Hey Reader,

As someone who has lived a nomad life for 2.5 years, I've increasingly seen the opportunity costs of temporary living rise. The lack of stability and tight social connections that thrive on consistency has become painfully clear. This is my third attempt to settle in one place after Norway and Madeira—and this time, I'm determined to make a conscious decision.

The Hidden Cost of Sliding Through Life

Our environment greatly influences our life outcomes. It can make the difference between living a life fulfilled and in misery. Consider a young girl that dreams of becoming an astronaut. Her environment will largely determine whether her dream comes true.

As we grow up, our dreams are often crushed by societal expectations and disappointment. We lower our aspirations and day by day they dwindle. We slide into our decision to stay where we are, but a seed of dissatisfaction waits under the surface to germinate and grow.

The truth is simple: You have the agency to make an intentional decision at any time. You get to shape the environment for your success.

The Four Key Criteria for Choosing Where to Live

1. Personal Values & Goals

Deep Dive into Self-Discovery

Carve out time to thoroughly explore your personal values and goals. This is the foundation that will help you differentiate between a short-term fun place and a truly fulfilling long-term home.

Ask yourself these transformative questions:

1. What do I hide to fit in?
2. How would I spent my days if nobody knew about it and it would result in neither financial gain nor status?
3. Who do I want to be in ten years?

Working Backwards

1. What needs to be true in five years, one year, one month, and today to make this happen?
2. What is the minimum viable action in line with my values and toward my vision that I can take today?
3. And then do it!

Location-Specific Refinement

1. Who are the people I want to be surrounded with? What's the potential for finding like-minded people and communities?
2. What are the institutions that serve my goals? Where do I find them?
3. Which cultures align with my personal beliefs?

2. Opportunities

Opportunities are specific to your unique situation. Narrow down your scope by identifying your non-negotiables:

1. What are my non-negotiable opportunities for success? E.g. I want to build a profitable business that allows me to work on whatever, whenever, wherever, and with whomever I want → I'm leveraging media and code in the company of inspiring likeminded people.
2. Which requirements do I need to fulfill my goals and values that aren't available everywhere? E.g. I want to homeschool my future children → I'm selecting from jurisdictions that tolerate this practice.

3. Practical Preferences

Practical preferences are the everyday realities of realizing your vision. The ease of doing business, tax rates, costs of living, infrastructure and accessibility, climate and environment, safety and security, and lifestyle compatibility. It's easy to get lost in the nitty gritty before tackling the more important questions above. Analyze:

1. Which preferences are most important to me and why? E.g. I want hospital facilities accessible within a 45-minute drive after experiencing a 3.5-hour emergency ride in the Arctic.
2. Which preferences am I willing to compromise on and why? E.g. I am willing to compromise on the quality of educational institutions since I prefer a curiosity-driven approach and am satisfied with digital offerings.

4. Ease of Relocation

This is the category that can crush your dreams—but only if you give away your agency.

Identify and Understand Constraints

1. What might constrain my move? E.g. economic factors, visa requirements, language barriers, etc.
2. Are these constraints worth tackling head-on?

Problem-Solving Approach

• Economic constraints? Solve the financial challenge first.
• Language barrier? Start learning the language.

The Decision-Making Process

1. Create a weighted scoring system for your criteria.
2. Research multiple potential locations.
3. Visit locations if possible.
4. Talk to locals and expats.
5. Consider a trial period or extended stay before committing.
6. Remain flexible and open to adjusting your plans.

Important Reminder: No location will perfectly match all of your criteria. Prioritize the most important factors and be prepared to compromise on less critical aspects.

The Ultimate Goal

In the end—whether you choose to relocate or not—it's about enjoying the place to the fullest. Some people intuitively find their ideal location, but for those feeling the itch to move, a careful evaluation is the first step to success.

From commitment arises freedom. Are you ready to be intentional about where you live?

Thanks for reading and until next week,

Jesse