Why move overseas?
If you don’t mind, I’d like to get a little philosophical for a moment. After all, moving overseas is a big change for most people, and there’s much more to it than just packing your clothes and filling out some immigration forms.
Why do you want to move overseas?
Many people who want to move overseas are trying to get away from something – politics, economic conditions, etc. However, that’s what they focus on, not being where they are now. They don’t spend as much time thinking about where they want to move to, as long as it’s somewhere they can go quickly. The other day, I saw a forum post where someone said they wanted to renounce their US citizenship, sneak across the border to Canada, and apply for refugee status as a stateless person.
Now, besides the fact that this plan won’t work for several reasons, it shows someone who’s focused on the past, and not the future (which is where we’re all going to live the rest of our lives).
Unless your life is truly in danger from crime or a despotic government that has sent out death squads to hunt you down, you should spend most of your time thinking about your destination.
I’m one of the first people to say that I don’t like many of the things about my home country and they were the big reasons behind my move overseas. However, after making the decision to live in another country, I focused my time and energy trying to find a place where I’d be happy.
What do you want to do in your new life overseas?
Once you’ve made the decision to move overseas, start thinking about what kind of life you want to create for yourself. You’re already breaking out of your old habits. Why not use this time to re-invent yourself and your life?
Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to paint sunsets. Maybe you’d rather spend your days helping under-privileged children. If you’re entrepreneurial, you might be looking for a place with a growing economy and an easy way for you to start a business.
Take this opportunity to create a life that you want to live, not just something you need to do to barely survive.
It’s not old age that kills us. It’s lacking a reason to keep waking up every day that does. Make sure when you move overseas that you bring along a reason for you to keep waking up every morning.
Why I moved overseas
I’ve always wanted to build my own businesses. However, I spent so many years as a cog in corporate machines that I was never seen as having “management potential”. So I looked overseas and saw that I could start my own business at a much lower cost than back home. Even though I’m still at the beginning stages, and I spend a lot more time working (for a lot less money right now), I’m at least 100% happier.
Think about it for a while, and leave a comment about what you’re looking forward to doing when you move overseas. I’d love to hear your ideas, and they may inspire other people.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Living in the northern part of USA, we can only grow outside for a short period of time. I decided that sitting in a house after retirement will put me over the edge with boredom and inactivity. I wanted a temperate climate where I can grow all the fruits, veggies and even farm animals all year long without all the pesticides and high taxes that would gobble up my retirement earnings. So, I traced the globe on my desk for between 30-40 latitutde and ruled out the ones I don’t think I’d be happy in and selected, researched and found one I think I would enjoy. I am traveling there shortly for my initial 3 weeks. After
that if I still think it is the country for me, I will retire, and move down for 4-6 months and decide at that point. It’s a huge weight off my shoulders thinking I can really enjoy my next life time doing what I want, even have ideas for various businesses I am excited to try. Puts a the bounce back into my step.
I’ve seen many expats who think the same thing. After years of sitting in cubicles, eating processed foods, more people want to get back to something real – producing something physical, like food or furniture, instead of spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations.
Good luck on your initial trip, and your journey into a new stage of your life!