An American fireman leaves the United States to start a new life as an expat in Thailand.
Chapter 1: 1 - The Decision to Move Chapter 1: The Choice to Move—From Hard Times to a Better Life Many people in America feel worried when they think about leaving home. I felt this, too. For years, I had to deal with higher costs, too much work, and always feeling like life was passing by too fast. Soon, I knew I had to make a big choice. I needed to think hard and act fast. Should I keep fighting through each day in the United States, or should I try to start a new life in another place? A lot of people feel the same way now. The prices keep going up, money is tight, and stress is high. I started thinking about leaving the country slowly, but my feelings about it got stronger as time went on. Like many other Americans who get close to retirement, or who start to think about leaving a little earlier, I have been thinking about my future for some years. Retiring felt far away because everything got more expensive. My healthcare bills went up every year. My property taxes got higher. T...