What I Gave Up To Retire Abroad (And Why I’d Do It Again)
What I Gave Up
The 8 things I left behind to retire abroad, what replaced them, and why I'd jump all over again.
Life is full of chapters, and the one you're in right now is only the beginning. For me, retiring abroad opened the door to new countries, new cultures and experiences I never imagined I'd have.
People see the beaches and the lower cost of living. They rarely see what you have to let go of to make it happen. So here are the 8 things I gave up to retire abroad, what took their place, and my answer to the big question: is retiring abroad worth it?
Spoiler: I still miss a few of these. They just feel small next to the life I live now.
01Target shooting and rifle building
Back in the States, the target range was my sanctuary. Handguns, rifles, drills, and the focus that came from fine-tuning every shot. I even built rifles as a hobby. Walking away felt like closing a chapter I'd spent decades writing. ▶ 1:42
But travel does something interesting: it hands you new obsessions. Free diving off tropical islands, learning about cultures I'd only read about, exploring places I'd only seen in magazines. The adrenaline is different. The spark is still there.
02Friends and family down the street
This is the hard one. I had friends I saw every week and routines that kept us connected. Retiring abroad didn't erase those bonds, but it changed the dynamic. ▶ 2:47
Now my friendships stretch across oceans. Every call feels intentional and every reunion feels like an event. At the same time, I've built a whole new circle: locals, expats and travelers from all over the world, people I never would have met if I'd stayed exactly where I was. The warmth and hospitality I've been shown as a guest here still amazes me.
03My tennis club
My tennis club was my midweek anchor: the Tuesday night match, my doubles partner, my place to stay active and social. Leaving felt like leaving a little community that had become part of who I was. ▶ 3:43
Travel replaced it with something different: hiking through jungles, swimming in warm blue water, exploring cities on foot, and now pickleball, which is taking over Southeast Asia one paddle at a time. Staying active looks different, but it feels more alive.
04Familiar routines
Same grocery store, same restaurants, same roads every day. I knew every inch of that world. Comfortable, yes. Also predictable. ▶ 4:32
Abroad, everything resets: new markets, new food, new streets, new customs. Life becomes a series of discoveries instead of a checklist you mastered years ago.
05Easy, familiar systems
Back home, everything worked the way I expected because I'd used it my whole life. Moving abroad means learning systems that work differently than you're used to, from paying bills to getting a SIM card. ▶ 5:09
Curiosity takes over. You learn, you adapt, and every time you figure something out it feels like a small win. That feeling brought more energy into my life than convenience ever did. (It also taught me that the locals were right about almost everything, and I should have just asked sooner.)
06Most of my stuff
Getting rid of my stuff was harder than I like to admit. Selling rifles I built, giving away my tools, clearing out a lifetime of tchotchkes. Downsizing is emotional. ▶ 5:41
But every time I traded stuff for an experience, the trade felt worth it. I can't carry those old possessions with me, but I can carry every story from every island I visit. And the mental energy it takes to store, organize and maintain your things is way bigger than I ever realized. Turns out my garage was charging me rent.
If you're getting ready to downsize, my Before You Leave checklist covers what to sort out back home first.
07A predictable future
If I'd stayed in the States, I knew exactly how the next 10 years would look. Not bad. Just already written. ▶ 6:32
Retiring abroad erased the script. Every month brings something new: new countries, new cultures, new challenges and new plans with Chai. I wake up excited, not bored.
08Comfort
Comfort is nice, but it can numb you without you noticing. Retiring abroad pushed me to live with intention. I left behind things I still miss, but none of them compare to a life where every day feels like a choice instead of an obligation. ▶ 7:02
What I gave up vs. what I gained
| What I gave up | What replaced it |
|---|---|
| The target range and rifle building | Free diving and exploring new cultures |
| Weekly time with friends and family | Intentional calls, big reunions and a new circle from around the world |
| Tuesday night tennis | Jungle hikes, ocean swims, city walks and pickleball |
| The same stores and roads every day | New markets, new food and new streets |
| Systems I knew by heart | A small win every time I figure something out |
| A garage full of stuff | A rolling bag, a backpack and a lot of stories |
| A predictable 10-year plan | New countries and new plans with Chai |
| Comfort | A life that feels like a choice every day |
Is retiring abroad worth it?
For me, yes. Novelty, challenge, growth and adventure turned out to be worth far more than what I left behind. ▶ 7:41
The novelist Ellen Glasgow once said, "The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions." Sharp line, but it hits home, because so many of us drift into routines that drain the spark out of our days.
When I was a kid, my mom told me about the frog in slowly warming water. It stays put because the change is too gradual to notice. A few years ago I realized I was that frog. Work had stopped challenging me, evenings blurred into the same Netflix routine, and life was warm, comfortable, and turning into something I didn't want. So I jumped.
Frequently asked questions
What do you give up when you retire abroad?
For me it was hobbies like target shooting and my tennis club, weekly time with friends and family, familiar routines and systems, most of my possessions, a predictable future and a lot of comfort. Most of those were replaced by new experiences and new friendships.
Is retiring abroad worth it?
For many retirees, yes. You trade familiarity for novelty, challenge, growth and adventure, often at a lower cost of living. Plan for the tradeoffs ahead of time and they feel much smaller.
Do you miss home after retiring overseas?
Some parts, yes, especially friends, family and old hobbies. Regular calls, planned reunions and building a new circle abroad make a big difference.
How do you stay connected with family after moving abroad?
Video calls, messaging apps and planned visits. The contact is less frequent but more intentional, and every reunion feels like an event.
Should I sell my stuff before retiring abroad?
Most people who move overseas full time downsize a lot. It is emotional, but owning less can free up money, space and mental energy. Decide what truly matters and test life abroad with a trial stay before you sell everything.
Keep planning
Curious where I landed? Watch why the Philippines is my #1 retirement country and new home base.
What Would You Ditch?
What's one thing about your current routine you wouldn't mind leaving behind? Tell me in the comments here or on YouTube. I read every one. Cheers, Joe
Subscribe on YouTubeI'm sharing my own experience, not financial, legal, tax or immigration advice. Costs, visa rules and services change, so confirm current details before you make big decisions.
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