An Expat’s Biggest Regret (And How To Avoid It)
In my 23 years of living overseas, I’ve never met anybody who hated their new home so much that they packed up and went home.
What almost everybody has admitted to me, though, is that they wish they had done this sooner… that there are now precious years of their lives wasted that they won’t ever get back.
I hear this from readers, too. Often, it’s only when people fully understand what’s on the other side that they realize they could have done it all a lot sooner…
After 15 years of traveling to Nicaragua, Darrell Bushnell and his wife Amy finally settled in the colonial town of Granada.
“We bought a 160-year-old colonial house with a large patio, and we knew right away that this was the place for us,” Darrell told us. “Everything in Granada is within a short walk of everything else. Vendors come to our door selling fruits, vegetables, soap, animals… just about anything you could imagine. We enjoy the unexpectedness of it all.
“You tend to reinvent yourself when you make a move like this. I never wrote before in my life, but now I write a lot. Amy has always been in art, but she never taught before. Whatever you’re interested in, there’s something here for you to do.
“We love it here… the only regret is that we didn’t move down here sooner.”
Canadian expat Michelle Bradshaw found her paradise in Tulum, on the shores of the Mexican Riviera. Michelle continues to work part-time, long-distance for her old Calgary-based company. But she’s also tapped into the opportunities in town to boost her income. She started by offering a house-sitting service, then later trained as a yoga instructor. Today, she leads her own yoga classes.
“If you want to do something, it will come to you,” says Michelle who appreciates all the natural wonders on her doorstep and the casual atmosphere around town. “When I wanted to take a yoga course, it was right on my back door. My sister who has moved here, too, became a diving instructor.
“Things get done… but it may take some time. The fast city pace is not here. It’s very relaxed and very comfortable. My only regret is that I didn’t make the move sooner. Here, I feel like I’m getting younger by the day.”
Another fellow reader, Mary Arnold, recently made her new home in the community of Carmelita Gardens in Belize’s Cayo District…
“As a 70-year-old widow,” Mary told me, “I did not feel that I could make this move alone. It just seemed too daunting.
“But the dream of moving offshore kept pulling at me so I went to another LIOS conference. That’s where I heard about Carmelita Gardens’ new project with the cottages. I went by the information table to meet with Phil Hahn and Jaime.
“I had already decided that I wanted one of these ‘tiny houses,’ but there was never any pressure at this table or any of the others. I picked my lot and put my money down. From that first encounter I’ve been very blessed with the personal relationship with Phil and Jaime.”
Almost three years on, Mary has settled into her new home in this special community in Cayo where she enjoys an active life that includes fishing, hiking, and kayaking…
“This has not been daunting at all. Live and Invest Overseas and Carmelita Gardens and all associated with them have integrity and knowledge that they easily share. No hidden agendas. My only regret is that I did not do this 10 years ago.”
It’s inspiring to read these stories… but it’s nothing like the fire that will be put under you when you get to hear our expats speak, live and in person, from the podium at an event… and connect with them over coffee or cocktails, when they can answer your personal questions…
So, if you’re tired of thinking and dreaming… and want to get moving… then our Retire Overseas Conference is the best place to start…
The team of experts and expats gathering this Sept. 23–25 in Baltimore will help you get past all the confusion, worry, and self-doubt that can hold you back…
Whether you want to retire, reinvent yourself, or are craving a new adventure, we’ll introduce you to the top 14 places you should consider… and prepare you for what to expect along the way…
I hope you’ll join me and my far-flung team in Baltimore. Together, we can make this the year of no regrets.
Kathleen Peddicord
