Which choice would you make?

[JoolsVerne]

If you had these two choices, which would you make:

(1) Travel around the world. See amazing, exciting things.. Earn a lot of money, enough so one of you could be SAHP or could work in creative, low paying jobs. ( though this may create a marriage imbalance). Both could retire by 55-56 with a good private pension. But far from family, no sense of community, no lasting friends because of the moving around, a constant sense of 'not belonging' and being not important to anyone.

(2) Stay where you were born or nearby. Both earn decent wage , but not exceptional. Have family, friends from uni, a sense of belonging and community. More equal marriage. Perhaps a bit bored and a bit worried about the cost of living, mortgage etc...

A - but I am looking back at could've beens and what ifs.
Wish I had travelled more, met more people and followed my heart.

Do 1 for a bit then go back to 2. Basically what I did without the getting rich bit! Both are important to me.

1. The older I get the more I feel the need to travel and see the world. You can settle down if you plan on retiring in your 50s and still establish a life where you fit in with the community.

I don't know where my number 1 went but definitely option 1 😂

I'd choose option 1 in a heartbeat. You don't always get a sense of belonging and community if your life pans out like option 2 though. And vice versa. I spent a good portion of my 20's travelling and met some amazing friends all over the world that I'm still close to 10 years later.

A

1

Option 1.

I’d choose 2. But I’m not you!

I did A, but unable to retire at 55. Had fab time living all over though. Now starting new career.

1 for sure.
The problem with 2 is that you can't guarantee that these people will hang around themselves, some might go off and do their own thing and you'll be left wandering why you stuck around when others didn't bother.

2 all the way for me.... Family, friends and belonging is everything I could even need. Being loved and needed is all I've ever truly wanted.

2

2

If chose 2. I couldn't live somewhere where I didn't at least have friends. I would also want an equal marriage. I'd try and save and travel the world on holidays. That's what we do!

2 for me

2

I love the fantasy of one, but being reliant on one income would scare me. Also, it sounds fabulous, but I just know that ultimately, I like being in my own bed and knowing where ‘home’ is. Usually on holiday I’m ready to come home by the end.

so 2, but go on as many holidays as possible and purposely find something you enjoy every day - walking the dais, singing, whatever!

No 1 definitely

I'd choose two but with enough money for plenty of holidays.

Thanks everyone. Has made me think carefully. By the way, don't want to go into detail but I chose option 1! Probably time to switch to option 2 in the next few years though:)

2 and do the travelling parts on your holidays a few times a year especially if you both earning well enough.

2 much better. Did a bit of 1 first but now family is just everything

I'm more or less living number 2 (a couple of hours from where I grew up but in my uni town) and we're very happy. I never had the desperate urge to travel. Holidays are enough and even then we only go abroard every few years or so.

I wouldn't say I felt bored though. Gently content would be a better description.