
I was somewhat prepared for the cultural differences of an undeveloped country, but hadn’t thought about how it would affect the passing of time, being productive, and general organization. Getting places took forever, mail and packages often weren’t received, taking a child to a doctor’s appointment meant waiting in line all day, and various tribal languages made for difficult communication, even in an English-speaking country.

I was also surprised by how oppressively hot it was. I prefer warm, tropical climates, but I wasn’t prepared for the unusually high heat and humidity and how it would affect my energy and mood. The people were very friendly and welcoming, but I was surprised by how resistant they were to progressive or westernized ideas.

I was most surprised by how quickly and easily I adapted to a new culture. I expected the transition to bucket showers, no indoor plumbing, and rice three times a day to be frustrating. However, I quickly learned to embrace the differences, while being creative and resourceful.

For anyone contemplating a career break: If you want to do it, but think you can’t, think again. I felt so discouraged and had made excuses for myself for years. But as soon as you make it a priority, you will find a way to make it all come together.

 DEALING WITH DIFFICULTIES
A lot of people donated money to help me make my trip happen, and I owed it to them to enjoy myself, and absorb as much as I could. For me, it seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I really tried to stay focused on how fortunate I was to be there. I knew I was only there for a limited amount of time, and that I should enjoy it while I can, however difficult it might get. In addition to the support I had back home, I made great, lifelong friends along the way–both volunteers, and locals.

I feel the organization I went through could have better prepared me for the disorganization and lack of support I would receive once I was there. For the amount of money I paid them, I expected a certain level of service and support. I was surprised to find that once I got there, I felt very alone and isolated. Luckily, I made friends quickly and developed my own support network.

REFLECTING
Two months in Ghana went by very quickly, during which I stayed in close contact with family and friends. I definitely would have liked to stay longer, but I also had a lot of exciting things to come home to. I didn’t experience a lot of culture shock in Ghana, or after coming home, which I interpreted as a testament to my adaptable personality.

I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to take a career break. I didn’t know what to expect from my trip, and I tried to go into it without any real expectations. In one word, it was reaffirming. Being away from my husband reaffirmed the strength of our relationship, and our ability to support each other, and make sacrifices for one another.

My trip also reaffirmed who I was. I was curious to see who I would be away from home, on my own, and away from my familiar surroundings. Turns out, I was the same person in Ghana that I am at home. I am independent, adventurous, curious, compassionate, strong, adaptable, social, and motivated.

My African volunteer project reassured me, above anything else, that I love to travel and embrace other cultures. I hope to have another opportunity to visit a country for an extended period of time, and maybe this next time it will be great to share it with my husband and/or family.

For anyone contemplating a career break: If you want to do it, but think you can’t, think again. I felt so discouraged and had made excuses for myself for years. But as soon as you make it a priority, you will find a way to make it all come together.

CIRCUMSTANCES: Dominique Doron – Finding a Way to Make It Happen

It’s hard to put into words the different ways in which this adventure changed me. I returned with an extreme amount of patriotism after witnessing firsthand the amount of ingenuity and resources individuals in our country have contributed to the world’s development. As Americans we must appreciate that there are millions of people who would switch places with us in a heartbeat to have our quality of life. As a woman I am so thankful to have been born in the United States. I believe that now more than ever, as I had the opportunity to meet several women on our adventure who would do “anything” to come to America. Just as important, is understanding the global responsibility we must consciously acknowledge as Americans.

I also learned if a marriage can survive 24/7 together for eight months it can survive anything! Jeff and I learned our fights usually involved hunger, frustration or sleep deprivation and usually had nothing to do with each other. Constant unpredictable and unfamiliar situations helped me develop levels of creativity and patience I never knew were possible.

It has been two years since our adventure and transitioning back into the “real world” has been more difficult (and easier) than I thought it would be. Easier because within six months we both had jobs, had purchased a new home in Seattle and life was pretty much back to “normal.” More difficult because you know how easy it was to leave, travel and come back and have it all come together…so why not do it again?

Upon our return, I was able to pick my career up where it left off. I am a fundraiser and lucky for me, good fundraisers can always find a job. I will eventually work in an international setting, most likely for an organization affiliated with the empowerment of women and girls. I feel strongly my career has benefited from our travels. I live my life with more purpose than I did before our trip and realize life is way too short to spend time in situations that make you unhappy. Our lives are full of choices and it is up to us to be intentional with our choices.

If you would like to read more about our adventure please go to our website: The Plan B Adventure. I hope it inspires you to plan your own adventure of a lifetime.

Angie Kalousek shares with us how choosing to take a “Leap of Faith” and venture off on a two-month career break in Europe affected her life.

Prior to my career break, I had traveled quite a bit, which I suspect is what gave me the bug. I’d spent time in most countries of Europe, Russia, Chile, Thailand, Israel, Australia and Costa Rica…and of course the more proximate Canada and Mexico. I also have visited roughly half of our 50 states…but I don’t really consider that traveling.

I think the past experience traveling was really beneficial in that I knew how to “tone down” my American-ness…which goes a long way with the locals. Always be gracious by learning at least a few phrases in the local language – and smile a lot. I would have to say that as much as my previous travel prepared me for my trip, corporate life did little to prepare me. Maybe that was why I was going – to learn something new.

Prior to my trip, I was more excited than anxious. I did have to make sure that financially, it was a sound idea – and I took care of some of that by subletting my apartment for 4 months. I guess the one little fear I had was that I would need to look for a job when I came back. I had no idea how hard or easy that would be – but had a feeling it would all work out for me.

While traveling, the biggest thing that I felt was just extreme gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunity to immerse myself in a life completely different than my usual day to day; gratitude for the friends that I traveled with and how they “got me” in a way that no one else does, gratitude for the beauty in this world, and gratitude for the new people and experiences I encountered that now help make up who I am.

I feel like taking time to completely step out of my “normal” life, allowed me to get a much clearer view of who I am, what I want and what I will and will not accept in my life. I learned that I’m a bit of a slave to my routines – and that the world will not end if they aren’t executed in exact fashion. I learned that the little lives we lead are just one way – one option, and that if you keep your eyes open, you’ll be able to see the countless other options that exist for us. Then you can really choose.

The hardest thing about my travels was coming home. I remember sitting on the plane and flying back into the beautiful city of San Francisco and realizing that although things had remained the same here….I had changed. I no longer wanted to go back to the same routines and somehow my friends would have to get used to an Angie that was slightly different. Slightly more open, slightly less inclined to go along with status quo and slightly more in touch with my heart’s desires.

I’ve been back over a year now – and I did get a job…and as a result of that, I’ve had to develop a new set of routines. But I now see these routines as a necessary part of where I am right now and I realize that I may be in a different place tomorrow.

I think the key thing that I’ve learned as a result of my travels is that all we have – all we can count on in certainty is this moment. This moment may be intense, or wonderful, or challenging, or exhausting, or quiet…but it is always NOW. It is always the reality that we have to embrace and learn and grow from.

I realize that when you’re away from your norm, it’s a lot easier to be fully present. So I try to jolt myself into presence as often as I can. Since I’ve been back, I’ve taken trips to Paris, Geneva, Vietnam, Malaysia – and some closer jaunts to Mexico and Hawaii. These are my life-blood. And while I’m back I just try to remind myself to embrace and be grateful for what is right in front of me. Not always easy to do – that’s for sure. But the experience of being abroad brought me that clarity and its memories can always put a smile on my face…and bring me back to now.

Read what Circumstances Inspired Angie to take a career break.

We’d love to hear from you!

Have you taken a career break or sabbatical? Inspire others and share  your career break experience.

Text Version: Timing is everything, so when Michael and I both left our jobs at the same time, we decided to capitalized on this opportunity and hit the road. As a seasoned backpacker, I’m used to traveling for extended periods of time. But after 14 years in Corporate America, this was a huge step for Michael. It was now time for him to put down the briefcase and strap on a backpack.

Having established careers for many years, we were not restricted to a tight budget during our nine weeks. We were open to any adventure, regardless of cost. At the same time, we wanted to have some unique cultural experiences to push us out of our comfort zones.

Along the way, we encountered very few Americans. And most people were surprised that as Americans we were traveling so far and for so long. Once we explained we had quit our jobs and made the time to do this, their surprise turned to admiration.

We now invite you to follow along on our journey! Hopefully you will be inspired to make the time to create some adventures for yourself.

To learn more about our 2007 career break, read the entries in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Laos.