This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Susan Lindgren, a 58-year-old from Santa Monica, California, who has been living in Da Nang, Vietnam, for the past year and a half. It has been edited for length and clarity.
After 25 years of working as a business software consultant, I realized I was burned out.
At my last job, I implemented software systems for multiple corporate clients simultaneously, and each role felt like a full-time job.
I always felt like my plans were a “maybe.” Whether it was birthday parties or dinner plans, I was only committing at 80% because work took priority.
My joy and health deteriorated, and I started suffering physically.
A pivotal moment came when my body felt alarmingly uncomfortable, and I worried it was something serious, like my heart.
I went to the doctor, and they found out I had elevated blood pressure and an abnormally rapid heart rate — both of which were stress-related. It happened twice, and I was advised to take some time off.
I thought I could resolve the issues if I did things differently, so I went to a psychologist. But after a few sessions, she gave me a wake-up call.
She told me we weren’t talking about my job, but about my life. She said she had other clients like me, who kept going down the same path, and they did not survive.
That was when I decided to choose my health.
The initial plan was to take a year off work and do all the things that I never had time to do, like spend time with my family, get my health coaching certification, and do some community service abroad.
I went to Tanzania on a clean water project, and on the last night of my trip, I realized I didn’t want to leave. I can’t remember the last time I was so happy.
One of the girls turned to me and said, “Why don’t you keep traveling?”
I said, “Well, I can’t because…” and I didn’t have an answer.
The typical answers would be a job, a spouse, or kids, but I had none of those things to stop me. So I returned to the US, rented out my one-bedroom condo, and started traveling around Africa, South America, and Asia.
When I arrived in Vietnam for the first time in 2017, I spent a month traveling through the country. But I was still itching to see more of the world, so I continued on my travels, always returning home now and then to spend time with family.
I was in Vietnam when the borders closed in March 2020, and I ended up staying there for five months. It was very livable, with its beaches, nature, and abundance of fresh, healthy food.
In February 2024, my heart brought me back to Vietnam.
I’ve been living in Da Nang for a year and a half.
It’s very easy to meet new people abroad. Since many of us are away from home, we seek out different classes and activities to participate in. There’s always something happening.
I can wake up, run into someone I know on the way to get coffee, and suddenly I’m off to an event with them. It’s totally spontaneous.
When I was in the States, I put a lot of effort toward my health. I joined a marathon running group. I also drank green juices, did detoxes, and went on walks daily.
Here, being healthy is built into the lifestyle.
People spend time outdoors, and junk food is less common. I quit eating supplements, and I’ve never felt better. I attend acroyoga classes, dance salsa, and hike. I’m rock scrambling waterfalls with friends half my age, and I feel so energetic.
Back home, people ask you about your house, your car, your clothes, your job. Here, people judge others based on their personalities and how they show up. It’s so refreshing.
Travel has opened my mind to a new way of living. I didn’t realize that this lifestyle was even an option. Now, I collect rental income from my property back home, as well as investment income.
Between digital nomads who have online jobs and traditional retirees who move to a place where they plan to live for the rest of their lives, there’s a middle ground of people like me who have the freedom to choose where and how long we want to stay in a place.
I like being here, and I get to use it as a home base when I want to travel for a weekend. But if I decide I want to move elsewhere, like to Thailand, I could go tomorrow.
I’m rethinking my priorities. It used to be working and earning money. But now, waking up, going to the beach, and drinking a fresh coconut feels like real wealth to me.
Do you have a story to share about relocating to a new city? Contact this reporter at [email protected].
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