Why 6 Years Living (13 Years Travelling) Abroad Has Made Us “Symbolically Homeless”

It has been quite a while since our last update here! A lot has changed, and we wanted to take a moment to share where we are, what we’ve learned, and where we are heading next.

Back in 2016, we made the decision to retire early, give up everything in America, and move to Thailand to live and travel. We had massive ambitions, but as life often does—between COVID, aging parents, and family needs—many of those original plans shifted.

Since February 2025, Kanchana and I have been back in the US, settling in Florida to be closer to her family. Getting acclimated back to the American mindset has not been easy. In fact, giving up everything to make Thailand our home for the last six-plus years did something we completely didn’t expect: it made us forever symbolically “homeless.”

What does that mean?

When you grow up in one place (for us the United States), you typically see the world through a one-sided lens. But when you travel extensively, you quickly realize how much you don’t know. Experiencing the world first-hand opens your mind, changes your views, and allows you to see the truth with your own eyes rather than through a filtered, controlled narrative.

When influencers or YouTubers create content about Thailand / Southeast Asia, they are usually showing the perspective of a short one-to-two-week vacation. And it is incredibly easy to see why Thailand draws people in so completely.

For a first-time visitor to Thailand, or even someone who has vacationed there a few times, the country is pure magic. It offers an intoxicating sensory overload: the smell of sizzling street food at a bustling night market, the thrill of zipping through the streets in a tuk-tuk, and the awe of standing before glittering, centuries-old temples. It’s a place where your budget stretches incredibly far, allowing you to experience a level of freedom and luxury—like daily Thai massages and incredible dining—that feels like a dream. Add in the undeniable, genuine warmth of the locals in the “Land of Smiles,” the idyllic islands with limestone karsts jutting out of emerald waters, and sunsets that are truly some of the most stunning in the world, and it’s no wonder people fall head over heels.

It is a beautifully captivating region. But when you spend years actually living there, the honeymoon phase eventually fades, and the reality of daily life reveals itself. As much as we absolutely love Thailand, it has its pros and cons. When you are a resident, the daily realities set in—from incredible culture to serious issues with air and water quality, unregulated food safety, and dangerous roads.

By gaining this worldly perspective, it changes you in ways that are hard to explain. You can no longer just slide back into the American mindset you once knew. At the same time, we see the flaws in our former host country, too.

For us, coming back to the US has been difficult, but it has helped us realize something important. What truly makes us happy and free isn’t being stationary. It’s being on the go, embracing unexpected experiences, trying new things, and constantly learning. That state of mind has symbolically replaced our physical sense of a “home.”

What’s Next?

Now that we are established here in Florida, we are looking to return to our master plan of international travel. With current global conflicts, shifting political climates, and rising travel costs, there is a lot of uncertainty out there.

But, we aren’t getting any younger! We just have to take a chance, get back out there, and hope for the best. Stay tuned for what’s next! 👍

Destinations We Have in Mind: