Here’s the situation. I am still very much addicted to traveling and I don’t hesitate for even a millisecond in stating that I plan to continue wandering around this world for many years to come. The thought of hanging up my backpack for a different kind of lifestyle right now is simply not a thought that I’m able to entertain.
However, that does not mean that my lifestyle will always stay the same. In fact, my travels have already been constantly evolving over the years and when I look at the traveler I am today, it is quite clear that I am not the same traveler I was when I arrived in Bangkok back in 1999, nor am I the same traveler I was in 2003 or 2007 or even last year for that matter.
My goals, motivations and needs often change and as a result, I’ve had to make adjustments accordingly. There was a stage when teaching English worked perfectly for me, when working on board cruise ships was ideal, when I just wanted to volunteer or wander around aimlessly, or when I could think of nothing better than staying put in one place for a while…and on and on.
And over the past six months or so, I’ve realized that it is perhaps time to make some adjustments once again, to start a new stage.
What will this next stage involve?
Well, I think it’s time for me to find a home.
I need my own apartment or house, a place that will provide a base for my wacky traveling lifestyle, a base that will undoubtedly help keep me focused on my goals as well as keeping me sane. Frankly, it’s not easy to continue moving around all the time while trying to not only enjoy my travel experiences, but trying to work on my blog and other projects at the same time. Being able to pop over to my ‘home’ on occasion, to buckle down, prepare my own cup of tea and get some work done in comfort (i.e. in my underwear), would have a major impact, a positive impact, on my life.
Am I looking for a place to move permanently?
Definitely not. In fact, I imagine that I would spend maybe two or three months per year at this ‘home’ that I’m seeking. It’s the idea of having that base that seems to make sense right now, even if I rarely use it.
Just knowing that there is a familiar bed to sleep in every now and then, my own set of drawers to hold my underwear, a wall to hang my Tibetan thangka painting that has been buried in a box for the past seven years and a mirror to sing my favorite Lady Gaga songs in front of without having to worry about others listening, would be an absolute dream.
I really can’t wait to sing me some Lady Gaga in peace.
The Main Problem
Here’s the thing. It’s one thing for me to decide I need a base/home. It’s an entirely different matter to try and decide where on earth this home should be. My family and friends are scattered all over the planet and I have no real ties to any one particular location these days.
I have no idea how to even begin this search.
And this is why I want to ask all of you for your help.
Knowing that the readership of this blog comes from all over the world, from almost every continent and dozens and dozens of countries, I figured that you would probably have some good recommendations as to where I should create my base.
So let me give you some information about what I’m looking for…
A small to medium-size city/town, one that offers a good standard of living for a decent price, preferably near the beach although it’s not a must, close to nature, easily accessible and decently connected by flights to other parts of the world, preferably a warm climate (doesn’t have to be year-round warmth), a laid-back community with opportunities to interact with diverse groups of people and having such facilities as a gym, basketball courts, cinemas and good food options in the vicinity.
And that’s it, although, I’m honestly open to hearing about any kind of place you have in mind, in any country!
I really am excited to hear your recommendations and I would like to thank you all in advance for taking a moment to help me find a home…
Have a wonderful week everyone!
Any recommendations??
Back in 1999, I left home for a 3 month trip to Asia that has still yet to end.
depends the continent you want to explore the most, Earl!
It’s odd I just saw this post…I had a DREAM with you (no joke)! We were in Guatemala and you were showing me around either a beach town or a town by a huge river or lake (couldn’t tell). We were switching bet. Spanish & English and had just found some awesome street food inside an overwater hut. Then it started pouring and we ran to the guesthouse or big house we were staying at…then poof, I woke up!
Do you think Central America could be calling you?
Panama would be good, the capital is a good hub (int’l flights).
- Maria Alexandra
Hey Maria – Hmmm…that is very interesting and perhaps your dream is telling me something. We can talk more the next time I’m in Florida!
Hi Earl, we also looking for our new home, and I understand you very well! Don’t you like Florida? This is my favourite so far, I spend a lot of time there (Orlando area) and I think it’s perfect for all your needs.
Hey Jan – I do like Florida and it is definitely a good option. I haven’t spent too much time in Orlando so maybe I need to check out that area as well. Thanks for mentioning it!
h
Hey Matt – That’s quite a good suggestion and I have had received a couple of offers from friends and even family who have a similar empty apartment/room available in their place. It does make good sense in the end, a lot of sense actually.
India. Good excuse to go back every year. Between Asia and Europe and meets your requirements. Cheap enough and that means more money for travel.
Ventura, California. Relatively small town, on the beach, north of L.A., warm climate, known for surfing, laid back, cheap rents, eclectic walkable downtown. Hop, skip, and a jump to LAX. Close to Los Padres, National Forest, Channel Islands National Monument. Recreational pursuits, hiking, mtn. biking, surfing, swimming, sailing, kayaking, fishing. Great food, liberal lifestyle. Can go to a restaurant in your pajamas if you want.
Las Vegas! Though it is a desert, it’s almost equal distance to snow/mountains in one direction and to beach/ocean in the other. There is a major international airport, the city has grown over the years but is not too large, and it’s definitely diverse (there’s more to it than The Strip). You will not be without WARM weather, that’s for sure. You probably wouldn’t want to make those 2-3 months at your home base during the summertime, though. Last, but not least, it’s fairly inexpensive to live here. I grew up here and for a long time did not want to end up here, but then I realized it could be a great “home base” for when I go on my travels.
I completly agree. The world is here, 4 hours to the beach, Not even 1 hour to Lake Mead. 45 minutes to Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard resort. 3 hours to Brianhead. Grand Canyon is close, Red Rock, Mount Charleston. Great Basin National Park. Medium (to large) sized city, affordable housing, Airport, UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, theater at the amazing new Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Valley of Fire State Park. First Friday’s downtown, Spring Mountain State Park with Super Summer Theater. Just a few hour drive to Bryce Canyon and Zion. Then there’s that little place called The Strip.
I could go on and on and on…
If your going NV I would have to say Reno. You have the high dessert weather, but still get seasons. You have Tahoe in your backyard for summer adventures and winter. Your a short drive to San Fran, or weekend trips to the Oregon coast. It’s a great jump off point for the PNW but cheaper than CA. Also, there’s Burning Man. Which would be a fun time while your at ‘home’.
Whitianga, New Zealand! Stunning beaches and scenery, warm, good community, cafes/bars, not far from Auckland city!
Well if its cheap and cultural your after, it is hard to go past Thailand. Although Mexico has taken over as our new favourite place on earth. it is hard to go past spending $300 per month for your own apartment in Bangkok or Chiang mai, with some of the best cinemas and shops I have ever been to, as well as the temples, great food, and beaches on your doorstep.
Darn, I was hoping you’d be looking for somewhere in the middle of no where that’s cold as anything eight months of the year. Move to Edmonton, Canada: We’re nice here!
Hey Alyson – Haha…well, I can surely visit Edmonton since I’ve never been!
yea dude, you totally have to come see us in edmonton, everybody here is so absorbed in work and money, and owning things but having no time to use them, you’d fit right in…. seriously though, maybe you could show some people over here what life should really be like.
in my opinion earl, you need a settled friend. somebody who is perfectly happy in one place that doesnt look down their nose at you for living a life of travel. somebody with a house that has a little more than spare room. somebody who wouldnt even want your rent and would be more than happy to hook you up… I plan to move this spring and then hit the road next year so I wouldnt be an ideal candidate, plus I dont really think edmonton would make an ideal home base for you but I, for example, have an entire basement apartment that i dont rent out, that is empty most of the year (except when friends or family come to visit), and that i would give you the key to and let you make it your “home” in exchange for no more than being an interesting friend. It may not be your own house, but it’d be your own space. I’m sure you’ll find there are people out there who would be more than willing to hook you up. Just make sure they are really settled and contently fixed in their home, you’d hate to have to make a special trip home to move your things.
All the best to you Earl, good luck
How about Turkey? And not just because I met you there.
Fethiye was great and winter temps were in the mid-sixties. Loved the atmosphere then — I was one of VERY few foreigners, and it was cheapish and very friendly. Great food. You’ve got access to Dalaman Airport, which I believe connects to many places in Europe (particularly in the summer) and, of course, Istanbul — a major hub.
And most importantly — visa-wise, it’s easy to stay long-term with little hassle.
I would 100% say South Africa aside from the fact that it’s a bit out of the way from the rest of the world. But it ticks all of the rest of your boxes. Aside from that I’d say Croatia or Turkey would be lovely
xxx
Jenna
I recommend Southern Spain or the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico!
Oddly, I am going to throw out Portland, OR. While not super warm, it doesn’t get too cold either. Good luck!
I live in & love Portland, & keep telling Earl to visit, but I think it’s the polar opposite of his wish list in some important areas… It’s not warm most of the year, & the airport isn’t a big enough hub to give us easy access to most places (without at least one layover, anyway). You’re right in that it doesn’t usually get too cold, but the gray cloud cover can really wear on people after awhile, especially if they’re craving sun.
Now, having said that, if Earl’s only planning to be in this humble abode a few months each year, then I’d say – sure! Make it Portland. Just plan to be here only from July-September each year & you’re all set.
Hey Jessica – Your comment is interesting because it pretty much sums up how I feel about Portland. I’ve never been but based on what I’ve heard and read, I am quite certain that I would love the lifestyle and much of what your city offers. However, the weather/transportation points you brought up are exactly what keeps me from moving Portland to the top of my list. I know I need to visit to figure it all out for myself!!
Have you been to Oakland, CA? The lake Merritt area is fantastic with a wonderful food and art scene. BART allows for super easy travel into the city of San Fransisco, where they are currently (if I’m not mistaken) building a cruise port.
If I could live anywhere in the States, I would definitely chose some Oakland. For now though, its Oh Hi from Ohio.
Asheville North Carolina. I went to school near there, and it’s fantastic. Great food, an interesting selection of people, and an airport with decent connections. Though it’s not close to a beach, it’s in the heart of the mountains with tons of opportunities to immerse yourself in nature. Or immerse yourself in people, as downtown Asheville has a lot to offer.
I’m going to say Las Vegas also. Its cheap right now with housing prices going down and it’s a great place to live a few months of the year. My condo thats 2 miles west of MGM Grand that I paid 75000. for 17 years ago and it went up to 300000. you can buy now for 50 to 60000. I run a bussiness here and also travel 6 months of the year. Your payment would be under 500.00 a month and when you aren’t here you can rent it out short term for 1000. a month or on airbnb for 125.00 a night. So you would have a place to stay thats free if you rent it out when you aren’t here. ken
Goa, India! It’s perfect for you.. Lot’s of travellers, wanderlust people, beaches, economical, easier to escape to other Asian countries. Plus you already know so much about living here..
My experience in Thailand seems to fit your preferred description (cheap, warm, multi-cultural, a travel hub). It also offers great shopping, every type of food, and inexpensive but quality health care. Most importantly, Bangkok seems to take you back to some of your travel roots. Happy hunting!!
Bellingham, Washington! It has everything you want (except maybe sun…) and its beautiful. If you’re looking for a home base, it’d be great and you can always find sub-letters for when you’re traveling because there’s a university (WWU). It’s on the Puget Sound, Mt. Baker is great for snow sports and hiking in the summer, there are great running/walking/hiking trails and beautiful lakes. It’s 90 miles south of Vancouver BC and 100 miles north of Seattle so it’s close to real cities (and it’s easy to fly internationally because sometimes YVR has reallllly cheap flights to Asia!). And people are bizarrely friendly most of the time so it’s easy to make friends. Also we just legalized gay marriage (and weed) making it the best state in the union. Overall, Bellinghamsters are nice and love love.
Hey Elena – Thanks for the recommendation and I shall look into it some more. I’ve heard of Bellingham but really knew nothing about it until your comment…sounds quite nice now
I totally agree with Elena- I was even going to write my own comment about Bellingham until I saw hers! I have a good friend who lives there and I’ve visited a few times and LOVE it. Washington is beautiful in the summers, has a great coastline and the food is awesome.
Hey Tessa – Well, that is one part of the country that I have always considered and I am looking into it some more now!
If language is not a problem, you should consider Italy.
After going through all of these comments, all I can say is wow, wow, wow, thank you, thank you, thank you! These suggestions are far more than I ever imagined I’d receive and I can’t wait to start exploring each of them. My next step will be to create a short list of some finalists and then I’ll most likely visit each of them before making my decision.
Thank you so much once again everyone!
Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The people are lovely, the food is great, living is cheap, they have beaches…
Ljubljana, Slovenia – I saw this suggestion in older comments as well. Though Ljubljana airport isn’t Frankfurt of London, it’s easy to reach Venice/Trieste hub. Climate is OK, beach is close, nature is there in front of the door, costs aren’t that high and people are in general good too. Well, if you stay here let me know, we go for a beer.
I was thinking something like Nicaragua. Maybe a small but up and coming town like San Juan del Sur. Gorgeous views, cheap cost of living, good internet, good beach, etc. Property will likely increase in value and it already has. Less than a day’s ride to Liberia which is also very cheap.
Hey Garrett – That’s not a bad option either and I did enjoy my stay in Nicaragua a couple of years ago. It has now been added to my list of possibilities! Thank you
What about The Netherlands, Den Haag?
It is near the beach, because of the wind good (kite)surfing possibilities.
Nice, laid back multi-cultural society.
Good food and fun place to go out.
I am actually looking for someone to share house. (if i am not here)
Because i am thinking about moving to Playa del Carmen for at least 3 months a year.
Big, beautiful house shared with 4 other people.
It is cheap, 5 minutes walk to center and train station.
Sunny side of the house, big garden.
BUT:) I want to leave this country during the winter, haha!
I guess it is not for you than:)
Dana-Maria
Hey Dana-Maria – Yes, the winter would be an issue but if I made sure I was only there in the summer, The Netherlands could work. I’ll let you know if I decide to look more closely at it as a potential destination for me!
I’ve just found your blog and I haven’t had the oportunity to read a lot of it so I’m not sure if you have had the chance to visit Lisbon in Portugal, but I tell you: I think this is the place for you!
Great weather with a small amount of winter, amazing food, good people, 20 minutes from amazing beaches. Great night life!
thin about it!
Hey Joana – I have visited Lisbon twice over the years and I do enjoy that city very much. I shall look into it some more and see if it’s a good option for me to use as a base…thank you for the recommendation!
While surfing through the net, I came across this, then I remembered your post about buying a new home. Maybe this will help you.
Nigel.
http://lifehacker.com/5968813/ask-an-expert-all-about-buying-your-first-home
Thanks for that Nigel!
Dude, you have got to check out Kuala Lumpur! Just got back from an awsome week spent there and I think you would love it. There are three cultures (Malay, Muslim and Chinese) so the food is incredible…tons of cheap authentic street food! and the transportation system is the best I have ever seen.
There is an extremely well laid out MODERN subway and monorail that links Chinatown, Little India and the poshest shopping malls you could imagine. The subway actually has its own AIRPORT TERMINAL (I think the only one in the world with its own airport code) so you can check luggage at the subway! (Not that you usually carry luggage…but if you continue doing guided tours…I am sure you will have to eventually).
We stayed at the Winsin Hotel in Chinatown for about $30 USD…it was pretty nice…but you can find decent places a LOT cheaper. Since you need a permanent place…I would look for a really inexpensive apartment outside of town. All of the embassirs are neatly lined up in a row…so super easy to get visas and network
I have a friend who is moving thete in June…def a great place to consider! Merry Christmas and Sawadee Pi Mao from Thailand!
Rhonda
P.S. If you are in between places, you should come visit Koh Phangan!
Hey Rhonda – I’ve actually been to KL several times over the years and it is a great city. I never considered it as a place to live though so maybe I need to research that option some more. The food over there is probably my favorite aspect and any place with such good food should probably be on my final list!
Charleston, SC! Literally everything you just described, amazing food, awesome community that has a real sense of togetherness, smallish town next to the beach, what more could you ask for? Plus, we were rated the best city in the world recently, so that must count for something, right? haha
Hey Angela – Well, I certainly need to look into any place that is rated “best city in the world”, especially if it is one like Charleston that I already know I like very much!
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Fall in love, Earl! All else will take care of itself
My best wishes for the new year to you! Hope you find a home soon…
Thank you Janvi
Philippines
Rain showers do come during the dry season and vice-versa. There are those cities who house clubs, malls, resto’s, and other things typical in an urban place. But if you do want a much peaceful/quiet place, you can settle on acquiring a place in provinces or those that are less prone to city noise – a place in the beach has a high possibility 
In terms of everyday living, a dollar is equivalent to 40 pesos and you can purchase a satisfying meal from that… The Philippines has a lot to offer from underwater activities to just even walking around the streets – some of these are well told in blogs from Filipinos which I enjoy reading 
From mountain trails, different waterfalls, heavenly beaches, and more… The transpo is good, though sometimes flights had to be cancelled for weather disturbances that is of beyond control by man… I hope this does help, if not, let Google do the work.. 
Basically, there are two seasons in the country – wet and dry. But it does not mean that for a certain season, the sun is up and the other one is filled with rain
*BTW, I am an aspiring traveller, but not as nomad as you
Maybe I’ll start my travels by next year 
Hey Nylor – The Philippines is on my list of places to visit this year as I really do need to see what it’s all about!
I too second the Phillipines… Very cheap to live there, and great beaches. Although I’m also putting a vote in for Playa and Nicaragua… I’ve wanted to move to the latter for a while just because it’s still pretty much off the beaten path, still pretty cheap, warm weather, beaches, and tons of outdoor activities! You know you can actually snowboard or sled down the ash of a volcano in Nicaragua?!?!
Hey Jen – As a matter of fact I have sled down that very volcano…which resulted in me slicing open my arms, legs and chest, bleeding all over the place and not being able to get out of bed for three days after. It was fun nonetheless though.
Alrighty then… I think I’ll take the sled down instead so thanks for the tip…
Malta, not sure if you have been here already. It’s an archipelago of tiny islands bang in the middle of the Mediterranean south of Sicily nd north of Libya. We consider it to be the belly button of the world
Hey Neil – I have been to Malta actually, two or three times I think. It’s a great location and very nice place to live for sure. Several people recommended it to me for a base and so it is on my list
couldn’t go through all the comments to know if Indonesia has been suggested or not, but I would recommend it definitely. And no, not Bali! I would prefer Java, specifically Malang! The city is of perfect size and with whatever you need, fairly close to many beaches, cheap, and with some expats living here.
I just burnt out a post I was preparing for the coming weeks
But really I love this city, it has everything you need, cheap, fairly civilized compared to other Indonesian cities. And warm (almost all the time, even when it is raining)
Thanks Mina…I think you’re the first to suggest Indonesia outside of Bali. I shall do some research and learn more about Malang! Thank you!
San Pedro,CA
Coastal town by the LA sea port.
Inhabited about a century ago by foreign Europeans. So there is a diversity of people and are close to everything. You have your nature and hiking trails, oceanic view, and a lot more. Anyways you can check it out. Best of luck;)
Hey Hanna – Thanks for the suggestion and I will add it to the list and learn some more about the town!
RAJAHMUNDRY a medium sized town in andhra pradesh which satisfies all ur needs. there is no language barier as most of the people speak in english n very friendly. the most important factor is u can live a high five life for a 400 usd per month. beaches will take 3hrs from this place but there is river godavari to have a nice swim. once google it n check this place all the best !
Thanks Karthik…I’ve never heard of it so I will definitely Google it and learn more about the town!
Hi Earl, hope you are enjoying many moments today where you are. Why not consider Las Vegas? I recalled reading about Tony H and maybe Las Vegas downtown can server as a potential for your base- http://www.fastcoexist.com/1681013/how-tony-hsieh-is-flooding-downtown-las-vegas-with-entrepreneurial-college-graduates. Hope you find a suitable home!
Hey Kim – Las Vegas is on my short list as a possible place for my base. I’ll be looking into it some more once I’m back in the US in about a month!
Have you considered New England? We don’t have year round warmth, but we do have 4 beautiful seasons!
Hey John – I’ve thought about it, as I’m actually from Boston originally, but the cold really is difficult for me to handle these days.
Hi Earl,
I just discovered your blog, you are crazy man!!:)
My suggestion: Latvia, Riga, it is awesome for connections if you want to spend time in Europe, springs and summers are amazing, and winters are awefull which is good, because that will make you want to travel in winter!!:)
Country is small, housing cheap, ppl are nice, and beer is cheap what else do you need??
Easy to find job – English teaching or call operator or flight agent for US based companies (your accent will make them think you are based in US hahaha:D)
Oh..and last but not least…girls are stunning!!!:P
Good luck,
Laura
Hey Laura – I appreciate the suggestion and Latvia is a good option. I was there last year and enjoyed my stay but definitely didn’t stay long enough. I should get back there to check it out more in depth, especially considering the last thing you mentioned
Have you ever been to Ventura, CA? My dad made his home here in 2009, and visiting him I fell in love with the city. I moved here two weeks ago and it is just what you described. Medium sized, right by the beach (which is my favorite part!), close to nature (I’ve been on several amazing hikes since arriving and I wish my photography skills were better). You can fly from either Santa Barbara or Los Angeles. The temperature is in the 60s pretty much year round–amazing! It’s super laid back. I love all the people here. You should take a look at places here
Hey Kali – Actually, I have been out there, but it was about 8 years ago when a friend of mine moved out there. I remember liking it a lot back then but at the time, I wasn’t thinking about finding a home. Perhaps it’s worth another look as I had forgotten about it until you mentioned it
Thank you!
How about Pune, Maharashtra, India ?
Hey Earl,
You might want to consider Charlotte, NC.
It’s got a relatively low cost of living, is 3 hours from the beach, two from the mountains, and a major hub for the American/US Airways mega airline. Might be perfect for you!
Thanks for that Tim. And I’ve been to Charlotte a few times and really do enjoy i there. My sister also lives nearby. Definitely an option.
You know, I read this post, before all the comments were here, and thought, “Hmm must keep track of this because it sounds pretty much like the sort of place I’d like to live – except that being by the ocean is a must for me – his perhaps somewhere in the suggestions he gets there will be one which appeals to me.”
So this week I’ve read about your return to Playa del Carmen, and came back here to refresh my memory, and reread your list, and I have to tell you that where I live (El Médano in Tenerife in the Canary Islands) meets almost all of your criteria! Granted the nearest basketball court is around 25 minutes away, and to get anywhere you first have to take a 2 hour flight to Madrid, for an onward flight, well, just about anywhere in the world.
And that set me to wondering why it is I want to leave!
Hey Linda – I’ve looked at Tenerife actually but I think the fact that it isn’t so easy to reach the rest of the world would be an issue. I definitely need a place with more flight connections I think. But it does sound ideal otherwise!
Have you thought about Punta Del Este Uruguay? Or Florianopolis Brazil? I loved both places a lot when I traveled there on vacation.
Earl, I think the question here is:
How is it possible that after traveling all over this wonderful world for 14 years, you are still searching for a place to settle? Surely you must have already visited many suitable places that fit your criteria. It’s great that people are naming places in an attempt to help you in your quest, but ultimately no-one knows you better than yourself. So I pose a question to you;
Where do YOU want your home to be?
Hey Neil – If I knew that answer I wouldn’t have written the post
My idea with this post was to simply hear ideas because even though I’ve been traveling for so long, I certainly haven’t covered the entire planet. And if there is a place out there that sounds like a good match for me, I’m open to checking it out and seeing if that might be the best location for my home. I have not been to every city, town and village in the world!
Hello Earl,
your desire sounds very down to earth and pure human to me.
Just i think you are the only one who can answer that question.
if you are looking for a home which means a build place / room with all needed utilities and furniture in warm climate, on reasonable budget, it must be easy to find.
but if you are looking for a place called home where you feel being yourself is accepted and secure, and also its surrounding is welcoming, speaking the understandable language, than it might become life journey of its own, to find that place.
talking about build home place to stay, answer yourself which culture, politics, economy and medical care of the place/ surrounding would be acceptable for you.
which culture deeply moved you in positive way? which surrounding would you like to be influenced by in longer period? (american way? european? asian…..?) where would you like to get old? which sight out of the window made you feel peaceful with yourself?
if i would be looking for build home place i would look in Barcelona, Lissabon, Istanbul asian side, Los Angeles southern area, San Francisco, or looking long term forward to Florida…
all the best wishes from Vienna herewith
Hey Dijana – Those are all good points and actually, at this time, I’m just looking for a comfortable place to use as a base, not necessarily a place to fully integrate myself. The only reason for this is because I still want to do a lot of traveling and so I wouldn’t actually be at my ‘home’ too often. But of course, I do want to be surrounded by a culture that I enjoy and appreciate, regardless of how long I stay there. Thank you for adding your insight!
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Hey Earl, I love your blog. I’m also a traveler although not anywhere near to the extent as you, I can definitely relate. I chose San Diego, CA for my hub. It has great weather, is very laid back, nice beaches, nice people, easily accessible airport, not too crowded, great food…I almost hesitate to rave too much since there are lots of myths about this city that I selfishly don’t mind letting people believe! The only myth that I will correct here is that it is NOT warm year round, sure we get our 70 degree days in the middle of winter, but that’s not the norm and we definitely have a few months of lows in the 40′s. Anyway I’ll be curious to see where you “land”! Good luck.
Thanks for that suggestion Kevin…I love San Diego myself and the only issue for me, apart from the cool temps, is that it’s far away from family/friends on the east coast and far away from Europe. But, we shall see!
I looked at properties in Buffalo NY 3 years ago. A cheap house would be $10K but thats a start
Hey Martin – That’s not a bad deal at all…
After 3 years of travel I found my home in La Libertad, El Salvador. Warm weather, great beaches and surfing, easy/cheap access to the Eastern US, many of the comforts of home in San Salvador a quick 30 minute drive from the beach, and you can reach the mountains city and beach all within an hour and a half of each other! Too hot at the beach? Crisp cool waterfalls within 2 hours… Need a jacuzzi? Thermal waters are within an hour and a half… Want a cinema or great nightlife? 30 minutes… and surfing on my doorstep. Still super cheap here since everyone’s too scared to come – lucky us!
Serbia, Novi Sad could be the place
Middle-size clean university town with cheap prices for everything including real estate. Starting from April it’s already summer weather and it stays this way till October/November, winters are mild, there’s a National park across the river that could be reached in 20 min. You can get your residence permission easily based just on the fact of owning a house/apartment and having 5000 euro bank account in your name. 1,5 hrs and 40 euro away by taxi from Belgrade airport.
Ok, I am in the exact same situation and looking for similar things (my sport is Tennis, so those are the courts I’m after), small town, good internet, close to some sort of nature and natural body of water to swim in (lake, river, ocean or sea all good), sunny mostly, etc!… and am dying to know— Any decisions??????? Updates please!!!
Hannah
By the way, it’s awesome to have all of these suggestions in one spot – really glad you wrote this post. Hope others pitch in with more info.
As for myself, I’ve been drawn to the sound of Austin, TX..LOVED living in the SF Bay area (but a tad ‘spensive for me at the moment), absolutely fell in love with Lake Atitlan (but no tennis courts..and perhaps better to keep for a refuge rather than a home base)…Am generally in love with Mexico as a whole (spent a year university exchange in Guanajuato, an adorable and culturally rich town but no beaches or lakes)…and the Greek island I lived on had perhaps the friendliest people I’ve ever met anywhere.
But I am still looking for that “home base of all home bases”…so please keep us updated, and other peeps please keep chipping in! I will be checking back on this post. Cheers