Please reach out to us if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Answer: The secret isn't a massive bank account; it’s geo-arbitrage. We sold 99% of our belongings in Canada to unlock our "nest egg" and we live in regions where the Canadian dollar stretches further. By embracing "slow travel"—staying in one place for a month or more—we can negotiate better rates on villas and apartments, eat like locals, and significantly lower our daily "burn rate."
Answer: In 2026, a comfortable nomadic life for us costs roughly $4,000 CAD per month. This covers everything, including a private condo, health insurance, daily restaurant meals, travel and touring, cell data, the works. Compared to the high cost of living in Canada, our quality of life has increased while our expenses have dropped.
Answer: It starts with a "ruthless purge" and some imagination. We spent months sorting through a lifetime of possessions, keeping only what fit into our two small backpacks. We listed everything on Facebook Marketplace, and whatever didn't sell was donated. We transitioned our investments into low-maintenance ETFs and used local apps to handle logistics on the ground. Deciding to leave is the hardest part; the actual logistics are much easier than you think once you aren't tethered to a job, utilities, rent or mortgage.
Answer: Absolutely. Countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam offer some of the best value for Canadians in 2026. You get access to modern healthcare, reliable high-speed internet, and a culture that is welcoming to everyone, especially seniors (or in our case "near seniors!"). By staying 30 to 60 days in each spot, you avoid "tourist burnout" and actually get to know the community, all while spending significantly less than you would at home.
Answer:
Answer: During our first year, we are usinge specialized Expat/Nomad health insurance that covers us globally, which is somewhat affordable compared to private plans in North America, but still, for Canadians accustomed to quality "free" healthcare, it's still a bit of a shock to the system. We will review our needs for year two.
For mail, we’ve gone completely paperless. Any paper correspondence that can't be digitised goes to a "virtual mailbox" service in Canada that scans it, shreds it, and emails us a PDF.
Answer: As a gay couple, we have happily escaped adding more babies to the planet, but we do love our nieces and nephews. We’ve decided that the best gift we can give them is the story of two uncles who actually lived. We are currently on a mission to spend their inheritance on delicious satay, sunset cocktails, and memories. There isn't much money, anyway, and they are young, they have time to learn from us, follow our example, and save a few bucks for their own retirement adventures.
Answer: Not at all. I travel with a simple Lenovo Chromebook, Alain has a MacBook Air (which I am a bit jealous of, partly because it's only half the weight of my Chromebook). We each have an Android cellphone and tablet, a couple of universal power adapters and an unruly mess of cables. The goal is to be light and mobile. If it doesn't fit in a backpack or the cloud, we don't need it.
Answer: We have felt safer on the streets of Bangkok, Ubud and Kuala Lumpur than in our own quaint little town of Victoria, BC. The culture here has a deep, built-in respect for "elders." As long as you use common sense, look out for holes in the sidewalk, stay hydrated, and use reputable transport apps like Grab, it is incredibly safe.
Answer: We miss our friends greatly, and a Motts Clamato-based Caesar occasionally, but the "Technicolor" life we’re living now is the cure for any blues. We plan to return to Canada for a visit in 2027, but for now, the world is our home and the horizon is our favourite view. Also, in this age of wonderful tech, we can video chat our friends and watch the CBC news whenever we want.
Answer: Picture it: 1992, in a dust-choked, incense-heavy corner of a Marrakesh souk. Ian—performing under the stage name The Velvet Cobra of the Maghreb—was halfway through a 14-hour endurance shimmy in service of the local Imam’s third-cousin’s wedding. He was shaking his bedazzled booty from dawn until dusk, held together entirely by willpower and heavy-duty adhesive.
Suddenly, through a haze of spice and sweat, in walked a handsome young French-Canadian man with kind eyes and a full head of hair. They locked eyes, Ian executed a spine-popping belly thrust, and hissed, “Hey handsome! You want me to dance for you?”
It was love at first tassel-toss. We eloped immediately, traded the sequinned codpiece for a mortgage, and swapped the Moroccan heat for a Canadian business. The rest is history.