This is good stuff. As an 11-year expat in Vietnam (12 time zones from the USA east coast), I have a corollary to #30 under Country… "Time zones matter if you work remotely. A 12-hour gap will drain you, if you’re not ready to work nights.”
Before retirement, I was an Instructional Designer. The 12-hour time difference was great because clients would send me something at the end of their business day; I would work on it while they were sleeping (my day time); and when they arrived at work their next morning, they would have what they’d requested. Clients loved the fast turnaround and US-based Designers couldn’t compete.
If you work async, the time zone can also be a benefit, yes! It's actually the same for me in Thailand right now. It's 6:24am right now, and I get messages from clients in, and can work while they sleep, and when they wake up, they get results in their inbox. The only thing that can "drain you" is if you have frequent meeting during THEIR daytime. But if you're working async, as you describe, it can even be a plus ;)
This list is gold, especially #48 on golden visas. Framing them as tools not trophies cuts through all the status chasing Ive seen in expat forums. When I was weighing residency options last year, the pressure to go for the "best" visa over the most practical one almost derailed everything. Lesson 93 about tax residency vs legal residency is another trap people missalmost always.
Thank you! Yep, the name Golden Visa can be deceiving, especially if there's other options that make more sense. Glad this helped, and I'm always happy when people mention the difference between tax residency and "ordinary" residency. One of the most common mistakes I see!
Thanks Ben. What an absolute goldmine. #145 really stands out for me. I am terrible at languages, but I always make an effort and when I lived in Japan I did get good enough to hold down an internship and with it develop many meaningful friendships. And also, huge congrats on the recent bestseller badge. Extremely well deserved! 🙏
Thanks Sam, really appreciate this! Last time I did a game with locals in Iran, I was asking them for a bunch of words in local language, and when I tried pronouncing the words, there was laughter all around. It’s a cool way to bond and at the same time learn the language a little. I still have all the Apple Notes from those games. And thanks for the kudos man!
The 2 year itch worries me, I'm still in my sampling era with a couple months in each place. I've narrowed down where I want to live and am going to start the clock for residency this summer... good to know I will probably feel that way in a while. Also dreading all the residency paperwork 🙃
The 2 year itch is normal, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It is a good reminder however, to not rush into any expensive residency options too soon ;) Which countries are on your shortlist?
Hey Travis, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure Spain's 2-year fast track requires you to be Argentine "by origin" (born there or parents are Argentine). Naturalized citizens don't qualify. The Argentine passport is still great on its own, just won't shortcut Spain.
Yeah the 2 year Argentina path is great either way. Just Spain will still take the usual 10 years. And keep in mind that Spain requires you to give up your US citizenship, if you chose to pursue it (in case that's a dealbreaker for you).
Yeah I just looked into it more, thanks for pointing all that out! I think the US passport is definitely worth keeping, especially with family there so that would be an deal breaker too.
This is good
Thank you!
This is good stuff. As an 11-year expat in Vietnam (12 time zones from the USA east coast), I have a corollary to #30 under Country… "Time zones matter if you work remotely. A 12-hour gap will drain you, if you’re not ready to work nights.”
Before retirement, I was an Instructional Designer. The 12-hour time difference was great because clients would send me something at the end of their business day; I would work on it while they were sleeping (my day time); and when they arrived at work their next morning, they would have what they’d requested. Clients loved the fast turnaround and US-based Designers couldn’t compete.
If you work async, the time zone can also be a benefit, yes! It's actually the same for me in Thailand right now. It's 6:24am right now, and I get messages from clients in, and can work while they sleep, and when they wake up, they get results in their inbox. The only thing that can "drain you" is if you have frequent meeting during THEIR daytime. But if you're working async, as you describe, it can even be a plus ;)
This list is gold, especially #48 on golden visas. Framing them as tools not trophies cuts through all the status chasing Ive seen in expat forums. When I was weighing residency options last year, the pressure to go for the "best" visa over the most practical one almost derailed everything. Lesson 93 about tax residency vs legal residency is another trap people missalmost always.
Thank you! Yep, the name Golden Visa can be deceiving, especially if there's other options that make more sense. Glad this helped, and I'm always happy when people mention the difference between tax residency and "ordinary" residency. One of the most common mistakes I see!
Ben, narrowing this down was hard — but here are the ones that really stuck with me, by number:
• #4 – “Your first country doesn’t have to be your forever country.” Permission is everything.
• #6 – “Fear doesn’t disappear. You just get better at acting while it’s there.” Accurate and oddly comforting.
• #13 – “Give yourself a timeline.” This alone prevents so much spiraling.
• #28 – “There is no perfect country. Only trade-offs you can live with.” Core truth.
• #33 – “Don’t confuse vacation energy with living energy.” A classic trap, perfectly named.
• #67 – “Prepare to feel unprepared.” This should be on the welcome sign.
• #141 – “Stop expecting permanence.” Quietly profound.
• #178 – “Build something that survives a move.” This might be the thesis statement.
This list is a gift — thanks for putting real language to things many of us only understand in hindsight!
Happy holidays, Kelly
Thanks guys! You really checked them all :) And you picked some of my favorites, especially #28! 💛
Thanks Ben. What an absolute goldmine. #145 really stands out for me. I am terrible at languages, but I always make an effort and when I lived in Japan I did get good enough to hold down an internship and with it develop many meaningful friendships. And also, huge congrats on the recent bestseller badge. Extremely well deserved! 🙏
Thanks Sam, really appreciate this! Last time I did a game with locals in Iran, I was asking them for a bunch of words in local language, and when I tried pronouncing the words, there was laughter all around. It’s a cool way to bond and at the same time learn the language a little. I still have all the Apple Notes from those games. And thanks for the kudos man!
Damn, this inspires me to live abroad.
Then my job here is done :)
nice
nice
well done
Thank you!!
nice
well said
Thank you! :)
Great
Thanks Redwayna!
nice
Thanks Amit
NICE
🥳
The friend stuff is real. Your friends become your family and everything in between,
Absolutely!
The 2 year itch worries me, I'm still in my sampling era with a couple months in each place. I've narrowed down where I want to live and am going to start the clock for residency this summer... good to know I will probably feel that way in a while. Also dreading all the residency paperwork 🙃
The 2 year itch is normal, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It is a good reminder however, to not rush into any expensive residency options too soon ;) Which countries are on your shortlist?
Argentina is my leading option then can possibly go for Spain to get around the 10 years as an American with the Argentinan in hand.
Hey Travis, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure Spain's 2-year fast track requires you to be Argentine "by origin" (born there or parents are Argentine). Naturalized citizens don't qualify. The Argentine passport is still great on its own, just won't shortcut Spain.
Ahh I'm actually not sure. Chat cpt told me about it snd I haven't fact checked since it is quite a ways off. I would do Argentina either way.
Yeah the 2 year Argentina path is great either way. Just Spain will still take the usual 10 years. And keep in mind that Spain requires you to give up your US citizenship, if you chose to pursue it (in case that's a dealbreaker for you).
Yeah I just looked into it more, thanks for pointing all that out! I think the US passport is definitely worth keeping, especially with family there so that would be an deal breaker too.