The CragBaby

I daily read economic and industry reports for my job and must admit it is a little worrisome to continually read about the suffering American economy due to the credit crunch, the current financial sector being comparable to the Great Depression, IndyMac having a run on the bank (never expected to see that in my lifetime), Freddie and Fannie having to be supported by government infused funds, etc. Seems like an interesting time for me to take 5 months off to travel, and I must admit I sometimes worry about the job market when I decide to return to a full time position.

The above aforementioned factors plus the continually rising price of gasoline and inflated price of consumer goods have obviously resulted in many Americans decreasing their annual travel. According to the KenRadio site I watch, “The average number of trips the typical American has taken in the past 12 months has fallen 7.3% to 5.1%.”

Source: KenRadio at www.kenradio.com

Yet…. I feel like the main question is, how often do I have the time and financial resources to take off 5 months to travel? And how often can I find a job I love that will allow me to work in a virtual environment, being flexible around my climbing schedule?

I figure the combinations of these variables is rare and so I should capitalize on this opportunity to travel. It is perhaps a little nerve racking to make a move at this time, but here is hoping for the best. I figure, if anything, hopefully the market will have started to trend back up by the time I return. =)