Summary

An individual shares their transformative journey from a settled life to embracing a nomadic lifestyle, detailing their experiences living abroad in places like Bali and Mexico.

Abstract

The author of the web content, who has inadvertently become a nomad, recounts the allure of a vagabond lifestyle that began after tasting the freedom of life without the constraints of a fixed abode. Over a dozen years, the allure of constant travel and the ability to relocate at will has led to a profound shift in their perspective on home and possessions. The decision to leave their native country was solidified after a ten-month stay, during which the appeal of continuous movement became irresistible. The narrative emphasizes the joy of unencumbered living, the beauty of daily experiences in various cultures, and the freedom from the burdens of property maintenance and the pressures of materialism. The author reflects on the ease of moving on from a country that no longer satisfies and the excitement of choosing new destinations, despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, Bali was chosen as the next 'home', reinforcing the author's belief in the liberating power of a nomadic existence.

Opinions

The author expresses a deep satisfaction with the vagabond lifestyle, viewing it as a soulful and liberating experience.
There is a clear preference for the flexibility and freedom that comes with not owning property or being tied down by material possessions.
The author values experiences over material wealth, highlighting the joy found in simple daily activities and new adventures.
A sense of wonder and enthrallment is conveyed about how life's journey has unfolded, with the author suggesting that there are no accidents in life.
The author holds a pragmatic view on aging and health, focusing on the present joys rather than potential challenges.
The ease of transitioning to new countries is seen as a significant advantage of the nomadic lifestyle, allowing for a life free from the encumbrances of furniture and 'tchotchkes'.
The decision to move to Bali is presented as a deliberate choice made after careful consideration of various options, including other parts of Central and South America, and Southeast Asia.
The author recommends the nomadic lifestyle to those feeling complacent or seeking adventure, with only a minor regret of not starting this way of life earlier.

Living Abroad — Bali and Mexico

Why Choose a Vagabond Lifestyle?

Isn’t it simpler to stay put?

I never set out to be a wanderer or nomad. It was accidental, yet serendipitous.

After savoring the sweet nectar of unstifled freedom, unencumbered, carefree days with no schedules or demands, and endless new adventures, I was hooked.

For the first few years after becoming infected by the wanderer bug, I popped back to my native country briefly between long-term trips.

Each stay, however, more strongly affirmed a profound longing to be on the move again.

The decision was solidified during my final ten months in the now ISA (Insane Asylum of States) after years in India, Thailand, Bali, and Mexico, with stops in Nepal and Egypt tucked in.

My abdication this time would be permanent.

The vagabond lifestyle had permeated my soul.

It has now been more than a dozen years of answering either, “I’m homeless” or “Wherever I am today” to the inevitable question from residents around the world, “Where do you live?”

Who knew that after age 50, one’s world — of an American middle-class comfort zone — could drastically morph into transient unpredictability?

Despite believing there are no accidents in life, how and where I find myself continues to mesmerize and enthrall me.

It’s a marvelous, other-wordly adventure. The best and unimaginable.

Everyone I know in my former home is either paying off a mortgage or pouring monies into paid-off abodes for landscapers, pool service, renovation, or maintenance.

I bear no similar commitments or duties. My landlord’s staff handles all those issues.

Friends may be excited about their latest four-wheeled purchase, likely another SUV or possibly an electric one. Never again shall I own an automobile.

I typically walk everywhere. Occasionally, I hop on my rented Scoopy motorbike. Or, if traveling a farther distance, a ride share it is. In some countries, I board a bus or train or grab a rickshaw or taxi.

When others obsess about aging, health challenges, or financial woes, my mind drifts to joyous reminders of this peaceful daily existence. I smile and feel contented.

Wandering the beach. Reveling in the meditation of crashing waves. Basking under the regenerative endless sun. Reading new books.

Writing. Visualizing an upcoming spa treatment. Deciding what new eatery to patronize.

Doing my yoga practice at a time convenient for me. Stopping at the local temple to offer a silent blessing.

One enormous advantage of a vagabond lifestyle is if one country no longer intrigues or satisfies, it is relatively easy to move on. No longer am I shackled by a house full of furniture, a collection of tchotchkes, and extraneous stuff.

That discontent occurred after spending two-and-a-half years in Mexico. When moving there, having not visited the city previously, my thoughts were two.

First, I expected to remain…to die there. Second, I would move elsewhere, though, if I became unhappy.

Upon concluding the country wasn’t my cup of chai, my excitement level ratcheted up. I started researching the next leg of this brief journey we call life. Juices were stirred as I explored myriad possible new “homes.”

A plethora of options existed.

Would I return to my beloved India that invaded my soul more than a decade earlier, having lived there for nearly three years?
Should I head to Bali, Indonesia’s paradise, another mesmerizing place where I had spent two months?
Was it time to explore more of Central America? Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Belize might be enticing?
How about South America, a continent I’d yet to set foot on? Ecuador was high on the list.
Might I consider other countries in Southeast Asia, such as Sri Lanka or Cambodia?

A decision was made.

Within a couple of months, I had reached a decision.

Covid-19 was still raging throughout the world, though. Hence, immediate travel options remained limited. Hence, my departure would be delayed a few months longer. But that wasn’t concerning.

We vagabonders care little about time. It allowed for the required downsizing of belongings, packing, and soaking up the Pacific Ocean.

Bali it would be.

The magical, breathtaking Island of the Gods soon became my new abode.

Why keep moving? Why not stay put?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The decision to forego a permanent home to follow my heart, soul, and inner voice has been exhilarating and remains liberating.

I highly recommend wandering for anyone feeling complacent, bored, or seeking adventure.

If I have any regret, it’s only a wee one — of not taking the plunge earlier in life.