Doing a gap year (sabbatical) in later life?
Discussion
Who here has done one and what did you do with it? Or have you got plans to do one?
I'm 99% decided to do one starting late this year. I run my own business (B2C and I can close it with a "Gone fishing" sign on the Website). No kids and Mrs Goat is supportive. I'm lucky enough to be able to finance it out of savings (as long as I avoid First Class travel, coke, etc). I've got a few things in mind to do, but I'm not making a 'bucket list'. So there's a big CNC machine to learn and maybe 3 months abroad to properly 'get' a foreign language. And the inevitable road trip (Scandinavia, I think).
Then I'd go back to work and spend a month rebooting the business before reopening. Hoping that the time away clears my head enough to get rid of the bad practices.
(I don't plan to retire until I'm literally too weak/feeble to work, so I don't want to put off anything until after then.)
I'm 99% decided to do one starting late this year. I run my own business (B2C and I can close it with a "Gone fishing" sign on the Website). No kids and Mrs Goat is supportive. I'm lucky enough to be able to finance it out of savings (as long as I avoid First Class travel, coke, etc). I've got a few things in mind to do, but I'm not making a 'bucket list'. So there's a big CNC machine to learn and maybe 3 months abroad to properly 'get' a foreign language. And the inevitable road trip (Scandinavia, I think).
Then I'd go back to work and spend a month rebooting the business before reopening. Hoping that the time away clears my head enough to get rid of the bad practices.
(I don't plan to retire until I'm literally too weak/feeble to work, so I don't want to put off anything until after then.)
Didn't do a gap year but the missus and I took 4 months off for our honeymoon. We'd both been at our companies for 10+ years, so it was granted no problem. We didn't get paid whilst away and had our jobs to come back to.
It was only a year or so ago and we are in our mid thirties. Best thing we could have done after getting married and so happy we were able to. If you can do it, then jump at the chance I say.
We started in Buenos Aires then did 2 weeks in Patagonia, then flew up to the Atacama and hired a car for a week and drove into the Quebrada. Then we went into Bolivia by land, and spent a month there going to the Slat flats, Sucre, Lake Titicaca and into the Amazon. Flew into Peru and then did Cusco and Lima.
From there to Tahiti and Moorea and then from there to New Zealand where we hired a motor home for a month and saw both islands.
Cost a fortune, but it was worth every penny.
It was only a year or so ago and we are in our mid thirties. Best thing we could have done after getting married and so happy we were able to. If you can do it, then jump at the chance I say.
We started in Buenos Aires then did 2 weeks in Patagonia, then flew up to the Atacama and hired a car for a week and drove into the Quebrada. Then we went into Bolivia by land, and spent a month there going to the Slat flats, Sucre, Lake Titicaca and into the Amazon. Flew into Peru and then did Cusco and Lima.
From there to Tahiti and Moorea and then from there to New Zealand where we hired a motor home for a month and saw both islands.
Cost a fortune, but it was worth every penny.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Looks like I'll start in October this year, and Mrs Goat and I will start with Japan for a month (autumn colour season) and then go to the inlaws for an Austrian Winter. Do I try skiing for the first time and risk breaking an arm/leg/neck? Hmmm - that could scupper other plans.
Unfortunately, she can't just take a year off, though, so we'll have to overlap here and there.
Looks like I'll start in October this year, and Mrs Goat and I will start with Japan for a month (autumn colour season) and then go to the inlaws for an Austrian Winter. Do I try skiing for the first time and risk breaking an arm/leg/neck? Hmmm - that could scupper other plans.
Unfortunately, she can't just take a year off, though, so we'll have to overlap here and there.
after being made redundant at 48 years old, I took a gap year. It turned into 3 years as I was so busy fixing our house and restoring a land rover. Then spent a month job hunting before I found another job. Now planning to retire at 58 years old. in 4 years time. Do it you only live once.
Thanks chaps. My business is an online niche and only about 20% is repeat business. So I'm OK with that risk.
Mrs Goat can't come on a road trip though, and doing one alone doesn't appeal very much. Will have to find a car club/event, I think.
If I could find a plot, I'd use the year to project manage a house build, too, but here in Cambridge they all going direct to developers without coming on to the open market. Maybe it's better though, as that would obviously be stressful.
Mrs Goat can't come on a road trip though, and doing one alone doesn't appeal very much. Will have to find a car club/event, I think.
If I could find a plot, I'd use the year to project manage a house build, too, but here in Cambridge they all going direct to developers without coming on to the open market. Maybe it's better though, as that would obviously be stressful.
Left my job November 2016 and effectively took 2017 off (from paid employment) travelling, personal projects, family and friend stuff - a lot of friends in far-flung places got married last year so was all over the place. After a stressful few years of making hundreds of people redundancy (Oil & Gas) 2017 was a welcome break; zero stress and the ability to just do anything I wanted - by far the best year I've had.
Back looking for work now and it's proving tricky; a lot of agents/recruiters seem extremely cautious because I have a gap on my CV, despite it only being 1 year and my story/explanation why has been rehearsed and really defined. One agent was really hostile to the fact, and told me that none of her clients would ever considering hiring a male who had such a gap on their CV - I told her people take time out all the time, and then promptly hung up the phone on her. Another recruiter (whose company I happen to be interviewing with next week) made a passing comment like "oh what did you do that ended up with you in prison for a year?! haha" and obviously he realised I was taken aback; "Oh it's just whenever guys have gaps on their CVs it usually means they've been inside for something"... 'king hell.
Back looking for work now and it's proving tricky; a lot of agents/recruiters seem extremely cautious because I have a gap on my CV, despite it only being 1 year and my story/explanation why has been rehearsed and really defined. One agent was really hostile to the fact, and told me that none of her clients would ever considering hiring a male who had such a gap on their CV - I told her people take time out all the time, and then promptly hung up the phone on her. Another recruiter (whose company I happen to be interviewing with next week) made a passing comment like "oh what did you do that ended up with you in prison for a year?! haha" and obviously he realised I was taken aback; "Oh it's just whenever guys have gaps on their CVs it usually means they've been inside for something"... 'king hell.
I did one back in 1988, I had built/ fitted out a boat and took 5 yrs out and went sailing bumming around the Atlantic & Mediterranean I was 42 then, used to stop for the winters , making sure it was where other liveaboards and big boats were, and as I was a Carpenter/Joiner/ Boatbuilder used to get work on other boats or working for private individuals.
In the end I sold my boat met someone and started a business re- furbishing properties, then bought 3 old houses and re-furbished them, sold them bought a plot of land built a house sold that and did the same and again rolling over all the time, in between time we got married.
Never ever did go back to full time employment and we still enjoy bumming around except we do it in a VW Van these days but some habits die hard, we enjoy time on the road for the winters these days wherever the Sun shines the most.
Enjoy your time out.
In the end I sold my boat met someone and started a business re- furbishing properties, then bought 3 old houses and re-furbished them, sold them bought a plot of land built a house sold that and did the same and again rolling over all the time, in between time we got married.
Never ever did go back to full time employment and we still enjoy bumming around except we do it in a VW Van these days but some habits die hard, we enjoy time on the road for the winters these days wherever the Sun shines the most.
Enjoy your time out.
parabolica said:
a lot of agents/recruiters seem extremely cautious...One agent was really hostile to the fact....
A lot of agents / recruiters.. (not all.. but many) are highly annoying and only want round pegs for round holes. As an employer, I'd question it and probably be quite interested in hearing you explain it.Steamer said:
parabolica said:
a lot of agents/recruiters seem extremely cautious...One agent was really hostile to the fact....
A lot of agents / recruiters.. (not all.. but many) are highly annoying and only want round pegs for round holes. As an employer, I'd question it and probably be quite interested in hearing you explain it.Took 6 months out in 2010 to study Chinese in SW China. Easily the best 6 months of my life. I almost ended up studying Japanese in Japan, but split with the ex-ex a week or so before I was due to fly out. A blessing in disguise because the pound had collapsed against the yen at that point, and China and Chinese were my preferred options - I was trying to accommodate the ex-ex.
In order to take a sabbatical you need to make sure that your financial situation is good i.e. sufficient savings to tide you over, make sure that your rent / mortgage is covered, bills, insurance, etc all covered, and that you update your CV and send it out in sufficient time before you return if your job is not being kept open.
My sabbatical occurred before I met my partner, before our Little Man, and before the mortgage.
In order to take a sabbatical you need to make sure that your financial situation is good i.e. sufficient savings to tide you over, make sure that your rent / mortgage is covered, bills, insurance, etc all covered, and that you update your CV and send it out in sufficient time before you return if your job is not being kept open.
My sabbatical occurred before I met my partner, before our Little Man, and before the mortgage.
Edited by putonghua73 on Monday 29th January 12:56
There are two schools of thought on this.
Two Retirements:
People are living longer, and having "two retirements" is the future. Learn for 25 years... work for 20 years... retirement one for 5 years... work for another 20 years... retirement two for 20 years.
Midlife Crisis:
Failed workers have a "midlife crisis" and run away for a year or two.
Whatever the reason, don't waste the opportunity, like aimless backpacking round Oz.
And make sure you have enough cash to last at least 2 years *after* you return. Know someone who flounced off to the Alps, struggled to find a job when they came back, and ended up downsizing their house to raise cash.
Two Retirements:
People are living longer, and having "two retirements" is the future. Learn for 25 years... work for 20 years... retirement one for 5 years... work for another 20 years... retirement two for 20 years.
Midlife Crisis:
Failed workers have a "midlife crisis" and run away for a year or two.
Whatever the reason, don't waste the opportunity, like aimless backpacking round Oz.
And make sure you have enough cash to last at least 2 years *after* you return. Know someone who flounced off to the Alps, struggled to find a job when they came back, and ended up downsizing their house to raise cash.
Thanks all, I'm lucky enough to be OK on the finances and job security (gave up a high-paying career over 10 years ago). Mrs Goat has super-strong job security, too.
So far:
Wise words on preparing stuff for bills/insurance/etc. Mrs Goat will be at home while I'm off, and the neighbouring work units are happy to look after the premises.
So far:
- a month in Japan together
- three months on my own in Germany immersing in the language (possible future move to DE/AT/CH)
- CNC training
- reboot the business (cold/hard look at what's working and what's not)
- misc fun stuff between
Wise words on preparing stuff for bills/insurance/etc. Mrs Goat will be at home while I'm off, and the neighbouring work units are happy to look after the premises.
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