Pack in the job, rent out the house, get in the camper van, fuck off

[GotTheBug]

WIBU to do the above?

We have a house with a small mortgage, stable but unfulfilling jobs, a camper van and itchy feet. Some savings (but not a huge amount!) No kids at home, one ageing but currently still independent parent nearby. Both of us early 50s and healthy.

We have talked about doing this for years and I'm increasingly starting to think that we should do it now before we get any older - also I'm aware that my DF may need us around more in the years to come. I guess I'm worrying that if we leave it another 10 years/wait until retirement we'll have missed the window.

Obviously leaving the job and renting out the house are massive steps and that scares me - so much to potentially go wrong. But at the same time, life is for living, right? We could rent out the house easily I think - seaside location, an hour from London on the train - and the rent would pretty much cover our travel expenses. DH could take a career break for a year or so much more easily than I could, though, and we'd be pretty skint on our return.

Would we be mad to do this, or mad not to?

Absolutely do it. With the pension age now increased to 67 (I'm a decade younger and have lost around 6 friends / acquaintances to cancer), I'm not hanging around waiting to see whether I'll have a)some health or b) still here by nearly 70. I have spent the last 5 years having to be a part time carer for my DF (died last year), and now my DM is ailing. I'm stuck again with campervan staring at me through my front window. When; when, I sometimes think, will it be my turn to be free?
Go while you can. My philosophy is to plan and enjoy/risk every minute now, doing what I want to do - hopefully until I'm at least 70. Then after that if I'm stuck having to watch telly (or whatever tech it may be), not doing much, for the rest of my days, I'll be happy.

Do it!
DONT sell your house! You need somewhere to come back to, if you choose. Give it to an agent to manage meanwhile.
You will kick yourselves if you don't seize this opportunity.

I have a rental house and it's horrendously stressful.
Also remember that the mortgage is no longer seen as an expense so if for example your rent was £1000 but your mortgage was £500 you would get taxed as if you were making £1000 profit when you aren't. Unless you are mortgage free then it might end up costing you money rather than making you money.
Strangely I also have a lodger and that's probably better as it's tax free.

Do it! I'm resigning next week & taking 6 months off to travel, life is short, live that dream, good luck x

Do it, do it now. Ask for a sabbatical from work, if they agree great if not don’t worry about it. You don’t know what tomorrow brings and therefore do it while your health is good & no demands on you by elderly parents.

She's said she can't get a sabbatical.

She said there’s no indication on the intranet that she can. She’s going to raise it with HR. She may be sufficiently valuable to her employer that they’ll be prepared to be flexible, she won’t know until she asks.

Op can ask, and they can say no and put her on the redundancy list. I am not sure I would be so quick to advertise I was thinking of leaving to a company laying people off.

It is definitely the case when we have been working somewhere for years that complacency sets in, and we forget how privileged we are to have a good quality of life, to make a difference and have a comfortable future to look forward to with plenty of options. Security and comfort.

Things in this country are just about to take a massive turn (as they are already doing so across Europe) and I wouldn’t be giving up a secure profession right now with the financial view I have of what is to come this year.
The markets are reacting very, very badly to Reeves’ plan, Labour are struggling to contain the unfolding crisis and we are heading into a recession. This is not the moment to fling caution to the wind. Things looks even worse in Europe sadly.

We can’t underestimate the power of financial buffers and choice in today’s world. Keep the jobs - travel this summer and plan some wonderful holidays.

Sabbaticals cost organisations money.
They need to advertise, interview, go through the whole HR scenario and why should they? It's a favour only.

I was right @Wildwalksinjanuary, your glass is half empty.

I can’t take you seriously blossom 😂😂

Same.