I traveled and met many people. Every encounter was truly irreplaceable.
Then, I got married. Every day is fun, but not as full of surprises as when I was traveling. Live in the countryside? Travel together? We discussed our situations, but none of the options seemed perfect.
That’s it! Let’s live abroad! The idea suddenly hit me. I spent a year dropping hints to my wife. When the TV showed a beach, I’d say things like, “Croatia is great!” trying to sell her on the idea of living overseas. She wasn’t thrilled.
So, we traveled together. We only decided on the destination and left the rest to chance. We watched how to shop at local supermarkets, asked for directions, and got asked for directions ourselves. Even ordering coffee was a challenge. I thought I ordered water, but I got Coke instead. Yet, by the end of the trip, my wife said, “I think I could live here.”
Alright then, let’s move!
And so, we decided to live in Portugal. We’re about to leave now. I’ve never been there before, though. A friend once said, “Within the EU, it’s almost like traveling within one country.”
These days, I find it fun to embrace a bit of uncertainty in my life.
Things might not go according to schedule, and unexpected troubles may arise, so it’s not always perfect. But if everything goes smoothly, my capacity won’t grow. If I only accept things that fit my worldview and push away what’s inconvenient, I might miss out on a rich life beyond that. That’s why I wanted to keep traveling.
Now that we’re a family of two, we’ll go slowly and far.
“Wow, I’m really going to live abroad. It’s crazy, but it’s exciting,” I think. If I can add randomness to my life and look back at the end, saying, “Well, that was fun,” then that’s enough.
To be honest, until two years ago, I had no connection to living abroad. I never even considered traveling, let alone living overseas. But then, during the pandemic, some digital nomads returned to Japan, and I met them by chance.
Their stories were like incredible true tales. Even though they faced so many hardships, they were so lively. Maybe they influenced me.
Today, with the development of the internet and the rise of AI, life has become more convenient. With just a smartphone, you can access any information. But the internet alone can’t provide the truly essential information in life. People don’t share everything that truly matters online.
That’s why I value meeting people and treasuring connections.
Meetings are accidental. I’m on a journey. I wonder what kind of surprises await me next. I’m looking forward to it.
