This is indeed a very interesting thread - and I would like to add my humble opinion...

After having done my Africa-trip, returning to Europe, I also felt something missing... so I took the chance and searched my luck in Africa - which was nice for a while but then didn't turn well in the end - so after having spent most of my money on the trip (and other stuff) I was again without money - apart from what I had from selling my house, but not really wanting to touch that...

So I decided to go work in the NGO-sector in Africa, which is actually a great way of saving money for a next trip! Although I earn quite less than what I did before, the thing is that I hardly spend anything - the two major costs i.e. housing and transport are being taken care of, and apart from that there isn't a great deal of gadgets or whatever on which you can spend your money here.

Other added advantage is that they usually work with fixed-duration contracts, so no dilemma about quitting job or anything - you just finish your contract, you do whatever you wanna do with the money you saved, and when the money is finished you just look for another contract.

Although it's not always easy to get an entry in the NGO-world, they are always looking for people open to and experience with other cultures and willing to live and work in not always easy conditions - which I think fits 90% of the travellers here...

I guess in the end it's all a matter of being prepared to take some risks, and making the balance of what's important in your life - there will always be 37 reasons not to do it, and it's never a good time to do it (family, career, house, ...) - but then, if you make the choice, you'll notice if your one reason to go is strong enough, not one single reason can or will stop you...

Amen.

Jef