In this report, I will discuss the 4 Anxieties Expats Say Made Them Leave Their Home Country and Retire in Paradise Overseas.
I like to think of my channel as a happy place where people think about their delightful future. But it is good to know you are not alone if you are feeling anxious about the future. Especially if you learn ways other people are overcoming anxieties.
I left the USA 17 years ago and I talk to expats all the time overseas. When I left the USA, it was to explore the world, a goal I had since I was a boy. I have lived in 73 countries since leaving the USA and I talk to expats all over the World.
Expats are as politically diverse as any other group. But these are common fears they mention when I chat with them. Whether I am in Asia, Latin America, or Europe, these fears are motivating people to move overseas.
I am not suggesting which of these fears are more likely to happen, I am just sharing what I hear. I am letting you people’s heads so you understand what others are thinking. These fears motivate people to move overseas.
After I share these fears, I will share the positive dreams expats have when they leave their home country.
Common Expat Anxieties
Economic Anxiety
- Recessions,
- Government mismanagement of debt; deficit spending,
- Fear of AI’s future effects on human jobs,
- Wealth inequality-declining middle class,
- Long-Term Viability of Social Security,
- And more recently …
- Climbing interest rates,
- Skyrocketing living costs, but static wages,
- Soaring stock prices unjustified by traditional financial analysis,
- HyperInflation: Unsustainable government debt causing
Today I Googled the following question: When was the last time the US debt was lower at the end of a year than it was at the beginning of that year?
Here is how Google replied: The last year the US debt was lower at the end of the year than it was on January 1st was in 1835 when the public debt was reduced to zero under President Andrew Jackson.
Now, I am no economist. But I was wondering, at what point will the debt be so high that we won’t ever be able to pay it off?
So, I Googled, “When Does Federal Debt Reach Unsustainable Levels.”
According to the Wharton Business School in the USA, and I quote from their webpage, for which I provide a link, “U.S. debt held by the public cannot exceed about 200 percent of GDP.”
So next I Googled, what is the US Debt right now as a percentage of the GDP? Google AI replied, “As of November 2024, the US debt to GDP ratio is 123%.”
So, a debt ratio of under 200% of GPD is sustainable according to Wharton Business School and the USA debt is currently at 123% of GDP.
So, the fear that the current levels of debt will bankrupt social security or cause hyperinflation in the US economy has not been reached yet according to Wharton. So as Mark Twain once never said, “The reports of the US’s death are greatly exaggerated.”
But if the public fear of hyperinflation will motivate politicians to keep the US debt at sustainable levels, that could be a good thing.
But other fears like, what will happen to humans if AI’s robots displace 50% of human employment have no resolution yet. That will depend our what the government does in the future. But, it would be a good thing overall for people to not spend everything they receive each month and save some for a rainy day.
Security Anxiety
- Fear of an increase in crime and violence.
- Political Polarization of left and right leading to civil war,
- Data security breaches leading to identity theft,
- Fear of human-caused violent weather patterns,
- And recently,
- Fear of a world war
Technological Anxiety
- Digital divide
- Fear of falling behind new technologies,
- Fear of job loss due to new technologies,
- Loss of online accounts,
- Fear video conferencing,
- And more recently …
- Fear of being locked out of bank access
Mental Health Anxiety
- The chaos of the fast-changing modern world,
- Fear that politicians are asleep at the wheel,
- Fear that humanity is going in the wrong direction,
- And more recently …
- A loss of hope for the future
Those are the main anxieties people share with me.
Next, I will share some of the dreams people have when they move overseas.
But first, can moving overseas solve all of the problems of the world? Absolutely not. But here is how it may help individuals in a more personal way.
Economic Anxiety: Lower living costs can reduce financial stress, allowing you to live more comfortably on a less. Retirees can increase savings when the general cost of living is lower. Reduce the pressure of keeping up with the Joneses that is stronger in our home countries. Disconnecting with bad spending habits is easier when you exit the environment that triggers your impulsive spending patterns.
Security Anxiety: Is naturally reduced in countries not engaged in political conflicts with their neighbors. Fear of crime and violence can be lower in paradise locations with lower crime rates.
Technological Anxieties: These are naturally reduced in countries much slower at adopting new technologies. Many countries still use cash for payment and the citizens are not all carrying around $1500 smartphones.
Mental Health Anxieties: A change of environment and a newfound belief in a better future can increase the motivation for steps necessary for positive outcomes. The more relaxed feeling of an overseas lifestyle can improve mental well-being. With the slower pace and fewer financial demands, retirees can focus on hobbies, friendships, and beautiful natural surroundings thereby increasing overall mental health.
Finally, what dreams do expats have when they move overseas? You already know if you are still watching.
Expats’ Dreams When Moving Overseas
Slower-Paced Lives: They want to live in cultures where people focus on lifestyle instead of commercialism. They don’t want to watch the clock anymore. They want to relax more, be spontaneous more, and not be so tied to a schedule. They want to be in charge of their own lives again.
More Sex, More Love: They hope that the slower pace will allow them to relax completely. They want sex in the middle of the day. They want to be able to afford a maid so they can focus on personal things instead of cleaning the house. They want to fall in love with their life again.
Money Left Over at the End of the Month: They are willing to be responsible with their money but they also want to live where they have enough money to experience life yet have money left over at the end of the month.
Peace and Quiet: They want to live a simple daily life not all wound up in gossip. They want to focus on what gives them inner peace instead of focusing on all that is wrong in the world around them. They want a simple life of joy, peace, and quiet.
Feeling Alive Again: They want to feel alive again. They want to have some adventure in their life. They want to be proud of themselves again. They want to try new things, experience life, and go out in a bang instead of a whimper.