tetractys wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 6:51 pm
JoeRetire wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 4:14 pm
tetractys wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 9:34 amI scraped everything together, moved out a few days before going, and spent the rest in Egypt. Went to see the temples, pyramids and tombs along the Nile. Experiencing all that extraordinary architecture made thousands of years ago by people just like us really gave me a sense of deep belonging.
I would never advise people to make themselves penniless and homeless just to get a short "sense of deep belonging", but I'm glad it worked out for you.
I would replace “short” with life changing or lasting. Senses can grow and flower. Life’s a doorway.
Clearly, you recovered in a satisfactory manner from that expenditure, which is awesome.
I would say you're getting push back from multiple posters based on the way you presented that experience because it seems to suggest it is prudent to do it this way. Of course, some of the most significant historic events trace back to decisions that should not really be viewed as prudent from an individual risk standpoint, including the Amundsen and Scott expeditions.
I would wager that the majority of people who make themselves penniless and homeless for the sake of a non-essential experience end up deeply regretting it.
My own take on this dichotomy is to be careful to make decisions in full knowledge of what the risks are. No one is ever going to convince me that Scott did not deeply regret his South Pole expedition in the final days, but I also am pretty certain he had a good understanding that there was a significant risk he could die an agonizing death when he committed to it, so I have no desire to scoff at him for the decision that actually did lead to an agonizing death.
Just for clarity, I'm not bringing up Scott's expedition to dissuade the OP. I just like to use this example of a grave risk since it's south pole related. There is, of course, still non-trivial risk in trekking to the south pole, even from only 80 miles away, but it's significantly reduced compared to 1912 by the availability of portable radios, mechanized transportation, and over a century's worth of infrastructure development in the antarctic regions since then. I also see very little financial risk from the OP's position. Nonetheless, the OP needs to be fully aware of the risks, and some of the statements he made earlier in the thread suggest to me he is.
cchrissyy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 11:14 pm
@amlucky13
but anyway, my caution it most likely rooted in details of my own job and family history and not the OP's.
To be fair, I'm pretty sure my own details are closer to yours than CincyGuy's. From my position, the question is academic, since I don't expect to ever afford a trip like this. It's just that the math keeps telling me CincyGuy has more saved up today than I anticipate accumulating over the next 20 years, and he seems able and intent on continuing to save more.