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Fitting back in to normal life HELP Fitting back in to normal life HELP
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



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  #1  
Old 6 Oct 2006
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Unhappy Fitting back in to normal life HELP
A week and a half back after a trip and I have had enough, what suggestions have you got to making the switch back easier? What do others do to lessen the impact? maybe I should buy a second bike to fill in the gap until the ship arrives back with mine.

Time for a Beer!
Glen
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  #2  
Old 6 Oct 2006
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You're in good company
Glen, mate, you're in the best company here.
Maybe you could gather a few HUBB members near you and benchmark your sanity over a few bevvies.

The trick when you are back is to spend more time with the people who know where you are coming from.
And start planning another trip

Those feelings won't go away, they will just become a little quieter while you take on your 'other personality'.
Aaarg, writing this is making ME feel GRRR!
Ha! the in-between times suck. there's no way around it. But it's the in-between times that make the amazing trip experiences possible.

Try to get involved in something that is important to you, something that keeps you motivated and keeps some of that adventurous spirit alive.
And keep in touch with all the mad people on here who will understand those struggles, and then promptly start telling you about the phenomenal trip that they are going on
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  #3  
Old 6 Oct 2006
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That's the bit I'm dreading, the 'getting back to normality' bit. For me the focus at the moment is on the going away part, not the coming back.

I finish up work two weeks today (actually finaly arranged my 'leaving do') and although my boss has kindly given me a more or less open-ended sabatical after me giving him very vauge timescales (anywhere from 6-8 months or not coming back at all), I'm still not sure what I want to do when I come home again, let alone fall back into the same old job.

I'll just see what avenues present themselves on the trip and if I do end up back in the same place again, well there's always another trip to plan...

Best of luck!
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  #4  
Old 6 Oct 2006
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The 'next trip' is always a good way of forgetting how boring 'ordinary' life is. Mine is years away yet so am filling the time constructively. Since getting back in June I have built a 6 thousand gallon pond in the garden and am 2/3rds the way through a canoe (not for use on the pond). Can we have a 'Canoe Tech' section Grant ?
If I get my hands on a girl she's gonna have a terrible time

Watch this space for 'Trans-Sahara-by-canoe.blogspot.com'

Matt
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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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  #5  
Old 6 Oct 2006
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Small trip
In between big trips I'd plan a small one, perhaps the 100th Isle of Man TT at the end of May might be a light at the end of the tunnel, it's cheap and friendly or hacking around Europe, even for a long weekend can be good fun and the bikers are friendly over there too.

Iain.
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  #6  
Old 6 Oct 2006
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Talking Fitting back into "normal life"
Hey Glen,

We know how you feel. It's just over 5 yeas since we finished our last RTW and only 11 months until our next one!! Come round for a and we'll get a few liked minded people together and talk about far off places and roads to be travelled.

Ken & Carol
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  #7  
Old 6 Oct 2006
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Take 2
Just saw where you're based, so the TT might be a bit of a trek!
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  #8  
Old 7 Oct 2006
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VBs all round
Yay for Ken and Carol!
Wish I was in Qld to join you... it's on my list!

Matt... I worry about you
(what you gonna put in the pond?? And what did you do with all the earth that came out of it? You could build a motoX track!) Hey, isn't there a guy whose going to canoe the amazon next year? Crazy lunatic! (love it!).

Glen, you'll be right. Get that note pad out and start doodling your next adventure, even if it is just a monthly tally of savings towards it.
(and, look on the bright side, you're in Australia FFS! Go surfing or something! While us sad bastards in the UK look out at the rain & put the heating on)

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  #9  
Old 16 Oct 2006
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Thumbs up Found the answer
Going new bike shopping seems to soak up thinking time. Now to ring Ken and organise that cold .

Glen
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  #10  
Old 18 Oct 2006
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Plan for 2008 OCR ... at least for OZies. Ask RTO.
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  #11  
Old 18 Oct 2006
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I'm with Matt, find yourself an interim project. Mine was building small boats - but it could be sewing quilts or brewing your own . Of course if you bought yourself a mig-welder you could start on that sidecar and trailer...
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  #12  
Old 18 Oct 2006
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Hi Matt

Looks like you had a good trip. I live and work in the UAE and have thought about ridding back to the UK at some stage. Would be very interested in any tips you might have of any hidden problems that you may have not covered on your web page.

Peter.
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  #13  
Old 18 Oct 2006
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Hi Peter,
Hard to know where to start really, I guess the main thing I learnt was to have plenty of money and not rush too much. Gotta love riding in the desert, warm and dry is where it's at!
Matt
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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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