[keiferski]

Take it from someone that got horribly sick while alone in North Africa: it's a character-building experience ;)

I recommend the remote job route, at least for a year or two. The 'digital nomad' thing gets old after awhile, but it's definitely worth doing for a few years. If you stick to Central and Eastern Europe, there is nothing to worry about re: politics, illness, food quality, etc.