The Second Step to Moving Abroad: Explore
I am not sure if the exploration phase is my favorite or if it is my dream state. I say this because you can dream of the perfect life or country, and when you visit, you hate it!
That's why I recommend having at least five countries on your list to visit. You can imagine the same life in each country, but if I am honest, they will not all be the perfect fit.
When I realized I would live abroad, I knew which countries were out. Yet I crossed them off only after I visited each country.
When I started traveling, I wanted to be nomadic, at least for a few years or forever; who knew? I thought I would settle in my home country of the US since the logistics of living abroad at the time seemed daunting.
However, as I traveled, I began to think about creating a life outside of my home country.
Once you are in your exploratory phase, adding and crossing things off your list is easy. However, first, you must know what you are looking for, which is why you always need a WHY.
Why are you moving?
What is the number one thing you can not compromise on?
I am sure you have a few things, but don't make the list too long, or you will never find a spot.
A few things are essential to consider in your exploratory phase. My list was not very long; after traveling for six years, I ended up having a handful of things on my list:
I wanted to be on the same side of the world as my family and have an easy flight to the US,
Warm weather, and I wanted to live in the mountains.
Affordable cost of living.
However, you need to make your list and compare cities and countries. Yet you might not know where you want to end up until you visit that country.
Lately, there are a lot of people who have decided to quit their jobs or work online and explore possible homes. Plus, there are a lot of YouTube channels and blogs dedicated to comparing cities, so you can do a lot of research before arriving in the country.
For example, if you know you want to live in a warm climate, that crosses off many potential countries. Your list got smaller.
Maybe you know you want to live close to the US like me, and then your list gets even smaller. Before you know it, you have a handful of countries to visit.
If you are retired, you could take a year off and live in each country for 1-2 months to explore the area, understand a bit of the culture, and start taking classes to learn the language.
When you begin to learn a new language, it helps you understand the culture even better. While exploring countries, I wanted to check out Georgia, even though it is far from my family.
I could not settle down until I went there, mainly because it was a country within my budget. Living costs are a huge factor in living abroad, and I heard it was affordable on an income of 1k or less, so I went.
The country also has mountains, and the Caucuses were some of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen, but I would never learn Georgian or Russian. I also realized it was too isolated and close to Russia.
If you pay attention to what is happening in Georgia, you will notice that there have been many riots and issues in Tbilisi. So, in hindsight, my decision not to move there was a wise one. Yet, it is still a great country to consider relocating to, even if it has a few issues.
Another thing is when you are on your exploration trip, you will learn about visa rules. Sometimes, when you are in the daydream phase, you forget this part because when you are dreaming, anything is possible.
Yet once you put the pedal to the medal, you realize how important it is to get a visa in a certain country.
Living in Colombia as a retiree is easy; living here as a Digital Nomad can be challenging. You have to prove income, and they can deny your visa.
So, when you are choosing your country and are in that country, I recommend consulting a local lawyer or other expats who have moved there and know the ins and outs a bit better. Knowing someone in the country can make or break your experience.
Know your budget.
Traveling to these countries and researching via Facebook, YouTube, or blogs will help you understand how much countries cost. I also recommend getting out of the tourist areas and expat bubbles because those areas will always be more expensive.
I also recommend meeting up with expats in the rural areas. You can find them; it just takes longer because we stay hidden.
I have met up with at least four people who follow me on YT and my writings, and we have talked about rural living. There are people out there, and you can pick their brains. If you end up in my area, I will happily meet you for coffee.
Make a list of what you MUST have and what you are looking for when you visit that country.
I also recommend taking a few language classes before visiting or arriving in the country. Knowing a bit of the language, even greetings, will help you more than you realize.
I spent a month or two. If you are a remote worker, ensure your company knows you are leaving the country. Then, in that country, you can see how good the Wi-Fi is or if there are local co-working spaces with high-speed Wi-Fi.
We have Starlink, so many rural areas now can have fast Wi-Fi for remote/digital workers.
If you are retired and living on a tight budget, choose countries where you can live comfortably. Sometimes, you only know how much things cost off the tourist track once you visit.
Most bloggers/vloggers live in hotspots, and prices can be exaggerated compared to a small town in almost all countries. My prices are significantly lower than those of someone who lives in a bigger city.
Lastly, I recommend paying attention to your instincts and how you feel in that country.
You will know if your initial reaction to this place feels good or off.
I also went to Israel last year; since I am Jewish, I knew if I liked it, I could move there with The Law of Return.
Except when I stepped into that country, I felt off, not in a good way. I felt on edge and knew I could never live there; a few months later, they were at war.
Listen to your instincts. It will never lead you astray.
When I set foot in Colombia 6 years ago, I knew I liked it, and after I left, I felt called to come back. I kept coming back and back, and I wanted to stay each time.
So, I stayed; it also met all of my criteria. I could afford a house and learn the language. The people are kind, the food is fresh, I live in the mountains, and I can be in the US within 4 hours.
Know your Why.
Have your nonnegotiables, and start exploring.
Also, keep in mind that these might also change the more you explore and get to know yourself outside of your comfort zone.
XOXO
S.
I have videos on my YouTube channel about Georgia and Israel:)
Once again I went down the rabbit hole with your U-tube videos. Today I explored Georgia with you. Somewhere I'd never considered, but it looks enticing after watching your work. (I was surprised to see all of the signs in English and when you stopped and talked to the workmen, and they spoke English.)
I might have to put more into exploring at this stage... but really at the end of the day I do want to live in a Spanish speaking country.
Now... back to Colombia, I'll try not to get lost again. :)