I swore I would leave the US if Trump won the 2016 election. Here's how that worked out for me.

08.11.2024 - 06:13 / insider.com / Southeast Asia / Trump

"If Trump wins this election, I'm moving out of the country."

I said those words in November 2016. So did a lot of other Americans: so many, in fact, that Canada's immigration website crashed as votes were being tallied due to increased traffic. No joke.

I don't know how many others followed through on that declaration, but I did. Trump won the election, and 9 months later, I left the US.

Full disclosure: Trump becoming president was not the reason I actually left — it was mostly about being fed up with my corporate job, coupled with a strong desire to explore the world.

I was 37, single, with no children or pets, so I was free to quit my job, uproot myself, and take off. I did own a house at the time, which I sold a few months after I left.

Upon my departure, I didn't have much of a plan other than the intention to spend some time slowly exploring Asia and teaching English when I needed to make money. This no-plan thing was out of character for me, but I was very comfortable with solo international travel, thanks to previous study abroad experiences and 14 years of intensive overseas work-related travel.

As months unfolded, I discovered that when you leave space for it, life guides you to the places, people, and opportunities that are meant for you.

Seven years later, I'm still living happily outside the US. While my decision to leave opened up a horizon of experiences beyond my wildest dreams and led me to the man of my dreams, it hasn't all been a bed of roses.

The first year, I lived off savings while traveling slowly through Asia. I started my travels in India, where I spent 10 days at a silent meditation retreat, attended teachings by the Dalai Lama, and took a yoga teacher training. I promptly got hooked on teaching yoga.

After four months in India, I continued making my way through Asia for eight more months. I swam in the crystal clear waters of the Maldives, visited healers in Bali, witnessed breathtaking sunrise views from mountaintops in Laos, went island-hopping through the Philippines, rode motorbikes around Thailand's islands, and discovered ancient pagodas in Myanmar

The cost of living in much of Asia is so low that savings can stretch a long way. I have high standards for my accommodations, and while traveling, I usually spent around $20 to $25 per night on hotels. Lower-maintenance friends of mine found simpler places for $6 per night in India. Meals usually cost around $3. After six weeks in India, I considered a lunch bill of $5 to be expensive.

From time to time, I experienced stretches of feeling unsettled and lacking a sense of purpose.

Over the years, I learned that those periods of doubt and uncertainty will continue to surface. But I also learned to just keep trusting, and