A plan years in the making

Braydon Barrett, 32, never thought about living abroad until he married someone who did. After their son was born in 2023, the idea finally got a date on it.

“Living abroad was never really on my radar until I got married.”

Thailand won on paperwork

He researched destinations and picked Thailand for its visa options, then took a 10-day scouting trip. They settled on Pattaya, two hours from Bangkok.

Six suitcases, one birthday

They owned no property, sold most of what they had, and put the rest in storage. They flew out in April 2024, on the day their son turned one.

Thirty days, not ninety

He landed believing he had 90 days to arrange something longer. He had 30. They had planned to stay indefinitely, and suddenly had to find somewhere else to be.

“I realized I'd made a major mistake with our visas.”

Three months at a time

Malaysia bought them three months. Thailand then launched a five-year nomad visa, but applicants must apply from outside the country, so they went to Vietnam.

A hotel desk in Manila

Their son's visa approval came through on the way to the airport. That night in Manila, a lost hotel reservation and two hours with security ended it.

“By then, we'd had enough.”

The time zone nobody mentions

Every client and employee was in the US, so he worked 3 a.m. starts and midnight calls. Eight months after leaving, they came back to Utah.

“People should not go in thinking the grass is greener on the other side.”