He Quit a Safe Life in the U.S. to Live Overseas — Was It a Mistake?

Описание: At 42, Daniel had everything Americans are told to want: a $92k software job in Seattle, a nice apartment, retirement savings growing steadily. He also had something nobody talks about: complete emotional numbness.

So he sold everything, moved to Portugal with $38,000, and bet his entire future on a country where he didn't speak the language, had no friends, and had no backup plan.

Three years later, he's saved $27,000 while living in Lisbon. He works the same job remotely. He has a handful of real friends. He eats dinner alone most nights.

Was it worth it?

This isn't a story about finding paradise abroad. It's about what happens when you remove all the excuses—the job, the location, the routine—and realize the person you've been running from is yourself.

No fairy tale ending. No "I'm living my best life" Instagram captions. Just an honest look at what geographic arbitrage, midlife reinvention, and bold leaps actually feel like when the camera stops rolling.

If you've ever wondered whether leaving everything behind would fix what's broken inside, this story will give you the answer nobody wants to hear: it depends on what you're really running from.

📍 RELATED TOPICS:
Geographic arbitrage USA to Portugal
Moving abroad in your 40s reality
Digital nomad loneliness nobody talks about
Seattle to Lisbon cost of living comparison
Midlife career change stories
Remote work international relocation
FIRE movement international living

💬 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What would you do with an extra $28,000 a year in savings? Would you trade community for financial freedom? Have you ever made a decision that was "right" but didn't feel like a victory?

Drop your thoughts below—especially if you've lived abroad or considered it.

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