Life is a journey and it must be worth it for the traveler, and not the onlookers, for it to be meaningful.
Yesterday, a friend I had not heard from for about 5 years called me. He wanted my advice on his decision to relocate to the UK.
I am a champion of not vegetating in one corner of the world, especially when things are hard for you there and there are many options.
Perhaps, I am an African gypsy, from the way I admire traveling. This is made worse by the fact that I understand that travel is an antidote to ignorance.
My friend is 47 years old. He lives in Ghana with his nuclear family. He has his house built and he has a small Pharmacy business in Accra.
In Ghana, he has a house-help and his partner (43 years), who is a nurse also operates a small business. They both have cars.
He is thinking about relocating to the UK with his partner so that his partner can come and work as a nurse or a carer.
He wanted to know from me if this voyage would be worth it.
I told him that; I would never advise anyone who is over 45 years old, and if the person is doing well in their home country to relocate to anywhere in the West for greener pastures. Of course, unless the person is just seeking to get a powerful passport.
Even that, when you are 45 years old, you may obtain this passport when you are 50 years. At 50 years old, is it now that you want to start globetrotting on this passport for pleasure or business? You should be retiring by then.
It is different if you want to travel for a visit
but relocating at the age of 45 and over (especially when you are somewhat stable in your own country) to go and seek greener pastures in a cold climate is something that I don’t encourage.
Also, if you are going to do a job that will pay you less than 100,000 dollars a year and you may be required to do long hours and many days, you should think about your quality of life and how long you are ready to make such a sacrifice and for what.
So, I advised my friend that, I am one of those who advocate for finding better opportunities in different countries but considering his age, that train for traveling abroad has sailed for him.
He is more likely than not, to regret traveling outside with his wife. Their quality of life will shrink and they won’t amass any quick cash which would drastically change their lives too.
My answer would have been different if my friend was even 50 years old and had nothing to do in Ghana (no proper business/job or asset). For that, moving from a fire to a frying pan is better.
If you are in the UK and you are below 30 years old, working like a everyday and earning £2,000 per month, you may not be able to save much (not even more than £400 per month after bills) but eventually, you may get a powerful passport which will open other business and travel opportunities for you.
The age at which you travel really counts. And what you hold back home also counts a lot. Remember, the proverbial saying, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
The question is always personal: would the journey be worth it for you as a person? What is the ultimate goal?
The answer is to travel for a visit and come back to your country.