Also published on Medium.
So I’ve recently read the story of What Quitting My Job to Live on a Sailboat Taught Me About Fulfillment by John Zeratsky. Great story. Inspirational. Love it. But as a 25-year-old, no matter how hard I try, I simply can’t do it.
Some background information — I am a 25-year-old university graduate from Hong Kong, one of the most expensive places to live in the world. After graduation, I immediately got a contract job for 4 months, another full time job for 1.5 years and realized regular 9 to 6 office jobs are not for me.
So i decided I want to use my time to do things I am passionate about — communication and sailing. I went through all the trainings, medical checkups and paper works. Then I started working on board international cruise ships. Like every job, it is not as glorious or carefree as it seems. After 6 months, due to financial reasons, I had to go back on land. And here I am, working yet another 9 to 6 office job to get a life, and end up not getting a life — you know what I mean.
Money
This bad boy is the first and foremost reason why I can’t make my cruise ship job permanent — at least not at this stage of life.
A majority of bachelor degrees here are subsidized by the Hong Kong government, reducing the annual tuition fee to around USD$5,500 per year for a non-professional degree. I was lucky (or unlucky) to be (not have been, definitely unlucky in this case) in financial difficulty and got some more subsidies for my tertiary education. Otherwise I would be joining my friends who are still paying off their university loans 3 years after graduation.
There is a misconception that salaries on cruise ships are generally quite high. Well, that is true to some extent. If you are a licensed officer or have other professional qualifications, you are likely to have a high salary. If not, in the case of a Hong Kong citizen, my salary was much lower on ships, even with free meals and accommodation. I didn’t have to use my savings. But as someone at my mid-20s, I couldn’t financially prepare for the future.
Family
I am not as lucky as Mr John Zeratsky to have a life companion for the life resetting project. I started my ship life on my own. I wanted it, I went for it. Just like that. It wasn’t as big of a life resetting as Mr John Zeratsky’s. But I did want to stop living a life that I don’t belong and like he said, to see for myself — to see the world, to see how much I am able to do, to see what opportunities and possibilities are waiting for me.
Luckily I have a supportive family that understands what I want and had my back for the leap. They were worried, of course. I was too, and still am. They are in their late 50s. If I spend these years working abroad (I would love to make it a permanent job, but let’s focus on the near future here), we will probably not be able to go out for some active family activities like hiking or having a picnic when I come back. I will not be able to take care of them by their side if anything happens.
About starting my own family. If I spend my late 20s to early 30s abroad, I will very likely end up dating someone not from the same country and personally, from past experience, long distance relationships do not work out. Or I will end up, you know, being single at my mid to late 30s. I am not leading to the big marriage question here. I am just trying to weigh in all the factors for pursuing the life I want.
The Struggle
Money and family are the two main factors why I, or a majority of young people from a similar background, cannot hit the reset button at the mid 20s. Of course there are other factors in play, such as career plans, friends, the society telling you going for a non-traditional lifestyle is simply ‘wrong’ or ‘irresponsible’ etc. But we are not going to cover them in details here.
The struggle I am going through now is if I should postpone my real reset later. Spend a few years to save some money (as a buffer in case of financial emergencies), gain more work experience (to go for a job with higher salary later) and perhaps get a professional qualification (for personal development and better career prospect). Then go for another leap few years later. The cost will be, apparently, to continue living the life in an office because the hours are stable, money is stable, risk is minimized so my capacity of taking risks later can be maximized.
Alternatively, I can start making the change gradually. To go for jobs that I am interested in, though this path brings me a lower income then continuing the career path I am already on, I will be happier and the chance of finally living the life I want may happen sooner. The risk is bigger, however. And the bumps on this path may even set me back a few steps.
‘Great things are done by small things brought together’ — Vincent Van Gough
Every one wants a certain way of living and every one deserves living their dreams. But you have to fight really hard to get it. As Vincent Van Gough said, ‘great things are done by small things brought together’. When you are overwhelmed by the seemingly achievable future, remember to bring your eyes back to your feet — focus on where you are at, and think what small steps you can make to go just one step forward.
If you are thinking about resetting your life, in the process of it, or succeeded in doing so (I’m so happy for you!), I’d love to hear your thoughts/ experience!
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Barney's Paws 