u/LaJamie

Hi everyone,

I’m currently struggling with a big decision and would really appreciate some other perspectives.

I’m 23 years old and working in Germany as a biological technical assistant. I’ve been in my current job since 2023. The job itself is quite routine, but it offers a good work-life balance, a lot of flexibility when it comes to vacation time, good colleagues, so all in all I'd say a pretty decent job. The downside is that the pay and long-term career prospects in this field are rather limited.

For a while now, I’ve been planning a one-year world trip. The planning is already quite advanced and I’ve already quit my job, bought all vaccines told everyone and bought some gear. Financially, I’m in a relatively stable position: I have enough liquid savings to fully cover the trip (around 20–25k €), and I also have about 60-70k € invested which I do not plan to touch.

My plan after the trip would likely be to either go back to work in Germany to rebuild some savings or possibly start studying (either full-time or alongside the job). I currently still live with my parents, so I would have a relatively low financial burden when I return. However, I would like to move out after the trip.

Despite all of this, I’ve recently started to have doubts.

One concern is the financial aspect. It’s not just the travel cost itself, but also the income I’m giving up (around 45k € gross for the year). I can’t help but think about how this money could contribute to long-term goals like buying or building a house, even though I’m aware that my current career path might make that difficult anyway.

Another concern is the length of the trip. One year feels like a very long time to be away, and I’m unsure if I’m maybe overcommitting. At the same time, I’ve planned the route in a way that aligns with seasons and specific highlights, so shortening the trip feels like I would miss out on things that are important to me. Travelling solo never been a problem, as i like being alone and being more on the introverted site. On the other hand, 1 year again is a pretty long time, for being separated from your family and friends.

I’ve also been questioning my motivation. Part of me genuinely wants to experience the world, different cultures, and get out of my current routine. But I can’t fully tell if this desire is coming from within, or if it’s partly influenced by social media, societal expectations, or the common “you’ll regret not traveling” narrative.

I do enjoy the idea of documenting the trip through photos and videos, mainly for myself and my family, but I also can’t deny that some part of me might care about how others perceive it.

I guess what I’m really struggling with is this:
From a rational standpoint, the trip seems doable. But emotionally, I’m worried about making the wrong decision - either by going and “losing” time and money, or by not going and regretting it later.

Has anyone here been in a similar situation or had similar doubts before a long trip? How did it turn out for you?

I’d really appreciate honest perspectives, even if they’re critical.

Thanks a lot.