Warning: this might get long.

I'm 21 years old. I just got back from 3 weeks traveling around Costa Rica on a surf trip. Everyone in Costa Rica lives the by the saying "Pura Vida", in English that means "pure life" or "just life". Everyone there is so happy to be alive. They live for the moment and go on with their day to day activities with a smile on their face. And the thing that amazes me most is the fact that they barely get by. They don't have any excess of money.

Then I come home. I realize how different America is(I knew before, but understand it now). I realize that certain aspects of the American way are what makes our great country powerful and succesful and I am very greatful for that because I have always dreamed of having a great job, a couple kids, nice house and of course a couple toys. Its always been my dream to be like my Father. He is very smart and succesful, he works his *** off and knows a lot about life and always gives good advice and of course, has a couple of toys we have a blast with.

Call me young or immature or whatever but it seems that everyone with a 9-5 job, or a job in general, live for the weekend. Monday through Friday we work all day thinking about what were going to do this up coming weekend. The weekend is a time for us to go out and do what we want and not have to worry about getting up for work the next day. There are 52 weeks a year, so therefore approximately 104 weekend days a year that people seem to live for. Which means that there are approximately 261 days a year that people go to work and sit at a computer or a desk or behind a table saw etc stressing about money or getting something done on time. It doesnt seem worth it to me. Whats the point of that? Were living 2/3rds of our life waiting for the other 1/3to come around to do what we want.

I have so many opportunities in front of me. Firstly, I have an amazing family and great friends, I currently work at Morgan Stanley and I'm only 21, I will be graduating soon, I know many people who I could easily get a good paying job with. But I don't want any of it. I would rather go somewhere where it TRULY doesnt matter if you drive the cool car or if you have a 6 figure plus income.

I have a few thousand dollars saved up and some traveling money set aside so I have been thinking about leaving. Literally selling my truck and most of my posessions and leaving. Taking some time off school and going somewhere and trying my luck in a foreign country. People say don't stop going to school because I wont go back, but I alreay did take time off and I did go back. I am young, most likely dumb, and I am healthy. I feel like if I wait to do what I want it might be to late. I feel like If I wait to long I wont be able to leave for many reasons i.e. responsibilities, car payments, work, or even possibly a family. If you think about it, school will always be there, debt and car payments will be there, and so will everything else that helps us live the "American Dream".

So I guess the point of this semi useless thread is what did you do with your life and are you happy? Would you have done something different when you were younger? Do you not travel because you are to old or because you cant afford it or because you cant get enough time off to really enjoy yourself?

I was talking to a buddy about this and he said teo very key things that have stuck with me the last couple of weeks. He first said that I am very good at giving advice but I am very bad at listening to my own advice and then he said do what I want now because I am young and healthy and you cant buy your health back no matter how much money you make. So that's where I really started thinking about it and thats where this thread started from. I hope you enjoyed my rant...anyways back to work.

D

 

My younger sister is going through exactly what you're going through. She's about to graduate undergrad and she just wants to 'leave American because she's tired of it' and move to another country. Sounds great for now, but she's done nothing as far as researching how life truely is outside of America. Culture, government, health conditions and first aid availability, job opportunities, etc. Totally different than here.

I've never been outside of the US so I'm no authority here, but I'm 27, have a nice salaried job with a promising career ahead in the steel industry, I only owe for student loans which will be paid off in 2 years, rent, single, no burdens. How could it get any better? I'm looking to get married and have kids. I enjoy taking my bass boat out fishing on weekends and enjoy lifting weights, running, and hanging out with friends during the week in our small college town. I think you and I are pretty similar.

So ask yourself...why do you want to be a slave to material possessions? Who cares about salary, new trucks, status symbols. Do what you enjoy. Who says a foreign country is going to give you the earthly thrill that you seek?

For me, and I know that I will get blasted for this, but the true pleasure in my life is knowing that I am a saved Christian and that a relationship with Jesus is the only way to ever find peace and satisfaction on earth. Once I realized that, at age 24 or so, I quit caring about things of this earth and man, life is great.

The light of the world grows strangly dim when you've truely seen God's light.

 

You don't have to leave the country to experience what you are looking for. We tend to live our lives to keep up with the Joens's and please other people whether it be parents, wife, or girlfriend. I am 36 this summer I have a good job, nice house, great friends, and a wife that loves me no matter what and we have our share of money issues but we make do with what we have and live our lives for us and us alone no matter what other people think. We both have learned that life is to short to spend it working and making sure that we have a Better Homes & Gardens looking house but don't get me wrong we take care of what we have and keep it looking nice. In the last 15 years I have learned to not wait for the right time to do something because that perfect time never comes there is only now after watching my parents make plans for later in life only to watch those dreams disappear when my mother got diagnosed with cancer and when she finally lost that battle it was a real wake up call for both me and my father.

"Pura Vida" is a pretty good creed to live by because each and every day you open your eyes in the morning is a gift to cherish and enjoy no matter what problems or challenges you have in your life because only today is guaranteed.

 

I too have been to Costa Rica, it is a wonderful country. There is no private ownership of the beach and there is no military. But open your eyes, be honest with yourself.

Drive through the poorer areas where there is no electricity, look at the dilapidated buildings and the poverty. I remember seeing power lines dangling from the air with the Tee bar sawed off because someone stole the pole. Or the government workers lying idly by the road. The bribes and payoffs to get anything done. The sorry state of the roads.

We all have to work, hard, everyday, to survive. When enough of us work hard enough, we can produce a surplus that allows others to survive without working so hard. Get going now, while you are young and strong and energetic. There'll be plenty of time to slack off later. Don't waste your youth playing around in the surf full time, I guarantee you'll regret it.

 

IMO there is no reason you can't work and enjoy life. I like my job but when the day is done I forget I have a job and do the things I enjoy doing. These things almost always cost money. Unless your parents are rich you will need to work to have money even if you end up in another country. Wrap your head around it, you need an income of some kind and very few people have figured out how to get paid to party.

 

The key is finding a job that doesn't feel like a job, if you can find something that you actually enjoy doing and enjoy the people you work with then you don't have to work for the weekend. I don't wake up every morning going oh I cant wait to get to work, but I don't ever dread going in the morning. If you can find that, and make enough money to do what you want within reason then you have one heck of a good start on being truly happy.

 

Im not much older than you, the best thing I can tell you is this.
Live life for you and don't worry what everyone else has, and what you don;t.

Take pride in what you have, and find enjoyment in what you have, moving to some dinky country is not gonna make you so super happy.

You will begin to miss the things we take for granted here, like nice roads and electric.

No matter where you go, you are going to have to do something to make a living for your self.

 

I was married at 21. Raised two kids and put them thru college.
My truck is newer than yours, how could I not be happy?

The die was cast, I just put one foot in front of the other.
But even 35 years ago I don't think a few thousand dollars would provide for such a radical lifestyle change as chucking it all and a carefree existence. I would recommend the movie 'Lost in America' 1985 (Albert Brooks).

Consider me a voice from the other side that has crossed that bridge.
I'm retiring Friday, 32 years and can do whatever I want (within reason).

I escaped with my health as far as I know and I still have some hair which is a bonus.
I didn't get rich but,
September, Nags Head
October, Appalachian Trail
November, Hawaii with a stop in SF
Spring, Italy

...then I'll probably file for bankruptcy.

 

I started working part time when I was 11 years old. Worked half a day my Jr and Sr year of high school. married at 19 and we worked our way through college(no financial assistance). So, I have woked all my life. The company where I worked sold and I was forced to retire. Lasted about 3 months. I was going crazy and besides, with the economy, I felt I needed the income. So, at almost 68, I'm still working and love what I'm doing and where I work. The job is more demanding than any I have had in many years, pays less than I made at my last two emplyers, but is fun. I plan on working as long as I can contribute. I might go to 4 days a week at some point, but have no interest in full retirement.

 

Costa Rica is a dump of a place with a few sweet spots mixed in. The people there live for the day because they know there may not be tomorrow due to the unrest/ corouption in the country. They have little chance of getting ahead, saving big bucks, buying a new car etc.. so they simply surrendered thier future and just live for the day!!. Now you have a advantage on them already, you can choose to keep up with the joneses or you can simply find a job that you LIKE/LOVE doing and you will never work a day again. Enjoy America because you will never find anything else like it in the world, we are #1 for a reason dude...

 

go live with these guys OP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyLvdm1JXsg

J/K

do something you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.

 

The reason why you see people stressing about money is because they live BEYOND their means.

People want and want. They want it now. So they go finance a boat a couple vehicles, camper, and their mortgage. they pay for it their whole lives.Their is no more saving for things you want.

 

just wanted to make sure i heard you right. Bailing on the kids, good job

 

Good luck with retirement Raoul you do did your part and without all the entitlement bull crap the kids today want............. enjoy man

 

decent thread...

i can kinda agree with you D's984x4, but i also diagree. im 21, i joined the army(infantry) at 17 back in 07' have been deployed 3 times(only iraq) and plan on retiring. i got married at 19 and hadd my first kid at 20, since then i have bought a nice 4bd/2bth house and owned 3vics(down to one now trade ins for the 08'). My advice (which may not matter to you) is have fun but plan for ur future once you have grad. college and have the career feild you desire then take tim e and play around for a yr or two(deff go to europe is awesome). But after that get your job, lifes hard out there with no help especially gettin started.