[gregjor]

Having lived abroad as a US citizen I understand and don’t disagree with your frustrations. The nomad or expat or retiree overseas life comes with some trade-offs and frustrations. Living abroad and constant traveling do get glamorized. Digital nomad forums are full of stories of immigration hassles, money problems, loneliness, alienation, culture shock. Sometimes the nomad makes obvious mistakes that complicate their life. Sometimes government bureaucracies and banks and employers add friction and hassle.

On the other hand, finding the information you need to travel and live abroad is fairly easy these days. A little planning and setting your expectations smooths the process out. It’s not for everyone, and definitely gets presented as more glamorous and exciting than it sometimes turns out. A person who is unhappy, lonely, insecure, financially unstable, or operating from unrealistic assumptions will just take those problems with them — living abroad isn’t a clean slate.

Some things in life you can change. Some things you can’t. It’s not always worth getting mad or fighting against screwed up rules or banging your head against obstacles. Every person has to make their own decisions about what they can live with.