Grandma wants a traveling job!

February 12, 2010 2:03 PM

Employment ideas? What can I do that would let me travel extensively?

Have been out of work for a good while. My last job was as a newspaper reporter in a small southern town. Before that I have been a gourmet chef, a professional photographer, an office manager and a professional organizer. Some of the jobs were as a business owner, other jobs were working for others.
I am 57 years old, divorced and my kids are grown. It would be so cool to travel. I have a passport.
I have tried travel writing, but didn't enjoy it. I am very conscientious and was so concerned about being professional and getting every bit of information about the various sites, that I couldn't relax and totally enjoy the surroundings.
The perfect job would be a management or assistant's position that included business during the day with evenings and weekends free. I could fly in occasionally and see the grandkids and fly back out to my own life.
According to the S.C. Employment office I have the equivalent of a bachelor's degree.
Either way, I need to get busy.
What are my prospects?

posted by srbrunson to Work & Money (8 answers total)

You could teach English in Asia. I did this for awhile, in China, and many teachers I met were retired and quite happy teaching in China. Generally speaking the job is not too demanding, does not require much time, and there is ample vacation time for traveling to other places. the thing is, it doesn't pay much; more than enough for your living expenses in the country, but not much for saving.
posted by bearette at 2:23 PM on February 12, 2010

If you're mainly interested in travelling around the U.S., you could be a Store Support Representative (there are probably other job titles with similar job descriptions). Basically, you visit all the franchised stores in a certain company. (I.e. my mom used to do this for Auntie Anne's Pretzel Company). She travels a lot for her job and has stores in Hawaii, Oregon, California and all over the states.
posted by too bad you're not me at 2:52 PM on February 12, 2010

I have two friends - both considerably older than you are - who spend about a third of their lives on various cruise ships where they give lectures. If you are a compelling teacher and presenter of, say, photography or cooking then there could be an opportunity for you. Both getting into this - and making a profit from it - would work best if you had a something like a book of your work to get your name known (and sell to your pupils).
posted by rongorongo at 2:53 PM on February 12, 2010

Travel agent. Yes, they still exist. There's lots of flexibility and I know lots of agents work from home or part time.
posted by jschu at 3:19 PM on February 12, 2010

I read Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman and her story was pretty much like yours--divorced, grown kids, no specific job--and she wrote about how she calculated her expenses then put a plan together to make the money she needed to support herself while she traveled the world. Very interesting reading...
posted by MsKim at 3:26 PM on February 12, 2010 [2 favorites]

As someone much younger, here's what I've found works for me: teach several courses a semester at a local university (I do, and also provide academic support to international students). That way, I have a busy semester doing something that I love and that, by my standards, pays fairly well (plus I get to take one free class each term!). Then, depending on my plans/finances, teach the following semester... Or take the semester off to do a longer volunteer/service-based trip. Or teach several internet classes through the school if that's possible and within your skillset, and travel. If you end up taking a semester off (or teaching fewer classes), you may be able to file for unemployment based on a reduction in your teaching load.

It can be a little difficult/scrappy (as adjunct faculty, I don't have an office or a health insurance plan), but my hours are mostly my own, and I really enjoy what I do. Plus, whole months-long blocks of potential free time are already built into my schedule!
posted by soviet sleepover at 7:52 PM on February 12, 2010

"You could teach English in Asia."

Probably not in Korea. Public schools have a max age of 55 for foreign teachers and private schools tend to want people in their 20's.

I'm 35 and considered an "old man" by some employers.

You could apply to colleges and universities but an MA (in any subject) is pretty much expected these days.
posted by bardic at 4:01 AM on February 13, 2010

Response by poster: It is really helpful to have new input. Thanks!
posted by srbrunson at 4:26 AM on February 13, 2010