We're full-time travelers in our 50s who've been to over 50 countries. Here are 5 of the biggest mistakes we've made.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author and her husband posing in Paris at night with the Eiffel Tower sparkling in the background.
My husband and I have made some mistakes since we started traveling full-time.

Shelly Peterson

I lived abroad by myself when I was 22. I wish I'd waited until I was older.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The writer posing in front of a building and tiled floor in Morocco.
captionTK

Syeda Khaula Saad

After 5 years of living abroad in Canada and Europe, I took off my rose-colored glasses and moved back to the US

Tech Insider : Business
Woman smiling at Mont Royal viewpoint -
I spent years living in Canada and Europe before returning to the US. Life abroad was great in many ways, but it was not the extended vacation it looked like.

Sydney Baker

A Gen Zer who moved home after living in Canada for 3 years shares the fastest way to ruin living abroad

Tech Insider : Travel, Business, Environment
Zina Malas wearing sunglasses at the beach
Zina Malas said having an open mind makes living abroad easier.

Courtesy of Zina Malas

After years of traveling full-time, the lifestyle caught up to me. I quit to find a home base, and couldn't be happier.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author walking across a bridge in Bhutan; his back is to the camera.
After years of travel, I finally decided I was ready to find a home base and slow down.

Adam Turner

When I moved abroad, I stopped buying groceries 'like an American.' Now, I eat and shop better — and I've lost 100 pounds.

Tech Insider : Business
Author smiling with birds nearby and on her palms
Living abroad helped improve my relationship with food and how I buy it — and I've lost about 100 pounds in the past seven years.

Halona Black

I got laid off from my tech job and retired in France at 69. Starting over is hard, but I love my life here.

Tech Insider : Business
A side-by-side photo of Sandy Adam and another picture of Paris.
Sandy Adam.

Sandy Adam/ Getty Images/ Elena Zolotova

A Harvard MBA grad knew the immigrant dream wasn't for her. She moved back to China to start a search fund.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment, Sports
Portrait of a woman smiling t the camera.
Sally Tian spent years moving between cultures. In 2025, she decided to move back to China to start a search fund.

Sally Tian.

We left the Bay Area to care for my mother-in-law in the South of France. The visa was easy — everything else wasn't.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Lin Koh in a lavender field.
Lin Koh.

Courtesy of Lin Koh

I moved from the US to the world's most livable city. After nearly 2 years of disappointment, I couldn't wait to leave.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A row of houses and boats in Nyhavn, Copenhagen.
I moved from the US to the world's most livable city, Copenhagen, and didn't like it.

Paige Madison

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