The Past And Future Plans
Today I decided to participate in @galenkp's weekend engagement challenge, which has a few interesting topics, as always. I could write about all four topics, but I think it's better if I stick to the following.
Somewhere else
Do you ever wish you lived somewhere else? Explain where and why in a post of 300+ words using photos you took personally where possible. source
It is an interesting question as I bet at some point every single person have had thoughts about moving somewhere else, hypothetically. I'm saying hypothetically as actually moving is never so easy and only a fraction of those who have thought about it, did it after all.
My childhood was not exactly a normal one and not because my parents did not treat me well, but because the power fell in the wrong hands way before I was born and everyone living between the second world war and 1989 had to suffer. Ok, not everyone as there were the special ones, those holding high political positions and those close to the communist party had a privileged life.
Long story short, there were always shortages or everything, food was rationed, there was load shedding almost every single day, you had to be careful what you say and who you say it to as one wrong word could have had serious consequences. Traveling abroad was only allowed every two years, IF you were granted a passport (you were not allowed to hold it at home). Holding foreign currency was also forbidden by law, so whatever pocket change you brought back home after your trip abroad, had to be handed over to the authorities and the amount of foreign currency you were allowed to buy in case you were allowed to have a holiday abroad, was also limited.
If you wanted to relocate, emigrate to another country, the government nationalized your house or apartment, you could not sell it, so you got nothing and could leave with only a few suitcases. I suppose this was the price of freedom or the punishment the government gave you for emigrating.
I must have been 12 or 13, when my dad proposed to us to relocate to another country. We said no right away. I suppose my mom did not want to lose everything they worked for their whole life, in change for the great unknown and uncertainty. Me and my brother did not want to leave our friends and change our lives as you don't know if the new life will be better or not. So that plan fell through. Do we regret it? Nope, neither of us, not for a single second.
Those tough times taught me quite a lot and made me who I am today. Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth, having everything you desire is nice at first, but it can impact your life in a very negative way, it makes you an entitled person and stops you from learning how to fight for what you want.
After I reached the age to be considered legally adult, I could have left to live almost anywhere in the world, but I didn't. Do I regret it? Not for a single moment.
Today we can work remotely and being in crypto allows you to work from wherever you want. The only ingredient you need is a very good (and cheap if possible) internet connection. Crypto friendly tax policy is also welcome, but I'm sure there's a solution if this condition is not met.
The future is unknown to us (I'm happy for that), so I don't know what's going to happen, but my plan is to live here and there, a little bit everywhere. This place will always be my home, but I'm working hard to be able to afford to live in different places for longer periods. One of the places I have my eyes on is the Alps, a place that is not cheap at all. However, it's not impossible either, I just have to play my cards right.
As an EU citizen, it's easy to travel without a visa, it's easy to live for longer periods in one place, so we're not restricted to our home country anymore. Crypto adoption is gaining ground every single day, which can help a lot, if you know how to profit from it.
So Galen's question was "Do you ever wish you lived somewhere else?' No, but I wish to start living somewhere else in the future. My main target is Europe (not for financial reasons) in the first place though. After that, maybe Australia and New Zealand, who knows.
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I'm glad that you never regretted living there
It will forever be an experience to you
Even many of these tactics of our governments, are guides to subdue society. In my country, until recently many of the practices you have described were taught and although we lived knowing the history of all the countries that experienced something similar, the implementation of these techniques was almost inevitable regardless of whether people complained or not. A whole psychology has been created for the management of masses so perfect that it is almost impossible to get out of that control.
Here in Venezuela there is a famous song that says "There is no evil that lasts a thousand years, no body that can resist it, I stay in Venezuela because I am an optimist" although many left and continue to leave the country. I think most of us stay because we are optimists and we share very important bonds with our people and our country. I guess, it is a very similar thought to what many of you had.
I felt very identified with these memories of yours.
Well, there are similarities, but our situation was way worse. I did not want to go deep into details as that dark period was not the focus of the post, but trust me, the situation in Venezuela is way better. Despite all the serious problems, you're still free. We were not, the country was a prison.
But you're right, hope dies last and nothing lasts forever, so I hope one day the situation in your country will improve.
Tienes razón en lo referente al trabajo remoto y las criptos, y mucho (todo) lo que cuentas lo vivimos en Cuba hace años y aunque hoy la situación es diferente y tenemos más libertades, es inevitable sentirnos presos. Muchas veces no por las reglas de nuestro país sino por las de los otros que no permiten que viajemos. O nos ponen trabas inmensas para obtener un visado. O simplemente te lo deniegan y ya. Yo nunca he pensado en vivir en otro lugar. Pero me está pasando últimamente como a ti.
Un abrazo
You are right about remote work and cryptos, and much (all) of what you say we lived in Cuba years ago and although today the situation is different and we have more freedoms, it is inevitable to feel imprisoned. Many times not by the rules of our country but by those of others that do not allow us to travel. Or they put immense obstacles to obtain a visa. Or they simply deny it and that's it. I have never thought about living somewhere else. But it is happening to me lately like you.
A hug
While writing my post, I was thinking of you and at some point I thought I would tag you as maybe you're the one who can fully understand what I lived as a child, but decided not to tag you :)
I think you have a bit more freedom, now, especially that there's internet and most likely you have TV programs as well. We didn't have that back then, information was blocked, censored, there was fear everywhere.
Anyway, these times make us much more stronger and teach us how to survive, isn't it?
Thanks for this comment and I'm glad you came across my post. 🤗
Well, a lot of other things have changed too, like Cubans can travel to countries visa-free. We can have our own businesses. Some business owners can import goods and even export them or commercialise them with mixed participation hotels, that is to say that they have a % of national investment and another % of foreign investment. We have made progress on family issues, we have a new Family Code. We have Internet, yes, it is bad, but we have it, and we can see whatever we want without censorship. As long as the pages open, because there are pages that don't open because they detect traffic from Cuba. We have to use VPN. I, who like trading, live in fear because as Cubans they close the exchanges and we can lose our little money. Anyway... But I tell you, there are still problems such as the fact that there is hardly any production, we have no industry, inflation is rampant, the population is ageing, young people are leaving in search of economic improvements, including skilled labour. Wages in the state sector are pitiful? There is no end to bureaucracy.... And much more. I tell you, sometimes I would like to go and live somewhere else, but I still love my country... it's complicated. I do dream of travelling and seeing the world. But what I earn barely gives me enough to eat and now I'm saving up for a laptop. I tell you, it's too complicated.
A big hug Erikah, it is a pleasure for me to read you and share here with you.
Thank you very much for this detailed explanation. It gives me a more precise picture about what is going on in Cuba. It's not good, but I still say, compared to what we had to go through before 1989, it's way better. The best thing is that there are changes, as you said. It's a process, takes time and those in power most likely are clinging to power and don't want change, but progress and change can't be stopped.
I hope you can get enough for a laptop soon. Let me know if I can help you in any way. I can lend you some Hive if that helps :)
🤗
Thank you so much, I appreciate your willingness to help me 😊 and it touches me. If I need it I will tell you, thank you. But you can look at my wallet to see that I hardly take money out and all I want to do is grow here. Rather what I do is invest. I have a Mac from 2008, which the poor thing can't take any more. But it's still alive, it limits me from doing a lot of things here on Hive, but that's the way it is. My desktop PC broke a year ago and everything is so expensive here.... But I'm not complaining, it's life. And you have to look for solutions and keep working. Besides, I really enjoy what I do.
I repeat, thank you very much. It's good to know that I can count on you. Needless to say, I'm here to help you in any way I can.
🫂🌻
It's never easy, but consistency gets results, trust me. In any case, I'm here if you need help, let me know :)
You're welcome my dear friend and I'm glad we could connect.
Siiiii 😍 POR BITCOIN PIZZA DAY ;)
!PIZZA
Thank you!!!
How much would you need for a new laptop by the way?
Well, I need something that has good features for photo and video editing. We have a page here: www.revolico.com
There are all kinds of prices there. But if you look at what I need it's over 700 USD I think.
I was expecting a similar number. Well, with Hive at $0.36 right now, that's quite a lot. Let's hope we get a nice rally soon, so it will be easier to buy your laptop :)
I need it, but I'm not in a hurry. Everything will happen when the time is right. Remember, I am a trader.
;)
Gracias por todo.
well said and it's the adversity in life that often teaches us the most.
The Alps...Legit. Keep playing those cards and you'll get closer little by little I think.
There's far far worse places to go than these two, so they're well worthy of your future potential home list.
You know best how life makes you tougher and teaches you how to deal with problems, how to find a way to survive and go on.
These are longer term plans, but still, I'm not giving up on my dreams. I'm going to do everything in my power to make them come trough.
#makeithappen 😊
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reading your post made me think about how similar your childhood was to mine... in venezuela with the socialism of chavez and maduro we live the same, the lack of income, the scarcity of food, the control with money, everything was similar...
and for that reason I understand from my own experience what you are saying, living in difficult times makes you develop a strong character and makes you appreciate the things in life, it develops a strong desire to excel.