"Why not?" would be the fast reply. But it was not so simple for me.
My decision journey was long and complicated, and I didn't make it easier when I decided to go away for a full year! And why a year? Actually I don't know and never took a conscious decision about that, but when I was asked how long I would be gone for, I heard myself answer "a year plus-minus"! And I see the minus just as relevant as the plus in this case.
And wauw so many thoughts I went through! Have to think all scenarios through and try to weigh benefits for both sides.. But in the end I just felt "it's time"! In the end it was not so much the pro/con's that helped me, but my feeling that this chance under exactly these circumstances I won't have again:
I'm single, I don't own property, I have a good saving, my contract with work is temporary, my two best travel buddies are going there within this year and not at least, I feel ready!
One year ago I would not have been ready. I know that for sure. So all my small pieces just seem to get together. And it's always been a dream to go to South America since high school, but I always said I wouldn't go if I didn't feel I had enough time over there. Time to make it a travel, and not a vacation. Now I have the time in the world, until I run out of money!
This feeling of freedom is just as fascinating as it is scary to me! That I'm out of the system, I'm setting the everyday pace and agenda, and I will not be a part of something as such. Very weird thought to me, and I already suspect this thought to follow me and challenge me on my trip. I need to see how I can contribute in new ways, when I'm on the road, not working and not belonging to the society.
Another good thing about the timing for this trip, is my IKEA experience. I have now worked in IKEA for 7 years, and looking at my age it's all my adult life you can say. I truly believe in order to appreciate and understand what I have in IKEA, I need to leave and try something else. As much as I love the company and my colleagues, I can't compare, and I feel a growing need for that. And then 7 years is a good amount of time to have with me and the journey from part-timer on the shop floor, to working full time plus-plus with the yearly theme on global level! Amazing journey I have done! And most likely it isn't done - I might return one day :)
The day I took the decision I wasn't even sure or close to be, but I knew everything looks good, so I thought "why not?".. And alone with my hangovers I went for a long walk around my former town Aarhus, with music in my ears, looking at Christmas decorations, smelling roasted almonds from small streetshops, observing people running for the last presents and I ended up outside a bookstore. I went in and bought the travel guide to South America by Lonely Planet and I remember a thought crossed my mind: "Now you bought the book, you might as well go - anything else would be stupid" and I guess I had found my excuse to take the decision...