I was known in my friend circle as a patriot. A full-blooded American. I even worked in Congress during my college years.
Since November 2021, I’ve lived in 7 countries in Latin America in under 2 years. Now, I bought a home in Colombia and have no plans of returning to the States.
The last 2 years have been a remarkable experience. It’s changed me. These are the 3 realizations I’ve come to about my home country:
1. I don’t owe the USA anything
My great-grandpa grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, my hometown. Every summer, he ventured north an hour to their cottage on Cedar Lake. In 1939, he started a 4th of July parade and speaking event that we still continue to this day – two generations later.
My country is special to me. It’s allowed my family and me to pursue our dreams. I know I’m incredibly lucky to have been born in the United States of America, the land of the free and home of the brave.
But what my great-grandpa, my grandpa and even my parents see in the United States, I don’t see.
Think of it this way:
Countries are companies. (They very much operate like corporations anyway.) It’s a country’s job to court citizens – like customers.
How do they do that?
- Values
- Tax policy
- Cost of living
- Business climate
- Immigration policy
If your home country’s policies don’t match your goals and ideals, you have every right to search for another country that does. You do not owe your country anything – even if you were born there.
Granted, it’s not as easy as choosing a new toothpaste brand, especially for US citizens. But the analogy still stands.
Go where you’re treated best, as Nomad Capitalist often says.
For you, the United States may be your best option. Hell, for millions of people around the world, America is the best choice for a better life.
For me, I prefer a government, culture and society who don’t tax me out the ass, who reflect my more traditional values, and who look favorably upon businessmen and entrepreneurs.
To each their own.
2. The American dream is what you make of it
The common understanding of the American dream is that anyone, including immigrants, has unlimited possibility in the United States. The opportunity to live how they want to live. The chance to be anything they want to be.
For immigrants, the American dream is alive and well. The land of opportunity still exists.
For Americans, I’m not so sure.
81.8% of Americans are trapped in an artificially-lit cubicle (read: dungeon) for 40 or 50 hours a week for 40 or 50 years. With no real optimistic outlook for the future.
- Housing is more expensive than it’s ever been
- The drug crisis (fueled by big pharma) has no end in sight
- Cost of living has skyrocketed vs. stagnating wages
Is that your dream? I’ll tell ya, it’s the farthest thing from mine.
There is no better place on Earth to make money than in the United States of America. I’ve always believed that. And I still believe it.
But boundaries have shifted. The internet has changed the game. You now have the same power in your pocket that billionaire robber barons of the 19th century would’ve dreamed of.
You don’t have to commute 2 hours every day to a job you despise.
You don’t have to work in middle management for a company who doesn’t care about you.
You don’t even have to live in the United States to earn dollars.
My life changed when I 3x’d my income while traveling the world full-time and learning a new language. That’s my American dream.
3. The perfect place does not exist
Think of your favorite vacation spot in the world. Or maybe it’s your hometown that makes you oh so comfortable.
Now remember this – There’s someone in the world who hates it just as much as you love it.
Every location has its positives and negatives. And to each individual, each of those positives and negatives has a different weight. What you consider incredibly important, I couldn’t care less about.
Your dream home might be a sunsoaked beach cabana in southern California.
That’s my version of hell 🤣
Opening my laptop to sand in every key? No thanks. Sinking 75% of my net worth into California real estate? Yikes. Government getting bigger and more intrusive by the day? Hard pass.
I’m far happier in a cozy mountain cabin in a moderate climate unbothered by government.
I’m done trying to convince people to see certain parts of the world. What they value and what I value are completely different. I prefer “3rd world chaos to 1st world orderly dystopia.”
So that’s what I’ve learned over the last 2 years living out of the United States:
- I don’t owe the USA anything
- The American dream is what you make of it
- The perfect place doesn’t exist
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If you’ve lived outside your home country, has your relationship changed as mine has? Email or DM me.
