2014-10-17 11:05:16
Alina Dizik
Good-bye rat race
There s no need to wait until retirement to get out of the big city rat race.
Younger workers in their 30s and 40s are decamping without the cushion of
retirement benefits to take advantage of living in paradise while working less.
While Costa Rica and Panama have long been expat destinations, Portugal and
Vietnam are joining the list as they become popular with so-called digital
nomads and others who want to leave the fast-paced life in their former
hometowns for something simpler. These nomads generally run online businesses
that are flexible enough to let them move on a whim. They usually work fewer
hours than peers in the corporate world.
Taking this route is easier than ever due to better internet connections and
new collaborative working spaces in places including Bali, Indonesia, and Chang
Mai, Thailand. A 2014 survey of digital nomads found that 45% of responders
moved within in the last year, according to oDesk, a marketplace for online
work. Others work with local expats and build businesses that cater to their
particular needs.
Here s a look at five expats around the world and how ve they ve ditched the
fast life for a simpler one while still getting paid. Scroll through the
images above to read their stories.