It sure is nice being able to spend your time building up your own business rather than someone else’s!

Nice to hear some other families feel that way, too. Yes, I have heard of WOOF. We’re actually looking into doing some HelpX.net exchanges in NZ. We shall see. 🙂

Yep, every country has its rules, its ways of getting around the rules, etc.

So true! You definitely have to mix things up. I think taking some classes or something will help me move out of the travel rut. Even though it’s a great life and there is a lot to do, it still gets to be same same after a few days in a new area, especially smaller towns.

They think everyday is so exciting because we live in France but the reality is that you can get stuck in a rut no matter what,and where you are and as you said “Even through travel”.

Lately i have been feeling bored with our little French town and felt like we should move but then i realized that there was so much we haven’t done and explored yet. So lately i have set little goals each week to try something new whether it be visit a new place, try a new food or whatever. It just has to be outside of our normal routine.
I find that by doing this it takes a way some of the mundane aspects of everyday life. I still catch myself slipping into my rut every once in a while and have to slap myself out of it..

Depends on the country (and your own native nationality of course) but… generally to get a work permit (leastwise here in Vietnam) you need to sign a 1 yr. contract (plus the WP belongs to the school/whoever you contract with, no you). And while I may well stay here in Dalat for another year – being the commitment-phobic that I am, I’m just not willing to sign a contract for an entire year (presently I’m on a 6 mo. contract and will likely only go for a 3 mo. once that expires).

So… I have to play the visa game. Though I’ve learned the ropes in the past year and half, and basically (again, leastwise here in VN) it amounts to getting a 3 mo. tourist visa (either multi or single entry, your choice the former costs more of course), then I’m able to renew that twice in-country before I have to leave VN and come back in. It amounts to… I have to leave VN every 9 months – which… isn’t at all a hardship as I’ve already wandered to Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Oz, Mongolia and most recently Laos, just in the past 18 months. 😉

Always a case of “YMMV” of course, but leastwise that’s how it’s worked for me here in Vietnam.

Isn’t it funny how we can feel so ashamed to admit we’re bored?