Ever thought about a giant leap?

[Todd Black 88]

I'm a kiwi, and spend 6 months of the year in and around the Mediterranean, and the other 6 in the Caribbean. Tough life, I know.

Cruise ship industry?

[AdironRider]

While not to another company, at 22 I had 500 bucks to my name, packed up my entire car and drove out West to live the ski bum dream in Jackson Hole.

It was by far the best decision I have ever made. Like everything else in life, things will fall into place and you'll have a hell of a time. Do it and don't look back.

[Farbin Kaiber]

I up and left LA/SoCal 4+ years ago and moved to the middle of rural bum funk Idaho farmville. Best decision I ever made, second only to getting married.

[AdironRider]

Nothing says awesome like the Pocatello area.

Im just up the road in Victor. Idaho farm towns are sweet.

[Farbin Kaiber]

I really like Victor/Driggs as it is a more "Idahoan" feel, and a budget way to still be a "Jacksonite". Interesting to realize we watch the same news, and are pretty close regionally. I really would like to get out your way more regularly.

[AdironRider]

I like that salty older lady that does the 6 o clock news most of the time on NBC. Amazing down home old lady color commentary on a lot of stories.

[Farbin Kaiber]

I like that salty older lady that does the 6 o clock news most of the time on NBC. Amazing down home old lady color commentary on a lot of stories.

I see her all the time down at the grocery store in Blackfoot.

[Emre]

I'm planning on selling my house when the market is near peak again, and instead of putting the money toward a better house or college (hope to make at least $40k from my house) I'm fantasing about funding a trip around the world in my e30.

You'll lose a bunch of that to capital gains tax.

[Keith M]

Did it. 15 years in the automotive restoration business and a I was ready to shoot somebody. Sold everything, bought a motorhome and now am working (with the sequester, I'm officially a paid volunteer) for Fish and Wildlife. Seasonal work all over the country. 45 and happy with life.

DO IT!!

[Kozworth]

I still want to do the giant leap. I had a rough year or so between family/personal/financial issues. Right now, its official that I actually have an appartment, so I will be stuck in the home town for the next year. Atleast this year I can really work on my automotive skills and try to become the best tech that I can, so when the lease is up (and friend is graduated) we can move elsewhere.

I really wanted to move the PNW. Looks awesome, big e30/german crowd, you still have access to cities, and its a little bit cheaper then where I am at.

[phreshkid]

I have a lot of friends that do the travel lifestyle. No/few possessions. Mostly they are seasonal park rangers, raft guides, mountainbike guides, snowboard instructors, ski patrol etc etc.

The trick is to never sign a lease or buy 'stuff'.

My friends that bought houses and stuff have facebook pictures of their babies, new cars, and that kinda stuff. The ones that travel have pictures of alaska, japan, china, brazil, chile, all over the US.... etc etc.

I am not sure which set will start regretting not going the other direction first, but I will say this house + 5 vehicles is way more headaches than it is worth.

I've been to Nicaragua and it is awesome and cheap. Folks from costa rica have nicaraguans working in their homes. Nicaraguans have people from Guatemala and Honduras working in their homes, if that tells you anything.

Here is a little seaside cottage for 60k~ and believe me they are still ripping you off. The average nica makes like 2k a year but white people love blowing money there. A taco on the street for lunch costs 10 cents.

http://www.viviun.com/AD-194468/

If you are good with websites and selling property you could ball out a retirement/vacation community pretty quick. And the locals would love it, because they want to work for american dollars.

They are super catholic though and hate drunks, although many of them are.

* due to the income inequality i have had some friends get everything stolen out of their house twice. I would recomend a very community area with a central location that rents the place out while you are not there, so nothing gets stolen.

here is a beach place that looks pretty neat~ http://www.aurorabeachfront.com/nica...%20Palermo.php

Everything is super cheap down there, so if you can find a good spot that is 'safe' for tourists you can build a mansion for 10k. No heat or a/c needed. The electricity usually doesnt work anyway so dont bother with that. One awesome bed and breakfast for surfers and you could be set for a while.

My current housemate has a bed and breakfast in Hawaii so I am going to rent my place out and head there maybe next year.

I can confirm all of this. I went to Nica for a week to surf and build a church and most of what Q5Quint stated is correct. You could by a nice plot of land 1 minute from the beach for under $10k. Stay away from "buying" property on the beach as it is all government lease property. These leases are usually set at 99 years and can swap hands infinitely in that time, but will never be owned by anyone but the government. Be warned.

I may have said it on here, but I am buying property in Nicaragua in the next year and building up a nice estate where I can grow many trees. Because I like trees. Teak, Palm, and Acacia Koa. 30 years down the line, I will sell and live the life of a local gringo worried only about how much fun can I have next.

Costa Rica blew up. Nicaragua is about 10 years behind.

[E30 Wagen]

You'll lose a bunch of that to capital gains tax.

After taxes, closing costs, etc, $40,000 is realistically what I will have in my pocket. It will take a few more years, and my house needs a little work, but so far I'm happy I listened to my parents and bought a house when I did.

Getting tired of being tied down to a house and a job, though. But such is the American way.

[threlevenguy]

Costa Rica is looking better and better. If ANYONE knows ANYONE down there that I could contact, it would be much appreciated. Networking is key and I trust the R3V community and our peeps.

[Onizukachan]

I've been pondering very seriously lately about selling all my possessions and moving to Costa Rica. Cool place, democracy, not at war with anyone. Don't mind a minimalist lifestyle.

Anyone live(d) there? Thoughts? Rob?

I did. Not as democratic as the surface appears. But nice, if you can live without some of what we now consider essentials.
my dad goes there 2-3 times a year for a month or 6 weeks and still wants to retire there.