I did, and never looked back. In fact, Iu2019ve now lived three countries that might be considered third-world.I left the USA in 2023 at age 60 to retire to Ajijic, Mexico. Itu2019s a beautiful little Mexican village, sandwiched between some pretty impressive mountains and Lake Chapala - Mexicou2019s largest lake. Itu2019s home to some spectacular sunrises and sunsets, a wonderful climate year-round, and a thriving community of American and Canadian expats. Hereu2019s a sunset view from my furnished rental home - a 2 bedroom 2 bath literal art gallery of a home with a heated swimming pool on the side of a mountain. Monthly rental little more than what youu2019d pay for a nice 1BR apartment in any decent sized American city.I absolutely loved almost everything about Ajijic. It seemed like heaven on earth to me, on a Social Security budget. Great people, great restaurants, Guadalajara International Airport 45 minutes awayu2026. oh hell, I could go on for an hour about what to love about Ajijic!But, when traveling to SE Asia in 2023 I happened upon Ubud, Bali. During my first evening there I went to a cultural dance performance at a Balinese Hindu temple. Breathtaking. (Guess which one is me, following the dance performance on my first night in Bali).Two days later there was a cremation ceremony for the King of Ubud, who had died sometime earlier. It was the most amazing spectacle of my life, where hundreds of men lifted the kingu2019s 80-foot-high ceremonial stand on their shoulders and ran with it over 5 kilometers to the site where he was cremated.In between those two events I had attended several other local gatherings and befriended several very interesting people from around the world. I decided to remain in Bali rather than return to Mexico. My only worldly possessions were those that I had in my backpack. I called my friends back in Mexico and told them to sell, give away or keep everything else I had left behind. I found I could live very comfortably with only what I could carry on my back.I loved everything about Bali - the sacredness of the Balinese Hindu traditions, the beauty of nature, the international community of outstanding and interesting people, the simple yet elegant home I was able to rent at less than $400/month. The temples and rice terraces were amazingly sacred and beautiful - as were the beaches everywhere.Speaking of beachesWhen living on a tourist visa in Bali, you must leave the country every 60 days, then restart the clock on another 60 days when you return. Lots of people would get a same-day, round-trip flight to Singapore. But for my visa runs, I chose to explore other countries in SE Asia - Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.I traveled to Boracay Island on the Philippines - which Conde Nast Magazine calls one of the worldu2019s most beautiful beaches. I have to agree. Every sunset there is a picture of perfect serenity.And then something unexpected happened. I met an amazing Philippine woman while in Boracay. She took my breath away with her beauty, her fun nature, emotional maturity and compassionate heart. She came back to Bali with me for a one-month visit then returned to the Philippines. I followed her one month later.Three years later, we live in a new, furnished 2 bedroom 2 bath condo overlooking a pool, banana and coconut trees, the ocean, and the next island over. For about half the cost of an American 1 bedroom apartment.We take advantage nearly every day of the excellent climate and amazing natural beauty of this area - waterfalls, mountain streams, beautiful beaches, hot springs, world-class scuba diving. We live an upscale lifestyle on my Social Security income.This lifestyle isnu2019t for everybody.Iu2019m a long way from the USA, so itu2019s neither convenient nor inexpensive to visit family and friends.Driving here is about as screwed up as anywhere Iu2019ve been - no enforcement, thus no adherence to traffic laws.Sometimes the power goes out unexpectedly.The internet is neither as reliable nor as fast as Iu2019d like.I have to go to both a grocery store and a local market to buy groceries, fish, fruits and vegetables. A lunatic must be in charge of grocery stocking, because I never know if something I bought last week will still be on offer this week; if it is, itu2019ll probably be in a different aisle.So if youu2019re hung up on convenience, donu2019t even think of leaving the USA for a third-world country.But I wouldnu2019t trade my life for anyone elseu2019s in the world. Iu2019m the happiest man on earth.Namaste!Follow me on Twitter or like Upgrade Your Lifestyle on Facebook for occasional reflections about life as an art form.