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Mar 1, 2006, 01:24 pm
| #1 (permalink) (top) |
| Hot Lava Posts: 817 | Perpetual Traveler Does anyone know much about the Perpetual Traveler ("PT") concept, or know anyone who does it? PT is a philosophy of how to live life, given the nature of current governments around the world. The idea is that most governments limit individual freedom, but do so in various ways. So, rather than banging your head against a wall in the voting process, you simply spend your time some place that already has laws you like (of course, you can do both -- vote in your homeland and live elsewhere until things change in the homeland). A person who likes to smoke pot could live in New York, but risks going to jail if he has or smokes pot. So, instead, he could move to Aruba where it's legal. That's just an example. The idea is to seek the lifestyle you want instead of, or in addition to, trying to get the laws changed back home. You become a citizen of the world rather than only one place. By doing so, you gain freedom. You live your own brand of anarchy, in a sense, because you "vote" with your feet and money rather than a paper ballot box. You don't have to convince 50% of the voters to agree the laws should be changed. You just figure out how to enjoy the benefits of laws you like. It's not 100%, of course, but it's surprising how much freedom is really possible. One of the big issues is taxes. For Americans, taxes are assessed worldwide. However, by living in Aruba, a person would not pay state income tax (if they set it up right). Also, if the person worked for a foreign company, then he can be exempt from paying US federal income tax on the first $80,000 of income (it's called the "Foreign Earned Income Exclusion"). So, there can be tax advantages. Aruba, though, has income tax -- but only if a person earns income there and/or lives there more than 6 months. So, PT's tend to live 6 months one place and 6 months somewhere else (no different than snowbirds who live in New York in the summer and Florida in the winter -- but it might be Aruba and Canada, or France and New Zealand). The goal is maximum freedom. Live where the laws are already favorable, less taxation, less regulation, live in a climate you like, a culture you like, etc. Let the governments of the world compete for you. For example, non-Americans pay no US taxes on capital gains in the US stock markets because the US gov't competes for foreign dollars by exempting them from income taxes. Anyway, it's an interesting idea, though not for everybody. Anybody have any knowledge or thoughts on it? ~ zynner |
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Mar 5, 2006, 01:09 pm
| #5 (permalink) (top) | |
| Hot Lava Posts: 817 | Quote:
One person I know of used to be an accountant for a Big 5 accounting firm in Los Angeles, but now lives in France and Argentina, and travels other places, as well. They are normal people, who have chosen to become more free than most others. Just wondering if anybody else here knows much about it (really knows, not just having read something). It's interesting because it's a way to gain more freedom without having to resort to fighting for political change. ~ zynner | |
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Mar 5, 2006, 08:34 pm
| #7 (permalink) (top) | |
| Hot Lava Posts: 817 | Quote:
In many ways, foreigners living in the US are more free than are US citizens. They cannot be drafted. Their bank accounts are not subject to the same snooping as is yours. Non-residents are exempt from tax on capital gains in the stock market, but you are not. There is not the same demand on them to get their children into the gov't schools as there is for you. European countries charge Value Added Tax (VAT) on purchases, but non-citizens get a refund. Those are a few examples. What if you wanted to home school your children, but there were all sorts of legal restrictions? What if the law said that all citizens and legal residents had to such and such? But what if you were not a citizen or legal resident? I'm not talking about illegal aliens, just people who have not been in the country long enough to fit the legal definition of "legal resident." In that case, you would not be subject to the law and it would be legal. That's the basic premise. Understand what the laws are and make sure you do not fit the description. Of course, it does not mean you can do literally anything. It's just that you can gain freedom. That's the idea, anyway. ~ zynner | |
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Mar 5, 2006, 09:05 pm
| #8 (permalink) (top) |
| Ch Latour 61  Location: Maryland Posts: 638 | It's like living a life always on the run. Doesn't really sound very appealing. Eventually, you have to stay where you are, and either tough it out or try to change things. Trying to change things is very frustrating. |
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Mar 5, 2006, 09:15 pm
| #9 (permalink) (top) | |
| Hot Lava Posts: 817 | Quote:
~ zynner | |
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Mar 5, 2006, 09:17 pm
| #10 (permalink) (top) | |
| Always Seeking  Location: Ohio Posts: 720 | Quote:
It is just. | |
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Mar 6, 2006, 12:07 pm
| #11 (permalink) (top) |
| Evil Overlord  Location: A Geofront, somewhere in Antarctica Posts: 938 | It may just be my inexperience showing, but wouldn't you need to have a fairly large amount of money to live this kind of life? It's not exactly cheap to move somwhere on a whim. I know your type. You think, "I'll just get me a costume, rip off the neighborhood kids." Next thing you know, you've got a jet shaped like a skull with lasers on the front! -The Monarch |
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Mar 6, 2006, 01:14 pm
| #12 (permalink) (top) | |
| Hot Lava Posts: 817 | Quote:
The reason this is now more possible than in the past is because of the Internet. We are evolving into a highly-mobile and Internet-using world. A web site designer can work from anywhere in the world. One guy is an accountant that works mostly over the Internet, but flys back to the main office in San Francisco when necessary. The rest of the time, he spends in New Zealand or Spain. These are a couple of examples where a person does not have to be independently wealthy. There are many others. ~ zynner | |
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Mar 6, 2006, 03:33 pm
| #13 (permalink) (top) |
 Volcanic Erupter Location: España Posts: 2,514 | HaHa living it myself i´m a resident of country a, i live in country b, my bank account is in c, my house is owned by an offshore company i´m here as a tourist the only taxes i pay are sales tax my work is conducted in cash welcome to INDIVIDUAL SOVEREIGNTY http://www.offshore-manual.com/PerpetualTraveler.html oh by the way i´m always looking for good sales people to join me Last edited by jose; Mar 6, 2006 at 03:54 pm. |
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Mar 6, 2006, 03:39 pm
| #14 (permalink) (top) | |
| Hot Lava Posts: 817 | Quote:
Did you find it difficult to transition to that lifestyle? Do you find the lifestyle difficult? ~ zynner | |
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Mar 6, 2006, 04:02 pm
| #15 (permalink) (top) |
| Volcanic Erupter Location: España Posts: 2,514 | the biggest hurdel was in my way of thinking now i go everywhere as a tourist´who makes a FEW bucks on the way i dont stay long enough to attract the taxman the lifestyle of keeping ALL the money i make is nice |
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Mar 6, 2006, 04:37 pm
| #16 (permalink) (top) |
| Volcanic Erupter Location: España Posts: 2,514 | The PT, once properly equipped, operates outside of the usual rules, gaining mobility and a full slate of human rights. The value of these rights cannot even be perceived by people who have never experienced them. http://www.libertarianworld.com/pt.html |
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Mar 6, 2006, 05:07 pm
| #17 (permalink) (top) | |
| Hot Lava Posts: 817 | Quote:
~ zynner Last edited by zynner; Mar 6, 2006 at 05:33 pm. | |
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Mar 7, 2006, 05:28 am
| #18 (permalink) (top) | |
| Volcanic Erupter Location: España Posts: 2,514 | Quote:
2 write out a plan of what you want and also what you dont want in your future 3 what skill do you have that people will pay for (some of the PTs i´ve met,a graphic desinger who stayed six months in a country and made company reports with nice photos of local business people, another guy who was travelling selling bamboo cat calls!) 4 save money, start with $1 if you like but put something aside Avoid Lawyers and others who want you to pay them dont draw to much attention to the fact your living a PT life be ready to go ¨on holiday¨at anytime | |
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