Why I Quit My Dream Life as a Digital Nomad and Returned to the USA

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Living Abroad: 🌍

Watch next: 👀
First Month in Portugal as a Digital Nomad
How I See the US After Living Abroad
Why Americans Leave Costa Rica
10 Places I Would Live with $1,000
Cheap Countries for Digital Nomads

Chapters:
00:00 Background Story
4:47 Why I Quit Being a Digital Nomad
5:52 Career
7:57 Family
10:05 Relationships
11:11 Friendships
12:08 Health
14:05 What Next?

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👱🏻‍♀️ About: Kristin Wilson is the author of Digital Nomads For Dummies and host of the Traveling with Kristin podcast and YouTube channel. She's traveled to more than 60 countries and has been helping people move overseas since 2005.

PS: This video is for entertainment purposes only and is not consulting or advice. Video descriptions may contain affiliate or refer-a-friend links for products I use and recommend. Thanks for supporting the channel!

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#travel #digitalnomad #livingabroad #whyiquit

[MrJim]

Everything you talked about is 100% normal. As we get older our hopes, dreams, desires, priorities all change and evolve. That's just part of life. You've evaluated yourself and decided to make a course change. Good for you! Enjoy this new time with friends and family! ❤

[bessmahaneypilates]

I’m just starting…I’m 64 years old. Your videos have been very helpful for me. Thank you. Good luck in your future endeavors ❤

[FelixRothbart]

*Larry Burkett's book on "Giving and Tithing" drew me closer to God and helped my spirituality. 2020 was a year I literally lived it. I cashed in my life savings and gave it all away. My total giving amounted to 40, 000 dollars. Everyone thought I was delusional. Today, 1 receive 85, 000 dollars every two months. I have a property in Calabasas, CA, and travel a lot. God has promoted me more than once and opened doors for me to live beyond my dreams. God kept to his promises to and for me*

[mmanjin]

Being single, with no children, and no one other than yourself to support makes a huge difference. This is what has primarily allowed you to live as a digital nomad. As you are now experiencing, your perspective on life changes significantly as you age and progress through your life's various stages, and that is normal as everyone experiences that to various degrees. In life, change is inevitable and should be viewed as a positive.

Everyone's situation is different; you should always do what works for you. Good luck and God bless you on your next step change in life.

[mkoschara]

I don't think of taking a break and pondering the whats/wheres/whys of life as quitting. It sounds more like you need a sabbatical from a lifestyle that can be exhausting at times. My experience was moving back to NC after sixteen years in NYC and expecting to pick up where I'd left off with friends and family. Fast forward ten years and my wife and I have now been living in Costa Rica for over five years. It's been channels like yours that have helped us stay sane during our relocation to "Pura Vida, " especially during the pandemic. Te aprecio a ti, Kristin. Please know that you've changed many, many lives for the better.

[seamusp]

Your self-awareness is just part of what makes you a rock star. 😊

[nmandowa]

I admire how you are taking stock in your life and can shift perspectives when needed.

[karenespig]

Good for you, for recognizing that your needs have changed and for acting on meeting them. They will no doubt change again. Enjoy your new adventure and your family. You have indeed touched on many of the challenges faced by slow travellers and nomads. All the best 🤗

[JLTravels]

Totally resonates! I’ve been a traveler in many styles since 16y/o & now at 71y/o I’m a full-time solo female van-life nomad celebrating over 5 years. Having been thru multiple stages of life, I understand transitioning is normal; it’s the next step to a new chapter! Have fun!

[jlovel]

I was a flight attendant for 21 years Kristin so I know and feel what you are talking about. In that time my wife and I raised 2 beautiful daughters who are now just in their 30's Married and one Daughter with 2 kids. I am now traveling along the West Coast with my Wife and dog in an RV and having a great time in retirement. Sounds to me like you have squeezed the juice out of the life you were living and now are in that new chapter. The intense emotions you are feeling that may catch you unawares are great indicators and helpers on your journey of what to do next. I wish you good luck in your journey. I have enjoyed your content so much and wish you the best with what comes next.

[paris]

Hi Kristin,

I’ve lived in Orlando, FL for the past 5 years. I’m originally from Turkiye but I lived in the US as an immigrant. I faced the same challenges as you. My father passed away, many close family members passed away and I couldn’t even go to their funerals.

I also had a love interest who liked me back in Europe but due to the distance, it didn’t work out. Now, I’m moving back to Turkiye to spend time with my family. I won’t be staying there permanently but I missed them and they need me.

I’m still working on the income part as I want to be able to make money from anywhere in the world. That’s the most challenging part. So that we don’t have to work in a certain place and wait for holidays to travel.

Sometimes you need to listen to your instincts. If something is not making you happy anymore, you need to change that. Traveling all time is exhausting. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.

[nunuvyurbiz]

I’m 55 and feel like I’m just getting started! I’m planning on retiring early next year, to travel slowly. I will not have a home base anywhere. Eventually I can see distilling it to fewer and fewer places and maybe eventually stopping somewhere.

[jozsefizsak]

It's always a pleasure to listen to such a kind, thoughtful and intelligent person as yourself. You're part of the world that still makes sense and it means a lot to know you're out there. Be well. 😊

[NomadElite]

All good things come to an end. You've just entered a new cycle that is more suitable for your current stage in life.

[annemariesmith]

You don't have to be all things to everybody. People that love you will always support your decisions in life. You are now embarking on a new adventure in one place. Thank you for all of your travel advice!

[Cindy-xkvm]

Getting older changes the horizon for all of us.

[nickbali]

I am 75, still leaving the U.K. every winter to follow the sun for 6 months.
Firstly, I would highly recommend you getting a Permanent Residence Visa for Mexico, you can start the process in Miami, should be very easy for you.
Not a bad idea to have a Plan B ready for the next lock down.
They cant stop you leaving if you're headed for a country where you have residency.
Secondly, change often makes us uncomfortable, you can't stop your body clock ticking, just be so grateful youve seen and experienced so much of the world in your youth! And now, when in doubt, stay put and wait patiently.
Thirdly, I have taken a long time to learn that " Wherever you go, there you are". And so for me it always comes back to " Who am I" and the only answer to that is meditation, the only way.
Much love to you Kristen, you are a sweetheart ❤️

[geebs]

On YOUR terms, on YOUR timeline. Yes! I changed careers 5 times and am now retired and living abroad. I had collections of vintage models, electronics, and cars. Over time I felt they were tying me down. I sold everything and am happy living a more minimalist lifestyle. I can live wherever I want whenever I want. But I have very good friends in their 70's that were born and still live in their home town and can't fathom my choices. We should do what is right for us and for some of us that changes with time.

[faraboverubieskerry]

Hi Kristin, I think it is great that you are wanting to slow down, spend time with family and maybe establish a residency somewhere else in the future. I also traveled a lot in my 20s and 30s. Then I started to want to slow down as well. I went back to the US and stayed there for many years. I moved abroad 2 years ago to work remotely and I have stayed in the same place in Croatia this whole time. I had not traveled in a while and some of your videos really inspired me to go for it so here I am! It is nice to get to know the locals and find favorite places etc. I wish you the best in this next phase of your journey. Thanks for all of the really useful info and video content you've shared so far. 🥰😍💖

[lindadorman]

I’m so glad you brought up this topic! Like you, my lifestyle has changed over the years. From 2001-2012, I was a corporate expat living and working outside the US helping my employer expand into new markets. Then I left and became a digital nomad, working freelance projects exploring global opportunities for other brands until 2015. I came back to the US to change careers, go to culinary school and spend the next 5 years working in the food industry. But during the pandemic, I launched my own US-based company that requires my presence. I always planned to retire and live abroad, but I love what I do and don’t want to give up the extra income. My solution is to keep a low-cost live/workspace year-round in the US and close my business for a few months 2x a year to travel. Since it involves sourcing international goods, my expenses are tax-deductible. I also don’t need to deal with long-term residency/visa or banking issues. I would love to hear from others, especially older singles, who might be considering or already living the same lifestyle, splitting time between just a few countries. Our stories could be a new book or video series idea for you too!