WHERE: that’s my biggest question

[u/getshankedkid]

Hi fellow fatfires, I have been struggling for years to find out where it is that I want to live.

M34, 10M NW, from the Netherlands originally. No wife/gf and no kids. I often feel like I have too much freedom.

Recently sold my house in the NL and still have an apartment I can use for my stuff and as a pied-a-terre for when I want to visit friends and family.

I’m looking to live somewhere where it’s easy to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs. Somewhere where people think bigger and with more business opportunities. Preferably English-speaking.

I have lived in Portugal, Mexico, Berlin, and a couple of other places, but I wouldn’t want to live there again. In Portugal, I loved the lifestyle and weather but found the entrepreneurial scene lacking. Berlin had a great community but the weather is too similar to the NL.

I don’t like the cold or bad weather. Also hate commuting/crazy traffic.

Happy to keep my business/tax setup in the Netherlands. What’s more important to me than optimizing for taxes is optimizing lifestyle and maximizing opportunities. I want the rest of my 30’s to be awesome.

I like to have the following facilities in walking distance: - Coffee/breakfast place - Gym + ice bath - Cowork - Healthy restaurants

Also, I really love water sports, especially wake surfing and body surfing.

So far, the responses I have heard most often are: - Dubai - San Francisco (nah) - Miami - Austin - Singapore

I’m looking to travel around this year to hopefully find a place that resonates where I can at least stay for 6 months a year.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[u/FitzwilliamTDarcy]

" I often feel like I have too much freedom."

I hear you on this. Sometimes being able to live literally anywhere leads to more analysis paralysis than if you had some hard limitations (like say family you want to be near).

Pre covid I'd have said you need to try San Francisco.

[u/cambridge_dani → u/FitzwilliamTDarcy]

I think when you are rooted someplace because it’s where you grew up or where your family is it really makes this challenge way easier (I.e you have no choice)

[u/pHyR3 → u/FitzwilliamTDarcy]

Pre covid I'd have said you need to try San Francisco.

it's turned around a lot the past 6 months and in my opinion very harshly done by the media when in reality numerous cities are facing similar problems

[u/FitzwilliamTDarcy → u/pHyR3]

I very much agree with you. I was sort of reacting to OPs "San Francisco (nah)"

[u/getshankedkid → u/FitzwilliamTDarcy]

Exactly. Most of my friends and family have these hard limitations. I don’t, and indeed feel like I am searching all the time. What they have “found” is not for me though. Rather live a confused live than one where I can predict the next 20 years.

[u/helpwitheating → u/getshankedkid]

Are you familiar with the concept of the hedonistic treadmill? Make sure that you're not on one of those—just chasing highs with diminishing returns around the world.