A Candid Chat Exploring Geo-Arbitrage and the Notion of Home Abroad

Ever thought about packing up your life and moving to a completely different part of the world? Could you find home in the bustling streets of London, or perhaps the serene landscapes of Bali are calling your name? Join us as we navigate the global map, exploring the concept of home away from home. We weigh the pros and cons of major cities, explore opportunities in places like Nigeria and Columbia, and delve into the cultural richness of Japan. From the pull of London, to the possibilities of geo-arbitrage, we stir up a discussion on the delicate balance between comfort and growth when choosing a place to put down roots.

Ever wondered how your life would change if you moved to the other side of London, or even the world? In this discussion, we dissect London from East to West and North, considering travel times, proximity to loved ones, and future changes in these areas. We ponder the implications of relocating, reflecting on the cost of travel, job availability, and the challenge of commuting. We also touch on the limitations of international travel due to corporate regulations. Prepare for a thought-provoking discussion on the value of comfort versus growth and the implications of these choices on our lifestyle. Whether you're contemplating a move or simply daydreaming, our exploration is sure to provide valuable insights.

Transcript

Valerio: 0:05

What do you think about the future of the UK? Play the baggages, just repeat, like your big life.

Mark: 0:11

I was saying so from yourself, because you managed to travel from early to Africa and have to work a bit there, and then to the UK and have to work a bit there, and people I know who have managed to do that a lot. It's not like when I ask away, would you live? I don't feel like it's, as what's it called, fixed And that's why you can live in places like Wembley, whereas for me, when I was younger, a huge move is from Camden to Wolvenstead, which, if you're not aware of it, in terms of London, it's like I don't even know what it is in mouth. It's like from the central city to the east, but still in the city, and that was a big thing because I was like, oh, it's changing trajectories and there's a lot of people who've stayed in like specific areas And I think about the ones who moved down from like outside of London one to the city.

Valerio: 0:57

May, it's not even eight miles. I've run 60 miles this morning. I could have run two Camden and back.

Mark: 1:05

Exactly though. But I mean, if I even scale that more, i think of when I was traveling as a consultant and I was staying away for like six months to however long away, and my friends who grew up locally were, like, what are you doing? We don't do that. Yeah, like we go on holiday and so that's a couple of weeks We don't stay away. You know what I mean.

Mark: 1:26

And it's like, oh, the idea, i guess, of moving away from everyone I know and love to the majority I'd say a lot of people I know and love and going somewhere far fetched to just start afresh and like I don't have a put. There's nothing negative. I know the areas and this I guess, because I'm in the city. It's like a big, easy to explore and always find something to do, like I'll accidentally remember oh crap, i'm in London. There's so many fear plays, there's so many. You know what I mean. I'll go to other countries or places and be like this would be nice for a short stint.

Mark: 1:59

But I think my biggest factor, when we're talking about the prioritization pieces family and friends it's a hub Like I know. No matter where everyone moves to, they're likely going to come visit this hub. You know what I mean. But if I move to say, bali, somewhere else, it's less likely. It's very expensive And if you think in terms of you're going out of your way to visit this specific place, so you need a reason. Basically, whereas London will probably pull you, the reason will find itself, maybe if your worker around you, your job, will dictate it, or maybe someone else is going to do something and pull you to it. It's like, yeah, it's a melting pot, things happen here, so it's kind of easy to be there and no things will find its way to you. It's like, yeah, it's like the gravity, and that's why it's just curious because, yeah, even eight miles was a huge, different eight mile.

Mark: 2:47

Isn't that I'm an answer to the chatty. But yeah, I think that's and I'm sure people think of this where maybe they'll move and forget, like between London, but just from, from the center of the city to rugby, Okay fine, But then from that to going to, I want to live in India. You know what I mean. I want to live where the resources are low, or Nigeria or Columbia or you know all these other places, And that for me, I found less friends who are doing that, even though it sounds like Tim Ferriss puts it like an amazing geo-arbitrage opportunity and the cost of living just reduces substantially. But if I'm living in a mansion in the middle of Nigeria and having to make new friends, for me that's not a comfortable scenario.

Valerio: 3:38

Like to be fair though. So the reason why we would do it is not because of the arbitrage, it would be because we wanted to experience. I think it cannot go back to motivations because we would want to do it just to give it a try, because we'd rather be interested to live out there for six months a year and, i guess, get into, explore the country without being a tourist on a clock. But quite similarly, like if I got the opportunity, i would also love to move to Japan for a year probably. Oh, yeah, that would be so awesome.

Mark: 4:14

I guess that's another thing when you say living in Japan, because to me it's like there's some places don't get interested. I'd love to live for a period of time Like I could happily work in Dubai and get paid crazy money, but I'd never live. You know what I mean? Like this is my life, where I'll do it for a period of time and then kick. It's not my preference to stay there and just live there. And I think there's been more opportunities for me to even work in the Middle East. and I'm like now and then I'll hear people move from there to here and I'm like don't you want to go back? You know what I mean? There's differences in it. So, like Japan, you say one year, like yeah, but would you move there for life? and maybe I'd love to explore it, find out. I'd be like, actually I need to be here, family, i will see you later.

Valerio: 4:59

But yeah, there is a level of convenience as well, right, because especially Japan actually, i mean, i was there for three weeks and I loved it And I wish I couldn't down so much more and also not be rushed to do it, because we felt like we had to get from point A to point B, to point C to point D within a day because otherwise we will miss out the opportunity. But also I can recognize that if I was out there for six months a year, two years or whatever, there's also be some huge language barriers. So, making friends, getting to know people, even going to the supermarket and getting to find out what's in this bloody white package with Japanese letters on it The pasta was in noodles. Um, sorry, man, like I was in the supermarket And usually you go to the supermarket with a whole aisle for, like olive oil. There was a whole aisle for bloody soy sauce And then there was like six olive oil bottles.

Mark: 6:02

Well, of course you said is it pasta versus noodles or like, is it Italian? That's the option, oh my gosh. Yeah, well, that's the spoil for choice. Well, is that over choice? But true, and I think you're right about you'd have to, in certain countries, learn the language, and isn't that you? they want the simulation And so, but I don't see that as a detriment. It's just a part of, like, the exchange. And are we hilarious for me if I learn that language before my own? But I'm on track to learn Portuguese before I finish Evo. So it is, what is I still? because you know what's funny? I swear to God, it was I think it was Spain, where we had this conversation with colleagues and everyone was saying where would you retire? And they kept saying like a specific place in. I believe it was Spain, yeah, and I was just like whoa, that's so local.

Valerio: 6:55

Are all of your colleagues. British Spanish hunts.

Mark: 6:58

No, but some of them, the European, indian, their range, and when I say European, they might be German, they might be British, they might be Spanish, they might be Portuguese, but they kept saying the same area. That's why it had me intrigued, and I was like I haven't even visited there. I guess, though, but they were, all seemed like they liked, let's say, not the city, right, and it's. I think visiting the city, like you do, is actually a good shout, and when you said, oh, i might have been, say, 30 or 40 minutes closer to it, i think that, for me, is probably my ending. I don't know where or what country, but it's a location, not in the city, but enough closer. If I wanted to visit, i can, because, say, i'm in London and I'm in London now, it's fine, but I grew up at Camden, which was the center of London, and I don't want to live in Camden, right, that areas were like had a specific audience, a younger demographic, or just a specific creative industry, or just a different mindset, to me is the best way to put it, and so I don't mind visiting there, but I dread, oh, if I moved here again, i would just be exhausted. It feels. You know what I mean, and I've moved more and more further out, and so I even love it when I live in an area where you turn a corner and it's just silent in comparison to the rest of the roads And I'm like that's the road I'd rather go. I don't want to be in the busy. I've lived on Offerford High Street, remember it's Shepard Bush, and so you need that gaze and to be tripled if you can. But it's yeah, for me my priority is shift, and I'm aware they'll shift with time. So that's why I'm like, yeah, i think, somewhere where I can access easily, get paid as if I'm there, but not to deal with it would be the best.

Mark: 8:46

And find a way I'm looking for in terms of house, and even though it's still in London, it's just like, oh, but it's off-court, just give me the ability to get quickly into there. I'm fine. You know, javi, why are you looking at East? So same, similar way. I bought my previous house. Basically, what about North London? I was thinking North or West as well, but I don't. But then I'm even further from family. That's the thing, right, even with the new line, the Elizabeth line. Yeah, let me think. I think so. I'll check and see. But for me it's more of driving the family, because if I move North or West or South or whatever, I might be cool by train, but by car it's just now time right, but that's, any anywhere in London is enough. Well, besides, east, east is very millets easier, like yeah, unless traffic is crazy in saying which isn't the norm, it's the anomaly. Then, yeah, those other because I was them I went on a trip down West London the other day.

Mark: 9:46

I was traveling in from Bristol and then it's took the scenic route at Osilarius Because my colleague was driving us, why he kept missing his turn and I was like what are you doing? But it took me down like a nice Memory lane of places I lived in, like. So I went from Ealing to Acton, bishop, higher and I saw, you know, the places I previously stayed and I just didn't have the Pushed on when they did. That was like the houses look okay, the area seems to think my old job was in like shizik. So yeah, all the care areas that were close, but none of those people are there anymore. So I'd just been going to like if I was there by myself. I feel like I don't tend to feel lonely, but that just felt like a lonely area if you get what I mean.

Valerio: 10:26

That's so interesting though, because I mean I mean I lived around the Chisika, i lived in Q Right lovely area to live, and it was isolated, but I kind of I'm thinking about it. But you still be in London, like you can just jump on a tube and you'll be like On the other side of London is for about 40 minutes. It's actually quite interesting.

Mark: 10:45

That is it. This is what I think I started with right, where the mindset difference in, like you were from Camden to Walden, so, and for me just being in Q or Chisik, and I'm like it is 40 minutes, but I don't know. For instance, earlier, you was telling me earlier not today but in the week or something you're like maybe for my birthday I'll do something so people come here and visit. Yeah, i don't have to think of that. Like I got a message yesterday from like four different friend groups, like what you up to. You know what I mean And I know when I move further away I don't get, and for me That's like I have option. It's like removing options.

Mark: 11:16

When I moved to Sheppard Bush, i got visited by, like luckily, a different demographic I'm more the ones who are close up, but then they moved away. So the ones who I would see with more frequency will dissipate and I'm aware of, like now I'm in this area where, luckily, i went to like my College and things around here. So people are it's that gravity again. They gravity back to that area for whatever reason, and it's easy to get to. Everyone knows it, even if you don't live there. No more.

Mark: 11:42

It's I'll just put past here, whereas when I move to the other areas I'm not throwing house parties as well, and I'm probably trying, but everyone's leaving early. It's yes that it's like, and maybe it's comfort which I? I'm a strong advocate against comfort. So if it is that, if it turns out to be comfort, you'll hear that I boy west London the media, because it's not, if it's not unnecessary, block up but it's interesting though, Because it sounds like you got friends and they got convenient friends Yeah true, i'm good, yeah, well, oh, you mean convenient friends who won't be your friend if you move further away?

Mark: 12:17

Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh no, i don't think that's the case. Like they get just a baby will move like somewhere in South London, somewhere, wherever. I think it's not a them thing, it's a meat, if that makes sense. So I don't think it's like our friendship is based on my location. If that was the case, my management consul would have killed so many more friends, right, but, um, i think it's for me because it's just, oh, i'm down the road, but I'll see. To be honest, if there's an opportunity to get a house and it's like a four bedroom house or the same price, i'm not gonna be like, but it's in west, i'll be an advocate like y'all should move to this area, it's the best. I think you're right, though It is like um, it is just a matter of like a four-minute train or whatever, and I have done that before, if you think about it, and I didn't do it with the mindset of um, oh, where my friends based, where these people live, i don't really London is London is London, if you think about it.

Mark: 13:11

I'm just aware, and these are things that like Forts that pass through my mind, and I wonder if it passes through anyone else's Um, when they make the consideration. For instance, to be honest, when I bought my previous house in longford, i didn't know runford from Jack, i'd rather have bought near, where you know what I mean and To me, and that was before the Elizabeth line came in. So it was Journey and they've done that guy right. Yeah, it's, it was far, and then the Elizabeth line came in. Things become a bit more like the world gets closer With better forms of transportation that take you between it, i guess yeah, produce.

Valerio: 13:51

We're comparing what Um Wolfram store to living in Bali.

Mark: 13:56

Yes, No, that's a lose the jury. I probably honestly Sometimes I think about like they barley safety, guy safe, and I don't think I'd mind. I Think I'm at the stage where eventually I'll have kids and stuff and that's what matters to me most, like what's the best location for that. And so, talking with some friends where they are planning, actively trying to have kids, they're actively trying to move closer to their parents, just like I mentioned before, right to handle. So the good that in mind is a big factor. But if I wasn't take this five years ago, why would I even care? Like five years ago, i don't think I knew Dorms. They're right, it was. It's much easier to be wherever the hell. I'd be in a different country for sure. Why would I even stay in London to get rugby or anywhere? I'd crap. I'd move to the Philippines for at least two years. It's a difference.

Valerio: 14:48

We actively moved away from family.

Mark: 14:51

I know I, but if I knew, follow you, didn't they? that reminds me. So Greenwich, one of my colleagues. They moved to Greenwich and I went to visit them. We had a meal and then they were like so my sister lives there, my sister in law, because it's their wives, brother in law, sorry, they lived there and they were just pointing and they basically had all bought in the same area Wow, because the prices of that it's. But it's like yours right that the price of the houses was good, what they got back was great And it's like why forget that?

Mark: 15:21

just all of us move here the info? I mean we can visit friends whenever, but families who you want around you, i was like that's, that's dope, i think that's it. I don't think I move For or against family, but I do think I do feel convenient supply and, to be very honest, i think I was saying go if it was half a million or something. But let's be honest, if it was like Maybe the same and the opportunity came that I could genuinely live in Bali now Remotely, i'd probably do it. Like, with all things being said, all things being equal, i don't As long as I'm able to afford, no, it's probably not be the same. I'd want to be able to afford to travel at leisure back and forth between wherever I moved to and the UK. Yeah, i could do that. Yeah, you know what I mean. If I could be loud next week and I'll just go grab some apples, then that would be the best. I don't think it's the long either. Fly, the fly is long. That's the only problem. Yeah, that's the, if it wasn't that.

Valerio: 16:20

But still, i could do with the end date, because what happens is, if you put in an end date, the other thing that will happen is people love Bali and I do think people will actually come visit. They will make it as an excuse to come and not pay for accommodation.

Mark: 16:35

That's true. To be fair, you're very right, because people are moving to like Australia and my friends in Columbia and it's My, my to-do list is to visit these places because of the friends there. Yeah, all right, people would come, but it is a privilege thing because it is like I say, i can afford to do that. I don't think a lot of friends can like, if you've done well, organize the status, you'll know some friends can't afford to go to Budapest, i don't know in these one, but then again, that's their business. I think it's it's true. People will come if you, if you, if you Bring it, they will come. Say, if you rate the moment it's remote and you're allowed to. I think there's they're all about like 90 days, right, if you have to come back for the other certain period of time to make sure that your Taxes correct, funny enough, if you're waiting for longer, i think your tax goes down, you. But for sure, for 100%, sure, like even now.

Mark: 17:28

A big real limitation to where I'm moving is that I know where my corporate office is Not big but it's a plaguing factor, where I'm like I keep seeing on like fishbowl or other things, where people are um, what's it called being suddenly told they have to go to their office And then the office is two and a half hours away And suddenly that's a problem. For me it's an option to go to that specific office And when I go to other ones I'm able to find different forms of transportation on expense, but it's still like that would be such an that would be such an annoyance. You know me and travel After having to travel three hours one way for a job, i which is funny because then I started traveling in flights, but at least I was getting paid for the duration of that. I think it was like nah, i'd rather not, especially because the commute to me adds I know some people like it. I think it was just like traffic transport.

Mark: 18:20

Well, for me it adds time If my job starts at night but I've had to get up at six, say, and then spend an hour and a half commuting. You know what I mean. Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever That I'm like, i'm not getting paid for that, i'm paying for that, i pay for the transportation, i take time out of my life to get there and that, what was the what?

Valerio: 18:41

was the one for me, and that was 272 percent.