India....job hunt later....perhaps by then the ecomony will be better....
When life hands you lemons...
Well you know the rest!
Go for it!
Linda C

Oh I think I would go if you could do it on a budget....really how often does this opportunity come around?

janet

We spend our lives so concerned about jobs and while money/jobs are important, so is just living life.
If you are not seriously in debt right now and have no dependents, I would take the trip. You never know when serendipitous moments will show up and networking starts to happen leading to another job.

I think it depends on whether it is realistic to expect to get full employment 7 1/2 months from now. Will your savings permit a trip AND stretch to cover a prolonged period of unemployment, should you be unemployed more than 7 1/2 months?

Feel free to call me a naysaying, ultra-conservative, smothering mother-type, just as my kids do before they go off on care-free extended trips that I think they can't afford. They always come home full of wonderful experiences, broadened for having traveled, while I stay home and worry.

Oh go for it Netla! Go and see India and enjoy your holiday, but maybe send off a few letters to test the waters and see if you have any mail when you arrive back home.

SharonCb

Of course it's crazy....that's why it'll be so freakin' much fun!

I say if you can swing it without putting yourself in financial jeopardy, GO FOR IT!

And don't forget to post lots of photos when you get back!

Linda

So sorry that you lost your job, even though you hated it. I bet you feel like you got released from jail. I think the trip will be a great way to clear your head and start thinking about what's next. Of course, be realistic about expenses, but it sounds like you are able to do the trip on a shoestring.

Take it from an old geezer like me, one day you will regret the things you didn't do much more than the things you did do. Have fun and don't look back.

Sorry to hear that you lost your job. My DH was laid off 9 months ago and he has a Masters in EE engineering. He has been applying for jobs non stop since the first week he was off. There are no jobs out there.

I would say it was ok to take a month off and have a vacation if you can afford it. Maybe things will be better job wise when you return. But also keep in mind that it might take more than 6 months to find a job equal to what you left. Do you have enough money in the bank to live off of longer then that if you don't find a job in that time period. I don't want to be a downer, just telling it the way it is right now.
Clare

Look for a job and go on a trip to India. This is the computer age, you can do both. Lots of places advertise online and you can apply online or via e-mail. I'd invest in one of those small laptops and get wireless Internet that will work in India. Should be no problem given India's current high tech status.

You won't regret going on the trip, and I hate to be a party pooper, but it will probably be months and months before you find another job with this economy. Make sure you have a plan for long term jobless survival when you get back. For me it has meant working three part time jobs, and now selling off possessions and renting rooms in my house. You might want to pare down before you leave for India. Sounds like a perfect way to "detach" from your old life and possessions! I wish I had taken a vacation after I lost my full time job. I started another part time thing two months later and have been on the constant part-time job wheel ever since. No vacations in the part-timer world. At least not paid ones, and since part time work is often by the job, usually can't take time off due to deadlines. "Time off" is time unpaid and not working.

Go to India, live for today! But have a plan for when you get back. Then you will enjoy your trip more. Maybe you will meet the love of your life on a beach somewhere, like my friend did when she quit her job and took a trip to the Far East. She is British and she met a German on a beach in Thailand. Now she's married to him with three kids living in Germany. Who would have thunk it! Definately not her!! They both fought the idea at first, couldn't believe it was happening to them!

I have few friends (ok, zero friends) who have benefited from a "Live life, we'll see what the economy brings" attitude. If you're good for a few years and can afford to play around, God bless you. Otherwise I'd say look for a job, now. Of course you're in a different country and probably in a different industry, but in well-meaning thoughts like "You'll be fine" don't pay the bills.

Thanks for the thoughts and comments and advice, everyone.

The way I have calculated this, I am financially secure for 7 1/2 months and the trip is not much of an extra. I will get the flights to and from London on travel points that would expire at the end of the year anyway, so no financial expense there. The India flight is relatively cheap, about 550$ for a round trip, which is less than what I usually have left over from my monthly salary after bills and taxes.

I have an offer for a bed for the night from a friend on London. In India, the money for accommodation, food and local travel will be what remains of my salary after taxes and bills for next month, and I'll be using part of my savings for a bit of shopping, so I know I can swing it and still be well set.

As to job hunting, I will be registering with every employment agency I can find, as soon as I have perfected my CV (which needs serious updating), and I am working on a cover letter to use for a specific couple of employers in my field, for whom I can either work full time or as a freelance translator. I am also working on a general cover letter that can be adjusted to different situations. I have also been in touch with my friends, family and a few well placed acquaintances, and they will be keeping their eyes open for both regular jobs and freelance translation jobs. I have wide-ranging job experiences and I'm willing to take a blue-collar job if that's what's available, so I have no doubt I can find work.

Sounds like a wonderful opportunity! I was going to suggest what Laurie (LPink) did... why not do both!! Of course, focus on the trip, but no reason not to send out CV's and check your email while you are away!!

Best of luck to you!!

Netla, I'm sorry about what happened to you. Only you know if you can really afford to do this trip, but if it were me and I had to choose between winter in Iceland or winter in India, I think I might go for India, lol. Who knows, maybe you'll be able to network while traveling, and an unexpected job opportunity will present itself.

Sally

I hate you lost your job, but sounds like it may have been a blessing in disguise if you disliked it that much. You are very lucky you got a good compensation package on your leaving the company.

I agree with lpink that you can do both and still enjoy your trip. I'll look forward to your pics when you return! Have fun!

Brenda

Sorry to be so late to posting, but I agree, GO FOR IT!
It sounds like you have a cushion and a well thought out plan. You never know what connections you might make on this trip--who will be sitting in the next seat on the plane or what opportunities will present themselves outside of Iceland. Think multi-nationally! You'll never know if you don't take the risk.
Enjoy and let us know all about your travels!

I'm with foodonastump: I'm a "baby boomer" and been around a few blocks with respect to taking the opportunity to have a great life experience, as well as working and saving, etc. Take that great India trip when you have your own earned funds to spend and aren't worried about the future. India will always be there. If you feel you have to ask permission to go -- don't. Not now. Get settled and plan for it. Of course, keep in touch and let us know what you decide.
Annie'71

The passport is renewed, the vaccinations are done, the visa is paid for and I expect it will come through today. All that remains is booking the tickets.

I have received three invitations to visit people in India: two friends I have known for several years but never met, and one Couchsurfing offer (vetted by one of my friends). It looks like I will be getting an inside look at India, which I appreciate very much.

I am considering setting up a blog to allow my internet friends to keep track of my movements. I will post the URL here.

Definitely do the blog and keep in mind anything you say could be seen by a prospective employer, for the good or bad.

International experience looks good on a resume. From what I've read Iceland's economy took a very serious hit from the world banking crisis. As in the USA "recovery" is going to be slow. Looks like oil futures are pricing in some gain in the world economy a few months from now. I figure if anyone has an idea about the world economy it is the oil people. World economy does not always mean the local economy but I'll take any positive sign these days. Even in bad times some people get good jobs.

Hope you enjoy India. I often wonder what I'd do if my automotive job just vanished.... as it could any day.

: )
lyra