A lot depends on what you do and where you live. After my first hike, I didn’t want to go back to work, not for a long time. The whole idea of working 9 to 5 for small reward just did not appeal, especially compared to the happiness and simplicity of trail life. I finally started working again in January, when my money ran out. My second hike, I was offered an old job back when I was still hiking. I knew I didnt’ want to remain at that job, but I was willing to go back for a short while, get things straightened out and train my replacement, again. That worked well for me. About six months later, I moved from California to Pennsylvania and was able to get a job within a month or so. Third time (fourth hike), I temped for a while, had a hard time convincing anyone to interview me (too many gaps in my resume.) So I went to an agency, explained in person why I hadn’t worked steadily, and was able to get a job within a week.
My husband had the opposite. After his first hike he had a really hard time getting a job, and then lost it within a year and had another full year before he was able to get another good job. But the time was well spent, and we have no regrets about what happened. Belts were tight, but we survived. And after his second and third hikes, he got a job within a month.
It is a risk to leave a steady job and start over. A few people on the trail are able to go back to old jobs, but most of us are ready for a different life when we go hiking, that’s one reason why we decide that NOW is the time to go. But we take a risk that we may have hard times for a while when we get back. But then, the hard times can come if you stay put too. In uncertain times, no one’s job is really secure. You don’t know what is around the corner. One prevention is to get skills that you know are likely to be in demand, before you are ready to go look for another job. I am a secretary who is good with the computer and has reasonably good people skills. I know people in construction who do a lot of hiking, because those jobs are easy to get, if you are good and have connections. Bartenders can usually get jobs. So can nurses and teachers. Other hiking friends are willing to do whatever it takes to save money for their next hike. You have to figure out what is important to you. There is no security, and doing a long hike can make your life seem more insecure because it brings about changes, both in you and in your circumstances. But if you are flexible, willing to learn, willing to relocate, willing to work hard, you will probably land on your feet and find your life better than it was before you left. It will almost certainly be different.
Ginny
