Image by Paco CT
Ana from Japan says:
I’ve been looking to become location independent for over 5 years now. I have no particular expertise in anything and no upfront money. My absolute passion is Spain and Europe – and writing about it (travel issues, destinations, hotels, pilgrimages, etc.). But as I’m not currently living there and can’t travel there often, I can’t access insider information to provide credibility. I can’t use it as a base for a business.
I’m from the U.S. but currently teaching in Japan. This is my third time here. In 2000, I left behind a modest life in Los Angeles to go for my lifetime dream of living in Spain. I was unable to make it as I had little money and it’s difficult to get a work visa. So, out of money, with no home to go back to, and with debts to pay off, I ended up teaching English in Japan.
There are no longer any decent day jobs at home for a 55-year-old woman without a professional background (in my former life I was a proofreader/editor and typist.) Being here is a means to an end…
I have no particular passion for this place and I don’t speak Japanese (although I am trying). I want my lifestyle to be truly location independent. I don’t want my remote living to depend on being here. After struggling back home for the past 5 years, I came back here with the goal of making a successful remote lifestyle within 2 years, so I can move to Spain. At my age, failure simply isn’t an option anymore. I have got to find something. I don’t want to end up stuck back there toiling in a retail store at age 60!
The Coach’s Answer
Ana is in a place that many people find themselves in during an economic downturn. There are no easy jobs to be found, going back to school is prohibitively expensive and time-consuming, and there’s the age bias working against her if she enters a new field.
Plus on top of all that, Ana’s dream of living in Spain is severely hampered by her lack of European passport or work visa.
Add all this together and you get a pretty discouraging situation.
Specifically I see Ana’s Somedays as being:
- Living in a country that won’t allow her access without a proven stable income.
- Living a location independent lifestyle based on doing work using the skills she has.
- Making the most out of the next 10-15 years to allow for a retirement, and being able to live exactly where she wants to live.
When I first read of Ana’s plight, I thought that her Somedays seemed almost too far out of reach to pursue and considered counseling her to find something more achievable. But I have no right to tell someone to give up her dreams.
Yes, achieving her Somedays will be difficult but they don’t have to be impossible. Let’s take a look at each one…
Living in Spain
If Ana can develop enough of an income to pay for flights, her day-to-day expenses and to put money aside for retirement, then while she might not be able to live in Spain permanently, she could turn to house sitting, taking three month gigs (the limit of a travel visa) alternately in Spain and the United States.
This would not only get her into Spain for at least part of the year, but also remove the cost of rent or a mortgage. And if she can gain enough income in the next decade or fifteen years, she might then be able to retire to Spain proving that she has the income (and health coverage) to live in the country without needing support from the Spanish government.
As I write this I see a lot of “if” statements based around income. Yes, Ana will face challenges developing that income but it doesn’t make the dream impossible. At least there are alternative ways to get to Spain which she might not have considered previously.
House Sitting Options
Location Independent Income
My first recommendation here would be for Ana to take deeper advantage of the Location Independent offerings on this site – because there’s nothing better than learning from the experts about how to develop a Location Independent Business.
There are many skills and options that Ana can consider…
She lists proofreading as a skill she has, and typing as well, indicating an eye for detail. Plus she’s been a teacher for many years, meaning she knows how to explain and how to listen. And by living in a culture where she doesn’t speak the language, she shows that she can adapt to new and potentially stressful situations without breaking down.
Put all those things together and add in the desire to be Location Independent and I immediately think of a Virtual Assistant with a proofing/editing specialty. And fortunately there are many resources for learning how to become a VA.
Virtual Assistant Resources
There are any number of programs both free and paid that offer training as a VA – click here to see what Google came up with.
And that’s just one business idea!
Making the Most of Time Available
The harsh reality in Ana’s situation is that she’s not a 20- or 30something. She doesn’t have five to ten years to build up a business and make it successful. She needs it now or at least within the next year. That means an almost obsessive focus on developing the business.
This intense focus is contrary to what I normally recommend as I believe true success comes from finding a balance with all areas of our lives. In this case, however, Ana has about 15 years to develop not just an income, but a retirement fund as well.
Basically over the next at least six months if not a full year, Ana will need to eat, sleep and breathe her new venture. This level of dedication requires not only passion but a detailed plan and because of that I recommend the Location Independent Guide to Business.
Other LIP resources on the site include
Homework
Here’s what I would suggest Ana do in the next three months:
Figure out her basic needs
What are her minimum needs to live on a day to day basis in the US for the next year? This does not include daily expenses for life in Spain, the travel expenses for going back and forth between countries, nor retirement income. This is what will get Ana through the next twelve months as she develops her business.
Find a long-term (one year) house sitting gig in the US
There are many such gigs available and this would give Ana the stability of location where she can get a part-time job without having to think about moving about while she dedicates all her energy on developing the new business.
Get a part time job to cover your basic expenses
While Ana said she didn’t want to be 60 and working retail, right now is not the time to take on work that will require much investment emotionally or intellectually. If she can find work that covers her basic needs and that she can walk away from (bothy physically & mentally) when her work day is done then she can devote all that saved energy into developing a business that will take her out of that part-time job in her spare time.
Start networking like crazy
Online businesses are all about making connections. Even before starting anything about the business, Ana will need to begin developing those connections. If she comments on blogs and participates in forums specific to small businesses, when the time comes to launch her own business, she will have the connections necessary to generate income.
However, there’s a caveat here: The participation in the online world needs to be highly focused. While it’s necessary to let personality through (allowing people to feel connected to her), Ana will also need to subtly include a sense of helpfulness in her online participation, answering peoples’ needs sometimes even before they express them, so that when she does launch her business, people already see her as detail-oriented, incredibly helpful and someone they can trust & might turn to for help.
Figure out future needs
This is where Ana will determine what income she needs not just to live part-time in Spain and travel between countries, but also what savings she will have to accumulate to ensure a large enough retirement income that will allow her to retire in Spain.
Develop the new business
And of course most importantly, starting right now, Ana needs to determine what type of Location Independent Business she wants, what skills she’s missing (and therefore need skills training of some sort), and what steps to take to build the business to a successful level quickly.
Ana’s situation and her Someday desires have come together to create a difficult path for her, especially in the next few years, but by having a direction and with enough passion and commitment to work hard now, she will not only develop a Location Independent Business, but finally achieve the Someday that’s been nagging at her for decades.
A generous dose of reality for a Friday morning.
I think any aspiring LIP can benefit from this post since, regardless of age or skills, a sense of urgency and a strong focus are important to make things happen.
Thanks for putting all these resources and tips in one single post.
Wow.
That was a killer piece of advice. Sharp, to the point, and slightly uncomfortable.
But exactly spot on. Let’s all wish Ana the best on her new high-speed adventure!
@Lisette
Thanks – you’re right about all LIPs applying it. I was actually planning to go through the points and seeing how my own plans fare…
@Andy
Tough love, all the way! ;)
This is very sound advice indeed for EVERY starting LIP who does not have the money (or time) to start slow. There won´t be no guarantee for success, but following it will definitely rise ones chances! A great post!
Why not be a freelance editor or proofreader? Editing/proofreading jobs can be found on proz.com. Or trying googling proofreading jobs or freelance proofreader. Maybe she can also be a freelance English teacher or tutor in Spain. Wishing her all the best!
OMG! Just came online, 1st time 2 this site, and find out I’m not the only nearly 60 woman with this problem. I don’t want to leave the country, but basically same story, except I’m disabled and SS keeps turning me down because I’ve never worked enough so I have zero! income, to top it off I’m living with boyfriend I don’t want to live with just to be able to eat on a daily basis. So, I’m off to check out becoming a virtual assistant! I can use a computer quite well! THANK YOU!!!
Does Ana have an email address? I’m in Barcelona right now and will be traveling to Tokyo next week. I’m planning on moving to Japan so I’d love to sit with her and discuss living and working in Spain and Japan.
Alex, your advice to Ana was genuine, hard hitting yet compassionate and packed with actionable steps. You are a great coach! The advice given to Ana was spot on and I am sure will not only help her to achieve her somedays but so many others as well. The VA suggestion was fabulous, there is a definite need globally for good VAs. Good luck Ana!
Great advice, and an awesome action plan. And being a virtual assistant is a fairly ageless profession.
Developing a location independent practice takes work, but like so many things, it’s worth earning!
I’m living in Málaga province right now although moving to France early 2010. There are plenty of long term house sitting and TEFL jobs here. I would recommend that Ana investigates these options. In addition the LIP Round Table is just brilliant for business coaching if it’s still open for new members. I’m very happy to help Ana in any way I can so if she’d like to drop me an email, we can talk!
Hello to all!
I don’t know if there’s a limit on response lengths here, but this’ll be kind of long for reasons you’ll see:
First, in case I get cut off, Alex or an LI site administrator, how do I get my email address to Anthony so we can communicate? He might already be in Tokyo; if he’s there next weekend, I’m within commuting distance. Even if we can’t meet, I can give him my mobile number.
There are still jobs here, Anthony, especially if you’re young.
I just found out I’m not being renewed in this job. I have 8 weeks to find something. If I don’t by Dec. 23, I have to fly … somewhere. I have no home and my sis’s family can’t take me in.
Alex gives some wonderful ideas to keep me busy for the next year. I’m praying to whatever spirit is up there that I end up in a place, fast, from where I can plan.
Otherwise, it’s … a YWCA somewhere until the little money I have runs out. Then a shelter.
I also have a $13,000 credit card debt. Anything I do has to cover those payments. A retail job won’t do that, let alone enable me to invest in a business or save anything for retirement.
Minimum wage barely pays for food and (cheap) shelter. It’s the reason my c.c. debt ballooned to such an extent.
Retail work has not only financial but physical challenges for me. I have a very hard time being on my feet for 4 to 8 straight hours at a time, and very bad knees for frequent bending down.
Working retail was a nightmare. I remember waking up crying every morning because I hated it so much. And then having to live in poverty on top of it … there has to be a better way … an office job somewhere.
Alex’s suggestion to do long-term planning in the U.S. is an excellent one.
Note: Ok, except for the medical insurance fiasco. People, let me assure you, that’s a U.S. problem. Today any industrialized country in the world, save none, has easier access to health care, and quite a few countries where the quality is as good or better. Even in Europe if you can’t access the public system and must carry a private policy, the cost is a mere pittance compared to the states where a private policy could bankrupt you, and covers as much or more. ‘Nough said on that. It’s a different subject that deserves an article of its own.
Of course, going back to the U.S. seems kind of depressing because it represents a sort of “end” to my odyssey, but really it wouldn’t be the end if my planning works out.
Mia: Thank you for your kind suggestions re: freelance editing. I’ve had a couple of gigs in the past few years, and hopefully will have more once I get settled again! :-)
Few people make a full living from it, though. And in Spain you still need a visa to live legally, however you earn your money. As Alex says, it’s just not possible to get (unless you marry a European).
Housesitting: Now that my sense of urgency has gotten, well, far more urgent, I’m looking hard for this. I’ve cat-sat before so I’m familiar with going to the vet, cleaning, watering, taking care of a house, keeping organized, etc. No repair or maintenance experience, though.
I took the Caretaker’s Gazette for a number of years. Most gigs I found required experience in home maintenance — repairs and such — and wanted couples. The other offers were short term only. I never saw any for 6 months or more.
Housesitting really can’t be depended upon long term because, even if you find one housesit you qualify for, where do you live until you find the next one?
Still, I’m looking into anything, including those sites Alex provided. I need a place to go in December.
The only real difference between the ideas Alex provided and my actual plans is in how I wish to combine working, which I need to do, and being in Spain for regular intervals during the next decade until retirement. I know I can’t live there full time until then.
Rather than going full speed ahead into a business that will require at least a couple of years to get underway, and then depending on that and housesitting to get me into Spain part time … I’m thinking instead of a day job I can do right now or with minimal training that will allow a couple of months of vacation each year. Say, a school secretary.
As a sub I learned that most secretaries at least in elementary schools work close to an academic-year schedule (secondary school secretaries tend to work year round). In some states, there are varied work years for secretaries and you can indicate that when you apply: 12 months, 10 months or even 9 months sometimes.
Public-school secretarial salaries are modest but certainly adequate (more than I’ve ever made before Asia). With careful saving and modest but steady investment into an online business, I’ll be able to get to my Spain a couple of months each year.
Benefits are excellent. I wouldn’t have to worry too much about health care. I’ll be able to save something for retirement. My age group retires at 66. Although that, too, will be modest compared to someone with 25+ years to go, it’ll supplement my projected social security adequately enough to finally get into Spain permanently on a retirement visa (rather easy to get with just minimal social security).
Freelancers and business owners have to prove substantial income over a period of time, at least $75,000 per year at last check, to qualify for a visa to Spain. Retirees only need $1,000 a month in social security. Make sense? Not to me but apparently it does to the Spanish govt which wants to avoid any chance you’ll seek a job. I guess they think a retired person would never look for a job. Crazy thinking but that’s the current law.
While working as a school secretary I can progress in the slow and sure manner Alex normally advises towards a location-independent business.
Disadvantages:
- This requires lots of research into states, districts and then, of course, applying for jobs. I need a job now!
- I have little computer knowledge beyond email, googling and web searching, and no experience in the field. So I can’t really compete.
And Midnite Daydream … bless your heart, you’ve got challenges I don’t, but it sounds like a lot of chutzpah, too. Looks like maybe I’m not the only one who could benefit from this post.
If Alex is suggesting housesitting for me, why not you, too? As I said, I’ve no maintenance knowledge myself so I couldn’t repair things or do anything really physical. I don’t know the nature of your disability but maybe you could look into that, too, to get you a roof over your head somewhere. And if you’ve got the resources to train as a VA, that’s terrific. Your computer knowledge gives you a great head start. Go for it!
Okay, now that I’ve responded for myself … I can tell you all that in a couple of decades of speaking to coaches, taking some free coaching training, attending countless seminars, participating in success teams, etc., ad infinitum, I’ve never seen a coach or website owner go over and above the way Alex has done in this post.
They say coaches shouldn’t give advice. Fine, Alex doesn’t; he gives suggestions. Very specific suggestions you couldn’t dream of getting out of most lifestyle coaches who concentrate on inner obstacles while ignoring outer ones.
Most coach training programs tell you the client’s supposed to come up with their own ideas. Fine again. That’s the ideal. But we don’t live in an ideal world and I’d rather have a coach that doesn’t always go by the book.
And as Andy and Lisette say, his dose-of-reality style isn’t always comfortable but you know what? It’s real. I get weary with the you-can-have-anything-you-want drivel. You can’t. Let’s face it, my situation isn’t promising even as originally presented. It’s downright precarious. It looks even less promising with the facts I’ve added.
That a coach and owner of a website on fulfilling your dreams even takes the time for a major post on someone like me is outstanding. A woman on the brink of homelessness isn’t likely to be in a position to buy any information products. Well, friends, let me assure you, his recommendations will be the first I’ll consider while I still can.
Alex wasn’t above actually digging for information before posting his article.
The majority of coaches I’ve spoken to or thought about hiring had absolutely no idea that I’m not legally allowed into Spain and accused me of making excuses. One business coach who ostensibly specializes in expatriate life actually asked me, “So what’s stopping you from buying a plane ticket?” Duh.
In short, I was impressed beyond belief with the extent of research, thought, respect and caring that went into Alex’s article on my situation. His website isn’t even directly related to my problem, it addresses procrastination. So if anyone truly wants to finally get ahead with your dreams and deal with your own Someday issues whatever they may be … stick around the Location Independent blog and the Someday Syndrome site. You’ll be glad you did.
Anthony, when I click on your name I get into a site called “Zoomeropia.” How can I get in touch with you privately?
@Everyone – thank so much for your fantastic comments & support for Ana but let’s now see if we can do something even more…
@Ana – thanks for the additional details. I have an idea…you say you have the necessary experience for freelance editing? I assume you have no website set up etc. to advertise your skills in this area – I’ll be in touch privately about that.
Here’s my idea: I am sure there are plenty of bloggers/website owners who would benefit from having an external editor to give their posts the once over but one of the reasons most people don’t hire one is that they can’t afford one.
What if you were to offer your editing services at a rate that people could afford (initially)? – which may be somewhat less than you’d like or are worth but would help you build up (a) a client base and (b) another stream of income. This model has worked really well for others who’ve charged very little at first to build up a client base – and then been able to increase their rates.
We’ve been looking for someone to help with editing – but can’t afford a fortune – and I’m sure others are in the same boat. You’d only need 20 people paying you say $50 per month for x amount of editing and you’ve instantly got an extra $1,000. $50 is probably do-able for most bloggers who could benefit from editing but can’t afford a full-time editor.
So…any other bloggers out there up for it?
Marion, thanks a mil for your offer of help. I’d love to chat with you anytime. What an interesting musical life you’ve led!
I hate to add a “however” to such an enthusiastic comment, but there is one in the case of me and any other American: We can’t live legally in Spain. Those tefl jobs you see are held either by Brits or non-Europeans who’ve overstayed their 90 days. Ditto for any housesitting gigs.
(Marion is from the U.K. and has an automatic right to live anywhere in the European Union. And why not, say I? It’s their continent. Wish it were mine, but we’re back to reality, friends. :-)
She sounds like an absolute doll and her suggestions are tempting as all get-out. But living illegally at 50+ doesn’t exactly allow for good long-term planning.
Lea, got your site and I’ll be in touch by email. Excellent idea, and yes, I can help you. I’ve seen lots of sites that could use even some basic editing to sound professional.
Since I’m not directly selling my services here, I’ll be honest because this is what I meant when I said I had no specific expertise. I’m not yet tech-savvy and that’s why I haven’t formally marketed my services. The questions I would ask probably sound basic to most of you:
- I do not know how to get access to the text of a site to edit it. Any website editor would be surprised by that.
- On one of my two freelance gigs (which I got at a seminar in New York), I was required to format the document as well as edit it. I ended up hiring an expert in MS Word because I didn’t know enough advanced functions and only have the ‘02 version. The client was very pleased with the editing but I didn’t want him to know I didn’t know the Word functions. I’m sure I could get a testimonial from him and from the other job I did.
I was a newspaper copy editor in Los Angeles for several years. Straight proofreading and editing, no formatting or computer knowledge was required.
I’ve done some proofing of documents from non-native English speakers, mostly Spanish and Japanese. I know almost no Japanese, although my Spanish is fairly decent.
Website editing sounds great, once I learn how to access a website for editing.
So, what about my lack of tech knowledge? Think I could compete anyway?
This is such an important post because I think it reflects so many in today’s world & Alex gave excellent advice. I also love Lea’s advice!
Not to kick someone who is down as I see there are some serious challenges, but what I see as the biggest challenge to over come is “stinking thinking”. I see you fighting for your weakness instead of strengths.
I’m afraid I see you continually focused on what you can not do and why you can’t.
There is a great book called “you can’t afford the luxury of a negative thought” and it is truer in today’s economy than ever before.
Thoughts really are things, so until you start positive focus on *How* you can do what you want to do, instead of why you can’t, I think you will continue to struggle in a familiar (to you) cycle of defeat.
I’m not talking out of my hat as I have lived a lifetime of doing the impossible. I’m around your same age & am not without challenges..as I write this now with my left hand as I recently broke/had surgery/have temp paralysis of rt dominant arm.
Schools are all in trouble financially, so I’d rethink that plan or look deeply.
Summer is also not the best time for Spain, too hot most places & too crowded/expensive.
I would rethink US because of med/insurance issues you name. Also the dollar today is worth 18 cents and falling.
UK pound is also in falling pattern due to debt fundamentals, so I would look into making money in stronger currencies.
Not enough LIP’s are paying attention to this. Saving in dollars is a losers game.You can open an acct in different currencies through Everbank online or consider something like Goldmoney to preserve what you do save & take out in best possible fiat currency when needed.
I would get out of debt first-have you tried making a deal with your creditors. There is help for this online.
As you know wages are very low in Spain, but cost of living can be EXTREMELY low in rural villages.
If you really want to be in Spain, why not go there? We got the retirement visa (it is not so easy to get in our experience) and have wintered there last 3 winters & are here now.We live large on less than most do in SE Asia!
Do 3 months in Spain and 3 out in somewhere like Croatia/Turkey or Morrocco etc is 1 legal way.
Look into hostels or campgrounds for possible free place to stay/ work exchange.
If there is a will, there is always a way! Hang in there, trust your strengths!
Hello,
Thanks for providing your insights on this important topic.
I have a question:
You wrote: “…cost of living can be EXTREMELY low in rural villages. …We live large on less than most do in SE Asia!”
Could you please recommend some of those rural villages or areas in Spain that have a low cost of living. I speak fluent Spanish (I grew up in S. America) and I’m planning to spend at least a month in Spain next year.
As long as there’s Internet Connectivity I don’t care if I have to live in a stone hut. :)
Your plan of going to Croatia after 3 months sounds like a great idea. It’s an awesome place still outside the Euro zone I believe which makes it more affordable.
Regards,
Liz
Hi Ana,
I’ve got some website content that needs to be rewritten for one of my clients. The issue is that its duplicate content, so it just needs to say the same thing, yet reworded to be “unique”.
No logging in required, just blocks of text to be re-written.
send me a quick email if you’re keen, and ill send you the links to check it out. The only issue being that im on a really tight timeline. let me know as soon as you can.
nicholas@nicholaskormas.com
Ana: If your Spanish is fairly decent, would you be interested in being a Spanish-English translator? I’m not sure about the going rates for Spanish but for certain languages, 0.03-0.06 euros per word for proofreading/editing (with no formatting or desktop-publishing or html work involved), and 0.08-0.14 euros per word for translation are more than sufficient to make a good living. If you find this interesting, there are translator forums on proz.com and translatorscafe.com where you can find help in getting started. Since the work is portable, you can start anywhere, even right now in Japan, then go country-hopping every 3 months (Spain etc. on tourist visas for now) until you can find a way to obtain a Spanish residence permit. My husband is a freelance editor-proofreader-translator and thanks to his work, we’ve been living location-independently for the past three years. I sincerely hope this will be possible for you too and enable you to live your dream life in Spain.
Ana, I feel for your situation and am happy to see the amazing support you are receiving here. Just a couple things I might add:
You might want to look into Vaughan Village http://www.vaughanvillage.com. They provide native english speakers with room and board in a Spanish village in return for speaking english. This is not a permanent gig but would get you into spain and buy you some time to find the next step.
This could also be combined with a Servas experience.http://www.usservas.org. They match host families with travelers. You stay in the family’s home and they experience cultural exchange with you. Again, not permanent, but will buy more time and make connections in Spain.
Virtual assitanceship is a great idea. However, like any business it will take marketing efforts on your part to let people know you’re available. This will take time to build but could be started while you’re doing these other experiences. Get the help of someone who understands the business end of promoting your work.
Have you thought of becoming a TEOFL certified English teacher? This can be done online from wherever you are, can bring in a decent income and allow you to travel.
In addition, I invite you to take a look at the job board page at: http://www.nunomad.com/job-board.htm. While we don’t have specific jobs listed we do point you to job listings that are appropriate for location independents.
Hi again,
Wow, there are still comments! First, Lea, thanks again. I’ve already written to you privately and to Anthony, too. Looks like I’m headed to Tokyo or Yokohama next weekend.
I’m sorry, but who is Mazza? I’ve read and re-read the comments and I can’t find anyone by that name. Is that Marion by any chance?
I’m not sure what you mean by Wordpress giving me an online interface, but I’ll look at your tutorial and get back to you.
Is it like copying and pasting all the copy from a website I’ve been hired to edit, then re-copying and pasting it back? I’ll have a look-see.
Soultravelers3, sounds like you’ve got the LI thing down, but you’re already in retirement. I’ve still got 11 years. I have to figure out what to do during those years for the best chance that I too will get a retirement.
In order to make sure I get the social security I’m projected to get, I assume I have to be still paying into it.
Schools may be in trouble but they will always be there, and at least some support employees will always be needed.
There’s hardly any entity around the world that’s not in financial trouble these days, and few currencies that have not fallen. Maybe the euro is still strong but where in the euro zone could I live legally? Most of my online pay will still be in dollars.
After 10 years of looking for the “how” in doing things (I’m surprised someone actually thinks I’m not, sorry I left that impression) … I still feel going the practical route is the right path for me at this time.
Go to Spain for 3 months right now? You’ve no idea how much I’d love to have that to look forward to!!! :-)
Ok, I’ll ask a simple “how”: How do I go with no money for the trip, and then how do I assure myself some kind of income during that time adequate enough to live, save something for when the 3 months are up, and make my c.c. payments?
I found out there’s no way to renegotiate with my creditors without losing my cards and destroying my credit rating. I looked into it recently and found that if I were to do that, I might as well declare bankruptcy and free myself entirely from the payments, because the result would be the same.
I first took off for this odyssey at 45. That’s hardly an action of someone with “stinkin’ thinkin’.” I went believing all that, that thoughts were things and all that LOA stuff — and have been thoroughly and completely let down. I’m sorry, I love that you’re here trying to help and I thoroughly respect everything you’re saying. But after all this time I no longer share that philosophy.
Now, though I will never, ever give up on my dream (I didn’t choose it, it chose me), I’m looking now for the most practical how’s. I’m at an age now when I must.
Too many times since I started this I’ve found myself “between” without a roof over my head. I ended up losing my best friends when I overstayed my welcome at their house during another “between” time 6 years ago. The stress of worrying about all that is getting to me. No other kind of “how” has worked.
In all the reflection I’ve had, the conclusions I’m drawing now after all these years of struggle on the road is that, perhaps for reasons karmic or otherwise, it’s just not meant for me to achieve this dream — at least not before retirement.
Well, I can’t complain. There are many worse off than I and very few people actually achieve this kind of dream while still in their working years. That doesn’t mean I won’t still try. I’ve no choice, I have no place to go in December. But I’ve realized that people do the straight-and-narrow because most would end up where I am otherwise.
I knew from the first that unless I found a way to get into Europe, a time would eventually come when I’d have to think about going “back” if I still wanted a chance to retire.
Perhaps the non-renewal of this contract is the Universe’s message to me to finally let go, go back and see if I can work towards a decent retirement — with a little extra vaca time even if it’s not paid. I’m not sure what else to think.
Thanks again for the chance to communicate. I’ve loved this exchange, and am thinking seriously about everything said.
Godspeed to you all!
Hi Mia,
Thanks for the suggestion. My Spanish is kind of plateaued on the intermediate level at the moment. Too many years being worlds away from it, traipsing to and from Japan, I guess … :-)
By “fairly decent,” I mean it’s fairly conversational, with mistakes. I manage fine with my friends in Spain when I’m there, and writing is of course easier than speaking as in any language you’re learning. I’ve managed translations of simple letters and things.
Translating is something I can start doing once I’m on a higher level — that is, Spanish to English, of course.
What languages does your husband translate?
Ana: There is so much good stuff here.
Like soultravelers3, the first thing I noticed was your language: 6 negative phrases in the opening paragraph.
Here are some positives I have gleaned from your comments.
-You are passionate about Spain and Europe.
-You speak Spanish.
-You have proofreading and editing skills.
-You type.
-You are adaptable.
-You can teach English as a foreign language.
-You have proofread documents from non-native English speakers.
-You have experience of relocating to Japan.
-You have an expatriate’s inside knowledge of Japan.
I am no expert but my guess is you have some great attributes for someone who wants to be location independent.
I can’t vouch for these sites but you might want to chek out:
http://www.elance.com for freelance editing, writing and translating
and http://www.edufire.com for teaching English online.
Finally may I add to Alex’s homework and suggest you write
your own list of attributes and skills.
Best wishes
@Fabian
Thanks! As you say, there’s no guarantee for success but there are things we all can do to make it more probable.
@Mia
Yes, that’s another job as well – or combine a bunch of things to get several different income streams going.
@Midnite Daydream
Hugs on your situation and I’m glad that this post came at just the right time for you. In the entrepreneur world, many people start young and with money from high-paying jobs or from family to help them through the slow transition. But most of the world doesn’t have these advantages. Glad to help!
@Anthony
Hope you and Ana get a chance to connect!
@Karen
Thanks. Funny thing is as a small business person, it’s advice I need to take myself. That’s one of the benefits of being a mentor/coach – I advise myself as much as my clients. ;)
@Nora
I love your nickname! And being Location Independent doesn’t have to involve moving. My business is totally location independent but I’ve chosen (for love) to stay in one spot.
@Marion
I did the move the other way around – I started in France in 2006 and a year later moved to Spain. ;) As Ana said, the whole passport thing is a real obstacle. Thanks for the offer to help with Ana’s situation.
@Ana
I feel incredibly fortunate that my father being born in the UK gave me the right to a European passport and that makes me want to help others who aren’t so lucky parent-wise.
And thank you for your kind words. In this post you summed up my exact philosophy of coaching – which I prefer to think of as mentoring since I’m full of suggestions rather than leading you to your own answers. I’m so happy that this difference came shining through for you! ;)
Plus good for you for taking my suggestions with a grain of salt – I don’t know your exact situation or your preferences, so yay for taking what I wrote and twisting it to fit with who you are.
@Lea
Great suggestion about the editing. And it sparks an idea for my own business (yes, I’m open to twisting other people’s ideas for my own business ;) )
@Jeanne
With all the obstacles in Ana’s way over so many years I understand completely why she’s frustrated by things. I get insanely frustrated sometimes and I have a whole lot more advantages in this sort of situation. ;)
Great suggestions you’ve added to the conversation! Thanks! (Glad to hear you’re back in Spain after the accident, btw)
@Nicholas
Thanks for the offer! That’s so cool of you!
@Mia
Good suggestions! I have a friend who’s a translator and I’m going to pass along the websites.
@Tony
Nice reframing of the situation in very positive way. You’re right. Ana does have a whole lot of things going for her and I think the original message came out of frustration (which tends to produce negative words).
Good idea re the list of attributes and skills.
Clearly no one can give you all the answers in a blog post, but you have gotten a lot of great ideas here! Sorry if the “stinking thinking” comment offended, but I am a firm believer that attitude is key. Better to tell someone they have spinach in their teeth, than to pretend it’s not there, so you can do something about it.
All human’s do stinking thinking, especially when frustrated, but monitoring that and bringing in conscious positive focus/ reframing can be another valuable tool to acquire.
I don’t thing positive focus negates practicality or reality at all. In fact I think they go hand in hand & all 3 MUST be a part of an LI plan or manifesting/maintaining ANY dream. Living in denial is a very different thing than positive focus.
Also being willing to shift to a plan b,c.d or how many it takes well BEFORE one is totally out of money & deep in debt is essential (all the more so at 45 to 55 years old… with no place to live).
Sadly too many babyboomers have created unsustainable lives based on debt just like America has. So sad. I sure would not hold my breath for social security or health care to be a given for babyboomers. You seem unaware just how deeply in debt & broke the US is in this chronic collapse with no quick fixes available.
This is not an ordinary recession, but a new paradigm shift and US is beyond broke. Without the dollar being the reserve currency, the US crisis would be just like Argentina’s or Iceland’s. It is already beginning to lose it’s reserve currency status, just as Britain did many years ago. That will change everything as will peak oil.
Retirement will no longer be like it was for our parents..not in today or tomorrow’s US. Remember too that Spain has been VERY hard hit by the recession & that will impact things. We have seen huge changes every year & expect more, so it will probably a much different Spain that you will return to. One must always look ahead to big picture trends while planning!
More than ever, people need to learn to be financially responsible savvy & live sustainable lives, more so perhaps if they want to live a LI life. In bad times, cash is king (those who had cash during the great depression thrived!) & debt is almost as bad as the plague, so I would get rid of your debt first even if it means bankruptcy perhaps. But only you know your details and strongest desires.
Sounds like you have dealt with this huge credit card debt for over 10 years! Yikes. Painful to read! So much good help online now on how to get rid of debt & live large on little!!
I am really sorry that you have had such a rough road over the last 10 years & truly hope your plans can turn it around.
I do have to disagree with you that “people do the straight-and-narrow because most would end up where I am otherwise.”. Perhaps that is the fear, but with good planning, constant reevaluation & adaption too many have thrived now with the LI lifestyle (the Terhorsts for over 20 years!) and many who have done the straight and narrow without saving or living below their means are in worst shape than you!
Good luck to you and God’s speed!
Soultraveler3, I’d wanted to promise the group I wouldn’t write so much this time, so I’ll make this response shorter.
I’ve had more help on this blog than anywhere else in recent memory. So believe me when I tell you, I want to stay around here, even if only to see what I can do for others. I’ve already found out there’s at least one person here who’s got similar, and even worse, challenges.
However, I must refute a couple of your statements that I feel made assumptions without prior knowledge. I didn’t get my first credit card until I was 44, a year before I went off. I had never had one, ever. I had an $8,000 student loan that took me over 15 years to pay off due to nothing more than a low income at a time when prices were rising dramatically.
I started after college as a secretary, before most offices had computers. Later I became an editorial assistant and then a copy editor. After all those years, I have yet to reach 30K per year in the states. I only just reached it in Japan.
I have never owned a car newer than 11 years old, have never had an apartment in the states with a separate bedroom, and have never worn anything remotely “designer” in my life.
So please don’t assume I was living “above my means.” You don’t know me — or millions of others like me.
I’ve not spent the entire 10 years in the same debt. When I first went off, I had $2,000 and a big dream. I ended up in debt because I went to Spain and tried. So … after staying with friends back home for a (thankfully) brief period, I found an English teaching job in Japan and after 18 months there returned to L.A. with credit card balances at 0 and a 5-figure bank balance.
I’d never seen 5 figures in my life. You really could make things happen in Asia in those days!
So I used that to go back to Spain and try again. At that time, I had no laptop. I should have bought one then, but they were still expensive then and I figured I’d get one “later.” Ok, that was a mistake.
Everyone I spoke with in Spain told me the same thing — potential employers, friends of every nationality, people living legally and illegally: You can work under the table, you can live here or there, but you can’t get papers, no matter how “qualified” you manage to get.
I returned to my sister’s house in Pa. with the proverbial tail between my legs several months later. After staying with my mother for a while (she’s now deceased), I returned to L.A. when my friends asked me to cat-sit for them while they went for a vacation in Europe (how ironic).
When they returned, they expected me to leave immediately. But I had only managed to find work telemarketing (believe me, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone) and couldn’t afford even a room.
By an incredible stroke of luck (I was getting older and Asia is very age-biased), I got another teaching gig in Japan soon after.
I was once again in debt during this next interlude — not because I was irresponsible but because I could only get work telemarketing. This debt wasn’t as bad, though.
I left again for Japan. Ten months later, with my debt cleared, I got word that my mother was dying (imminent, they said) and she wanted to see me. I broke contract immediately and returned to Pa.
I spent the next 4 and a half years substitute teaching, in which I wasn’t exactly a success, doing this and that during summers, earning an income that, when I did my taxes, averaged out to a regular year-round job at the current minimum wage. Living in a rented room and driving an 11-year-old car. I attended my niece’s wedding in a $15 dress. And believe me, you could tell.
So yes, I got into debt again, trying desperately to survive on a tiny income that, whatever anyone else judges, you quite simply cannot live on in the U.S. You cannot. Period.
A little more serious than just someone “living above their means.”
As for preventing disaster in the first place by not “allowing” it to happen, I spent 2 decades before I went off on this odyssey trying to find a viable way to go after my dream. I quite simply couldn’t find one. At 45 I decided to just go after it. I was tired of waiting. If I just went, the parachute would appear on faith and good thinking. It didn’t happen.
It’s easy to make assumptions. But you can multiply me by the millions. And yes, most would indeed end up like me. I simply did not have the necessary resources. I didn’t have a high-paying corporate career to leave behind; I didn’t have the right nationality or the right connections or the right skills at the right time …
Tony gives a list of my “skills.” I am a copy editor with 15 years of experience. And I am good at it. I never marketed it formally because all copy editors today are knowledgeable technically and can format anything whether online or off. I don’t even know how to access someone’s website to edit it. What in the world kind of pitch could I possibly give?
I believe I mentioned my Spanish was only on an intermediate level. For those who have never studied languages, that means you are conversational in a basic way. You are certainly nowhere near a level at which you could market yourself as a translator! The only way I could ethically use it professionally at this time is as an English teacher at one of the many schools in Spain where they require you to have some knowledge of Spanish — IF they could sponsor me for a visa. Which they cannot.
So logically and ethically I don’t list it as a skill. Yet.
Typing? I love what you did, Tony, listing my skills. But I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. No one hires a typist anymore, online or off. Anyone my age or older remembers when typing skill alone would get you a job tomorrow. Not a good-paying job and you were stuck in an office (not even a cubicle but in someone’s outer office) … But it got the rent paid and you could always count on it even in bad times. I didn’t like having to do it but I did a good 75 words a minute. In those days that got you a desk somewhere and a roof over your head.
No more. Do you know how many desperate women there are out there who’d love a chance for an at-home typing job? They’re not location independent. That’s eons beyond them. They’re just trying to get out of Wal-Mart or the local telemarketing joint or maybe they can’t afford a babysitter or maybe their 15-year-old car gave out and they have no transportation.
I’m on blogs and forums with such women, I’m friends with some back “home,” and believe me, they make few assumptions.
And, they’re not getting typing jobs. There are no typing jobs. There are computer jobs (well, some, these days not many). Like me, many of these women and some men are my age and got caught between eras unable to pay for training.
Those “negative” statements were facts. Every one of them. I felt facts were important if I was going to give information. Next time, I’ll leave out such facts when on blogs. Not on my website, that’s for sure. I’ve no intention of lying about my skill level. I’d imagine any potential client would want to know what they’re about to pay for.
Know that if I were your coach, I’d want to know all the facts to respond effectively, just as Alex has.
Carmen: I’ve spoken several times to the owner of Vaughn Systems. (He’s an American who’s lived in Spain for over 25 years, having gotten in when it was far easier). His English Town is well known in the region, but the room and board they provide is only for a week at a time. It’s appropriate for someone on vacation or passing through the region, definitely for someone who already knows where they’re going next week.
I looked into Servas years ago when I was first leaving L.A. It’s also on my list for when I have to leave here, if I find I need a place for 1 or 2 days. You can sometimes stay with someone for 3 nights, rarely for longer than that. Servas is not designed for longer-term stays. It’s strictly for travelers passing through, even shorter than English Town.
I am a TEFL teacher, on my third gig in Japan. If English teaching provided a way to live anywhere you wanted, good pay at any time or place, and a chance to retire when your time came, I’d already be well on my way. But as I said, I’d always known since I started that the time would come when I’d have to move on. By its nature TEFL does have a specific shelf life. You can do it indefinitely but you can’t depend on it indefinitely. It gets harder to get jobs as you get older. And harder to do them.
Virtual assistantship sounds perfectly appropriate for Midnite Daydream who has the appropriate technical knowledge and background. Check out AssistU.com, the best-known training program. It makes an automatic assumption that you have corporate background as an admin. I’ve never been an admin.
Before I became a copy editor, I was a secretary. In those quaint times when new computers were called word processors (remember CPT, Wang, etc.? Never did get to learn any of them), and you typed extremely carefully, as well as fast. Correcting your mistakes wasn’t an automatic backspace but an interruption of your work to open a tiny bottle of white stuff called Liquid Paper. It really made a mess of my efficiency. So I got good. Very good.
Like the venerated gifted wagon maker of old, the typist has entered the history books.
Those books and websites about people who succeed in location-independent living or living where or how they want … they are the exceptions. Many of you are the exceptions. That’s why you’re newsworthy. That’s why people read about you.
We’re the majority you don’t read about in books.
Oh, and Alex, thanks for your latest response. I still think you’re the cream as a coach. You just have a brilliant, compassionate way of getting down to the dirty details — and you don’t mind hearing those details because they help in your response.
I may possibly become a coach myself in a couple of years to supplement copy editing and whatever my day job is by then. I think I hinted I’d studied … I just added a new mentor.
Anyway, after all that … I do have some great news after being “featured” on this blog. Anthony and I are meeting in Japan this Saturday to discuss my setting up a simple website to market copy editing. Lea had some other brilliant ideas and resources so I can get started in that, at least.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your help!
Not sure if I can make anything from it in such a short time, but if, for example, December came with no new job here but I hear about something in, say, Prague, I may be able to go there if I know I’ve supplemental income to make c.c. payments.
At least I’d be on the Continent. At least until I found some kind of permanent opportunity I could retire from in the States.
BTW I realize we’re in horrible economic times and no it’s not just a “recession.” But the statement that there’s no chance for anyone there is itself negative. I still think people are going to retire even if they have to leave the country once they’re finished working to live on modest or even meager retirement income. But most U.S. Americans will actually earn their retirement income while still in the States.
No, you’re not going to see “retirement” as it used to be considered: experts writing articles telling you you must have $1 million to retire, couples taking luxury cruises, etc. And many of us are not couples. But I do feel there’s enough solvency left to at least let people have the money we put in, if not much more. I believe, in my age group, we will probably see our social security — especially those of us on the bottom income rungs.
Those of you younger or richer … perhaps not all of it. Much younger, perhaps not any of it. But I feel we will. I’m not counting on anything. But I must look at likely scenarios. I have literally no other alternatives at 55 and broke than to look at the practical and perhaps the straight-and-narrow for a while longer.
And I didn’t get to be 55 and broke by being irresponsible. I love you all but I don’t like any implication that I was. What I am is in an economic stratum rather lower than most of you.
Thank you all again. Good things have come out of this.
Hello. I was wondering if anyone on here is seeking a copy editor. I took journalism in college and have an eye for detail. I’m a current member of the Writers Guild of Alberta. I am able to offer quick turn around times at the moment. Please email with “Copy Editor” in the subject line so that I know it isn’t spam. :)
I’m currently working on getting my site together at the moment so will post that later.
Thanks in advance. :)
Ana – I’ve sent you an email with Anthony’s & Mazza’s contact details. Did you get it?
Ana – I wouldn’t worry about access to sites. Most people these days use Wordpress. What this means is that you can basically access their site online (as long as they set you up as a user) with the following http://www.anysite.com/wp-admin – and then use the log in details set up. This gives you an online interface through which you can edit the posts & articles.
It might help if you take a look at our free Tech tutorial on setting a WP-based site up – then you’ll get a much better feel for this. I don’t think it’ll be an issue for you.
@Jeanne – Thanks for the reply & info…really good stuff for Ana to consider – how’s the arm doing?