Thanks for taking the time to sit for an interview on my channel Kristin. I think I enjoyed it more than anyone. When people approach me they often say things like, "I feel like you are an old friend that I have known for a few years." Finally meeting you in this interview, I knew what they are talking about. I even had to stop and ask you, have we met before at any of the coworking spaces around the world? It just felt like I knew you already from watching your videos. Thanks again and take care! :-) Dan
Thanks so much, Dan - the feeling is mutual! I think some of our subscribers noticed, too, that we were having a lot of fun in the interviews :) Must repeat soon and hopefully meet in person someday!
Adapting for foreign cultures - I moved from the US to Thailand in 2017 at the age of 60 years old. I would like to say that I had no adjustment issues when I moved here. I do agree and advise to others that you should prepare for it taking 6 months to find out where things are and where to go. I am retired but when I was working as an engineer I viewed my purpose as helping others solve problems or achieve their goals so I was willing to listen to others. As an expat I also didn't arrive with an agenda or expectation that anything would be the same so I just "listened" to the culture around me, paused to take it in, and then try to work within that culture to do what I need to do or to see new ways to enjoy life. One of the little things I noticed right away was that Thailand was a cash culture. I found that I had to pay my electric bill at the local 7-11 at first. In the US everything was paid online but I didn't complain about the Thai way. After a few months I figured out how to pay online with my Thai banking app but I didn't let the little things deter me from appreciating my life situation. Different is just different. Not necessarily better or worse. As an American I am particularly conscious of not offending people around me so I am always looking for how locals behave and adapting myself. Keep an open mind. That is a sort of freedom from yourself and the baggage we all carry.
That’s great! I’m a nurse and visited Bangkok, Thailand & Dubai- I loved them all- I’m also considering relocating to Thailand/ Bangkok- my only concern is that now I’m divorced- is it safe for a single lady? I felt very safe but That was only visiting- any help is greatly appreciated- by the way I am born & raised in NYC- for comparison- we don’t scare easily- lol
@@user-iu6bv8vu8o I will say yes, I see women walking about all the time at night, but of course I really can’t know. The are Facebook groups for women and families in Bangkok. You might want to search for these
You are an excellent interviewer. You really listen, your follow-up questions are rich, and you let the other person truly talk--and your own contributions are so well-spoken and grounded. Thank you!
Good discussion, working for an airline never felt trapped, restricted, confined..the flight benefits were wonderful allowing visits to relatives in Sweden, Wisconsin, and friends in many other countries, great escape from the racing rats and it made a Concorde flight possible..always a sense of excitement boarding the plane and great feeling of happiness on arrival (except for home airport)..always nice listening to both you folks on traveling and living elsewhere 🙏🏻🕊✈️
I follow Dan and love his information. With help from his videos, I plan on traveling a lot more when I retire, so thank you for this video. in addition Kristin, I've watched quite a few of your videos. They allow me to live a bit vicariously through you! Thank you and keep the great videos coming!
Oh gosh I needed this! I'm going through the same thing in Italy . . . then onto Belgrade, Serbia for three months in September. Thank you both for this. 😌
Kristen, love your channel. I just returned from a 90 day exploration of Thailand and Vietnam, after believing I could retire there, but it was a big disappointment. I had been to Thailand 3 times before 2013, 14 and 15, and the difference this time was remarkable, It was exhausting, highly polluted in Bangkok, very expensive for most grocery items, more so that what I am used to in Florida and in the end I returned and won't go back. The poverty has increased as a result of Covid, the Visa restrictions annoying and expensive and the humiliation of jumping thru their hoops isnt worth the effort. Not finding enough people speaking english is not exciting. Vietnam, Danang in particular is a beautiful beach town, but with only a 30 day Visa on offer, that isnt worth it either
Thank you both! I am in Manhattan and just need to get out of the city. Thought a couple days away would do me good. The hotel prices are sky high -- even inland to places no one really ever goes. Ithaca, NY... $300 a night on a Monday for a Rodeway Inn Motor Lodge. Nearly $700 for two mediocre nights. That's crazy!!!! That could rent me a place for an entire month overseas. The USA is driving me nuts and into the poorhouse. I'm at my wits end and need to make a drastic change. Anyway, this video is helping me keep my sanity until I figure out how to get out of this hell-hole.
This is the best thoughtful analysis of slow travel I have seen to date with very experienced and realistic travelers having a mutually-respectful conversation...and not selling/pushing any agendas. After returning from a month in Europe, these points are accurate and useful for deciding if extensive travel is worth the emotional and physical wear and tear. Beyond the hype of travel, figuring out how much to travel and having accurate expectations seems to be the crux of the game. Well done, Thanks!!
Good to see you both together ❤️ I watch you both in RU-vid here and there. Tried Costa Rica, lasted 3 months on a job but still looking forward to slow traveling the world 🌎. You kept me alive during Covid lockdowns, spent many hours watching you both.
Hi Kristin! Thank you for this awesome interview and valuable information. I just pre-ordered your new Digital Nomads for Dummies and I am beyond excited to receive it in a couple weeks. Thank you for all you do and for giving your listeners tips and advice for future travel adventures 💛
oh wow, I am so happy to know that. It's my pleasure to share these with everyone! Thank you for the kind words, doodleacademy. Super appreciate it! 💛🙏
Just found this interview. Such a great conversation. Kristin your questions are so insightful and loved hearing the two of your share your own philosophies around life and travel.
I know so many people, aunts, uncles, parents' cousins or friends whose social security check is less than $1k a month that it is scary. Most of those people have no other income at all. If they do have other income it is in the form of SNAP, or HEAP, or some other small subsidy for specific life expenses, like maybe HUD assistance for a subsidized apartment. Those lucky enough to have some nest egg in a 401(k), IRA or to have some savings from the sale of a house don't have enough income from those sources to really meet their needs in the US, but healthcare is their catch-22. The Medicare and often Medicaid assistance they get lassos them to an unaffordable life in the US even more.
Thats where im at. Life is finally perfect here...except im bored atta my skull & all my $ goes for the house, the state, the fed, bills & food. How the hell can i go anywhere now? All i wanna do is sell the house & go!
In the retirement community there are two overlapping concepts. One is traditional retirement and the other is financial independence. Sometimes retirees continue to do something that is or resembles "work". They may or may not get paid for it. The key element is that you have used your freedom to choose what it is you are doing. You are living and "working" for yourself to give your life purpose and/or enjoyment and often giving something to others. Being an entrepreneur and, these days, a digital nomad you are not retired necessarily but you have achieved a version of financial independence and definitely achieved geographical and cultural independence.
Really good interview. You and Dan are my 2 favorite expat RU-vidrs. It seems like a lot of the expat vlog-osphere folks are out there mainly for upper class or very high earning expats. I like how you both usually concentrate on and are more sensitive to 'normal people' and average income earners. I've been subscribed to Dan's channel for about a year now. Some of the people he interviews and some the information he gives (especially regarding costs and tips for travel) are very helpful. I'm about the same age as Dan and I've been pondering trying to work abroad my whole life. His videos have become quite an incentive to me to begin taking steps to get my journey started.
Thank you, M. Fletch! I am glad to know me and Dan are your favorite expat RU-vidr. 💛 We are happy to know that our videos are helpful to you. Thank you for watching them and all the best to you!
Such a great interview Kristin. I have been a long time subscriber to both you and Dan. His retire cheap reports are really chock full of valuable information on each country he has visited. Well done!
You should interview me about traveling to 40/45 countries in Europe. I would love to discuss my adventures with your followers. I’m currently in Chișinău Moldova 🇲🇩
Thanks for this amazing interview. I just Joined Dan’s Vagabond Buddha membership. I really appreciate that Dan helps those folks like me that are on a lower income bracket. Most grateful.
In the US i often have chest pain, stress with work and traffic, look forward for vacation time which is often not enough but quitting my job and moving overseas was a godsend, no more chest pains, lower cost of living so i can afford a maid which makes my life easier to handle and feel i can live longer.
I think a lot of the time people don't get off the couch is the fear of loosing the "routine" that defines their lives. People find security in the routine without it they feel lost. You have to be willing to redefine yourself with no guaranties you will come up with a better definition. People who are content with their lives would be far less likely to take that leap. Even if they feel their lives are somewhat mundane and boring.
Really good interview Kristin. I've been following Dan's Vagabond Awake channel for some time and have really enjoyed it. But your pointed questions helped me to find out more things about him that I didn't know. And his going a bit more in depth about how even in these places that are less expensive to live in relative to the U.S. it doesn't mean that you're going to live an extravagant lifestyle. And his speaking about either not being able to afford health insurance, or perhaps not being able to obtain it once you reach a certain age was also eye opening. I also liked that he didn't romanticize the lifestyle that digital nomads live, that though it can be fun and rewarding, it's hard work. And I would think that it is. Having to continually come up with content that is both interesting and useful must be really hard. It was a really good conversation that was very candid which I appreciated.
Glad you like it @think planet earth! I appreciate the kind words. We are so glad that you enjoyed and found the video interesting. 😊 You have a great day!
Great interview, Kristin. I follow Dan and he has a lot of important information and insights that he shares. I just wish he had been around 20 years ago. Love your channel. Thanks.
Thank you Kristin, I have watched a lot of your videos you have a lot of really great advice, just wanted to say thank you. And this talk today is great too. :)
@@TravelingwithKristin You stated something about the American dream, about how we were sold a fake bill of goods. I've been saying this and more for years. Back in USA, 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s, Americans born then had more opportunities and financial possibilities than any other generation in the US and the world. And yet, look at these people now ... THEYRE BROKE. So many, broke, with little to nothing. Or, the only thing these people have to their names are bunches of junk. Back then, there was affordable rent. Housing. Healthcare. Things were so easy compared to today. Yet these people of that generation is calling the younger generation as lazy and stupid. People from the 40s through 60s had access to a near free education. I graduated Arizona State 1994 at a cost of $500/semester unlimited classes. These opportunities for affordable education are today nearly gone. And if you do get an education, you've got perhaps a decade of debt and you're forced on the wheel of endless debt. Just so sad what has happened to my country. I left the USA back 1995 and ever looked back. Far far more opportunity abroad. And, it's just more fun !!! Thanks for reading my drivel ... :)
That depends. Small illness yes you are perfectly right. Big illness and no money? Forgetitboutit! Nobody’ll come to your rescue. But if you’re in your home country, you’ll be covered by gov insurance like Medicare in the US
@@michaelbfree2run883 that’s a very broad stroke. As a immigrant to this wonderful country of freedom and liberty, I’ve also traveled numerous countries for work and leisure. Are there countries with better medical systems than US? Oh yes. But when it comes to advanced medical tech and medicine and research, US stands tall. When you get older and when you need such cares, you will understand. Yes it comes with a cost. But does social medicine does not come with a cost? Really?? Too many in US having the best or almost best in the world and not knowing it
I say live alternatively and move around like the guy says that's what I that's what I do live alternatively I live out of my van part time yes I do have a bass but I travel and everything I'm not retired yet but when I retire that's what I want to do I won't say one place..
Amazing clip Kristin, the best I've seen on your channel. Thank you so much! I like the guy's perspective, but wouldn't share his specific path. He seems like a great guy though.
Kristin, great interview My wife and I are 62 and retired, no debt, about 1.5 million in investments, earning about $5,000 USD per month, we realize we can go and live anywhere, but we don't know where is best for us. We have no health problems, we hold Canadian passports, we love SE Asia, Costa Rica. Wife is from the Philippines (easy 1 year visa on arrival). We have friends in Cambodia, but Cambodia is not well developed, very slow or non existent internet, we have no idea where to move to. We think maybe just land in Thailand, get a 30 day visa, then another 60 day extension in country, then travel around (we have done this several times already and love Thailand), we can always apply for a 1 year retirement visa in Thailand (we can prove income easily). What are your thoughts???
I find owner in America is about work work buy stuff buy stuff bye bye bye that's what America is about the capitalistic Empire this is why most people in America are stressed out or have work done out because everything is built on work hard work hard make money and then retire and then die.. While most other countries in Europe especially they encourage you to work hard as well but they encourage you to enjoy your life and calm down that's why they have the full day work week America does not it's a six day work week in America.. I have one refused to live that way ..which is why I live alternatively..
In the US, health insurance premiums go down as someone get older. Somebody with a serious medical condition at a young age is going to live longer with that condition than an older person with a serious medical condition. Those young people end up costing the insurance companies more than older people, simply because they will likely need expensive health care for many more years.
I find almost everyone living the nomadic lifestyle are without children or their kids are grown up. I don't see how this type of lifestyle is suitable for raising a family in a stable environment surrounded by family and friends. Personally I find this a heavy price to pay to be "free" as you call it. Not everyone that works a regular workweek hates their job. I love traveling and will do much more of it now that I'm nearing retirement, but nothing beats having a place to call home.
Hi Rob, I understand and thanks for sharing your insights. Indeed it is not for everyone and if you prefer to stay in one place with your kids that's okay. Some do are able to travel with kids because of their unique set of circumstance. You might be interested in my podcast about full time traveling with kids www.badassdigitalnomads.com/leaving-corporate-america-to-become-a-full-time-traveling-family-world-towning-part-1/
The people that would have a problem with this is people who live in First World countries like America and Europe they go to a more second world country or third world country to live it's more simpler and the people those countries are very happy but you have to adjust if you want to live there it's hard for you because you're from a first world country where everything's right there for you when you go there it's all DIY ain't going to work hard to bye to find it and you can live simple though that's the thing..
@@TravelingwithKristin definitely my love so true so so true this is why most people have work done at or unhappy because they're doing jobs and things they don't really want to do because it's motivated by paying bills all day..
You are so right my dear the system is set up for you to serve someone else this is why I tell people and this is my slogan live life on your terms nobody else's it's that simple that's what I'm doing and that's exactly why encouraged to live alternatively I posted to live in normal like regular people.. which is to work work work buy brand new cars brand new houses and being dead all day no thank you..
@@TravelingwithKristin you're more than welcome because your channel even though you're not about alternative living it kind of is because the lifestyle you live is about freedom and living life on your terms that's what attracts me to channels like yours the sad thing is a lot of people don't know how to obtain Freedom which is why they're working and have work burn out on the early age..
It is great advice to tell people they should make an exploratory visit but the Catch-22 is that people retiring on a Social Security check don’t have the money to make those visits.
@@TravelingwithKristin no way my comment justified a reply 😅 but eh yo what's your feeling about Costa Rica for me? I'll give you 20 bucks for a 5min assessment of fitness as such
Not true, people usually live for the day and spend most of their. income on junk…whatever they want….credit cards etc…..etc….meaning they live beyond their means and do not save for retirement. Also, travel today is a pain in the ass….and dealing with seeing people living in miserable conditions….etc etc etc.
You obviously haven’t lived in other parts of the world it’s the greatest for you .. but the education and health care system is abysmal believe me I know I worked as a nurse in Scotland and USA it’s all money oriented … university costs a fortune healthcare a fortune what you pay for both of them is just the same as our higher taxes except you never have to be poor if you get sick or in dept for education … I hope you get to see more of the world
The US is still a land of opportunity for people in poor countries and it is someplace where you can make a lot of money during your working years. Being retired in the US is not such a good deal for too many. Living overseas is a better option for some retirees if they plan properly.
People make POOR decisions or have NO options in the early stages of their lives , thus when they want to retire they have FEW options and little money
