To go or not to go

tillyjones · Apr 29, 2018

Hello. I have found my way back to this page as I start to think about another Camino. I hope to walk the Norte in September of this year.

I thought I would post in the event anyone has wisdom or for those who have been or are in the same place....the decision of whether to go or not. I am not asking advice as I know only I make the decision but thought it may generate some good insight!

The Camino is my happy place. Mostly because I am removed from the stressors of every day life and partly because I'm largely alone in beautiful surroundings, testing my physical limits. I have a work contract coming to an end at the beginning of September so of course am thinking of going on Camino but I keep second guessing. I have the time because I'll be unemployed, but because I'm unemployed I'm hard pressed to justify the expense or taking time away from a job search. The amount I will spend would have covered my living expenses for an additional two months. I imagine I will go. I play the 'you only live once' game. And I know that something wonderful could come of going just as something wonderful can come of not going. One can never really know what the right choice is. But I have a nagging fear...what if it causes me to end up homeless? Will it have been worth it?

Surely there are others that fight the call of the Camino against the demands of life.

Anamiri · Apr 29, 2018

This happened to me last year, and I walked knowing I had to job hunt when I got home, not knowing how long it would take. Thankfully it didn't worry me while I was walking.
Once upon a time, I would have taken the safe route, and stayed home job hunting. Now after walking a Camino, with no rational reason, I'm comfortable to take the unsafe road, and head to Spain.

Raj Kumar · Apr 29, 2018

Well, after thinking about a couple of years, I am going to cycle from Bilbao from 2nd September. You are welcome to join me. If you can walk the distance, you can cycle it.

kaixo · Apr 29, 2018

Hello @tillyjones and thank you for writing this post. I'm glad to find I'm not alone, and I empathize with your situation. I promised myself that I would go on camino every 3 years. I work hard, I need it, and like you it's my happy place.
Financially it makes no sense for me to go this year...I'm going anyway. It took me a long time to make the decision and I waited months to buy my flights. I still am not sure it's the right choice and sometimes I can get a bit anxious...all the more reason to go on a really, really long walk!
My worry is not being homeless, it's more about my dwindling bank account, my nest egg, or the "what if something goes wrong" fund. I keep telling myself that worry is a waste of time. What if all goes well (as it surely will) and I wasted even a moment in worry instead of enjoying each and every day. That would be silly.
So my wisdom (even though I have a hard time following it myself), try not to worry, typically, things do work out.

MichelleElynHogan · Apr 29, 2018

tillyjones said:
Hello. I have found my way back to this page as I start to think about another Camino. I hope to walk the Norte in September of this year.

I thought I would post in the event anyone has wisdom or for those who have been or are in the same place....the decision of whether to go or not. I am not asking advice as I know only I make the decision but thought it may generate some good insight!

The Camino is my happy place. Mostly because I am removed from the stressors of every day life and partly because I'm largely alone in beautiful surroundings, testing my physical limits. I have a work contract coming to an end at the beginning of September so of course am thinking of going on Camino but I keep second guessing. I have the time because I'll be unemployed, but because I'm unemployed I'm hard pressed to justify the expense or taking time away from a job search. The amount I will spend would have covered my living expenses for an additional two months. I imagine I will go. I play the 'you only live once' game. And I know that something wonderful could come of going just as something wonderful can come of not going. One can never really know what the right choice is. But I have a nagging fear...what if it causes me to end up homeless? Will it have been worth it?

Surely there are others that fight the call of the Camino against the demands of life.

Each of us are on a path. Some paths cross, some parallel, some we will never meet.

Of all that has been mentioned, one stands out, the statement, "The Camino is my happy place" This is a rare place to find in this world of chaos.

However, do not place yourself in a position where you may become financially destitute. Very few can do this and have no concern regarding money. Some are on pensions. Some have businesses that continue to generate whether they are at home or not. Perhaps this is the kind of wisdom that is needed to ensure a Camino can be walked when the Soul requires it?

bib · Apr 30, 2018

tillyjones said:
taking time away from a job search

Perhaps you could use this Camino time to reflectively do your job search?

With internet access readily available you could set 'active' time aside regularly and ponder any internal and external developments as you walk. I reckon this would result in a much deeper and meaningful transition into your next career move

Deleted member 56069 · Apr 30, 2018

I don't think when you are at the end of your life you will ever regret trips you have taken, only those that you never did go on.
Go on your Camino and don't second guess it for a second.

nycwalking · Apr 30, 2018

Go.

The camino is such a peace provoking trek.

Enjoy and buen camino.

YoCo · Apr 30, 2018

Perhaps a compromise of a shorter duration? A new path?

I second contemplating your next career move while on Camino.

I will also be on Camino in Sept...it may be the Frances or del Norte. Love to have a meal together.

Naturalpace · Apr 30, 2018

tillyjones said:
Hello. I have found my way back to this page as I start to think about another Camino. I hope to walk the Norte in September of this year.

I thought I would post in the event anyone has wisdom or for those who have been or are in the same place....the decision of whether to go or not. I am not asking advice as I know only I make the decision but thought it may generate some good insight!

The Camino is my happy place. Mostly because I am removed from the stressors of every day life and partly because I'm largely alone in beautiful surroundings, testing my physical limits. I have a work contract coming to an end at the beginning of September so of course am thinking of going on Camino but I keep second guessing. I have the time because I'll be unemployed, but because I'm unemployed I'm hard pressed to justify the expense or taking time away from a job search. The amount I will spend would have covered my living expenses for an additional two months. I imagine I will go. I play the 'you only live once' game. And I know that something wonderful could come of going just as something wonderful can come of not going. One can never really know what the right choice is. But I have a nagging fear...what if it causes me to end up homeless? Will it have been worth it?

Surely there are others that fight the call of the Camino against the demands of life.

Good morning Tilly! We will look forward to seeing you! We have planned a volunteer stint at Diverbo in Spain...August 24th until the 30 and THEN will ( our last thought) start the Camino Norte! Probably right at the beginning of September! We are from the Vancouver area in Canada...hope to see you!

AJGuillaume · Apr 30, 2018

@tillyjones , I have often heard the saying: "to worry is to set negative goals". So don't worry, and follow your heart!
If you walk the Norte in September, you might overtake us slow walkers. We're starting on 2 September in Hendaye/Irun and finishing in Santiago on 30 October.
Buen Camino!

Silvermomma · Tuesday at 7:32 PM

I use Alltrails a lot here in the US, in Iceland, on the Via Podiensis and a bit on the CF. Will it be useful on the Norte? For example, people here say the "warm up" from Biarritz to Irun (or...

MilenaS · Tuesday at 5:47 PM

Tomorrow I fly to Bilbao to start my 5th stint on the Camino. I did the Frances in three parts (2016, 2017 and 2022). Last year I did the Portuguese from Porto. I did the first 200 km of the...

ChrisMayou · Friday at 5:08 PM

Are supermercados or other grocery stores open on Sundays on del Norte? Are restaurants open? Specifically, I will likely find myself in these towns on Sundays: Castro-Urdiales, Comillas...

Silvermomma · Tuesday at 9:28 PM

I thought I had this all figured out, but I have ended up with 2 train tickets from San Sebastian (I don't even know if it's the airport or the town) to Irun, instead of ONE that goes all the way...

mb4869 · Thursday at 5:33 PM

I’m on day 2 of the CDN and I’m just blown away by the views. Day 1 Irun to San Sebastián, day 2 San Sebastián to Askizu Buen Camino

Bippo · Thursday at 3:30 PM

Hi! I’m a Camino newbie planning on walking Camino del Norte this May-June. I have previous hiking experience and do well on longer distances and so on, but not any super recent multi day long...

To go or not to go

tillyjones

Active Member

Anamiri

Veteran Member

Raj Kumar

New Member

kaixo

Active Member

MichelleElynHogan

Veteran Member

bib

Bridget

Deleted member 56069

Guest

nycwalking

Veteran Member

YoCo

Member

Naturalpace

New Member

AJGuillaume

Pèlerin du monde

Latest Camino Photo

Most read last week in this forum

Is AllTrails useful on the Norte?

LIVE from the Camino Starting in Bilbao - a six week Camino

Food on Sundays

San Sebastian airport to downtown Biarritz

Camino del Norte

Stops on Camino del Norte

Similar threads

To go or not to go

Active Member

Veteran Member

New Member

Active Member

Veteran Member

Bridget

Deleted member 56069

Guest

Veteran Member

Member

New Member

Pèlerin du monde

Most read last week in this forum

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency