Living abroad for 28 years gave me everything I wanted — and a quiet guilt I still carry

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Kris LeBoutillier standing near a shophouse in Singapore.
Kris LeBoutillier says that living in Singapore gave him opprotunities he never would have found back home.

Provided by Kris LeBoutillie

After a breakup, I traveled for a year to learn how to be alone again. It led me to move to a country I'd never imagined calling home.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Claire Drinkwater is swinging on a hammock in Belgium.
After her travels came to an end, Claire Drinkwater decided to settle down somewhere new.

Provided by Claire Drinkwater

I left my Hollywood stunt career for 15 months to travel to 35 countries. I came back ready to plan my future beyond LA.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A woman with yellow hair walking with white lions in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Sharonda Scott's spent 15 months traveling to 35 countries (including Zimbabwe, pictured).

Provided by Sharonda Scott

We spent a year abroad in France and enrolled our kids in a local school. Coming home was bittersweet.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Family of four walking and holding hands with trees in the background.
Gemma Bonham-Carter and her family left Canada to spend a year in the South of France.

Provided by Gemma Bonham-Carter; Crystal - Of Wild Dawn Photography/Crystal - Of Wild Dawn Photography

I quit my job at 29 and traveled solo. I didn't tell my parents until I'd finished my business plan.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Cassi Zheng running down a street in Italy.
Cassi Zheng

Provided by Cassi Zheng

I'm an empty nester and spent 6 months on my own in 3 countries. It helped me figure out what I wanted next.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Jennifer McGuire in a scarf and winter coat, drinking a glass of wine in Rome.
After becoming an empty nester, Jennifer McGuire spent six months traveling around Europe.

Provided by Jennifer McGuire

My tween kept asking to chat with her friends online. Now, in Australia, I can just say, 'it's against the law.'

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
Australian dad on a boat.
Leon Spencer, an Australian dad, is glad that the Australian government's new ban will help him keep his kids off social media.

Provided by Leon Spencer

I went on a monthlong nomad cruise. The travel disappointed, but the community onboard didn't.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Kaisu Koskela, wearing colorful clothing and standing with the beach in the background.
Kaisu Koskela had been hearing about Nomad Cruise for years; this year, she boarded a 27-day cruise from Seattle to Sydney.

Provided by Kaisu Koskela

My husband and I left our jobs to travel full-time in our 30s. Transitioning back into the workforce has been hard.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Toccara Best and her husband standing near waterfalls at Plitvice National Park, Croatia
Toccara Best's request for a year of leave was denied; she decided to go traveling with her husband anyway.

Provided by Toccara Best

My husband and I quit our jobs to travel for a year. My biggest concern was having a career gap on my résumé.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Maria Laposata and her husband in the Masai Mara, a national game reserve in Kenya, with elephants walking in the background.
Maria Laposata and her husband left their jobs to spend a year traveling around the world.

Provided by Maria Laposata

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