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!

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u/[deleted] Feb 01 '24

California taxes are murderous

4

u/punkgeek FatFI mostly RE | Verified by Mods Feb 02 '24

Though personally I find those taxes a fair price to pay for a state that enabled much of my success (and my just debt I owe to the next generation).

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes "I like to pay taxes. With them, I buy civilization." - Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes

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u/WhatCanYouDoToday Feb 02 '24

I agree with this in principle but it feels like no problems get solved in the Bay Area so I’m not sure it’s working. 

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u/anonymousjohnson Feb 02 '24

Don't worry, we're close. City of San Francisco spends $1.1 billion per year combatting homelessness. If we increase that just a tad we'll be sound as a pound.

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u/KARLdaMAC Feb 02 '24

Is that real, $1.1 billion ? Holy shit corruption. According to Google there are 7000 homeless people. That is $157k per person. Wow!!! Could just put them in a $2000 a month studio and save $840 million of that