Slow Travel May Be Better Than Being Expats!
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- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
- Many thanks for all of the great comments that expand on the discussion! We got rid of most of our belongings, and headed to Portugal to move overseas. But it didn't really work out for a number of reasons. But we are really happy with the alternative - being slow travelers and part-time expats! This video identifies some of the characteristics of Slow Travel and Part Time expats.
We have a small home in the USA that is our home base, and spend 1-3 months at a time in one place overseas, several times a year. We stay long enough to really learn about a place's people and the history, and experience living in the culture.
This video provides a brief overview of why being a slow traveler / part-time expat may be right for you, and some tips on how to prepare.
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And in case you were wondering, our channel title "89 Days Away" refers to the typical 90-day visitor limit for staying in a country or area (such as the EU Schengen Zone) before having to become an official resident.
We try to maintain a lean, scaled back lifestyle in the US, and spend around 1/2 of our year living overseas as "slow travelers", within those time limits, to get the overall expat experience without having to become a full time resident of the foreign country.
Our channel started out talking about that lifestyle, but has morphed into other topics related to this stage of life that we find interesting.
We hope that you find the topics interesting as well.
We got rid of most of our belongings, and headed to Portugal to move overseas. But it didn't really work out for a number of reasons. But we are really happy with the alternative - being slow travelers and part-time expats!
We have a small home in the USA that is our home base, and spend 1-3 months at a time in one place overseas, several times a year. We stay long enough to really learn about a place's people and the history, and experience living in the culture. This video provides a brief overview of why being a slow traveler / part-time expat may be right for you, and some tips on how to prepare.
👇👇👇Our FREE weekly newsletter where we share travel info, but also talk about how to navigate midlife, aging, and the years leading up to retirement: 👇👇👇
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We hear you guys.... we did this starting in 2011 when we were 35 and 37 years old.....it's been 12 years and counting! We'd N E V E R look back!! We should have started our travel channel THEN!! Oh well....
We live in our RV for 6 months in Canada and then 6 months overseas somewhere, a new country (or 2 if the visa's don't work out smoothly) and it's been the best, most interesting, warm life ever.
We help others figure out how they can do it too, if they want to! Check us out, happy to share experiences any time! Ayr & Lori
Good thoughts! I applied for a Portuguese residency (as a base from which to see all of Europe and other countries) and jumped through all the processing hoops last year. It isn't cheap to do this, but and when I got there the tax regime changed to a less favorable one than I was counting on. So, I came back home and will do the slow travel solution as well. :) I still love Portugal and will return, but not as a resident.
Hi - we just found your channel and we love this conversation! We recently moved to Portugal, and we love it, but I wish here had been more content about living as an expat vs slow travel when we were researching our options. We have no regrets, but I am very interested in your story. Good for you for changing course to make it work for you!
We moved full time to Portugal, two years ago but I have some serious misgivings. My wife still enjoys Portugal. We have applied for another residency elsewhere and intend to leave in 5 years. We intend to visit our new home for longstays after the residency has been approved. I think my only issue is the excessive costs of this approach - juggling both financial lives, even if we downsize. We enjoy travelling me slow, my wife on somesort of military operation - today is Wednesday therefore we should 'do' Paris!! Yes, we should move out our relationship to travel first!!
This seems like a good plan
The reality of traveling, living abroad, once you take the leap as a senior,really hits you. It’s a great fantasy. I lived as a expat in Mexico for 4 years, as a 70, and 80 year old. Then had a heart attack. An emergency operation in Mexico. The fantasies were over. It took every effort I had left to make the trip back home. I am still recovering,thankfully I have my wife
It can be fun until it isn’t. Red-tape isn’t handy in these situations. I recommend being a slow traveler to start. Don’t buy anything until you have been there for at least 2years. You have no clue what you’re getting into.
Do travel, keep it light, you only live once!
you need to stop fearing death to really be free. of course freedom doesnt work for anyone who believes in the narrative of the modern medical system and trying to prolong your life artificially. if you are over 80 you have had enough time. I havent been to a doctor in 36 years. God will know when it's my time and I shall not fight it.
So two different times in Mexico? You said 4 years, but as a 70 and an 80 year old.
@@marcd1981wife was 70 and he was 80.
I'm eating a healthy raw vegan diet so that I won't get sick as I age. I also work out at the gym 5 days a week.
that's why it's best to travel when you're younger, you only live one life and there's no u-haul behind a hearse, working till retirement age to then travel is a scam - financial will play with your money for many years before then / and if you reach that age
I’m 63, single and self-employed. Since 1990, I’ve traveled to 40 countries as a PT/FT expat. I planned to retire overseas but decided to keep my US apartment as a home base as my work-from-home business requires my presence occasionally. In 2024, I plan to take every 3rd month off to travel and leisurely explore new places or return to my favorite destinations. If I didn't have my business, I might move abroad but I love what I do (online reselling vintage clothing and home decor) and the extra income funds my trips!
That sounds ike the perfect balance between home base, resting and then forging out into the world. Being self-employed is really great when you want to have this kind of a lifestyle; it's definitely been the main thing that has allowed us to do this too. Good luck with your 41st country! Where do you want to go next?
very nice!!
So you sell on Etsy or eBay? Good for you that you are doing what you ❤
Would love to know how your manage that .. I sell too on ebay, and have to close all down when out of town. ..
I (64 yr) live full time in a campervan (RV) when I'm in the US and then store it for the winter months ($63 pm) in TX. The winter months I'm off to warmer climates. I also make a living through the internet. What a great invention!
By your definition, I am not a “part time expat” or “slow traveler” because I have NO residency in any country but I keep moving country to country every 3-6 months. I think I’m just a “homeless vagabond” 😎 I have no storage unit either. I sold or gave away everything that I owned years ago except for a small backpack and a small carry-on. I’m loving it! I think the real term for someone like me is “perpetual tourist.”
That is too hard core of an adventure for us! Like your web site!
To extreme for me. As much I like to be in new or diff places, still enjoy the comforts of “home”. But I would like to do a 1-yr long trip.
Perpetual Traveler is what I consider myself. I have a 20 liter backpack with everything I need as I take a lot of flights and only do carry on. Included in my backpack is my accommodation of a bivy bag and military poncho as a tarp.
I’m 60 recently retired Nurse & I’m doing exactly this! Im born/raised in NYC & own a very nice affordable coop in a very safe community. Im also set up with my pension here. I just traveled to Costa Rica for a month & then Hawaii for 2 months! I love this- I get to rest in NY & travel whenever I want for as long as I want. It’s the best thing ever- not committing to anything- the freedom to come & go is priceless!
That sounds fabulous! You really have the best of both worlds, and having all of that that freedom is amazing after a long career (we’re huge fans of nurses here…). Hope you continue to have a great time! Thanks for watching and writing.
@@89daysaway Thanks so much for your well wishes! I’m loving this life!!🌺☀️💫
We had 3 middle schoolers when schools closed down from c* vid. They got used to online school format and my husband was already working remotely. We decided to travel in our RV for a few months. Now it's been 3 years. We are in Bangkok right now as I write this. Kids are in high school now and we like to slow travel when we can. 2 months in Korea, 1 month in Thailand, and we just completed 1 month in Vietnam. We love the fact that we are able to cross off what we would have done in retirement and we get to do it with our children
Love this! I live in China and they just made it easier for Americans to get the tourist visa. Feel free to visit! If you come to Beijing I am happy to be a tour guide 😆. I stayed thru COVID and am glad it’s opening up but I know handling the pay by app system can be intimidating.
But how does it work for your kids? Attending high school remotely, missing out the experience with other kids, that will never come back
@@RafaelBorbaCostadosSanto-gt8mj that's true that they miss some of the experiences of regular school. But they meet other children on the road who travel like we do and we told them that anytime they want to return to regular school, we can settle down. A couple weeks ago in the Phillipines, they were snorkeling and swam with sea turtle and while we were riding the boat to snorkel, saw a bunch of dolphins. They learn about the history of every place we travel to. These are the types of adventures and first hand history learning that they are loving.
@@NHJDT That's wonderful god bless your family
Thanks for your comment. Currently I work from home, but I am restricted to the United States. I hope to slow travel with my junior high school and homeschool. I’m really torn between keeping a homebase or not. I hope to full travel like you guys have with your family. Although I’m close to retirement, I don’t want to wait until I’m 67 and 70 and too old to enjoy it as much as when I was younger. I commend you for stepping out and living your dreams with your family.
Terrific video that explains exactly how we currently live. Retired at 55 to do more with less. Cannot emphasize enough how important downsizing your US footprint is to make this happen. Not just for reducing costs, but also freeing up the time and space in your life to get away for months at a time. Heading out for our third slow- travel trip since retirement, 114 days with month-long stays in Spain, Portugal, and Scotland… for us the key is to mix in low cost places like Spain and Portugal with HCOL like Paris (11 days on this trip) and Scotland.
Thanks for the kind words! Great points, all of them. We found that the psychic burden of having the accumulated junk of 30 years was also kind of exhausting. Spent so much time trying to organize it all and it's just easier to pare things down. It really is about freeing up the time and space, for sure. Our kid goes to school in Scotland and last year we spent a month there (and have spent a few weeks there in the past). incredible place! Thanks again for writing.
@@89daysaway if only we could do something about that pesky 90 day visa problem!
Great Britain is 6 months out of the year, not 3 in and 3 out. So you can do 3 in EU and 3 or 4 in GB, and still be in the same general region...
@@89daysaway but more expensive for these early retirees!
This is exactly our goal, Covid has delayed it, we plan to start next year. Glad to find you!
Been to 25 countries. It worked great for a few years, then eventually you fall in love with one amazing spot and stay there longer, recharge your energy. Its a cool approach not to decide long term and see how you feel about it all. Sometimes its fun to be on the road for a long time and sometimes you want to build a nest. So go with a flow ❤ it is all funnnn
We get burned out after a few months and want to get back home. Then after a few months at home, we are itching to go on a long trip.
I dont keep a US homebase but I do what I call "perpetual travel." Kind of expat, digital nomad, slow traveler. There are alot of names for what people like us do. lol
Yes, I'm more familiar with this term. I bought a 2 volume set called "PT1" and PT2" by W.G.Hill way back pre-internet days when I was just 21. I have been enjoying the PT lifestyle ever since then (I'm now 54).
We’re with you. We retired five years ago and have been maintaining our small home in upstate NY while traveling about 6-8 months a year. It doesn’t cost much to maintain our base and little car and we still get to visit all the amazing places overseas. I subscribed to your channel just now. Thanks for posting your great video. By the way, we were in Lisbon last June and had a sangria at the same cafe shown in your video next to the kiosk. We loved that place and the bartender was so welcoming too.
Where do you go for 6-8 months a year without visa restrictions?
@Edgar-rw4ru You can't stay in most places for 6-8 contiguous months. You can stay in the Schengen zone for 3 months, and can then stay within Europe but outside of the Schengen zone or in the UK until you are eligible to re-enter the Schengen. You can stay in the UK for up to 6 months. (As US citizens). That said, it can get a bit complex, Schengen rules/countries change, and we're not experts. Your mileage may vary!
Wow well done.
I am assuming you have someone to look after your home while you are gone? I am considering this part time expat thing but I am single, no kids. Not sure who would watch my home.
@@jimb3093I'm single as well. I have a home in an HOA so basic tasks like lawn maintenance are taken care of. My next door neighbor checks on my home and picks up mail for a nice lunch when I return.
I agree 100% with your video title. I was an expat in Puerto Vallarta for five years. Then when my rent doubled, and I was asked out of my sea view apartment, I begin slow travel. I have found oceanview properties at the lowest rates, usually further south and in the DR. I do not have a home base. Love your informative videos.
The only downside is that it is the more expensive solution. Maintaining two separate residences is not cheap. So, only so many people will be able to afford it. I retired to Ireland as an Irish citizen. So far, so good.
Yes. Keeping 2 residences works out to having 1/2 the scale of your residence on each side of the ocean in order to keep to a budget. Going for 1 - 3 months or so at a time can allow a person to manage the budget, and alternative between cheap and more costly places, or delay trips until feasible.
Where in Ireland?
@@wendymcd8219 Living in Kinsale now.
@@americanexpat8792 lovely! Tried 2x to get there. Next time!
I have done this for 15 years, it works for me. I am out of country 11 months a year. I have no home base, but did have a home base in the Philippoines for 3 years.
My wife and I have been seriously contemplating a very similar change in our living situation. The expat route is complicated and emotionally daunting to say the least but downsizing one’s US base residence in a way where it is still a nice situation to come home to and then spending several months a year in other interesting locations sounds less risky and perhaps more enjoyable. Staying in an apartment for weeks at a time also allows one to “set up shop” so to speak and get some work done. Thank you for your video
Look at century village, Deerfieldbeach florida 55+ community. It is affordable and get one where u can rent out. I rent out my in the summer and travelled overseas.
We spent a total of 2 months this year in Europe. We took 2 separate trips to visit several countries via small to midsize cruise ships. It's nice having the ship as a home base. There's no need to grocery shop, cook, clean, or worry about money, internet, etc. We extended our stay by 3-5 days before, after, and between cruises. Our luxurious transatlantic cruise was actually cheaper than business class airline tickets. I think that being away from home for a total of 2 to 3 months a year is our limit.
Smaller cruise lines sounds nice. Was it a river cruise? That seems best to be able to see the country. Regarding duration, we like 2 to 3 months at a time ourselves, so that we can keep in sync with home life. But I get the travel itch after being homes for 2 months, and lobby for another trip.
@@89daysaway We didn't take a river cruise although we probably will at some point, to explore new cities. Most of our trip was on Oceania cruise line. The transatlantic portion was 23 days (9 countries) from Miami to Venice, Italy.
That sounds amazing. We will have to explore this! Thank you for sharing it.
So Your children are teenagers now?
@@Manifesting_Secret_Sketchbook We're newly retired empty-nesters. Our daughter is a young adult now. Royal Caribbean was our choice when we traveled as a family with a teen. Then we sailed on Princess. Now we sail on Oceania's 1,200 passenger ships. It's the right size ship for personalized service and great food, but not as expensive as Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, or Seabourn.
Great video!! This is actually an idea that we have been developing for a while, it's great to hear first-hand how positively it's working for you... we have debated becoming expats for the remaining few years of our working lives but the complications of doing so is overwhelming, filing 2 tax returns, our sons (> 20) are in the US so we have interests in the US... you laid out this concept in such a pleasant and easy to understand manner (with great examples of how to make the temporary residence your own) that we're encouraged to live this life style... worse comes to worse and we don't like our temporary place, we can always go back to our comfort zone in the US... thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for the comment! When we first tried our Expat Adventure we met with real estate agents and a lawyer in Portugal to get the home purchase process rolling, and it was really disturbing - it seemed non-transparent and much more risky compared to the US. And with the recent changes in the political winds poised to cause a drop in real estate values in Portugal (dropping the golden visa and NHR, limiting short term rentals, and variable rates resetting), we are glad that we were scared off. This approach is much easier for us. We get the fun experience without all of the disruption, risk, and work.
The only thing that’s stopping me is my 2 cats 🐈⬛ 🐈
Our dog is a really big issue for us. We have a 10 pound 8 year old dog we inherited that we love. When we are getting ready to go overseas, we drive 7 hours from Maryland to Upstate NY to drop off the dog with relatives, who take care of her while we are gone, and drive back. 2 Days of travel just to get the dog settled. And then we end up missing her while we are away, and that prompts us to head home earlier than we would if we did not have her in our lives. So we get what you are saying...
We sold our house 2 1/2 years ago to travel and our 2 cats were a huge deal. Two friends took the cats.
Love is a powerful thing.
I wonder if anyone actually travels with their pets
Many do. Usually just need a clean bill of health from a vet 14 days before departure
This is the most helpful video on this topic I've seen. Jam packed with practical, thoughtful, actionable advice.
Wow! Thanks so much for the comment. I am the type of RUclips viewer who fast scans through videos to locate the main points. So I tried to keep the fluff to a minimum and get the points out.
Great video. We are doing something similar, but we don't actually have sticks and bricks home in the US. We traveled the US and Canada for 3 years in a Class A and then downsized to a van. Last winter we flew to South America and stayed there for 4 months. Similar stuff this year. What's important to emphasize is that you don't have to do what everyone else is doing. Do what ever you can afford and makes you happy. We do find that not owning a home (we got rid of nearly all our stuff) is really a coast savings.
This is the most helpful video on this topic I've seen. Jam packed with practical, thoughtful, actionable advice.
Thank you!
Great Job‼️ I Am a Senior and I stayed in Portugal and Spain for 2@ a Half Months. Wow did that feel Great. I hope that more people catch on to your mindset. It is an Awesome Experience. Like having your , Cake and Enjoying it too💯
Thanks! We love that area of the EU. We are planning to spend time in Spain in 2024.
I'm 59 and retired at age 52. Since then I've done a couple "test" trips like this. I spent three months in Europe (Croatia, Italy, France and Spain) on the first one and loved it! The second (Italy, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, France, Spain and Portugal) was awesome as well. I've since begun looking at the possibility of being a part-time expat in either Spain or southern France. I've downsized a lot but still have more to do before making the big leap!
Sounds like some great trips. Good luck!
I imagine slow traveling by buying one, one-way airfare ticket at a time. What about countries requiring follow-on tickets when arriving at airport immigration. Did you run into this problem and what do you do about it? Do you buy refundable round trip tickets then cancel the outbound until you are ready to travel to the next destination?
@@baileythebirder I've never un into that problem (yet). I don't buy my tickets as I am retired military and can fly on military flights for free. Planning isn't as easy as they flights are only announced three days out. But I'm flexible as I am retired.
Yeah, ya gotta have money. No real way around that. We’ve spent 2.5 months in Italy, 2 months in Spain, and just came back from a short 30 day stay in Venice. The only way to travel in our opinion. Getting ready to split for another 3 months to warmer weather. Just found your channel and have subscribed. Cheers🥂
My family just did an 11 month slow travel through SE Asia. My wife used to be a teacher, so she did homeschooling. We typically stayed for 2-6 weeks in a given location and it worked out great. We came back to the US so that the kids could go to public schools (their request), but they keep begging to go back to Thailand and the Philippines.
It’s great that you were able to do that with kids! We traveled quite a bit-not slow travel though-when ours was little and are really glad to have been able to broaden horizons at a young age. (Also would love to someday get to Asia!)
I’m not yet at retirement age, but this video is describing a lifestyle I have so often said would be my ideal.
Great video. We did 90 days in Portugal/Spain/Italy. One option for those still working is to locate near a good short term office rental place - good wifi and good coffee is a must!
This is for people who either have their US residence fully paid, or who can afford to maintain two households at the same time. We’re not there but would love to be! Seeing the world is the best way to spend your retirement years especially as you are still healthy enough.
High quality video with important information. You gained a new subscriber. In the summer of 2022 I sold my house and car and donated almost everything else to embark on full-time travel. At this point I generally stay 10-14 days in a location and go back to the US twice a year to visit friends and family. I'm using this early part of my nomadic life to mainly visit places I haven't already been to. But I would eventually like to slow it down more and spend longer periods of time in the places that I really like, as you do. Maybe someday I'll want to establish a more permanent home base, but where I see myself headed is having short-term home bases that change every few months or so. That would be the most ideal for me. Looking forward to your upcoming videos!
This is exactly what hubby & I are planning for! Thank you for this video 🙂We are from the UK and have been calling it our 'semi-retirement'.
What you seek is seeking you 😊
Good luck!! Thank you for writing. We LOVE the UK and want to see much more of it in the future. We've been to the Cotswolds, Bath, York, London, and lots of Scotland. Need to get to Wales! Beautiful country and amazing history. Enjoy your semi-retirement!
I’ve been doing this in Mexico the last 3 years… and realized it was working for me… scale back at home country, and living for a few months in 2 or 3 places for a few months… I’m glad to find your site w/excellent clear info…. 2024 will take me to southern Italy. Thank you
Glad we could provide something helpful! Let us know if there’s anything g else you’d like us to cover. Lucky lucky you going to southern Italy.! We’ve been saving Italy for a special occasion because it’s so beautiful. That’s one of our next trips we hope. Keep us posted!
Love it. I'm a few years out from leaving full time work and looking to plan a part-time expat life. My wife and I travel a fair amount already, but with the restraints still of full-time work. This is appealing, particularly because my wife wants to keep our house in the US. I look forward to more great content on the subject.
Thanks! We are so excited to find so many other people who are interested in this way of life too! Hoping we can share info and learn from you too. Please drop us a line anytime if you have suggestions or ideas for topics you'd like us to cover. We've got a list, and are always looking for things to add that are truly useful for people! Thank you again for writing. :-)
Very well put together video. My husband and I are not retired yet but are remote workers. We typically already travel slow but next year plan to stay overseas longer. We own a home in the US and as we work towards being a full-time expat we plan to do just as you guys are doing now. We will maintain a home base for now. Best of luck on your future travels!
I really like the definition of "Part Time Expat". That is exactly what we have done and it has been one of the most fulfilling experiences. The level of adventure and immersion that it gives you is one of a kind- so many lessons to be learned while living on the road, months at a time. Being at home does sometimes make us miss the time abroad, so we started filming everything we did- the drives, the hikes, the skiing, the train rides, all to then watch from home and take us right back to those places. It has also helped with showing family the beauty that is out in this big, beautiful world. We hope to be able to continue being "part time expats" because there is so much to learn and grow from a slow travel way of immersion in this world.
Thank you for sharing your experience, looking forward to more videos :)
Thank you so much for your comment. Looks like your channel has lots of great footage of your travels. We just recently decided to create some videos, so it will take a while to catch up.
@@89daysaway Thank you very much- excited to see your upcoming videos!
Absolutely Exactly what I am planning to do Thanks for sharing God bless
Hope you have an amazing experience!
I've just started doing this very thing after considering a move abroad, and for many of the same reasons. One of my main considerations is that I have excellent healthcare at home in Canada and a wide range of medical professionals I have built up over the years, so I wouldn't want to lose all that. The other consideration is that I don't want to have all my money or capital in a foreign country- no matter how friendly- because my executor would have a helluva time trying to get all that collected and distributed to my heirs after my death. Better, as you say, to rent somewhere for a few months and enjoy the country, then move on without assuming any risk.
Doctors are a good reason, and the complexity of the legal issues with passing away while a resident of another country are also a big concern for us.
You don't know how much I needed this. Thanks 🎉
Wow. Thank you so much!
Agree completely. Due to geopolitical risk, buying a home abroad is a precarious proposition for the foreseeable future.
One of my favorite things to do when living in another city for a few weeks is to join a gym. For me, that makes it feel more like home and I meet like minded locals that way.
And given where the US is quickly heading, I don’t think it’s a viable proposition having a home here either.
Good vid. Best is to sell all you dont need. Then travel around the world for ever… stay 1 month… 2 month… 3 month etc
I was an expat for 20 yrs in 5 different countries. This is exactly what we are doing now based out of US. Much, much better.
This is an excellent video. I think the idea and the approach is a good balance and, a way to potentially decide whether or not one wants to do this full-time. YT is loaded with videos from all types of countries singing mostly the praises of affordability etc. You often have to search for the negative reviews of a place. I think the ideas you presented were steady-handed and practical. Great video! It helped me a lot.
Good vid. Your point is valid. We took a different approach. Divested of everything and then hit the “road”. In year 10 now. Slow travel and no regrets. A very simple high quality life. Key has been to establish friendships in various countries. It truly enriches our lives.
Wow. That's amazing. Just a few months in each area/country?
Greatly appreciate this video. I am 68 and retired and wanted to spend at least a month in each country that actually gives me time to relax, explore and enjoy each country which helps me make more informed decisions😊 I look forward to hearing more! Thank you.
that is what I have been doing since 2015, look at century village, deerfieldbeach florida 55+ community, get the rentable ones.
What a great video! I've been thinking about doing this for a long time -- 2-3 months in one country, then traveling onto the next country, and just keep moving like that. I don't want to give up my home -- I live in a great area, and I want a home. base to come back to -- after a year or so!! So looking forward to more of your videos. I'm not ready for the move yet, but in the next year or so, I will be.
same here. I am military retired, 51, single, no kids. Not ready to sell it all and move abroad yet. But it does sound liberating to sell it and have nothing but a backpack and two bags lol! And travel from country to country. I have a house but thought about a condo, something easier to close up and leave with no yard to worry about.
@@jimb3093 , One thing I learn, never buy abroad but only rent. I have bought a rentable condo in a 55+ community in deerfieldbeach florida and rent it out for 6 months the other 6 as a base.
Thats awesome! I will have to look into that. @@judymckee5992
In two years when hubby retires this is our plan! A few months here and there! Homeschooling our 2 children!
I am so happy I found your channel. I just retired after a serious illness and have been contemplating whether to give up my studio and everything in California and be a full time traveler without a home base. At 65, it is not something to just do lightly, plunge in and not carefully examine your health care costs abroad and diving into it without properly analyzing and strategizing, what the consequences of your decision would entail and with housing rental costs in the United States,
It would be more difficult to return and find the same rental price you had before or something affordable would be very difficult after traveling a year or more; rents increase so much after 1 year’s time. I believe my overall hesitation is that I would not have a traveling companion either in case I get sick; leave everything behind with having to do health check ups, preferred doctors, and the daily comfort without any additional stress of trying to find an Airbnb every month or so for a whole year; plus as you get older, the healthcare insurance coverage globally is a lot more expensive. In US, now with my Medicare advantage I have what I need here for $195/month. So regrettably I may decide not to live abroad full-time but do chase wanderlust dreams of slow travel instead. Your well thought and surefire approach and suggestions are spot on; a lot less stressful, I think, when you get to a certain age in life plus being a senior solo female traveler. Probably it’s best to be safe and enjoy one or two months at a time and make it as feasible as possible with my expenses here; perhaps by doing part-time jobs to prepare for traveling 2-3 months at a time per year while I have my health. And not having to give up your car and everything in the United States! Thank you so much! It really helps me put my mind at ease, look at all the angles around the tree and if it is a viable thing for me to embark on a full time expat and be homeless nomad. I really enjoy your delivery and your practicality and common sense approach. It’s the best video I’ve seen so far so single senior folks especially really know what they’re getting themselves into as a nomad especially when you are doing it as a solo senior. Serenity prayer is a good approach. Take good care and Salud!🥂
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful comments.
A few months overseas may be able to satisfy the wanderlust without the work associated with a permanent move. I think that the key is for a person to think about why the want to make the move and if there is a way to achieve the same or similar results with less risk and headaches.
And we hear you on the unique needs of solo travelers (and retirees). We were just talking to a single friend of ours last week in a similar situation and it requires a different set of tools and considerations. We have this topic on our list for future videos. We're just really snowed under with our real jobs at the moment so it's been a bit slow getting things out. :-) Thank you again for watching and writing and we are wishing you every success! Keep us posted.
@@89daysaway Thank you so much for your response. You hit it on the nail when you said the key is to think about why you would want to move abroad and go through all this effort as as a retiree when a few months will satisfy this longing and you keep your nest. My friend just gave me a 65th birthday book titled, "Passionate Nomad" by Jane Fletcher Geniesse about the life of Freya Stark, a Victorian solo female nomad who ventured alone in the world in that era including the middle east. You're right on and so articulate. You get it! Solo retirees require different considerations. Thanks again! Will look forward to your next episodes. Blue skies ahead!🥂🤙🏼
When I retire I could sell my home, collect the cash, and rent a home in Costa Rica or Mexico while having a new home built in the US close to my daughters. I could rent a home for a thousand dollars a month less in Puebla, and get all my dental work done for a fraction of the cost. The idea of traveling and saving money at the same time sounds too good to be true.
Great information! I think slow travel is the best way to travel if you are able to do it.
Just discovered your channel
It a god send
Such an intelligent approach
Just binged at least half your vids
Hours and hours
My head is spinning
Thank you so much
Was freaking about the whole expat thing
Slow traveling works
Eliminating so much bs
Downsize
To condo
Jam my important in it
Get rid of the rest
Then take off
Portugal Algarve and southern Spain
Have a wife working in Casablanca
Have house in Rabat
Haven’t see her more than a month since Jan
Hate the storms here in Tampa plus the heat
Thanks again
HUGE HELP
She is pursuing an acting career at 55 and living her best life
It’s a dream come true
She left her home for me
Now I get to help her
Life is good
Wow! Glad its working for you!
I like this idea - we've been lucky enough to be able to live overseas in one place for a few months at a time in Ireland, Slovakia, and Germany. You really need to stay a month or more somewhere to really get the feel of it.
But please, if you have video that was shot in a vertical format, DON'T add those blurred versions on either side - just go with black (or another color) bars. I almost got motion-sickness trying to watch some of your vertical videos.
Good point about the phone video. We never planned on putting together videos so we documented our apartments with a vertical phone. I assumed that this is how to use vertical videos in a wide format, but it is a bit vertigo inducing. I'll just have a solid color on the sides in the future.
This is the way. We are a family with a young child. We traveled abroad for four months last year. Next year we will do the same. We want to spend time at home to be with our family and also see the world in a balance.
Sounds like the best way with a young child.
Well put together video (thus subscribed). We just came back from month-long trip to Portugal (Lisbon, Madeira, Porto) with our intention to get a residency there. With the possible expiration of NHR, we are not sure if it's going to work for us. Spain and France are also an option but both countries tax heavily via wealth and inheritance taxes.
So we have decided to give slow-travel a try as well. 6 months a year of travel and the other 6 at home. Without the messy residency and tax situations.
NHR and Golden Visa going away. Variable rate mortgages resetting. Crackdown on short term rentals. Real estate could get dicey over the upcoming months.
We spoke with some tax people about moving to the Netherlands, and they said that the EU was a great place to live, and a terrible place to die in, given the inheritance taxes.
@@89daysaway Unfortunately when and where we die is completely out our control.
Our plan,too. Now we have changed to alternating RV in the states travel with 3 months in Portugal. ,2x a year. So far so good- We do some house sitting and pet sitting to break it up a bit.
I’d love to see a video of the challenges of downsizing your US residence. We are currently looking at downsizing to a 1000 sqft condo so we can spend 6 months away at a time.
Oh boy, can we talk about this! SO much to say. It’s on our list! Stay tuned. And thanks for the suggestion! We’re glad someone is interested in this too. 😁
Have bin doing this since 2017, even around Covid. Had the good fortune of cousins in Ulster who stored my car for the time I was not on the road. Every year, somewhere else, Turkish North Cyprus, Malta, Spain, Portugal, Morocco. But you have to watch out for the duration limitations of your home jurisdiction. In Ontario it's 153 days for medical and 186 days for Canadian pensons. Under Brexit UK car insurers can now only issue you policies for One month outside the UK, which severly limits my 5 or 6 month travels. Also my policy cost tripled making it no longer financially possible to travel in the EU. This Winter it's the Pacific coast of Mexico. I do this all alone. Happy travels.
Moving to a new country is like consolidating all your resources in one place. Factors such as potential pandemics, visa changes, unfamiliar healthcare, or political instability can pose risks. In Thailand, there's talk of taxing overseas pensions, adding another consideration for potential expatriates.
G7 countries against ........... in 2024???
I won't look at Thailand, their politicians have no policy, it comes and go!
thailand is blowing smoke, sounds like anyone staying less than 6 months are exempt, but please do your own research. this is new, so no one really knows how they are going to do this, or whether they will double tax pensions or any other funds.
Terrific video. Very helpful perspective of the 'retiree' vs 'slow travel.' Dan from Vagabond Awake has a great YT page where he explains many of the same things, though his is more specific to whatever country he and his lady are traveling in. These videos MAKE THINGS POSSIBLE! Thanks for helping with that.
We will have to check out his channel. Thanks for the recommendation. We did not think about doing videos in previous trips, but if we find enough people are interested in this topic, we plan to spend time on future trips getting some nice video content.
excellent advice all around! Consider this: a foreign second home OR home will cost you hundreds of thousands, so you probably can tackle the slow-travel life if you would be able to move abroad!
Thanks, this is the approach I have been planning for a while and people just don't understand it most of the time, which is fine. Seems to be working well for you
We arrived at same conclusion. More on the how-to’s would be helpful
That’s me!!!! ❤ I did that for two years being a part-time expat. I will consider doing it again but this time if I get a home- based location, I will use house sitter for my time away.
This is what I am preparing for in 2024❤😊
Best of luck! Starting on an adventure next year is exciting! Taking that path really changed us, and helped us better figure out what we valued. Hope it works out well for you!
Best channel to roll up in a long time! I thank the algorithm gods lol sitting back with my morning coffee imagining myself in an overseas cafe ... aaaahhhh 🙏
Oh my gosh thank you so much! We were not anticipating this much of a positive response. It's so great to know that there are other people out there getting this vibe! LOL Enjoy that coffee, and in the meantime we'll work on more stuff! 💃🏼
This is a great video, leaving Canada 100% scares the shit out of me. I want to slow travel 8 months a year and back in Canada. Keep my rental property which generates $4000 a month helps pay for my travels
Good plan! Having the rental really makes it viable. Congrats!
One other consideration is this approach avoids the pitfalls of becoming a tax resident of a foreign country. Many countries do have tax treaties with the US that do alleviate this to varying degrees, but many countries levy “wealth” taxes and/or tax estates at very high rates, vs. the US estate exemption of $13.1 million (2023). So if you have or expect to have significant assets that you’d like to leave for your heirs or for charitable reasons, part-time is a better answer.
That was a big concern of ours. And since we would be moving at the end of our lives, we would have already paid the full US prices for health care, college, housing, transportation, etc. Anyone thinking of becoming a resident should definitely meet with a tax and financial pro to determine the personal impacts of the country's tax scheme.
Great idea, maybe a video on the process of how to set up month to month housing (or other options) traveling as a part time expat? 🤔
Good suggestion. Each destination has different options and processes, but some general tips may be useful. We'll put that on the list.
Sounds good. I feel that people (including myself) are excited about the prospect of traveling short term but don’t have a good idea of how to set up the living arrangements in a foreign country ahead of time. Personally I would prefer a furnished apt if avail vs Airbnb. Looking fwd to vid, thanks
Finding decent, affordable and centrally located accommodation is always the most challenging aspect of travel. Perhaps you'd be kind enough to share places you could recommend? Many thanks.
I’m a disabled combat veteran living in Guam, but I’m in and out of Manila and Thailand half my time
Talk to a tax advisor about how the US Foreign Earned Income Tax Credit works. I promise you it’s better than most people realize. It even covers working virtually for a U.S. based employer!
That is only for people who are real expats, out of the country for 330 days a year. But it is a great benefit if you are in a low tax country!
I guess I’m an even slower traveler - 3 years Japan, 8 years Singapore, 5 years china, and 10 years in Malaysia 😀
Sounds like you are officially an expat! Bet you have had an amazing experience.
I am a Canadian and my wife and I have been doing this for years. We were in Turkey for 2 months and are now in the Canary Islands. A total of 5 months away from the Canadian winter
Good time of year to travel. Off season lower rates for housing. And less bundling up when you go outside...
Thank You! Your response cleared up what was confusing to me after I read some online material. Great website.
I'm glad I found your channel. We homeschool our kids, so traveling would not be an issue, and in fact would complement our kids learning.
Oh my gosh there is so much that you could do with this! History, geography! We took our kid overseas on regular vacations just for a couple weeks here and there when she was growing up, and we think she learned so much about the world even in those shorter trips. Really glad we did this.
@@89daysaway So glad you agree.
Information video, also addressing problems and issues with the solutions which is always fantastic!
Thanks!
Philosophically, IDEAL. I’m sold. Now where’s your guide to the BEST experiences?
Planning to do some more videos in the Spring. Stay tuned.
The reason some of us become expats, is because we can become citizens of our host country. Not just get temporary residency. So i find it cheaper, to base myself in Sicily, instead of US. US rent is at least 2x as much as here for an apartment. Then I travel almost exclusively in Europe, so cost, again, just a fraction of traveling back and forth to states. So technically, I’m not an expat anymore. And i get low cost to free health care, in Italy, second only to Switzerland….where I also have an option to live. La Dolce Vita, Baby!
I heard someone call it "flexpat" and I kinda liked it.
Yes. The "retirement travelers" channel did a video referring to Flexpats.
@@89daysaway yep, that's where I heard it.
Love this idea! My home base is currently in Beijing but I love the sentiment. I will say that I think more digital nomads need to try truly slow travel… I’ve seen a few burn out by jumping to new countries every month, and that is NOT sustainable (& not true “slow travel,” IMHO).
That’s why I love actually LIVING in one place & using it as a regional travel base… but I would also appreciate a small home in the US if I can afford it one day.
A huge asset in your setup is that simply having a physical address & active phone # so you don’t have to use family members’ makes it easier to handle the way that the US is NOT set up like other countries wherein they can even believe that citizens would choose to live abroad full-time.
Your tip on Two Factor is HUGE. PS, I use T-Mobile and it works over wifi like I am from the US even when I am calling from China, and they have free international service in over 100 countries. I have used it since 2017 with no problems. 😊
When we were planning on a full time overseas residence, we signed up for a US-based mailbox company that gives persons a real street address in Florida (St Brendan's Isle) for a reasonable price. Companies like that seem like a great option to maintain an address for a minimal fee. They can also scan mail so you can see important documents quickly, instead of waiting for shipping of your physical mail.
And ensuring that you can maintain 2 factor is CRITICAL! We have been screwed before when I tried to reactivate Google FI while overseas due to issues with my phone and physical SIM cards, and were denied. Had to wait until we got back into the US. Another person on this thread made a great point that people should always use eSIM for their phones while overseas, so that if you phone has to be replaced, it can be reactivated without having to be in the US.
This is a great idea based on the idea of worldwide tax. Most countries are adopting the policy of taxing people who stay more than 180 days so this strategy can minimize tax exposure.
Exactly what I was thinking. Already have my scaled down home drawn up, already took off for two months. Just go do it.
Perfect for us. Subscribed 👍. I retire 1/1/24 and my wife 1/1/27. We're French, lived 🇫🇷 since 1989, with zero in 🇬🇧.
Gifting the main house nu-propriété to the children in 2024, and selling off a property in 2026 will see us with a great budget for this lifestyle during our Go-Go retirement phase.
Thanks in advance for the advice 👍❤👍.
Sounds like a fantastic adventure! Thanks for joining us. :-)
I just did that in Rome for two months and Naples for one month. No pressure to go-go travel. More of a slow go travel.
And 3 months of amazing food.
Madeira is amazing g- We’re here for 3 months then back to rving in the US for 6. Great video
We agree. It has a great vibe. Amazing nature, with less of a tourist destination feel in most areas.
Exactly my plan but the goal of finding affordable place to retire. USA is not going to work for me
Thank you for the idea and view
I agree. I had selected three or four neighboring countries that I wanted to live in, but once I got to the first one, my mind set wouldn't allow me to break free and move along to a different place for a while. Looking back at the last 10 years, I should have set a 2 or 3 month limit at each place before settling for one country. Now that I am 10 years in, I would hesitate to reinvest in another country.
This sounds very appealing.
Before I watched this video, I was designing a 3-12 month trip to various S.E. Asia Countries sometime in 2025 [so far, my Intuition says start with Malaysia, at the Capital City of Kuala Lumpur]. I even have maps on my walls, with flag pins. I use A.I. to help me with an Itenerary, which is VERY helpful. I stumbled onto this video, and it helped define what I'm trying to do [a slow-traveler]. Thank You!! I just subscribed to your channel and website. I will view more of your videos soon
Glad we had some info you could use.
What did you use the AI for in your planning?
Great summary and perspective. Thank you!
We're so glad you liked it! Thanks for writing. We're putting more together now! Feel free to comment with any suggestions for future topics, etc. More soon. :-)
Nice video. The first I've seen on an approach I plan to explore next year. It depends where you go but I've found that many more eastern countries use Facebook much more, especially for rentals but if your budget is $2k you are not going to have a problem anywhere.
This is EXACTLY what I'm planning to do in the Philippines from Canada as a digital nomad.
Wow! That's a big adventure! Do you find the time difference a challenge in staying in touch with folks back home?
@@89daysaway It's a 12 hour flip sometimes 13 so morning there is evening here, I manage.
I'm loving this idea!
Thanks! Let us know if you have any suggestions for other topics. Thank you for writing!
This is plan on doing and I’m two years out in the waters and it is Wonderful.
Are you on a boat working !
That is exactly what I did for 4 months this year in Europe.
Welcome fellow nomad! Let us know if you have any suggestions you'd like us to address in a future video. Thank you for writing!
FANTASTIC! And here I thought I was unique in disliking the typical two-week vacation thing. But, what about friends?
This is a great question. Knowing what we know now, we'd be more intentional about making new friends by finding Meetups and groups to connect with. I (the wife!) got a bit lonely doing this and discovered I really missed connecting with people.
If you're lucky enough to have friends with similar interests and flexibility, you could have friends meet up with you while you are overseas, cook them some dinners and show them around. We have done that and it made their trips much better, as we were waiting to meet them at the airport, and already knew enough about the area to be able to support their interests. They did their tours during the day, and we would meet up for dinner and watch some TV at our flat. It gave them more of a sense of visiting local residents. But that really can be a stretch!
I've been doing this for several years, now. I'll be curious to see what you come up with in future videos.
We have a number of topics in mind that we should be able to post over the upcoming months. Any suggestions based on your experience?
@@89daysaway Not especially, which is partially why I'm curious to see what you discuss. The one challenge I have had is always renting on AIRBNB, since at least the places I've been in recent years -- Albania and Mexico -- landlords want a minimum lease of 6 months, which for a variety of reasons isn't an option for me. It sounded like you've had success in avoiding that ABB trap. Always curious about people's methods in that regard. Best of luck with the video series.
I’m starting by taking a lot of vacation to see where I like to stay !
Good idea.
My wife and I are planning on buying inexpensive homes (2-3 BR, 2 bath) in both Spain and Italy. In Spain, it’ll be in a village/small town about an hour from the Mediterranean coast-looking from Valencia area to Sevilla. In Italy, we’re searching in Abruzzo and Molise. Our goal is to acquire residency in one of the 2 countries and split time between them while we travel the rest of Europe periodically.
Valencia is the most overlooked and underrated city in Spain.. we love it!
I spend a few months at my home in NC and a few months in a city in Mexico. I rent my NC home out while in Mexico and thus provides income for my stay in Mexico. The cost of flying is also absorbed by the rental income. Seems like the perfect situation for me as I can escape the extreme heat and cold temps in NC. I have friends in both places.
Sounds like a great setup.
Great video. Amazing you and I never met but have so much common way of thinking. Your video is an excellent travel tool and guide. Take care.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for your kind words. Take care.
was looking at moving as well but this is definitely a wiser option! I can do Half the yr away and still spend time with family back home but still free to travel and enjoy my single lifestyle as a younger semi-retiree... I can do my part time job remotely from anywhere now.. I have a few good friends In Asia where I can leave a suitcase of essentials stuff/creature comforts when I am back home but still have them out there with me when I am back in the east..
Having someone in place at the destination is a great benefit. Much better than renting a storage space...
Great approach!
Thanks for your kind words and for watching!