Why live somewhere else for a year?
A lot of times I have been on holidays somewhere and thought, “This place looks so wonderful, I would rather live here that where I currently live.” Who else has ever thought this?
To live elsewhere for a year is a wonderful way to “trial run” that idea, before you sell everything you have and own. It may have appeared fantastic when you were just briefly there, but on a longer stay it may not be where you want to live forever. By spending a year there, you don’t have to sell or move all your possessions, you can always come back if you choose.
A year will go by quicker than you can imagine, make the most of it.
Below are some of the reasons that I am living elsewhere for a year at a time:
· Live through all four different and changing seasons
· Do tourist activities at a slower, yet more intense experience
· Have rest periods between activities, no longer rushing to fit everything into a short space of time
· Take time for self-care
· Use sites, such a Groupon, which have introductory offers to restaurants, attractions and personal care providers. I have found a great hairdresser and masseuse using these sites
· Use sites such as meetup.com to find locals that share your interests or can help you develop new ones
· Be near family and friends
· Develop ongoing relationships with locals
· Find favorite new places and redo them frequently
· Challenge my way of thinking about certain things, step outside my comfort zone
· Make new friends
· Eat different foods regularly
· Soak up the history, the people and the culture
· More time in a place equals more learning opportunities
· Study
· Volunteer and be appreciated
· Do some paid work (if local laws allow)
· Teach others
· Develop my current skills in new ways i.e. gardening
· Learn local indigenous skills and hobbies
· Learn new skills and hobbies
· Attend lots of local events, fairs, markets, festivals etc.
· Purchase a season ticket to events
· Follow a local sports team each season
· Join a local sporting club
· Learn a new language by using it every day
· Admire and appreciate the different nature and geography to home
· Learn to navigate and familiarise myself with the area, until I no longer need a map to get around
· Live with less. Less clothes, less things that I used to think of as important, less material possessions
At the end of my current year in Perth, I will check back in here and see what other ideas to add to the list.
I like to imagine myself, a year after arriving. I would have lived the year so fully as an immersion traveler, that I would be able to conduct local tours as an expert guide.
Happy Travels!
