Anywhereist

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Anywhereist

Netbook vs. Tablet — the Best Portable Computer for Working on the Go

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Technology for Anywhereists When I went to Panama last spring, I debated long and hard about what type of computer to carry with me. Did I want my industrial-strength laptop, weighing in at over 10 pounds? Not so much. So I started investigating smaller, lighter alternatives. The two main contenders, based on portability and cost, were either a netbook computer or a tablet. I found the tablet intriguing, but in the end opted for a netbook. My reasoning? I needed to work while on the road, …

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Top 10 Spots to Retire Overseas in 2011

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Every year International Living publishes its list of the top ten retirement havens. They've just sent out their September issue, and it includes their take on the best spots in the world to retire. I've been known to take issue with their findings in the past (for example, in their 2011 Quality of Life list). This time, though, they've come up with a list that makes a lot of sense. Of course, any time you're relying on number crunching, your results depend on what you feel is most important. …

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7 Ways Hurricane Irene Taught Me Not To Lose My Head as an Expat

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Last week Hurricane Irene roared onto the Outer Banks of North Carolina and made its way up the East Coast of the US. To my surprise, I found myself in the midst of massive evacuation. I was just trying to get from Massachusetts to Florida after delivering my daughter to college, but I got caught up in it all the same. A 10-hour drive from Boston to my first stop in the western part of Virginia turned into a 17-hour ordeal. Along the way, though, I realized this traffic nightmare had some …

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Rent Before You Buy — or Sell

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Many future expats need to dispose of real estate back home before they can move abroad. We wanted to sell our Florida house before we move to Panama. It would give us a cleaner exit, and also a little cash in our pockets to help with moving and settling-in expenses. Unfortunately, the Central Florida economy has intervened. While we're among the lucky ones who aren't underwater with our mortgage, our house is now worth what we paid for it 10 years ago, with values still falling. It no longer …

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Jane Needs a Portable Career

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Jane wrote to me recently because she wants to move abroad, she's interested in creating a portable career, but she doesn't know where to begin. Jane writes: "I need something that does not require a long learning curve or establishing-oneself curve. There are, of course, other people on the Net who want to sell me some course or another with glowing reports of how much money one can make, and with very little report of the downsides of the work." I don't have any specific suggestions for …

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Blogging and Travel — Making Them Both Work

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Sooner or later, if you decide to blog for some or all of your expat income, you'll have to maintain and update your blog while you're traveling. It can be done, but it requires a much higher level of organization and planning than you might be used to. Do It Ahead Do everything you possibly can before you leave. Think about all the elements that go into keeping your blog updated. Your list may be different from mine. For Future Expats, I do the following: Plan upcoming posts. Before you can …

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