Running your business on mini-retirement?

[hubie]

So obviously the point of mini-retirements are to GET AWAY from work. But as we all know, things dont always go as planned.

I'm used to working on my muse from a comfortable chair, three 20" monitors and a super fast internet connection.

I'm ready to go for a mini retirement (2-4 weeks) but I cant imagine working from my laptop for this long.

Most importantly ... where am I going to get internet 24/7 in thailand or the phillipines? This is something that frightens me. Having some place to get my work done when I actually need to, without stressing about it.

To those who have experience, please help a noobie.

Hubie

[sadu]

I have experience with this.

You need to learn how to get your work done with less time in front of the computer, and with a crappier / slower / less reliable internet connection and smaller + less comfortable desk / keyboard / monitor / etc.

The book talks about how to do this in detail. There are some gems in there, but you will need to adapt the information to suit your own style. It's important to get this right or your trip is ruined before it begins.

And also - remember you aren't going to Thailand to be stuck in a corner hammering away at an uncomfortable desk. If you aren't going to be doing at least 50% recreation time, you might as well stay at home and work with your big screens.

[hubie]

Any suggestions for getting internet when you are abroad? Yes I have the 4HWW book and video tape, but I cant recall specific info recommending anything for this. If I'm going to thailand and the phillipines (major cities only) do I need to "get lucky" to find somewhere to stay with internet?

[phil]

Hurry up and do it!

Internet is available virtually everywhere, and you shouldn't worry at all about this. Even on small remote islands, internet will be available.

Sometimes though the connection speed or reliability can be an issue. If the internet starts running slow, I just go for a dip in the pool and hope its back up when I'm done

I just travel with my laptop and when I plan on staying in one place for more than a few weeks, I'll just buy the necessary equipment at a local store. Usually a 24" monitor, keyboard, mouse, and sometimes a desk chair. And I'll usually just leave the stuff there when I leave (or I guess you could try to re-sell it).

Here's the little office I just set up for myself in Koh Samui for the next few months:



And the little office I set up for a month-long apartment sublease in Manhattan:



(found the monitor on Craigslist for cheap, keyboard was already there with another cheap PC, and got the mouse from a friend. Bough the desk chair from office depot and had it delivered within a day)

[hubie]

all great ideas. i guess I could just UPS the monitors to and from myself when I travel. Keyboard, mouse, etc. Dare I ask how much it cost you to sublease in manhattan?

[phil]

Yeah, if you're UPS'ing in the US, then its quite reasonable ($30 maybe). But if UPS'ing a monitor overseas ($150+), it would probably just make more sense to buy one locally and then try to sell it.

The NYC apartment I think was $5500. All within a few hours, I decided I wanted to try living in NYC, found it on Craigslist, called the lady up, walked a few blocks from my hotel, the doorman gave me the key, and a few hours later had wired her the money and PDF'ed the rental agreement. Here's the one: http://tinyurl.com/y9k2pd4

I wouldn't do $5500 a month for a whole year, but I figure a splurge in NYC offset by a few months on low cost tropical beach was a good idea