About Me
For those which have found this site and don’t know me, I’m Mike Jacobsen also known by my friends as Flattop. I’m 39, single, from Tampa, FL and have been working in the construction recruiting industry since 1996. With the current real-estate bust and simultaneous credit crisis the construction industry has been hit significantly hard and reduced to eliminated recruiting services. Due to the slow down I had the option of changing careers, industry I recruit in, or take the slow time to travel. I choose to take a year and travel around the world with an around the world airline ticket.
I am writing this blog primarily for myself as a journal of my experiences and sharing it with friends. However the internet allows it to be shared with all and therefore I will be positing information that might be useful to others considering such a trip.
Many have asked how can I afford to do such a thing and how much does it cost. First, I’m not rich in any sense. I’ve been saving for 20 years with the goal of retiring early and to do this trip I am dipping into long term saving, which will need to be replenished for me to accomplish the goal of eventually retiring in a secure position. I feel exceptionally fortunate to be able to take this time while so many others are struggling to make ends meet.
As for trip cost, I’m doing it on the cheap. Meaning, I am staying in hostels, sleeping in a tent, and in general staying in very very budget accommodations. As well, the vast majority of my eating I am doing on the cheap by sticking mainly to street food. The money I spend I am reserving for traveling and doing things. So what’s a reasonable budget for traveling a year non-stop around the world. $20,000 is the minimum and to accomplish it one will have to limit how many places they go and will have to be extremely picky about what things they do eliminating more expensive excursions and purchase very little throughout the year.
As for me, I believe experiences are the juice of life and would rather have the memories of them than things. Thus I plan on purchasing very little this year other than an occasional must have item. My desire is to do and see as many things as reasonably possible and thus am fortunate to have a flexible budget of $30,000 – $40,000, which should allow me to be able to do the all the activities I want while staying in budget accommodations with an occasional splurge night and eating cheap with an occasional really nice restaurant thrown in.
If you have any questions, please get in touch and I’ll be happy to fill in anything else.