I did it when I was 26, with no responsibilities other than a mortgage which was paid off when I left.

I went all round the world for about 18 months and had a fantastic time.

I'm not sure I would have done the same thing if I had a wife & child with me though as I basically had nothing when I got back, except a shit load of diving gear & a suntan.

Has anyone ever just sold up and then gone off travelling for a bit? I don't mean long haul all the way round the world sort of thing, probably mainly Europe.

Me and the other half are seriously contemplating just selling up, buying a motorhome and spending a year or so travelling around. We both have jobs where we could potentially work remotely with the odd visit back to the UK if needed.

That all sounds great. I was with you all the way until I read..

The main thing that concerns me is that we have a 5yr old who would be starting his first year of school in September. I'm not averse to the prospect of home schooling as it can be spread out over the week rather than crammed into the time he would normally be at school.

In your circumstances, I wouldn't. While "home schooling" might cover the knowledge transfer part of education, there's a lot more in terms of social development that being stuck in a van with mum and dad will be a poor substitute for a classroom full of contemporaries for.

Did it when I was young and free, we hoping to leave the UK soon for a bit, but it's only a change of base / job / scenery.

@edlong Yep - that is the sticking point and one we have thought about quite a bit.

I reckon skipping the first year of primary school would be pretty harmless. Beyond that, catching up and fitting in could be problematic.

Last time I checked school was spread across the whole week as well...

Last time I checked school was spread across the whole week as well.

Only 5 days in your weeks?

Life is to short, If you want to travel, then travel. I am sure you will not regret it, your daughter will have a wealth of good memories!!

I did it when I was 26, with no responsibilities other than a mortgage which was paid off when I left.

Similar story here. Just with a lodger paying the mortgage.

I'd do it tomorrow again, if I didn't have a 4 year old starting school in Sept.

Do it.

The main thing that concerns me is that we have a [b]5yr old who would be starting his first year of school[/b] in September

I'd do it tomorrow again, [b]if I didn't have a 4 year old starting school[/b] in Sept.

Do it.

😕

Summer holidays an option? 6 weeks is plenty!

I have 4 & 6yr olds. The first yrs in school are so important for social skills.

2 years in the Caribbean. Ace.

The main thing that concerns me is that we have a 5yr old who would be starting his first year of school in September

I'd do it tomorrow again, if I didn't have a 4 year old starting school in Sept.
Do it.

The OP seems to be far more set-up to do it than I am. Given the choice I would, but I'm not the only person that has influence in the decision.

Mate did it pre kids. Sold flat, came back after two years and house prices pretty much doubled so was shafted when trying to buy house again.

With kids? Nah. Six hours a day schooling? Whilst 'travelling' and without any backup like grandparents etc. Home schooling is hard work, don't underestimate, especially if you think you're going to work as well.

I did it aged 30, well took 6 months off to go cycling. Had a mortgaged house which let easily, and 6 mths leave from work. No kids though, came back new job, new house. I d like to do it again.

It's lower risk if you can manage it by renting out your house. Never done it myself and wouldn't have had the coursge to sell everything for travel. Have done it for work twice but thats a different gig.

Read this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-32974131

Listen to this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05wykhs

AND:

Edlong: "will be a poor substitute for a classroom full of contemporaries"

Yeah! Right!

Tell that to my daughter who is sick of sitting next to "Ryan with ADHD" and "Chantelle who hits people."

just do it. School is overrated.

Life experience and playing all around the world is more important and will give your kid a real big advantage over all the other brainwashed automatons

https://lifeisgoodfollowus.com

Just do it! Imagine sailing from Denmark to turkey, and descending the Yukon and a whole lot of other stuff before you are even 7.

That's a real education!

Definitely go for it. Schooling on chronological ages is arbetry anyway. One of the main thing for kids of that age is reading, and the opportunity of explority learning. If you delve into the cultures, communities and environments of the countries you visit, it'll be one of the richest educational experiences possible, including the social element.

There will be so many great opportunities in the places you visit that missing out on a year of schooling won't be awful. Don't underestimate young uns ability to make friends anywhere- they're a lot less shy than us adults in that respect. Do lots of reading, phonics, writing etc- do you know anyone who is a primary school teacher- they will be able to give you an excellent idea of the skills your daughter will need to develop whilst you're away so she can re-integrate easily on return. Her future classmates will be jealous of her amazing stories and all the friends she made on the way. If in doubt read anything on experiential learning!

Just what realisticly are you going to be able to do with a 5 yr old in tow?

You can't just go up a mountain when you fancy it, jump in the sea, go out and have a drink.

Then as above, school for kid at that age is nothing to do with learning 2+2, but social interaction.

So you want to go and live in a metal box for a year, stop your kid from seeing other kids, and just look out of the window thinking that looks ace I'd like to do that (but I can't because I've got a 5 yr old with me)

So either 1 sell your child and go and do stuff that is possible without kids 2. Wait until your child is old enough to enjoy the activities, and enjoy them together 3. Take maybe 1 week per year less child and cram everything in to that 1 week per year.

Her future classmates will be jealous of her amazing stories and all the friends she made on the way.

Really at 5?? "Oh wow that playground in Chamonix is sooo much nicer than our local one dude "

IMO kids at 5 are not developed enough to think like that, and therefore it's not what they want or need.

A good summary from https://www.travelnation.co.uk/family-round-the-world-trip

Educational value – what better way for your kids to learn about other cultures, languages, wildlife and natural phenomena than by experiencing these for themselves? If your children are of school age, many schools are very understanding and can appreciate the educational benefits of experiencing new places and different ways of life

Timing - Travelling when kids are young is a unique opportunity to take some time out together before the pressures of exams and coursework become a reality. Not only will it will be an amazing experience for the kids but this kind of trip also adds another dimension to your experience; you’ll see some incredible sights through your child’s eyes

Cost - It’s actually cheaper to travel with kids when they’re young as you’ll get discounts on their travel. As a guide to round the world tickets, if your child is under two they’ll get up to a 90% discount on the adult price, although bear in mind that they won’t get a seat at that price. If they are aged 2-11 they’ll normally get a discount of around 25% on the adult fare.

Quality time and shared experiences – travelling can be an unbeatable way to bond as a family. It certainly won’t come without inevitable stress like airport delays, long car journeys and sibling squabbles; but there’s no better way to really get to know your family and see your kids develop and grow. Breaking away from the day to day routine of home life can help you relax and enjoy each other’s company, and you’ll share some experiences you’ll happily reminisce about for the rest of your lives

Time to take stock – especially at a time when the economic situation can seem bleak, taking time out to reflect on your career and your lifestyle away from home can in itself be invaluable.

Develop resilience, empathy, open-mindedness but most importantly have time, step off the treadmill, reflect, enjoy, experience.

what is education really?
What we've come to understand as education is entirely arbitrary, and arguably designed around the needs of feeding a capitalist society that needs compliant educated conformists to fill offices where your time is exchanged for tokens with which you can buy shiny things, intoxicate yourself, or buy a little bit of life back.

It teaches nothing about the true value of living on this amazing planet, sharing experiences with others, about good virtues like resilience, humility, a sense of adventure, critical thinking, leadership, making the absolute most of every day and being the best you can be.

What you'll all gain by doing this cannot be measured, and you can sit an exam for it 😆
But you'll have memories, shared experiences, you'll grow as individuals, your minds will open and appreciate that there is more to life.

my brother and his OH have done it (minus child). Nearly two years in. They have cycled across Asia, Australia and are now in NZ.

He did not sell up though, they saved for a while, then rented out the house. His OH works remotely editing journals.

http://wanderingventures.com

this is their travel blog. I know they only do it when house sitting and have access to wifi.

Please contact him and ask him how they did it all, he will be really happy to chat to you about it. They only thing they have not got though is a 5 year old!

Thanks for the helpful advice guys.

FunkyDunc - I can see where you are coming from but this isn't about what me and the missus want to do but rather what we want to do as a family.

Lapierrelady - good advice thanks. Luckily Mrs Matt's mum is a retired primary school teacher so we can always pick her brain for good advice. Most of what you mention are the exact reasons for thinking of doing something like this.

barkm - exactly that. I don't want to get to the stage where in 13 years the boy is 18 and leaves home and then we think "what if...?". I'd rather create some awesome memories than spend the next 13 years working and just looking forward to the one or two holidays a year that we currently do now. I am big fan of the phrase 'you work to live, you don't live to work'

a girl at my work was taken out of school for four years. She was 8 and her siblings were younger. They sailed from France, all across Europe, then the Carribean, Central and South America, Polynesia and then finishing in New Zealand. I grew up on an estate near Hull. I am very jealous of her!

Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. Go for it OP

A friend of mine did that in Oz and home schooled the kids (4 of them).

I thought they were barking mad, but the proof of the pudding is in the result, and those were good. One daughter owns an IT company and has had several international awards and done a few TED talks, another is busy producing kids like rabbits and replicating the travels, and both the sons have done well.

All the kids seemed very mature when young and had no trouble dealing with adults. The parents did take them to children's activities whenever they stopped anywhere, and maybe their membership of an enthusiastic church also helped with local contacts.

I couldn't have done it, but really it all depends on you and your kid on how well it turns out.

There's plenty of resources for home schooling. Many of them are from religious groups who do it to keep their kids away from the evil influences of we ordinary people, but arithmetic is arithmetic (unless you're dividing loaves and fishes... 🙂 ).

This is one of my mates and his family..

http://noplanwithavan.tumblr.com/

If I could afford to do it I'd be packing the van tomorrow and heading for the Alps

Yep done it lots of times. Last trip was 7 months. Rent your house out do not sell it as you will need somewhere to live if you come back.
I have no kids but plenty of friends who've done it with the srogs.

I am big fan of the phrase 'you work to live, you don't live to work'

Me too, but I think what you are considering doing to be totally selfish and utterly ridiculous! If things aren't going that well financially, they will be a lot tougher when you return in a year and have to start again with no house and young children.

To work to live, you have to put the time/effort in to give yourself a base to live that way. Nothing comes easy.

Me and the girlfriend did it 6/7 years ago... No mortgage as such but sold cars and other bits and pieces. Travelled Australia for 12 months and then did Thailand for 1 month on the way home. It was a great feeling waking up in a morning knowing you could pretty much do what you want. Had pretty much nothing when we returned but my only regret was not travelling more. Managing 12 days this summer island hopping around Croatia, that's as good as it gets now!

Well you're a ray of sunshine aren't you Rockape.

Not sure where you're getting selfish from either. It's not about doing what I want to do but what we want to do as a family.

As for the finances, that is where it starts or ends. If we can't make it work then we don't do it, simple.

@cloudnine - just spent the best part of an hour browsing their tumblr, looks awesome.

Not sure where you're getting selfish from either. It's not about doing what I want to do but what we want to do as a family.

Hmmm...fine, its your life, but personally (call me old fashioned) I believe the security of your 5 year old is more important than upping sticks and galivanting around the world, with no home to come back to.

Sorting out the "social aspects" for the kids is probably the hardest part and the one I'd think most about.

On one side you can home school but if you keep moving it might be hard for the kids to find friends.

I know lots and lot of people who have worked abroad with kids and the schools are often the easiest place they meet other kids and parents whereas parents home schooling here tend to meet up with others doing the same and also go to events where their kids will regularly meet other kids.

My friends and their two young daughters have been living on a boat for a few years, they made a five year plan, worked themselves to near death achieving it, sold their house and are now living the dream, sailing around the Caribbean, homeschooling the girls and freediving with sharks. I have nothing but respect for them, and quite a lot of envy.

We did it a few years back. Sold the house, bought a camper and drove round Europe for 6 months with a 2 year old and a 5 year old.

Do it. We had a great time.

Yes do it, at least two friends have done it with family to no ill effect - unless loving that your kitchen is exactly where you left it now that you live in a house after residing on a boat for 5yrs, a bad thing