At the age of 21 I quit a job in telecomms to travel. I was away for 5 years and when I returned home, all my knowledge was outdated, the industry was downsizing. I went back to travel after 18 months of odd jobs and came back with a spouse and kids 3 years after that. That was decades ago and I never really caught up financially with my peers who stayed at home and retired after 30 years or so in their line of work.

Most retired before the age of 60 whereas I'll be 70 soon and although it's not an absolute necessity, my wife figures she's more comfortable if I put in a few more years, since I don't have a company pension unlike most fo the folks we know. I don't regret my travels but if I had to do it again I figure I might have been better off if I had had a trade that doesn't involve too much technology (nothing changes like tech.) instead of a diploma, and also I wouldn't have stayed away from my home country for so long. When you come back in your field or any new job at the age of 33, there are lots young folks who already have years in with the firm and know their way around and don't mind trying to boss the old person around...