Dear Reader,
After months of putting up with my vague posts, theoretical questions, and general whining, let me give you something concrete:
On January 5th, 2010 I will be moving to Bangkok, Thailand.
Thailand you say? Thailand.
Let me give you a little bit of background. For the last year or so my buddy Ryan has been planning his round the world trip (same guy that wrote the Quit your Job, Move to Hawaii series here). So for the last year, I have been thinking about joining him. I really hadn’t made any sort of commitment, after all I was still in my job, and he has way more money saved up than I do.
If you had asked me a month ago what my plan for the new year was, I probably would have said it was a 6 month+ backpacking trip through Central and South America.
However, as much as I would still love to do that at some point, I have found my goals are shifting. I don’t want to be in a new place every other night, and frankly I can’t afford to do that. Over the next year or so, I am realizing that I have a very clear goal, that I am not sure I have ever actually defined prior to this. My goal is:
“To create a lifestyle where I can make a living, while still enjoying the freedoms that location independence provides.”
Had I been travelling full time, I just don’t think I would have made much progress getting that business off the ground. Sure I would have the time of my life with my best friend, but I don’t want to be in a position a year from now when I am down to $200 in savings, and no progress towards my goal lifestyle. At that point, I would probably just chalk up my losses and get another desk job.
I don’t want that. You don’t want to read about that. So I am not going to let that happen.
So what am I going to do instead? Well, moving to Thailand sounds like a pretty good idea!
You are probably wondering what made me decide on that locale (or maybe it is obvious), but a few of the reasons are:
- Cheap cost of living. Portland, Oregon isn’t exactly the most wallet friendly of towns. Sure it is nothing like NYC or London, but in relative terms, it isn’t exactly the budget traveler’s mecca. Also, as I have now adopted my frugal lifestyle, I have realized there is a lot I can live without. Seeing as how I will be showing up with nothing more than a backpack, my computer and an adventurous spirit, I am going to put this new personal fiscal policy to the test!
- It’s exotic. I really wish I had a better reason than that. But after seeing The Beach a few years ago, I knew I was destined to go sooner or later. Bangkok seems like the ideal central location to be able to explore both the lush jungles of the north near Chiang Mai, as well as the white sand beaches and azure waters of the south. Not to mention the city itself will be completely exotic in its own right.
- If not now, then when? I am certainly not getting any younger, and I still have goals of getting married, having kids etc. So the time frame to be truly independent and do something like this is shrinking. NOTE: That isn’t to say you can’t do it with a wife in kids (as Mr. Adam Baker has proven and then some), but it definitely adds another level of complexity.
- It’s the place to be! Cody Mckibben, Adam Baker, Dwight Turner, Justin Dupre, and possibly Glen Allsopp and Diggy. Now that is some good company to be around, and I am hoping to meet up with all of them at one point or another.
You could ask me for more details than what I have already given you, but frankly, I don’t have many. The next six weeks will be spent doing some minor research and making sure my affairs are in order, but I am really just flying by the seat of my pants with this one. It will be more interesting this way! So if you have any suggestions, places to see, eat, stay etc. PLEASE leave a comment or send an email.
So, now that I am moving to Thailand, I do have one more small obligation to take care. My buddy Ryan will be starting a blog for his world trip, and now that I have essentially ditched him to pursue my own dreams, the least I can do is help him get his blog up and running! He has identified five potential blog titles that he likes, and I offered to use Location180 as a sounding board for advice. So if you could at the very least, vote in the survey below, and if you really want to help out leave him a comment with any other words of wisdom.
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Sean Ogle
Sean Ogle is the Founder of Location Rebel where he has spent the last 12+ years teaching people how to build online businesses that give them the freedom to do more of the things they like to do in life. When he's not in the coffee shops of Portland, or the beaches of Bali, he's probably sneaking into some other high-class establishment where he most certainly doesn't belong.Join over 40,000 people who have taken our 6 part freelance writing course. Sign up below and let’s do this together.
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