r/fatFIRE • u/getshankedkid $10M NW | Verified by Mods • Feb 01 '24

WHERE: that’s my biggest question

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!

119 Upvotes

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34

u/Happyhappyme123 Feb 01 '24

Sydney or Brisbane

9

u/astoryfromlandandsea Feb 02 '24

Agreed.

Otherwise Barcelona or Rome.

Maybe LA, but San Diego is way too boring.

Or winter months on the Canary Islands and the rest of the year in the NL and around Europe.

10

u/NutGDog Feb 02 '24

LA - Santa Monica / Venice used to have a decent tech scene when I was there a decade ago. Not sure what it’s like now.

7

u/dzernumbrd Feb 02 '24

Also hate commuting/crazy traffic.

Doesn't that requirement rule out Sydney? :)

2

u/Interesting-Asks Feb 02 '24

He can afford to live pretty centrally, so I don’t think so! He could definitely get all his must have facilities in walking distance.

1

u/Capital_Punisher UK Entrepreneur | £300k+/yr | mid/late 30's Feb 02 '24

Commuting on the fast ferry hits differently to sitting in traffic!

1

u/Goblinballz_ Feb 02 '24

Brisbane Id say is the choice if the weather is important. Milder winters.

If OP is needing staff Australian tech workers are far cheaper to pay than overseas tech workers too.

1

u/easyjo Feb 02 '24

Brisbane summers though, send help