This post was originally published in 2010. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content.

“I am really enjoying reading your blog…your lifestyle is what I eventually want to do, so it’s good to hear  that others are doing it (and succeeding in it).

I am a college student about to graduate. I have a good  finance banking job lined up for next year (and I’m also looking  into the CFP program) but I am definitely a dreamer. I want to  travel the world and participate in humanitarian efforts, start a  wedding planning company, etc.- I’m all over the place! Basically, I  think that I am yearning for something out-of-the-box and where I  have a life that I can control.

But now, I’m going into this banking job as a young analyst, which I think would be fine to do for a couple of years, but part of me  wants to just drop everything now and go do what I really want to  do. But I think to myself, maybe it would be better to get some  “real” job experience and some cash before I start chasing all my  dreams. At what point do you decide enough is enough? Am I too young to drop everything now to travel the world? Realistically? When you  just came out of school, can you see yourself doing then what you do  now?

My Response:

Thanks so much for getting in touch! No age is too young to start, but I would say that I might not have appreciated the experiences I’m having on the road now, without having first spent some time in the working world, for a few reasons:

I was able to earn some decent cash to not only save for traveling but also to have on hand for business opportunities (ie: wedding planning – or my version thereof), as well as to have some stashed away for long-term investments (ie: retirement, etc – or when I may not be able to work but need money).

Money aside, I was also able to gain more personal identity and some business sense – which has helped me transition to a location independent career. Lots of people could do it sooner…I took a more circuitous route.

A lot of it also depends on how long you want to travel, or the lifestyle you choose for yourself. There’s a bit of a difference between a 3 month trip, a 1 year trip, and a no-fixed-time trip; the preparations for each are quite different. Heck – you may find more value in developing a rewarding career that also allows you to take time off each year (say, a month or two) to travel in style!

The bank analyst job will be rewarding for you (especially if you’re interested in becoming a CFP), and will help you get your feet under you financially (which doesn’t hurt, especially when saving for travel). In the meantime, watch out for spending too much of your cash on stuff (as tends to happen), and keep your eye on the ball- whatever that is.

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