# The Sabbatical Files

> Travel, Career Breaks & Ren


## Posts

- [Wheels Up: Amtrak to Heathrow, and the Long Train Ride to Cornwall](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/starting-a-sabbatical-newark-to-newquay/): It’s official. The spreadsheet has left the building. I left Delaware on August 2nd. By the time I got to Cornwall, I’d been on an Amtrak train, a plane, and most of the British rail network, and I’d lost track of what day it was somewhere over the Atlantic. That’s the first thing nobody tells you about a departure like this: it isn’t one clean moment. It’s a series of legs, and the tiredness stacks. The night before The day before I left, my friends threw me a party. Though “party” probably oversells it. It was a low-key get-together, which is […]
- [The Big Push, One Last Time: Brighton to Manchester and the End of the Road](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/the-big-push-one-last-time-brighton-to-manchester-and-the-end-of-the-road/): Article 5 — The Sabbatical Files Part 5 of my UK trip: the May push for Ren and the artists along the way So this is it. The last one. After Brighton, after Bristol, after London, the final leg of this whole UK adventure came down to a train ride north and two nights in Manchester. And as much as I want to send this trip off with fireworks, I’m going to be honest with you the way I’ve tried to be in every one of these posts: this last stretch was quieter. I was tired. A month of living out […]
- [The Chalk Show: A Slow Week in Brighton and the Night I Finally Met Ren](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/the-chalk-show-a-slow-week-in-brighton-and-the-night-i-finally-met-ren/): This is Part 4 of my UK trip series. New here? You can catch up on the earlier entries: Part 1 — arriving in the UK and my first live event with The Big Push · Part 2 — Live Music, Long Trains, and a Guitar Pick I’ll Never Forget Part 3 — Visiting Ren’s Brighton: A Renegade’s Walking Tour Through the City Behind the Music. Otherwise, read on. After the London weekend, I came back to Brighton on a Tuesday afternoon, and what followed turned out to be the quietest stretch of the whole UK trip. The Big Push played […]
- [Visiting Ren's Brighton: A Renegade's Walking Tour Through the City Behind the Music](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/visiting-rens-brighton-a-renegades-walking-tour-through-the-city-behind-the-music/): Article 3 — The Sabbatical Files If you’re just joining, this is the third post from my UK trip to see Ren and The Big Push. I started with arriving in London and my first steps into Brighton, then wrote about a week of intimate live shows. There is a version of Brighton you see when you arrive as a tourist. The seafront. The pier. The restaurants with their menus facing the ocean and their prices facing London. It is beautiful, and it is real, but it is not the whole story. The whole story takes longer to find. It lives […]
- [Live Music, Long Trains, and a Guitar Pick I'll Never Forget](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/live-music-long-trains-and-a-guitar-pick-ill-never-forget/): Week 2 of my UK sabbatical preview trip: Brighton venues, The Big Push in Bristol, and a recovery weekend in London.
- [The Big Push, Brixton, and My First Steps into Brighton](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/ren-big-push-brixton-brighton/): It had been over 20 years since I last set foot in the UK. Twenty years. And yet the moment I landed at Heathrow, something familiar clicked back into place. I had fond memories of London from years ago, and now I was back, but this time with a very specific mission: to see Ren and The Big Push. What started as two shows I was originally planning to attend quickly became four. By the time the UK leg was done, I’d been to Brixton, Bristol, Brighton, and Manchester. But I’ll start at the beginning. Arriving in London My flight landed […]
- [My Sabbatical Reading List: 13 Books on Philosophy and Self-Improvement](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/sabbatical-reading-list/): This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things I genuinely believe in. There’s something about stepping completely outside your normal life that makes you want to fill it with ideas. Not the kind of ideas that come from scrolling, or meetings, or the background noise of a workday, but the slower, weightier kind that only seem to arrive when you actually have space for them. I leave for my sabbatical on August 3rd. Thirteen months, 24 countries, and a lot […]
- [Sabbatical vs. Career Break: What's the Difference?](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/sabbatical-vs-career-break/): People use "sabbatical" and "career break" interchangeably, but they mean different things. Here's a clear breakdown of the differences and how to figure out which one you're taking.
- [I Got Laid Off. Then I Booked a 13-Month Trip Around the World.](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/i-got-laid-off-then-i-booked-a-13-month-trip/): I got the call on a Thursday. I won’t pretend it didn’t sting. It did. The first 48 hours were rough in that specific, ego-bruising way that a layoff hits. Not just “I lost my job” but “I was removed.” The company decided the math worked better without me in it. That lands differently than walking away on your own terms. I’ve been in IT for over two decades. PMP, CSM, ITIL. Senior management. None of that made me immune, and it wouldn’t have mattered if it did. For two days, I sat with that. Let it be what it was. […]
- [Sabbatical Health Insurance: IMG vs SafetyWing vs World Nomads](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/sabbatical-health-insurance/): Comparing IMG, SafetyWing, and World Nomads for long-term travel medical insurance during a sabbatical. Real pricing, honest pros and cons, and what I'm choosing for 13 months abroad.
- [How to Budget for a Sabbatical: The Method That Gave Me the Confidence to Go](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/sabbatical-budget/): Everyone asks me the same question: how much is this going to cost? I’m not going to tell you my number. Not because I’m being coy — it’s just not that useful to you. My number is based on my destinations, my travel style, my tolerance for street food versus sit-down restaurants, and whether I’m booking private rooms or hostel dorms. Your number will be completely different. But if you’re trying to build a sabbatical budget that actually works, what I will give you is the method. The framework I spent months building — the one that took me from “I […]
- [What I'm Packing for 15 Months in 24 Countries](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/packing-list/): The complete packing list for a 13-month, 21-country sabbatical. Bags, cameras, tech, clothing, and health gear — tested and researched by a real person planning a career break.
- [Top 10 Tips for Planning a Sabbatical or Career Break](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/top-10-tips-for-planning-a-sabbatical-or-career-break/): The Sabbatical Files Everything I wish someone had told me before I left — from someone who actually did it. Most people spend more time planning a two-week vacation than they do planning a year-long sabbatical. That’s backwards. The logistics of stepping away from a career — even temporarily — involve more moving parts than most people realize. But the good news is that every single one of those moving parts is figureoutable, given enough lead time and the right sequence. I’ve spent the better part of a year planning mine. What follows are the ten things that actually matter — […]
- [The Artist Who Made Me Go — How Ren's Music Sparked a 13-Month Sabbatical](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/ren-music-sabbatical/): How a song, a hospital room, and grief turned into a 15-month sabbatical — this is the story of my Ren music sabbatical and how one artist changed everything. I need to tell you about a song. But first, I need to tell you about a hospital room. A hospital room in July It was July 2023. At the time, my father was in a bed at Community Medical Center, and I was sitting in a chair beside him that felt like it had been designed by someone who had never actually sat in a chair. He had colon cancer. In […]
- [Five months out](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/sabbatical-planning-five-months-out/): There's a strange season between deciding to leave and actually leaving. I'm in it now — five months out from the biggest thing I've ever done.

## Pages

- [Call With Mike](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/call-with-mike/): I’m on sabbatical through November 2027, moving through 23 countries and a lot of time zones along the way. Pick whichever link below fits you and grab a slot that works, it’ll show up in your own local time automatically. Quick note: I don’t leave until August 3, 2026, so I’m still home for now, but the calendar above is already open for booking after that date. Once I’m actually on the road, I’ll keep this line updated with wherever I currently am. Family For close family, regular check-ins. Friends For everyone else, more casual catch-ups. This page isn’t linked anywhere […]
- [Privacy Policy](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/privacy-policy/): Last updated: March 28, 2026 Your privacy matters. This page explains what information The Sabbatical Files collects, how it’s used, and what choices you have. The short version: I don’t sell your data, I don’t collect anything I don’t need, and I try to be straightforward about how this site works. Who Runs This Site The Sabbatical Files is a personal blog run by Michael Giannella. If you have questions about this privacy policy, you can reach me at mike@thesabbaticalfiles.com. Information Collected Automatically Like most websites, The Sabbatical Files collects basic technical information when you visit. This includes your IP address, […]
- [Daily Spending Tracker](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/daily-spending-tracker/): 💰 Daily Spending Tracker Log expenses on the road and stay on top of your daily budget ⚙️ Set Your Daily Budget Daily Budget (USD) Set Budget 📊 Daily Progress Budget Progress 0% Total Spent $0.00 Remaining $0.00 ➕ Log Expense Amount (USD) Category 🏠 Accommodation🍽️ Food & Drink🚌 Transport🎭 Activities🛍️ Shopping📦 Other Add Note (optional) 📈 Spending by Category No expenses logged yet 📝 Logged Expenses 🎯 No expenses logged yet. Start tracking your spending! 🔄 Reset Day ❌ Clear Budget One of the hardest parts of long-term travel isn’t the planning — it’s staying honest with yourself about what […]
- [Vaccine & Health Checklist](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/vaccine-health-checklist/): 💉 Vaccine & Health Checklist Select your destinations and get a personalized health prep checklist Where are you traveling? 🔍 Sabbatical Route United Kingdom Germany Poland Czech Republic Romania France Portugal Greece Egypt Turkey Thailand Cambodia Vietnam China Indonesia Japan Peru Bolivia Chile Ecuador Mexico Other Popular Destinations Australia Brazil Canada Caribbean Islands Costa Rica India Indonesia (Full) Italy Laos Malaysia Morocco Philippines Singapore South Africa Spain United States No countries match your search Progress 0 of 0 items completed Required Vaccines & Precautions Recommended Vaccines & Precautions General Health Preparations Clear All Progress 🖨️ Print Checklist 🌍 Select destinations to […]
- [Schengen Day Counter](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/schengen-day-counter/): 🇪🇺 Schengen Day Counter Track your 90/180-day Schengen limit across multiple trips 0 Peak Days Used (90d) 90 Days Remaining 90-Day Rolling Window 0% Add Trip Country / Region Select a Schengen country…AustriaBelgiumCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandItalyLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerland Start Date End Date Add Trip Your Trips 📍 No trips added yet Add your Schengen zone trips above to track your days How It Works 90 in 180 Rule You can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day rolling window across Schengen countries Rolling Window The 180-day window moves forward each day, tracking your last 180 days of activity Violations Flagged Any trip that exceeds […]
- [Contact](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/contact/): Get In Touch Have a question about the sabbatical, want to collaborate, or just say hello? Drop me a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. You can also find me on Instagram YouTube TikTok
- [Visa Timeline Planner](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/visa-timeline-planner/): 🛂 Visa Timeline Planner Enter your passport country and travel route to see visa requirements, application deadlines, and Schengen 90-day tracking. 🪪 Step 1 — Your Passport Passport Country Select your passport country…🇺🇸 United States🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇨🇦 Canada🇦🇺 Australia🇩🇪 Germany🇫🇷 France🇳🇱 Netherlands🇮🇪 Ireland🇳🇿 New Zealand🇸🇪 Sweden🇯🇵 Japan🇰🇷 South Korea🇸🇬 Singapore🇮🇳 India🇧🇷 Brazil🇿🇦 South Africa🇲🇽 Mexico 🗺️ Step 2 — Build Your Route Country Select destination… Entry Date Exit Date + Add Stop Or load a sample 21-country route to see how it works # Country Entry Exit Nights 🔍 Analyze My Route 📋 Visa Requirements 🇪🇺 Schengen 90/180-Day Tracker 📅 Application […]
- [Resources](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/resources/): 🧰 Planning Tools Click a card to open the tool — click again to close Budget 🌍 Budget Estimator Add destinations, pick your travel style, and get a realistic cost estimate Savings 🎯 Savings Calculator See exactly how much to save each month to hit your trip budget Packing 🎒 Packing Weight Calculator Check if your bag meets airline limits before you get to the airport Currency 💱 Currency Converter Check live exchange rates for any currency before your trip Visa 📋 Visa Timeline Planner Check visa requirements and build an application timeline for your route Schengen 🇪🇺 Schengen Day Counter […]
- [The Route](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/the-route/): This is my plan as it stands today — but half the magic of a sabbatical is staying open to the unexpected. If I fall in love with a place, I might stay longer. If a new opportunity pops up, I might reroute. Consider this a living itinerary, not a locked-in schedule. Click any marker on the map — or any stop in the legend below — to explore the full journey. Currently In … 0 Countries Visited 0 Days on the Road 24 Countries Total 478 Nights Planned
- [Quiz](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/quiz/): What’s Your Sabbatical Personality? Are you a meticulous planner or a go-with-the-flow adventurer? Do you crave structure or spontaneity? Answer 10 quick questions and discover your unique sabbatical style — plus get personalized tips for making the most of your time off. Take the Quiz → Takes about 2 minutes
- [Subscribe](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/subscribe/): Join The Journey Get updates on sabbatical adventures, travel stories, and live music experiences delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, just good vibes. Your info stays private. Unsubscribe anytime.
- [Videos](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/videos/): Follow on Instagram · Follow on Facebook Latest Video Why I’m Leaving Everything Behind for 15 Months — The full story of how a 15-month, 21-country sabbatical went from spreadsheet fantasy to real life. This is Episode 1. Sabbatical Series What does it actually take to walk away from a stable career for 15 months? Not the highlight version—the real one, with the budget spreadsheets, the visa timelines, the health prep, and the 2am second-guessing that comes with telling your employer, your family, and yourself that you’re leaving. These videos document the full pre-departure process for a 21-country sabbatical: how the […]
- [Blog](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/blog/)
- [About](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/about/): About Mike Project manager turned sabbatical explorer. Here’s how I got here. The Short Version I’m Mike — a project manager from Delaware who, over the past two decades in IT and managed services, collecting certifications like Pokémon cards (CSM, ITIL, PMP). I was good at the job. I liked keeping things moving. But at some point, I started wondering what it would feel like to stop managing everyone else’s projects and start living my own. So I’m doing something about it. The Career I’ve spent my career in project management and IT Management, I’ve led teams, built processes, and sat […]
- [Home](https://thesabbaticalfiles.com/): Hey, I’m Mike. After years in project management, I decided to press pause on the career grind and do something I’ve been dreaming about for years — take a real sabbatical. I’m traveling, creating, going to way too many Ren concerts, and documenting the whole thing. If you’ve ever wondered what it would actually feel like to step away from work and live on your own terms — pull up a chair. What You’ll Find Here Sabbatical Life Budget planning, career break advice, and what nobody tells you about pressing pause. Real talk from someone actually doing it. Travel Destination vlogs, […]

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