Thinking of traveling for a while

[Tess*]

I've always thought it'd be great to go to Europe for a few months. Probably to work there because I don't have a heck of a lot of money saved up.
Anyways, I've been with my boyfriend for almost 3 years now and I know he wouldn't come with me. We would probably break up because I would rather not do a long distance relationship. Our relationship isn't really good right now, but it's not bad either. He treats we good most of the time, sometimes he'll just take a joke a bit too far, or sometimes he won't listen to what I'm saying. We have a bunch of little problems that might not be worth breaking up over. Leaving would be super hard cause he's been a big part of my life for so long and I do love him.
So if I leave, will I be making a mistake? If I don't leave, will I regret not going?
Once I have a career, I'll only be able to travel for a couple weeks at a time once a year. Living somewhere else for a bit is something I've been interested in for years.
I've talked to him about it and he really didn't say much.

Any thoughts? Advice?

[Hollifire]

You're in one of those hard situations that most people tend to run from. You want to travel and be independent, but yet you have a boyfriend holding you back. Then you want to do the right thing and stay because of him, but yet then you're thinking if you don't go you'll regret it, and ultimately resent him for it.

So what should you do? I think only you can decide that. We can give you as much advice as we'd like, but it's you who has to come to the realization of what decision you want to make. Personally, if I were in your shoes I'd go. I'd never let a guy, or anyone for that matter hold me back on something I really wanted to do. You're young & you don't need to start having regrets now.

I know you said you'd break up with your boyfriend because you don't want to do the long distance thing, and that's fair of you and if your boyfriend didn't want to go, then he'd understand it too. If you both really care for one another, then after you get back maybe you two will gravitate towards each other once again.

But for right now, you need to do decide what will make you happier. Staying with your boyfriend & always wondering 'what if' or taking charge of your life and going?

[Aletheia*]

This is a decision you'll need to come to on your own. I'd suggest making a list of pro's and con's to going, and seeing which one outweighs the other. It might help you come to a decision quicker, it might not. But, it will help you see if moving to Europe is a good OR bad idea.

With your boyfriend, I can understand why you don't want to leave. I'd be the same way if I were in your situation, and honestly, I probably wouldn't go because leaving would absolutely tear me up. I know for a fact my boyfriend wouldn't go because he has obligations here (such as a new full-time job and the Army). He can't just pick up and leave.

However, if you think this is something you REALLY want to do, you should at least consider it more. You can't let someone stop you from doing something you really want to do. LDR's are difficult, but they aren't impossible to maintain. However, LDR's take much more effort to maintain than a normal relationship, so there are a lot of things to consider.

I'd just think about it some more being making any hasty decisions. Best of luck!