Being Homeless

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

i travel around thailand and to other asian countries for a few days when i have to do a visa run. but i dont have any plans to live outside thailand.

[unbluffable]

what about the caribbean? ever been? want to?

[cbloom]

wet_work - doing the VW camper thing was one of my thoughts for a little while; not chasing a band, but taking a tour of all the US national parks. Any tips/trip report you wanna do on that would be awesome. I've had friends with those things and they seem to break down all the time. We once had to drive down from the Cascades to Tacoma in neutral because the transmission broke.

I've done a month backpack-hostelling around Europe before, and I did a month drive around the US last year, but giving up a home base is a big difference.

KKF - Met - how did you guys deal with the logistics?

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

what does logistics mean?

[TheMetetron]

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cell phone - is there a better type of phone/network that will work world wide? how about a cell that won't charge insane roaming?

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Most of the world uses GSM. Get an unlocked GSM phone and just buy a SIM card and pay-as-you go minutes in whatever country you happen to be in. Incoming calls are free, outgoing calls are reasonable. This will work for your local calling.

For international calling, use Skype.

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health care - is there some kind of global health insurance that's worthwhile?

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This is weird. I just have Argentine health insurance and it covers me worldwide. I'm sure you can find some sort of US health insurance that covers you worldwide as well.

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immunizations - I guess I should get a full round in advance to be safe

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I don't think there are many countries that require immunizations outside of Africa. If you might go there, get them now I guess.

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VPN - I've already got a VPN lined up for countries that restrict the internet

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PM me more info about this.

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residency - I'm currently a CA resident, so I might have to go to some other state and get a drivers license there or something so I don't have to keep paying CA taxes

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Yes, you should. I'm a Nevada resident and technically if your state has income taxes that you hold a driver's license from, then you owe them taxes as well.

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ATMs - is there still an issue with different networks around the world? a few years ago there were a lot of countries where I couldn't get cash with a US ATM card.

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No problem in Europe or the Americas. Can't speak for Asia/Africa.


Also, about your address. There is a company out there that will give you an address that is an Apt or Ste #. They will hold your mail for you or you can get it shipped to you wherever you happen to be. I just use a family member's address, but this isn't a bad option if you can't do that. It's about $20/mo I think. If you are interest I can find the company name out.

[cbloom]

Thanks Met.

This page is pretty decent -

http://www.elevatedloc.com/cfool/Tra...ailAbroad.html

he claims AmEx still does mail forwarding but I can't find it on their web site; I guess I'll call them. When I was a kid I remember their services being really awesome.

[mntbikr15]

Not exactly international but read "Into the Wild"

Id say if you have the means and the mindset go for it. Its truely one of those things that I wish I had the balls to go do.

Who knows, if my engagement falls apart as it may perhaps Ill finally man up as there wouldnt be much left here for me besides family.

[Go_Blue88]

Given that you have a few hundred thousand dollars saved up, it seems to me that experimenting with something like this doesn't involve much risk and potentially reaps a huge reward.

This almost seems like a really cool vacation--when you get back, you can just jump back into normal life without the typical concerns.

Sounds like lotsa fun.

[mntbikr15]

I think 9/10 people who would do this never "get back"..by choice

[cbloom]

I "took a break" from regular work two years ago and I think I'm ruined for ever again working in a corporate/office environment already.