Earlier this week I attended an informal gathering of Meet Plan Go, which is a resource for those taking a career break — get it…meet (other like-minded people), plan (lots of things to think about like storage and shots…) and GO! (duh!)

A friend of mine hosted the NYC chapter’s meet and he suggested I attend even if I wasn’t actively contemplating a career break, which I’m not. It’s something that’s always been in the back of my mind, but there’s no active planning right now. My friend told me it also serves as a support group for those of us plagued with wanderlust and that I’d fit in just fine.

Boy was he right! I met a few people whose friends and families think they are the crazy one with all sorts of wanderlust. Ah, I finally found my people! They knew, and even worked for, travel sites I read regularly!

When I told some friends that I was going to this ‘meeting’ I was met with some hesitation and raised eyebrows. I wasn’t the only one who got those reactions. One girl I met told me her mom thought she was joining a cult! Even my parents, who have a sense of adventure, are sometimes taken aback at places on my travel wish list. And they have traveled to – and would go back – to Cartagena, Colombia!

Out of the people I had met, some had already taken a career break, some were in the midst of planning their second and others, like me, were seeking like-minded people. I fit right in! Some career breaks lasted a few weeks, most were between five and nine months, others even longer. One of the founders of MPG wasn’t able to attend because she is still traveling!

You must see where I am going with this.

My loosely thought out career break, come on, you didn’t think I had a wish list (!)  would take me to southeast Asia, where I’ve wanted to go for some time, and it’s helpful that the USD goes far there. Apparently these routes are popular with ‘my people.’ Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos topped many people’s lists…and mine!

And then, in my imaginary plan, I’d head south to Australia and New Zealand in order to chase summer. I should note that while the plan is in only in my head, it’s ideally planned around avoiding winter in the US…always thinking 😉

If I’m up for more, I’d get myself over to South America and work my way back to the States through Central America. I’d get to further experience the Latin culture I’ve fallen in love with. I would also continue to enjoy summer, and probably the start of the rainy season if I remember correctly, and bonus (!) get good value for my USD.

I am willing to bet that if you made it this far, you are crafting your own itinerary, if only imaginary, like me.

So here’s the big question…if you are daydreaming, even if you just started, what does your itinerary look like? I’d love to know! Feel free to share in the comments below.

Great post about travel regrets from Nomadic Matt.

Yes, I hyperlinked to Matt’s site for a reason! Click it to read on Matt’s post. Below is my comment on his post, and some more thoughts.

First, my comment (in case you don’t want to search for it):

I wanted to study abroad but my major was set up in such a way, had I left for a semester, I guaranteed myself an extra year of school. Because of the financial impact a fifth year of school would mean, I didn’t get to study abroad.

But I also didn’t lose the bug. During my senior year I learned about a program called BUNAC that enables recent college grads to work and live abroad. Five months after graduation I packed up and went to London for six fantastic months. And you know what, when I came back, everyone was still doing the same thing – looking for jobs, starting jobs and there I had been galavanting around Europe for a few short months.

Great post. So true.

***

Now, more commentary:

I don’t like having regrets but if I have to have another it’s not getting the bug sooner and not going where I would have had a local contact with more insight on a place.

As a kid I had friends travel to visit family in Alaska and Israel. My parents would have been financing those trips since I don’t think my minimum wage jobs would have paid for those trips.

While living in London I traveled a lot, but never to somewhere I, or my travel partner, would have known someone. If I went to Wales and Norway, I would have been with friends’ families. A few years ago I had friends living in Japan and I didn’t make it out there either.

A trip to Prague with a friend was swapped for a trip to the Isle of Wight…an English summer resort, which a friend and I visited in December! So while it wasn’t the original plan, it was still a great trip.

I currently have friends in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa and I’ll be damned if I don’t get to those places while they are there!

These are a few regrets but I can’t focus on them. I am very fortunate to have gone where I have gone. Even without these particular places under my belt, I’ve seen and experienced a lot and met incredible people. There’s a lot more to see and do. I’m nowhere near done! I have the travel bug, and it’s in my blood.

In the meantime, travel is about making new friends and having new experiences. Thanks to my recent travels, I now have penpals in Costa Rica, Argentina and Croatia. Those are some pretty incredible places, whether or not you had a local contact before you got there. And by the time you leave, you’ve got some great memories, and friends.

Frank, I concur…Regrets, I’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention.