I agree with your friends....life is short, enjoy. But, I imagine you are looking for some specifics...sooo here goes: If it were me I would formulate a plan for my return so I know I at least have a few key things in place when I come back. For example, make sure you have enough money put away to survive for a few months (at least) until you find work again, find a place to stay until you get your own place again (friends, family?), can you sub-let your apartment? And your job? Would they consider hiring you again on your return? If you are on good terms, it's not out of the realm of possibility.

What your feeling is totally normal. But, let it go or it will be difficult to enjoy your trip. And who knows what will transpire while your away? Who you will meet, what you will do that could forever change the course of your life in a good way. You may not want to come back? You may want a different life when you do? Point is, you may very well be a different person...just a differnet way to look at your adventure.

Have fun!! Truly, it's the opportunity of a life time.

Hey Troy, I'm also experiencing these emotions.

My plan is to sell my house so that I have money to travel with and some upon my return.

I find myself excited for the traveling, but having a hard time dealing with all the decisions and minutia that need to happen between now and October when I leave.

I am currently unemployed, so that part was decided for me, but the lack of future stability is for me, both frightening and exciting. Though the excitement definitely outweighs the fear!

Good luck to you! My intuition tells me that this is all part of the process.

Yma

i experienced anxiety attacks before i moved to thailand -- i'd never even traveled alone to somewhere new before, and i was giving up everything to go somewhere i'd never been, where i didn't speak the language, to work on a project for a friend who wouldn't be there for at least six months.

what i learned is that yes, that anxiety is part of the process of leaving behind who you think yourself to be, in order to go into the world freely. and i learned the exhilaration of purging myself of much of the stuff i'd collected over the years (only put about 10% into storage, and sold the rest), and of entering a world where i had no history or context and was just, well, the real me.

i was planning to return with a cash bonus from my job, but it was stolen (so much for expectations) so i came home and stayed with my daughter for a bit, then with my best friend, who helped me find some house-sitting gigs -- i quickly found a part-time gig that helped me afford a place that i found on craigslist -- there was a re-entry period of feeling totally poor that i could have done without... but what the hell, this is how life goes.

now that i've re-collected and re-nested, i still have the awareness of my attachment to material things as something that holds me back. though next time i travel for more than a month, i'm going to just sublet my place so i know that i can come back to what feels good to me.

but as far as the stress -- yes, making a major life change has anxiety and stress attached to it -- and then? the big adventure!!! it's all part of the process, so just keeping doing what you need to do, and go for it.

(and as a career coach focused on supporting people in creating the job and life of their dreams -- i strongly applaud your quitting your unrewarding corporate job to travel around the world. life is too short to wait to take on the adventures that call you!)

I think its normal. Though not always the case employers tend to look down on candidates who have the audacity to quit their jobs to raise children, travel, even go back to school sometimes. Not always the case, but I've seen it happen, and it happened to me. I agree with the others - if you can swing it, try to sublet your place, lock up any valuable items (paperwork, photos, anything precious to you) with a trusted friend, family or safe deposit box; so that you would have a place to come home to if that is your concern and not worry about your stuff.

I wish I knew a cheaper way out of the health insurance thing though (the main reason why I need to work full-time). I just had $1000 worth of dental work (my co-payment was $200) and more work to come, SOON. I'm not ready to give that (my jobs and insurance) up yet. I need so much work done mainly because I had to wait so long to seek dental care. So besides money, health would be my concern.

How long to you plan on being away?

Sounds pretty normal to me.

i'd just buy a _one-way_ ticket somewhere nice and warm and then figure out your life from there. That worked for me. You may just find someplace that you like and decide to stay.

I was a bum wandering the world for 4 years before I got a job offer that I just could not refuse.

www.geekeasy.com

I'm dealing with it, too, and my travelling is still months and months away. It's not the travel you're nervous about, or even what happens when you get back. You're about to completely change your life and your lifestyle. I imagine this will be a positive change, but it's still scary. Hang in there! Be safe and trust in the universe.