If you’re the person who stares at your beach scene screen saver and dreams of the tropics on cold winter days, maybe it’s time to live it. Do you dream of warm turquoise waters in Bali or being surrounded by monks in Thailand?
The tropics are more within your grasp than you realize. If you’re a sun worshipper and crave hot, humid weather in the tropics, you can do it for less. With money left over every month, you may have a better quality of life. The prospect may seem terrifying as you leap into a total change in all aspects of your life.
Many people have taken the chance and have seen how easy it is to drop your mundane life. The good news is it doesn’t take much money to live in most tropical destinations either.
1. Sell Off Most of Your Things
Some may find this a hard pill to swallow, but it’s a way to put a significant intention into heading off to the tropics. You’ll need to do a few things that may be considered sacrifices, but they won’t seem like that if your goal is to live on a hammock.
You get rid of the things you don’t need and make some money from it for your new adventure. It may not be easy at first, but you’ll also be amazed at how good you feel. Emotional attachment to “stuff” is pretty draining. As a rule, most of the places I’ve traveled to have been fully furnished.
2. Start Networking Before You Go
The internet has made it possible to meet friends and network while you’re still at home. Most hot spots have their own Facebook page full of people already living in your dream destination. They offer valuable information such as how much the rent will be, who you can trust locally, and money saving tricks to get there.
You will have a welcome wagon waiting on your arrival, and it’s likely you can get completely set up before you even arrive. You’ll start to feel what people are like, which will alleviate your stress about the big move. All that’s left is pure excitement for your new adventure.
3. Be Willing to Live More Simply
In my own experience of living in the tropics, I found this to be a natural step. You don’t seem to need as much to feel truly happy when you live your dreams. The point about moving to the tropics is you’re taking a massive step in your life that you’re doing because it’s a dream.
This means you don’t need to buy the latest fashions, keep up with the Jones, and get the latest gadgets or cars. Many people who move abroad will attest that they didn’t need to compensate for happiness, so living more simply was easy and fulfilling.
4. Think Outside the Box
Your story doesn’t end when you finally reach your warm destination of choice. If you need to make money, you don’t need to apply for a work visa and take a job in the tropics. Many destinations you’re considering pay meager wages (which is why you can afford to make a life there).
There are thousands of articles out there that will tell you making online is an actual career, and it is. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never sold a thing online; once you start to look into what is available to you based on your expertise, passions, and lifestyle choices, you’ll see that the sky is the limit. The fact that you’re going against the grain to live in the tropics makes you someone’s inspiration.
