Advice required on career break

[PaulB]

Now then you lot. There's normally an abundance of information from the peeps on here so please let me ask the collected wisdom of this esteemed forum a question: Have I overlooked anything regarding my planned career break?

I've been planning it for a couple of years and originally intended to do it this time last year but financial stuff put that on hold. Basically, I want the entire summer off work. I have written my letter of resignation and am sending it to be received by this Friday as my four-week notice period means I will be off the shackle by May 1st. I have plans to finish the Munros and to MTB the Santiago Compostella. Financially, we are alright. Mortgage-free, a reasonable amount of savings, no car loans and a partner in a secure managerial position who gives me her full backing. But I've never done it before. I want to do it now before arthritis or some other condition renders me too wrecked to get it done. Basically, I don't want to wait until I'm too old so having planned and saved up for it, I want to do it now.

Has anyone else ever made the big leap? How did it work? Do I need to inform anyone else besides the company? I'm thinking of the tax office, the DHSS, someone like that?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I can't comment, but good luck!!

 

[MarkF]

I don't know how old you are Paul but I did the deed over a decade ago and I've just gone 50, no great calamity has struck me down in the intervening decade. Like you, I was lucky and had a supportive partner, we downsized what we could (with 3 kids to finance) and have been immeasurably happier (though poorer) ever since. I was "ok" but definitely far, far from secure cash wise. My dad was ill, he died cash rich and with 3 pensions but from Alzheimers.....................

I'm doing Bilboa to Malage in June, I could be sensible and be working 9 to 5 I suppose, it's all a trade off, time/money/health, you make the choice not others, but "I wish I hadn't worked do much" will not be on my gravestone if my health fails, lifes for living, go for it!

I informed the tax office and that was it.

 

[Crackle]

The tax office will write to you anyway, if you suddenly disappear off their radar.

Oh, and you might want to write to the dept. for state pensions to find out about paying your contribution, otherwise they'll see it as a gap.

 

[Red Light]

I've done it twice with plans for a couple of years off and lasted about six months each time before I got bored with a continuous holiday and went and found myself something to do again.

My recommendations are:

1. Be careful you don't destroy your hobbies. I've seen it happen many times. Many things we love are special because we can only do them occasionally and once we can do them everyday they can pretty quickly become routine and mundane. After 6 months of going on holidays all over the place I got bored with yet another holiday. Its taken a friend 10 years to rekindle his love of sailing after taking two years off sailing the Pacific.

2. If you are planning to go back to work, do something in between in consultancy or some such to keep your hand in. Many organisations put people on Garden Leave when they resign for a reason. Your knowledge of what's going on gets out of date pretty quickly. It can also be harder to get a job if you appear to have been out of one for some time (even if it was a planned break) especially as many out of work people present their lack of employment as a career break; "just resting" as actors call it. So having something to keep your mind working, up to date and to fill the gap in the CV is helpful.

3. Plan what you want to do and get some routine. Its easy to find you've frittered away the time and are e.g. getting up late rather than achieving the things you wanted to do. Mañana is a great problem when there is not a defined time, such as you get with a holiday from work, in which to do something.

Have you thought of asking your employer for an official career break so you can do a few days a month still and have a job to come back to?

The tax office will catch up through your employer's notification of them but if you will be due a tax rebate and need it early, then it might be best to let them know and kick start the process. Not much point telling the DHSS as you have made yourself unemployed and are not looking for work so there is probably not much to be claimed from them.

Good luck, make the most of it and enjoy.

 

[PaulB]

I don't know how old you are Paul but I did the deed over a decade ago and I've just gone 50, no great calamity has struck me down in the intervening decade. Like you, I was lucky and had a supportive partner,

I could be sensible and be working 9 to 5 I suppose, it's all a trade off, time/money/health, you make the choice not others, but "I wish I hadn't worked do much" will not be on my gravestone if my health fails, lifes for living, go for it!

I informed the tax office and that was it.

Thanks to all of you for you invaluable information but Mark's post above tells me a lot. I am 53 and wish I'd done it earlier but there was always one more thing to 'get out of the way'. It's a treadmill I want to get off and not be enslaved as I have been for 37 years now so I am going to be the one that makes the choice and not let it be 'expectations' that keeps my nose at the grindstone. The company I work for and most of the other employees are from, or live in, London so their mental tariffs are markedly different to mine in Lancashire so they think I am completely barmy.

I am awaiting my DWP info regarding state pension contributions (but I know I'll be comfortably over the thirty years thing) and take the advice of contacting the tax office.

All info gratefully received.

 

[ColinJ]

Good luck to you Paul! (And if you are free on Sunday, why not join us for our leisurely century ride in the sunshine from Whalley?)

 

[Crankarm]

Your partner will be having a ball whilst you are away ..................... .

 

[snorri]

I doubt if you will want to return to full time employment after a year of freedom. Of course much depends on your responsibilites but I soon found I just didn't have time for full time work after redundancy and now make do with part time casual work. The P/T job interests me, keeps the brain active and adds a little discipline to life which I think may be good for mental health.

 

[PaulB]

Tha

Good luck to you Paul! (And if you are free on Sunday, why not join us for our leisurely century ride in the sunshine from Whalley?)

Thanks Colin. I can't promise not nothing I can't promise but I'd love to make it. I have one thing that MAY prevent me from taking you up on your kind offer and that is to lay down an off-road route from Sheffield to Hyde using the Trans-Pennine Trail, for which I'll be responsible for an event planned for next month so have to have it in my GPS and want to do this by riding the route (Unless anyone has it?). The only free time I have between now and then is next weekend so if I do the Sheffield thing on Saturday, then Sunday will be OK but this is dependent on the driver who wants one big day next weekend. I will let you know nearer the time.

 

[ASC1951]

.... if you are free on Sunday, why not join us for our leisurely century ride in the sunshine from Whalley?)

After you have done this on Saturday http://crossjunkie.blogspot.co.uk/ Lancashire pavé, eh?

 

[ColinJ]

After you have done this on Saturday http://crossjunkie.blogspot.co.uk/ Lancashire pavé, eh?

Not to mention some nearly-vertical Hebden Bridge West Yorkshire pavé - Ready, Get Sett, Go!

 

[Alun]

You can practice on that section on the title page Colin, I think it's quite handy for you

 

[ColinJ]

You can practice on that section on the title page Colin, I think it's quite handy for you

He made it look easy! It's actually so tough that I didn't even attempt it when I was fit. Svendo failed when he tried it, and I'm unlikely to be ever be fitter than him no matter how hard I try!

Ditto for the steep hairpins by the hostel at Blake Dean.

 

[Alun]

I recognise some of the route, but not all. Possibly I have subconsciously blocked out the worst bits from my memory! Have you been doing your Cragg Vale training?