Fair enough - there have been a couple of times I probably could have “made bank”, but I’m not a visionary that way, and I’ve done well enough to be happy.

I lost the want to be rich. I’m well off enough and secure enough to not pine over missed opportunities. I’ve also learned to look for less in life, because it became readily apparent that, for me, More was not Better.

I think the thing to also consider is that when you enter a new country, you really start all over. When I left the US, I had maybe $10K to my name and I had to rebuild my credit rating, get work papers so I could (after 6 years) leave the job I was let into the country for and go to another one without being tossed out of the country in the process. Getting out from under whatever oppression I felt living in the US was the most massive success I’ve had.

Here, I wasn’t bound by conventions, and when people said “we don’t do that”, I still had the freedom of mind to try anyway. There’s a great benefit to reinventing yourself occasionally, and forgetting your own (or imposed) limitations. Once I learned I could navigate my new country, I explored Europe, then Asia and generally on my own - and I felt more confident than I ever previously had.

As well, there’s affordable care, a social support system where you can be on unemployment for nearly a year without losing your home or going hungry, and a work ethic that says “work well, not hard - and take time for yourself”. It was an eye opener.

You’re right - the first step is trying, but keep stepping after that. Learning to keep adapting and that it will never end - it’s a superpower if you use to better yourself and your goals.

TL;DR: I seriously hit the RESET making my move, but the growth experience ended up being far more worthwhile than cashing out. I still work, but I’m more relaxed, have formidable savings and health care and will retire well off enough to never want.