File :-(, x, )
Becoming a Perpetual Traveler Anonymous
Greetings /trv/

If you have never heard of "perpetual traveler" or "permanent tourist" (or any of the other PT acronyms), here's a brief overview of the idea:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_traveler
http://thepermanenttourist.com/about_the_author.html

The focus of the wiki article is tax-avoidance, but I am too young to worry about hoarding my monies, but I have a genuine wanderlust and would like to travel around while still not tied down by obligations.

I will of course work wherever it is fitting. I feel that all I require is a laptop and internet connection, and unlike the author of the second linked page, have experience working in IT/software.

Have you or anyone you've met led this lifestyle? It seems to me that work would be difficult to find, whether looking online or in person, especially if language was a barrier.
>> Anonymous
Bump because I have the same interest as OP.
>> Anonymous
Don't have the means and too uncomfortable
>> Anonymous
You should look into 'woofing', working on organic farms. Its a good way to travel around the world slowly without any money to your name.
>> Anonymous
I want to do this too.

Just wander around the world. I wish I had enough money
>> Anonymous
If only I win the lottery...
>> Anonymous
It's easier in Europe if you come from an EU country, otherwise visas will fuck you up (unless you like living a bit dangerously).
>> Anonymous
This might be a good thing to do once I retire. Not going to happen any time soon unless I miraculously inherit a large sum of money.
>> Anonymous
>>1236
You're supposed to do that if you already have an independent, steady source of money.

If you don't, it's going to fail spectacularly. I'd do it in a heartbeat if I knew I could sustain myself somehow, but I can't even do that in this shitty place where I live so yeah.
>> Anonymous
I'd like to just walk across america for a year. Walk something like 30-40 miles a day and make it the west coast which I've never been to.
>> Anonymous
Sup /trv/

I've met in a hostel in Edimburg a couple of young travelers who could fit in the definition of "perpetual travelers".
They were australian and they started roaming in europe three years ago.They work in shitty offices like call centre or rank and file jobs.When they have enough money they visit the country and they move along.
They usually stay in Hostels.
For a frenchfag like me,english is not a problem but a native english speaker can find a job quickly in northern europe.It's a whole different story in southern europe.

So if you want to know more about young permanent travelers, you should visit your local hostels more often!
>> Anonymous
>>1361
>They work in shitty offices like call centre or rank and file jobs.When they have enough money they visit the country and they move along.

Do they do it legally or under the table? Legally it would be nigh impossible in most countries in Europe.
>> Anonymous
>>1367
I think you can get an EU wide work visa for a set period of time. The rules seem to change daily.
>> Anonymous
>>1381
AFAIK this only works without hassle for EU citizens, I'm not sure about the rest of the world.
>> Anonymous
>>1367
Odds are they have both Australian and UK passports (again, EU passports makes everything simple in Europe).
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>1236
I've been having this kind of dream also for a while now, but I don't think you realize how hard it is to constantly travel for the rest of your life.
When my family and myself went to Iceland we met a doctor who had been traveling for the past 2 years. He said he had planned to travel for 5 years but both his money and health was low.
I told him about my dream to go to college, get a good job, take a year off and travel the world.
He told me to forget about college and just go because things don't always go according to plan.
>> Anonymous
>>1392
>I don't think you realize how hard it is to constantly travel for the rest of your life.
I see no problems except for budgeting issues. An infinite supply of money would fix absolutely every issue I can think of, including health care and any personal life issues.
>> Anonymous
>>1407
So basically, a billionaire could do it.
>> Anonymous
>>1428

Not really. There are plenty of jobs that don't require a fixed residence. When I was little, my father was a freelance writer; as such, we spent most of my childhood wandering around. He'd fed-ex his articles to whatever magazines requested it, and that was that. 'course, it resulted in a weird education, and although I managed to get into a good college, I'm sure as hell not used to being around all these people and in a fixed location. Hence why I'm on here.
>> Anonymous
I think it's obviously doable if you know people in the country you're going to bum around in. There are plenty of Bohemians still mucking about in Europe.
>> Anonymous
>>1407
Infinite isn't necessary, just a steady supply. Working the same job as a "telecommuter" would be ideal - something like programmer, journalist, etc. I doubt if many solid employers are that flexible, however.

If there was a good selection of open jobs, one could still manage a steady income I imagine. Living on the cheap wouldn't be so bad, especially if you are in a place where the exchange rate benefits you (eg. getting paid in Euros and spending Bahts in Thailand). You could live out of a resort hotel instead of a hostel if that were the case.

That said, I've never done it, so it's all in theory. Hopefully someone with practical experience can enlighten us..
>> Anonymous
Im planning to live around Europe for 3-4 months in the summer after i finish my job. Just spending a few weeks in different country's in the sun. Should be good even though im on my own, nothing but a backpack of clothes and my laptop since i may have to do some work as i go. If your an EU citizen you can perpetually travel around the EU so i haven't had to look into it, but i know some people do 'border runs' to renew their visa's in some country's.
>> Anonymous
>>1444
>Infinite isn't necessary, just a steady supply.
True, it just needs to be something that won't dry up the next month, which is extremely rare with any kind of freelance jobs if you're not chasing down contacts all the time.

>Working the same job as a "telecommuter" would be ideal - something like programmer, journalist, etc. I doubt if many solid employers are that flexible, however.
This, but>>1336here, and as I've said I can't even find something like that to do in my permanent place of residence, if I could everything else would be easy. It's all the same to me if I'm sending an article in from a cybercafe in Rome or my mom's basement.
>> Anonymous
Interesting concept, I remember hearing about this somewhere, but could never find the articles.

My only hang up with doing this the whole steady income thing - if you can find a job thats flexible enough to pay you while on the go, then you're free. Typically though, most jobs need you to be tied to a particular location.

For anons that want to do this, find an international buisness (retail seems to be your best bet, shitty job though), and you can spend half a year in one place, and then transfer out of the country to another. I did that when I worked for Abercrombie and Fitch, I transfered to their new London store, lived there for a while, then when I got tired of it, transfered back here to California. Easy shit.

Or that whole freelance writing thing is good too - any good sources to get started in this direction?
>> Anonymous
>>1473
>Or that whole freelance writing thing is good too - any good sources to get started in this direction?
Not really unless you know people. If you don't, trying to break in anywhere will just be a dead-end thing where they use you for a while and then you either get tired of it or they say byebye.
>> Anonymous
Americans have no where to travel to, good luck backpacking around Europe and relying on the kindness of strangers. They'll sooner lynch you.

Being Australian every door is open for you, every visa everything. It's fantastic. See the world: be Australian.
>> Anonymous
>>1439

The story of a man.
>> Anonymous
I studied abroad in Japan and a few friends of mine as myself got jobs in bars or cafes. Although we had Japanese ability some of our coworkers didn't (obviously these were foreigner-centric places). You'll probably need to be attractive or show some charisma to get such a job, though. The most important aspect is the jobs are short term and paper under the table.

In a country like Japan with tons of English teachers it's hard to find a job teaching English short/term under the table unless you put fliers out by yourself which probably won't lead to a steady stream of income like working a bar. Not sure how well this would work in other countries...
>> Anonymous
>>1482
Being from any commonwealth nation is a huge advantage. Then again Australians are particularly awesome.

OP: Do what my mate did, work a shitty job for a few years and save up almost every penny, live with your parents and eat rice. Then take seasonal and odd jobs around richer nations and help build it up, spend off seasons in underdeveloped nations, make sure you always have a job when you can in richer nations since they will eat into your nest egg a lot. You may not be able to travel forever and may fail the first time you try this, but your learn how to make money and survive from other travelers.
>> Anonymous
>>1500
>spend off seasons in underdeveloped nations
Only works if you're not originally from one. ;_;
>> Anonymous
>>1439
This appears to match up with what you mentioned.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Culture_Kids#Characteristics

In addition to PT, another term often used to refer to people with this lifestyle is "expatriate" or "expat" for short. This guy sounds like he's doing well:
http://dailyprosper.com/category/expatperpetual-traveler/

One obvious option that hasn't been mentioned yet is starting one's own business. It has probably been ignored because it sounds like a lot of work, but a company can be you behind a name. It seems to be standard for most of the success stories I've found so far online.
>> ManTis !!JFyHgFiY3uY
I traveled around the europe, staying in one place just long enough to raise cash for visiting some places and move along, like>>1361mentioned.

I worked as cleaner, on building sites, as a computer repairman, leaflet guy, bartender, waiter, and in tons of other jobs. Sometimes I didn't knew how I will survive to the end of the month, but I somehow always managed to do so.

I really liked this lifestyle, but eventually I got a well paying job (games programmer), and now move only once a year or so. I want to buy a yacht and open my own company, so I can take this lifestyle to totally new level. Costs aren't that much higher than when living in normal house, and possibility to move your whole freakin house whenever you feel like it is perfect for people like me.

I suggest you look into that, OP.
>> Anonymous
>>1299
yeah i like this idea, thinking about doing it next year. although it's not perpetual because you will need money to move from place to place. but it looks like a good way to spend time in a country and be a different kind of tourist.
>> Anonymous
I know that some people travel around America hitching rides on freight trains, that is something I would like to do.
>> 100 Ways To Disappear And Live Free Anonymous
http://www.textfiles.com/survival/livefree.txt
100 Ways To Disappear And Live Free

Revised 1985
Typed by Struct Def
>> Anonymous
>>1656
this reads a bit like a guide for soemone who's on the run from the feds
>> Anonymous
A part of me personally just wants to spend the rest of my life walking the earth. I don't know what really attracts me more, the landscapes and climates or the people, but I have always wanted to know more and more about the world around me. It helps to be able to speak more than just English, but I would love to learn more. Traveling in general is something I love to do. I unfortunately, have other pressing issues that keep me planted where I am with traveling still being a vacation thing, however, if things were to change and I was no longer bound by those things that keep me here, I would totally just leave.
>> GOOBERJOOVIES !h1I8KzYeUU
This seems to be increasingly harder to do in an age of information, technology, and human expansion. I've always wanted to wander through the American heartland with nothing to my name but a guitar and money I earned from my last odd job. Maybe just to experience this for a year would drive a lot of things into perspective. In all, I view it as a life-altering experience, but only for the daring.
>> Anonymous
>>1667
Who the fuck else do you hide from? Homicidal Easter bunnies?
>> Anonymous
>>1656
>>1667

I just skimmed this shit, too. A lot of tinfoil. Being invisible from the government is much different from being a perpetual traveler. You need to work WITH the system in order to pull it off.

So far the main theme of the thread seems to be "travel requires money, which requires a job or large savings, and it's hard to find job online or in other countries you aren't resident in." Nobody's doubting that travel isn't a problem, just making a living while doing so.
>> Anonymous
>>1492
Sounds interesting. How easy is it for an American to get a job bartending etc in various European countries?
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
The Pokemon world would be ideal for that.
>> Anonymous
>>1698
>So far the main theme of the thread seems to be "travel requires money, which requires a job or large savings, and it's hard to find job online or in other countries you aren't resident in." Nobody's doubting that travel isn't a problem, just making a living while doing so.
That's only if you're a basement dwelling neckbeard who's never had a real job and doesn't have any friends in this country or other ones. Like me.

>>1712
Legally or illegally?
>> Anonymous
>>1715
i lold, considering when i saw this thread that's the FIRST THING i thought of.
>> Anonymous
I think it's hard but it doesn't seem impossible.

I've always wanted to do this, though. In a few years, I will be fucking gone.
>> Anonymous
>>1903
In a few years, you'll find a job or whatever it takes for you to reasonably fit in with your local culture and you'll grow out of it.
>> Anonymous
>>1940

I get what you mean, but that statement would only work if there were actually jobs in my locality.
>> ManTis !!JFyHgFiY3uY
>>1940
I don't know. I used to work for couple years BEFORE going on europe-wide living trip. One day I just couldn't put up with the shit any more, realised that my childhood dreams are dissappearing faster than snowball in hell, and decided to take all the cash I had and buy one way ticket to a place 2000km from home, with enough cash to live for a month.

I'm really happy that I did so, some of my best experiences in life happened after that choice.
>> Anonymous
Here is something very important you MUST do if you are serious about this. GO TO COLLEGE. Seriously if you don't have a degree you won't be getting very many jobs, it is much much more helpful to have ANY degree before getting a job (even if it's a shitty job) in a foreign country. Another thing, save your money like crazy. I would put away at least 10,000 into some sort of account that gains interest and NOT SPEND IT. The idea is that after you are done traveling (whenever that may be, years and years) you will most likely have almost no money. Gather up money beforehand for the trip too. I would say 20,000 overall is a good amount to have saved. 10,000 in an account, gaining interest (learn stocks!) to rely on when you are done traveling and a 10,000 nest egg for travel expenses. 20,000 sounds like a lot but it's not if you get a real job in your country of residence, live with your parents or whatever spend nothing and have a college degree. You are going to have invest a year or two working in order to get the money but think of how great traveling will be after that.
>> ManTis !!JFyHgFiY3uY
>>2008
I dissagree. I mean, it depends on the way you want to travel, but if you want to earn JUST to travel, you will be picking up oddjobs, and you won't have enough time to work with a normal company (not to mention that they won't be happy about the perspective of losing you within half a year or so, and won't hire you because of that). You don't need a masters degree for being a bartender. You need to be people's person and understand the language. That's about it.

I think that we're talking about 'perpetual traveler', not a guy who goes for couple months' long vacations.
>> Anonymous
>>2008
I concur with this wholeheartedly. I don't have a degree and it's too late for me to get one now and that's a really shitty place to be in.
>> Anonymous
>>2008
>Gather up money beforehand for the trip too. I would say 20,000 overall is a good amount to have saved. 10,000 in an account, gaining interest (learn stocks!) to rely on when you are done traveling and a 10,000 nest egg for travel expenses.
I doubt a lot of people who can do that have these kinds of escapistic fantasies.
>> ManTis !!JFyHgFiY3uY
>>2008
Oh yeah, my whole funds for the trip was ticket to the new place and 500 euro.
>> Anonymous
OH FUCK, I LOVE KINO
>> Anonymous
Wherever you are, new obligations will form, and old ones may chase you. Financial, legal, social and more. Before you even plan on traveling like this, you should be able to cope with obligations. It's a crucial part of growing up.
>> Anonymous
If you're going to do it the best way to do so would probably be in retirement, when your funds are all saved up, if you want to do it with the hard work, Like Anon and a friend did around the west coast (Straight from OR to Alabama for a visit, then back) I'd say do it like a slave or Commie, offer work on farms in the countryside, in exchange for food for there, and for on the road. Working for food is much more appealing than money, so we kept that to a minimal unless we wanted to smoke up(Which we did about 5 times) We ran out of food twice, Gas once(I had to push the Harley, While he pushed a light fucking Ninja) weed 3 times, tobacco about 10 times.

Money is for gas and personal vices
>> Anonymous
Anyone have experience with border-hopping to renew tourist visas? I have the mobile income and I want to live in Europe but I can't get a permanent visa there, and I'm not sure if they'll complain about me hanging out there all the time. How long do you need to spend out of a country before coming back in to keep them from being suspicious?
>> Anonymous
Perpetual Traveler? Back in my day we called them fucking pikeys.
>> Anonymous
>>2368

Follow the fence until it ends I've heard there's a knee deep spot where you can basically make a break for it and get into mexico, or go on a journey looking for the tunnel that everyone keeps hearing about. But if you're talking Canada, I wouldn't know.

Being a Traveling Anon is not easy or fun, especially if you don't have enough money to last you the entire trip, we had actually lost weight and become a significantly muscular(Other than our Fapping hands) after working for our food, we were used to sitting on our asses and having it given to us. I'd make sure you had the endurance to live it out, because alot of kids who do this end up heading back toward home after falling asleep and awakening dirty as hell after sleeping under the stars.

And yes, the Beat-down in easy rider can happen if you're not careful. (Be it a rapist, Killer, or someone you'd somehow wronged)
>> Anonymous
>>2283
Waiting for retirement is just an excuse that middle aged white people use to fend off mid-life crises.
>>2008
Stocks = gambling
>> TheAsian !jzXeMdnnPA
I have a question for anyone with job experiences and moving from place to place. What are my possibilities travelling from country to country with degrees in skilled trades? Am I better off being a Street-performing busker or work at a bar?
>> anonymous of athens !SysNpnp3nU
>>2442
>Waiting for retirement is just an excuse that middle aged white people use to fend off mid-life crises.

Right... and what do niggers do apart from smoke crack all day?
>> Anonymous
>>2466
White men are self-loathing turds who are afraid of everything. You hate black people because they supposedly aren't productive enough in society. So you faggots should love the Jews right? No, you insecure pussies hate them too because they fucking beat you at your own shit. Same with Asians, you hate them because they’re too smart. You never hear Asians whining like goddamn white retards about blacks getting affirmative action. Mexicans want to come here to WORK. No, no, we can’t have more productive members of society, they’ll steal your shitty job at McDonald’s or what the fuck ever. Must suck to be a white guy. Your dicks are smaller than blacks, you’re dumber than Asians and jews, and Mexicans are harder workers. Fuck, even white women are slowly but surely becoming more educated and successful than you faggots. Enjoy reveling in your past achievements. Soon white guys will have nothing to do, while blacks fuck their women, Jews, Asians and women run everything, and Mexicans do all the shit jobs. Oppression can only hide your inadequacies for so long.
>> TheAsian !jzXeMdnnPA
     File :-(, x)
>>2477

Oh gawdy.
>> Anonymous
>>2477
Can of worms opened.

/trv/ in the new /n/.
>> anonymous of athens !SysNpnp3nU
>>2477

delicious copypasta.

Regardless, Two words: Bell Curve.
>> Anonymous
>>2487
Asian guy here.

Hasn't that stuff already been disproved ages ago?
>> Anonymous
Teach English (assuming you're a native speaker).

It hasn't been mentioned enough here. All you need is a cert like CELTA or TOEFL, and to pick the right countries.

If you're not european, skip europe. It's not very nice anyway; I can't think of any reason to go there if you don't live there.

The best places are South America and Asia, and maybe Africa if you're adventerous. It is easy to get English teaching jobs in these places, especially SA.

I am in Brazil now and you don't even need a cert to get a job here, just be able to speak natively.

It's good money and you can do it on a short term basis (often 4 or 6 month classes, sometimes less), plus it opens you up for independent work (ie tutor).
>> TheAsian !M/DZyxQ3w2
>>2548

Really? What qualifications do I need to earn a TOEFL? How did you do it?
>> Anonymous
>>2477

copypasta diatribe is copypasta.
>> Anonymous
would being in the navy make me a PT? if so, i dont mind one fucking bit
>> Anonymous
>>2558

no it would just make you a tool.
>> Anonymous
>>2560

its only to just get out in the world, once i got the cash to do this, the world is mine XD
>> Anonymous
>>2568

go to college and learn a marketable skill.

the only thing you'll achieve with the military is wasting a few years of your life for nothing in return. It's a terrible fucking investment.
>> Anonymous
>>2553

The only qualification you need is $1,000 to $2,000 US dollars for the class and a couple months to do the studying...maybe a high school diploma too.
>> TheAsian !M/DZyxQ3w2
>>2577
>>2602

Thanks guys. Would a skilled-trade be a marketable tool?
>> Anonymous
>>2615

depends.

If it's all the same to you, I would recomend computer programming or anything math related.

I would also recomend getting at least a master's in history of poly sci, that way you can join the foreign service and travel around the world for free on the government's dime.
>> Anonymous
>>2615
What country are you from?
>> Anonymous
>>2615

In pretty much all countries the government and the employers favor employing citizens rather than foreigners. The exception is when the foreigner has a skill to offer that the native citizen can not offer.

This is why teaching english (if you are a native speaker) is good: because no one other than an American, Englishman, Australian and a couple others can do it. If you get a cert in this, do the in-class ones; shit over the internet is bad because it doesn't have teaching practice in it.

Some high level computer skills (practical stuff like networking and sysadmin) are rare and in-demand too, in less developed countries (ie anything outside of US, Europe and some of Asia).
>> TheAsian !M/DZyxQ3w2
>>2620

Sounds like alot of hard work to become a public servant.

>>2621
I am currently in Toronto, Canada.
>> TheAsian !M/DZyxQ3w2
>>2632

Sounds good to me. I guess I will working hard to earn a CERNT diploma and some computer-related skills. I must ask, how many countries have you been to teach english and what are your experiences?
>> Anonymous
I talked to a PhD physicist, and while he was tied to a university, he basically said that he gets to go wherever he wants in the world, more or less free, to go do research. Same thing with other research scientists and mathematicians. They do a SHITLOAD of conferences. It's not the freedom we envision, no, but it's a possible alternative.

And speaking of which, what about translation work? You definitely don't need to be in a fixed spot to do translation. The only problem is that you have to show your worth at being a translator, and it's hard to do freelance work. It'd be cool to do translation work relating to technical science/math documents, as I imagine that's a niche that's not so easy to fill.
>> Anonymous
>>2646

Check out www.eslcafe.com and www.tefldaddy.com

I've only ever taught in Brazil, but the people at these sites are always willing to talk about experiences in their own countries.
>> Anonymous
>It'd be cool to do translation work relating to technical science/math documents, as I imagine that's a niche that's not so easy to fill.

The only problem is that you need a high level of fluency in the language you are translating to. I know a girl that worked for microsoft translating technical manuals into portuguese from english, but she is brazilian.

Unless you grow up speaking a language you probably don't have the understanding of it to translate into that language. And where would you find a tech manual that needs to be translated into English? Nowhere except Japan because the next largest producer of technology is the US - english manuals.
>> Anonymous
>>2680
As far as translating goes, I was thinknig more along the lines of things like translating services for journal articles--like taking Pereleman's proof of the Poincare Conjecture and translating it into English or something. Someone, somewhere's gotta do it, right?
>> Anonymous
In June, me and a friend are becoming somewhat perpetual travelers.

We don't really have a destination or time frame, but we do plan to eventually settle down somewhere.

We will not have steady income. I'm saving up enough money as I can while fixing up my car and waiting for my license (21, just never bothered getting it before)

We'll live mostly out of the car, though squatting is acceptable. making enough money to eat, or if not, dumpstering is how we'll eat.
Same with fuel.
Hygiene will come from campus showers likely.

You definitely don't need steady income to do this, you just have to be resourceful.
>> Anonymous
>>2680
Indeed, translation is another one of those flexible, work-from-anywhere jobs that would work. From what I've heard, you have to keep your eyes open for opportunities, but it's not as easy as knowing a little of both languages - there are often phrases or concepts that are difficult to map from one language to the other. It requires some research.

That said, I'm happy that I've got a degree, computer skills and fluent English. The world should be my oyster, amirite?
>> Anonymous
>>2722
Where are you planning on paying taxes?
>> Anonymous
>>2733
Which taxes would those be?
>> Anonymous
My god /trl/, this is the most heart-warming discussion I have ever read. I hate to say it but will anyone help me archive this thread? I know its only been a few days but this is may be one of those serious discussions /trl/ will never have once more newfags flood in. Everyone here has a dream of traveling from place to place, why don't we make guideline that will help future anons to achieve their goals? Cmon guys, we all have a little rambunctious traveler who wants an adventure inside us.
>> Anonymous
>>2741
Here's a short guide:

1) Get a shitload of money.
2) Do whatever you want wherever you want.
>> Anonymous
>>2746

Or you know, Just 2 is fine too.
>> TheAsian
>>2746

Nice guide. But it won't be enough to convince anonymous to even travel let alone go outside.
>> Anonymous
>>2747
It would be if we lived in some kind of an hippie utopia I guess?
>> Anonymous
>>2741
i don't think this board is popular enough to get filled with newfags.
>> Anonymous
>>2815

no, just people who haven't seen the outside of their basement for the last four years pretending to know what is going on in their city, let alone the world.