e.g., broader perspectives on life, empathy, ability to adapt…etc
If you could go back in time, would you chosen to live in multiple countries and/or cities vs staying in one place your whole life?
My brother lived all his life in the same country. I lived in multiple cities/countries.
Both of us had good lives: He enjoyed benefits that are typical for people who live in the same place. I enjoyed benefits that comes with migration.
Both of us were fortunate to avoided problems: He avoided problems that are typical for people who live in the same place. I avoided problems that are typical for migrants.
I really dislike posts that lead to romanticizing migration.
I feel like people who romanticize migration specifically, and not enjoy the one new country they move to, are the type to never be satisfied. I suppose if you have to skills, money, will power, and lack of attachment to move countries constantly, that’s your choice, but just admit you get bored quickly lol.
I’m on my third country / city now and it gives me a greater appreciation for what i left behind in the last one.
Enjoy what you have at the moment instead of complaining what isn’t good
Middle East (80s) and LATAM (2020s). London in between. Money. I’ve stopped being obsessed with money and how much I earn. I earn well but live in a failing economy where my paycheck can halve in dollar value in 2 months. Union looks after us but honestly I don’t have the same obsession as I had in London. My husband worked for Gucci there so we always had the latest stuff (it’s a network of people so Prada, Armani etc were bau as he got 50%). Now we don’t really give a shit although we still see fabulously. And in terms of r/collapse we have already collapsed here so whatever.
It absolutely put me through the wringer - I had to regain basic life skills in a country which language I didn’t speak fluently.
But, now that I feel more settled- I gained so much more courage, so much more courage.
Whatever happens - I already have the experience of starting my life anew in a new environment. It fills me with prior unknown feeling that I can do it.
Seeing people that had nothing was an everlasting experience.
I am in my 60s, I have lived in six countries, and I’m still not settled. I had an interview yesterday for a job in Central Asia and will be moving again in the first quarter of 2024.
Living in different places has made life fresher, more invigorating, more worth living. Perhaps if I had stayed put, I would have found something comparable but I chose to leave.
Oh, how exciting! I really want to spend some extended time in that region! Do you mind me asking what you’ll be doing out there?
Living in different places has made life fresher, more invigorating, more worth living. Perhaps if I had stayed put, I would have found something comparable b
do you move with a partner?
How do you manage visas to different countries? Especially work visas
Employer takes care of that. I have to provide copies of relevant documents (diplomas, marriage license, police reports, medical certificates) but HR does all the legwork. Some countries the process is costly and time consuming (China) while in others it’s rudimentary (Bangladesh).
Good on you to have such an employer.
Dual citizenship. It’s nice to have the security of an escape hatch, if I ever need it.
New perspectives and experiences, talking points and easy connections when meeting new people, broadening my understanding of the limits of what I can achieve or be comfortable with, etc.
A second language
The maintenance of privacy and the air of mystery.
what a lovely way to put it lol
- Not feeling limited or trapped.
- Greater lifestyle and experiences.
- A broader perspective of my options
My brother lives a good life in a small town. Has a wife and kids, a low-cost mortgage that he can afford very easily given how much money he makes. But even though he makes significantly more money than me, I would not trade places with him. When we talk and I mention he should travel, he says it would be fun but he can’t because he needs to take time off work, schedule things with his family, etc… He also feels it would be more expensive than it actually is.
I do not feel that when it comes to travel because I work remotely, do not have a family, and if I go somewhere else, I can just leave my Airbnb for another Airbnb. My “rent” is monthly or bi-weekly. I’m not locked into a contract that forces me to pay for a specific location. This grants me an amount of psychological freedom that’s hard for people who don’t live this life to even imagine without thinking they need to be rich to do it.
I’m able to stay in a mansion, penthouse, or just a nice condo with a view in South America, SEA, etc… Eat at fancy restaurants, have a maid, and driver for a MUCH lower cost than in the states. My lifestyle is dramatically better because of this.
The way I think about money has totally changed. When I lived in San Francisco, I was make about $5,000/month. I felt like it was peanuts. Barely enough to get by. I dreamed of doubling it and I could feel comfortable. Now I know that $5,000/month gets me a radically greater lifestyle in various parts of the world and I would even be able to save money.
With that said, the way I think about money has changed completely. I’m not as obsessed just “making more” as much as I’m thinking how can I make more remotely and where can I go to maximize my lifestyle with what I have now.
Do you think you’ll keep that lifestyle till your 60s? Or is it just a phase till mid life crisis hits in your 40-45?
Considering that I’m only 28, I can’t realistically make assumptions about what I’ll be thinking 20-40 years from now.
Right now my goal is complete location and financial freedom. The fact that I don’t make $1M/month prevents me from having that without lowering my lifestyle ambitions. Which I will not do under any circumstances.
changed completely. I’m not as obsessed just “making more” as much as I’m thinking how can I make more
what do you do for work?
Marketing
Gotcha. But I assume the US is your tax residence country (183 days spent a year), right?
It’s even more important when you’re older. I live in Portugal own my seaside T3 condo outright. condo fees 170.0 quarterly. Full time housekeeper/ Cook. Fresh Sea bass, Cod. Have not cooked, cleaned done laundry in years. Average 5k spend maybe a little more with a car service or home repair. In the Bay Area I made 140k and felt barely middle class. Too tired to cook after work spent all my money on sushi and sake. My quality of life improved dramatically. No car jacking, car thefts, or swarms of shoplifters where I live. The U.S. no longer thinks there should be consequences for criminal behavior which is only a recipe for norm less ness and anarchy.
Having one home for life is blessing, same as ability to travel and occasionally live in other places.
Experiencing how people live in different cultures made me more accepting and open minded, and I can now see beyond the tribalist nonsense that many of us grew up with. Being fluent in several world languages also helps.
-> I can now see beyond the tribalist nonsense that many of us grew up with.
This is gold. So many of us grow with ideas fueled by competition and discrimination. Only to realize that this makes us insensitive ignorants
I have a better understanding of what a good life actually is. For a lot of folks who come from my country and direct to the US, it is heaven because they can drive a fancy car, have a big house, and all that. For me, having bigger things is no longer a priority as I have seen people happily live with less and especially how nice it is to be car free.
I also have met many who have never left their state who advise me to get things just because that’s what they’ve known life to be. I just agree with them and move on.
Having been to lots of museums than I ever dreamed of, I value art and culture and preservation more. I also now have a way to put things in perspective if I am in difficult situations which helps me stay more focused.
I’m fluent in 4 languages and have a basic knowledge of another 2. I have two very coveted passports. Frankly, if I had another turn, I would not have had kids and would have moved around even more.