Are you an expat? Lived abroad for years?

[mikEXpat]

I'd like to connect with Americans who have lived abroad (expatriated) for 5, 10, 15 or more years and then returned to the US. I'm planning to move back in a few years and would love the advice about living on the road off the grid. 

• Was returning difficult? 
• Do you wish you had stayed abroad? 
• How is the van, truck, RV life for you in the states? 
• Do you feel clueless and out of place?
• Are you going to retire in the states?

All the best,
Mike

Keywords that might help people in a search
Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Germany, Italy, England, Spain
Teach English abroad
expat, expatriate, gaijin, foreigner

 

[buckwilk]

5 years Central America, I returned every year for a few weeks. The permanent return was no problem. Didn't wish I had stayed abroad and have visited several times. I have been blessed to have traveled all over the world and love coming back to the States. RV life has been the most rewarding of my days. I have been accused of being clueless at times. (<; Out of place--never. I am giving some thought to moving my retirement back to Panama.

 

[mikEXpat]

Hi buckwilk. Nice to meet you. I'm guessing being able to return for a few weeks every year helped you stay connected or maybe disconnected. Either way it sounds like you've had a wonderful time seeing the world and living free. 

Why Panama? My mother is thinking of moving to Ecuador.

Mike

 

[Cammalu]

I lived in Peru for several years. I traveled around SA and still want to travel a lot more but not really to the same places. Costa Rica calls me from time to time [emoji3]

 

[mikEXpat]

Hi Cammalu. Nice to meet you.

This might be a personal question, but do you see yourself living in America the rest of your life or possibly living abroad? Wanderlust takes us far away, I just wonder if I'll ever return.

 

[Cammalu]

I don't know. I change my mind on what I'd like to do all the time. Right now I'm crippled up with a bad broken leg and just dreaming of traveling.

 

[mikEXpat]

Oh my. I hope you'll get back on your feet soon. It wasn't because someone said, "Go for it! Break a leg", was it?

Joking aside. Keep in touch. I'd be happy to hear about your travels and where they lead you.

 

[buckwilk]

Hi buckwilk. Nice to meet you. I'm guessing being able to return for a few weeks every year helped you stay connected or maybe disconnected. Either way it sounds like you've had a wonderful time seeing the world and living free. 

Why Panama? My mother is thinking of moving to Ecuador.

Mike

Panama because that was the country on one side of the Darien Gap that would cooperate with the US in those days. Drug interdiction isn't popular with all CA or SA countries.
Ecuador, interesting country, did a couple of ops there, not conducive to learning about the country. It is an equator nation so temps don't change much other than at altitude.. Very inexpensive country to live in for US citizens, though that can change, as we know from experience elsewhere in the world. Advisable to stay away from the Colombian border to the north. Colombia is a very troubled country and not particularly fond of Norte Americanos. Ecuador's crime rate is quite low for most violent crime but that is somewhat misleading because like most 3rd world countries, reporting is not their strong suit.
I'm interested in how you decided to come to this forum looking to talk to expats?

 

[mikEXpat]

I've been living outside of the US for half of my life; not in the service, just as an immigrant. Now I'm looking to come back to the US. Europe and Japan are wonderful places. Better for so many reasons than America. Living as a nomadic attracts me because I can meet people who might understand me on that level. I'm trying to see if I can put all of the pieces together in my puzzle for happiness. America, Europe, Japan? I don't know. I'm taking my time to decide.