Beyond grateful to be living on the beautiful island of Koh Samui in Thailand.

My wife Amanda and I originally came to Thailand on a one month holiday back in 2019. We had an unforgettable experience, and quickly fell head over heels for this beautiful land, its mouthwatering spicy cuisine, and the wonderful Thai culture and people. After exploring several parts of this breathtaking country, we knew immediately that we wanted to as quickly as possible call Thailand our new home. 

Unfortunately the pandemic caused us some unforeseeable delays and setbacks, but we've finally arrived, and are bursting with excitement to continue our exploration of Southeast Asia.

Alas, all that blissful enjoyment comes at a cost.
Given the restrictions of my visa, and the fact that I cannot, and would not want to take a job away from any hard working local, securing a steady source of income has become a top priority for me.

Before moving to this small piece of paradise, we were fortunate to have lived 8+ years on two other breathtaking  islands in the Caribbean.

Anguilla
We spent 3 unforgettable years embracing the beauty of Anguilla. A tiny, picturesque, hidden gem of an island in the Eastern Caribbean.  Anguillans are the most wonderful people, and I have nothing but fond memories of my time there.

Aruba
Followed by an incredible 5-year chapter on the captivating shores of Aruba.  A Dutch, Caribbean island with perfect weather and beaches.

The remarkable people and diverse cultures we encountered on both islands have left a lasting impression, and we feel immensely grateful to have experienced such profound, life-changing experiences.

Prior to my decision to seek a more fulfilling life existence, I led a typical, stable, secure blue-collar life. For over 12 years, I dedicated myself to working for one single company, transitioning through various job titles until I eventually found myself in sales and sales management. Overall, I enjoyed my work, the collaboration, the challenges of sales growth, team leadership and management. I was fortunate enough to get to travel and spend time with many bright minds in the organization, and this made most challenges a lot less disheartening.  

Apart from the harsh Canadian winters and high taxes, life was going well and as planned. To satisfy my cravings for warm weather and sipping Coronas by the sea, I would treat myself to one or two yearly vacations to a sunny beach destination. It was during one of these trips that I had a moment of realization—I desired a change. Something drastically different. And once I had this realization, there was no going back. This revelation prompted me to begin planning and manifesting a new path. It was during this phase that I met my wife Amanda, a smart, beautiful, passionate school teacher who shared my yearning to escape the bone chilling winters and high tax rates. 

Two Heads Are Better Than One

It felt like winning the lottery once we realized that some of the world's most sought-after destinations offered international teaching opportunities. It was both exciting and scary at the same time, but without hesitation, we got busy crafting a solid plan of action. Within a few months, we found a perfect opportunity that gave us the courage to walk away from our secure careers, sell our homes, cars, and most of our possessions to prepare ourselves for the uncertain journey ahead. With only five suitcases in hand, we embarked on our new Anguillan adventure!

While our path presented numerous obstacles, uncertainties, and moments of doubt, we remained determined, never faltering in our pursuit of the dreams that beckoned us.

Almost 10 years have passed, and I have no regrets.

For the time being, we are still adapting to our recent move to Thailand and intend to settle here for a while. While we have aspirations to explore other parts of Southeast Asia, such as Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, and the Philippines, we haven't made any concrete plans yet.

Although we cherish our annual visits to Canada to see friends and family, returning permanently is not a consideration for me at the moment.