Relocating Abroad and Having Multiple Home Bases
It’s summer for those of us in the northern hemisphere, which often means traveling to relax and rejuvenate our heart and mind, whether it’s a weekend at the seaside or a longer trip to discover a new destination. Often, it is in these moments of downtime, when we have the space to be more creative and explore within, taking time to understand on a deeper level what shifts we’d like to create in our lives. In speaking with a few clients recently, I’ve noted there is a commonality amongst them in that they are pondering the idea of not only relocating abroad, but having the flexibility and freedom of having multiple home bases.
The idea of having multiple home bases can provide the best life we imagine for ourselves. We are able to understand the culture and lifestyle of a place by living and experiencing it as a resident, and at the same time, we get to know deeper layers of ourselves.
A recent discussion with international multicultural business women allowed us to shed some light on how to pave a path towards living abroad and creating multiple home bases. Many of the participants in the discussion had already lived in multiple countries and are living in a country other than the one they were born in. When we opened up the conversation, we focused on some primary questions including:
What is compelling about having multiple home bases?
What are the benefits vs. challenges of having multiple home bases?
What’s the myth vs. the reality?
To tackle what is compelling about having multiple home bases, we began with developing a list of criteria for one’s dream location, noting that it may not in the end be one physical place or destination. In chatting together, one of the participants noted that London and a small town in Greece would fit the bill, satisfying this idea of having multiple home bases. Thanks to remote and hybrid working, it’s easier today to customize one’s personal life - how you want and where you want - with multiple locations.
I often find there is a deep curiosity that pulls us towards understanding other cultures and how people live, and it is this same inquisitiveness that influences us to want to relocate. It can be wonderful to feel as though you have a community in more than one location. And it’s extraordinary to learn a new language or further hone your language skills, which in turn, helps us to develop ourselves internally even more.
There are also many challenges to consider when relocating. For example, there are family obligations to take into account such as being near elderly parents, creating a home base for children, and offering a multicultural environment for kids. It’s important to account for kids’ schooling when considering having multiple home bases. It’s one thing to move yourself, but it is another when you have to consider family and children. Also, it’s important to honor cultural traditions, the celebrations you will want to enjoy and holidays you wish to spend with loved ones. Another challenge is financial – the extra expense of having multiple homes, managing them and traveling between them. Finally, there are logistical considerations, whether you need a VISA or passport requirements, tax residency and practical needs such as having personal items close by.
Living a life with multiple home bases is a new reality which can bring many wonderful benefits, along with difficulties. If you’re looking to explore the idea more, feel free to schedule a complimentary session with me to initiate a chat and learn more about how you can best be supported through the process.
On a separate note, I wanted to let you know that I will be taking a break over the next few weeks to enjoy time with family and friends. I admit that it’s not easy for me to disconnect and unplug and I’m working to be intentional about it this year. Taking time to reconnect with loved ones is incredibly nourishing and I want to make sure I am present as much as possible in order to fully enjoy this pause. Research has proved that taking a vacation improves well-being (see HBR article below), so I’m going to test it out personally!
In the meantime, be well and I look forward to reconnecting with you all in September!
To Your Success,
Coaching Practices
Take Action and Put it into Practice
As you’re considering the opportunity to live abroad and/or have the freedom of multiple home bases, take a moment to reflect on the following:
What is compelling about a life with multiple home bases?
Which are the primary factors to consider in choosing suitable locations? What are your conditions of satisfaction?
What are the practical implications to take into consideration, such as logistics and learning the language of the destination
What are the benefits of living in multiple locations? What are the challenges?