Maybe I will relocate to Thailand, after all, I really can go anywhere!
My blog post today on the 30 Day Blog Challenge answers the question,
"What is your definition of location independence?"
I can define "location independence" as the life I am already living. I am truly location independent, and I can tell you that it is not easy. I smile at all the young blogging 'nomads' out there, claiming they are location independent, because I know they are not. In the end, most of them will go running back to their safe, secure home, which they haven't really left as they are just away travelling. They have a constant address, a place to which they can always return.
The main problem with location independence is that, once you are earning an income, where do you pay your tax? You can be sure that someone will want it! If you sign up with PayPal, they want to make you open a new account when you change countries (and they cannot be linked). It's hard to buy online if your bank account is in a different country from where you happen to be (they can track your whereabouts). My biggest nightmare is trying to buy software. For example, Adobe will allow me to download trial versions, but they refuse to sell me the product if I am in a different country from my bank account. Amazon is the same. At the moment, I am in Turkey, and Amazon will not send software there, although they will send other goods. These are just a few of the problems I have encountered with location independence, and believe me, there are many others!
It can be really difficult not having a permanent address. For most of my working life, I taught in international schools, changing location after each contract. Now I have retired, I am fortunate that my husband is still working, for the moment, and we are living in a company apartment in Istanbul. But that is only a temporary address. Years of travelling the world with our children resulted in having one living in Italy, one in South Africa, and one in Australia, none of whom are permanently based yet.
We haven't quite decided where we will go when my husband finally retires. His retirement plan is to travel the world, following test cricket. Mine is to go to live in Thailand, as it would be equidistant for travelling to my daughters' homes. It's a dilemma! I would happily go from one test cricket venue to the next (although not to watch cricket), as long as I could generate an income while travelling. So, what is the definition of location independence? In business terms, it's being able to work from anywhere in the world, and still generate an income. BUT, true and permanent location independence is very difficult if you really are nomadic.
Perhaps Natalie has answers to my problems, I do hope so!
