10 years ago in 2008, I was made redundant and I took that opportunity to travel the world through Africa, Asia-Pacific and South America. Hand on heart, it was the best thing I have ever done and it really didn’t take long to realise that travelling is for me!

However, it got to the point where I felt I was away for the sake of being away and needed to earn some money. Fortunately I was able to gain employment when I got back to UK in 2009. I have done a few holidays over the years which were nice but ultimately didn’t deliver the freedom travelling offers. Settling back in to work after the 2017 Christmas break with dreams and memories of exotic foreign holidays, travels and intrepid adventures seeming a distant reality, the UK is hit with a sprinkling of snow and it is during this cold snap that I am informed of redundancy once again. I spent a week or so contemplating my future, then it suddenly seemed obvious. Why not travel again? I know there are places I still want to visit and now I can.

Reality moment – I’m a homeowner, the car is paid for and I am a single bloke, no wife, girlfriend, children, pets or any other dependents – except maybe a house plant that I keep watered and a pot of basil in the kitchen window. What do you mean, “ahhhhh”? It’s not a pantomime! 🙂

Seriously thinking about it though, I live in Wokingham, Berkshire, which is quite a nice little place but actually I have no real ties to anyone or anything here now, so suddenly those distant dreams of travel and adventure are now achievable with no time constraints. I could put my belongings into storage, let the house out and receive a passive income as I go, certainly enough to cover couple of beers along the way. Bonus! 🙂

So looking at a map of the world, most of the places I want to explore fall in line. I just need to try and plan around any monsoon or wet seasons…