Time was, a person had to be disgustingly rich (the technical term is “independently wealthy”) to simply leave home and travel the world for extended periods of time. Today, not only do you not have to be rich, but in many cases you can still work while you’re traveling!
Between rising standards of living, dropping travel costs, increasing acceptance of telecommuting, and improving technology allowing remote interaction, the world is now an extremely accessible place, allowing people of all walks of life the chance to travel and see the world. Here are some tips to help you do it in safety and style.
The Dream
Where would you go, if you could go anywhere? What would you see? Would you move somewhere and set up camp with a long term rental agreement, or move around from place to place? Know where you’d want to go and what to do isn’t required, but it does help you work towards a concrete plan, and help you plan the tools you’ll need.
The Old Life
What’s the probability of taking your current job with you? Don’t dismiss it out of hand; many employers can be made open to the idea, with the right approach. The other question is “Do you WANT to keep your job?”
If you physically can’t, or you don’t want to, keep your job, then there’s little required of you here other than quitting. If you do want to keep your job, first ask to work from home once/week, on a purely trial basis, and make sure your performance and productivity at home is measurably better than at the office. Start working towards 100 telecommute, and invest in a laptop if you don’t already have one.
Worried about trying to sell your home? What to do with your belongings? Conveniently, you can solve both problems by simply signing a rental agreement (available with your state’s landlord – tenant laws through EZ Landlord Forms) on your furnished home, preferably with someone you know, but otherwise with someone who you’ve screened carefully for credit, criminal history, eviction history, etc.
Sell your car, to a private party if possible, otherwise to CarMax, and whatever you do, don’t tell them what you owe on the car.
The Tools
If you’re staying within the United States, mobile broadband is a great way to ensure you have internet access wherever you go (it costs about $50/month through your cell phone service). Likewise, an unlimited calling plan on your mobile phone gives you a “mobile office” number; who needs an office?
If you’re traveling abroad, consider buying a National Geographic satellite phone, which gives you unlimited incoming free calls, almost anywhere in the world.
You might also consider a wifi finder, which are roughly the size of a keychain and can identify potential wifi hot spots. You’ll find a signal in no time.
Document sharing through Google Docs keeps you synchronized with your coworkers, and for remote project management and coordination BaseCamp is a useful tool.
The Destination
Found your destination yet? You can find inexpensive accommodations through Craigslist, whether sublets, roommate’s looking to convert an extra room into rental cash flow, or by signing a long term rental agreement on a condo or single family home.
Look up the local public transportation, and consider moving to a location where you can walk to everything you want to reach. It’s a great way to get some exercise, save money, and reduce smog at the same time!
It’s not as hard as you might think to turn your laptop briefcase into a fully functional office, equipped with a phone, a computer, an internet connection, and everything else you need to work comfortably. It’s a good life, a rich and rewarding life, and it’s worth a little bit up front work to make a reality.
Author Resource:
Brian is a mobile real estate investor (also known as The Traveling Landlord) who moves every three months. In his spare time he hikes, works on his photography, and consults for several online resources for real estate investors, including EZ Landlord Forms, which offers custom rental agreements.
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