Finding where you come alive starts with knowing what matters.
Most destination advice starts with spreadsheets – cost of living, weather, visa requirements. We start somewhere different.
You’ve probably seen the lists. “Best places to retire abroad.” “Top 10 cities for remote workers.” “Cheapest countries to live in.”
They’re not wrong, exactly. They’re just… incomplete.
Because here’s what those lists can’t tell you: whether you’ll actually feel at home there. Whether the rhythm of daily life will energize you or slowly wear you down. Whether you’ll find your people – or spend months feeling like a permanent outsider.
That’s the gap we’re trying to close.
At Aspiring Expats, we believe the most important question isn’t “where can I afford to live?” or “where’s the weather nice?” It’s: where do my values come alive?
This isn’t about finding paradise. It’s about finding fit.
Ready to start?
A free tool to clarify what actually matters to you in a place – and which destinations might be worth a closer look.
Values first. Spreadsheets second.
We’ve seen too many people move to “perfect on paper” destinations – and feel miserable six months later. Not because the place was bad, but because it was wrong for them.
The solution isn’t better research. It’s a different kind of research.
One that starts with understanding what actually matters to you – your relationship with time, community, nature, expression, security, ambition – and then finds places where those values are reflected in everyday life.
That’s what we mean by values-first.
The Location Chemistry Framework
Why do some places feel instantly right while others – even beautiful ones – leave you feeling “off”?
In this video, I break down the research-backed Location Chemistry Framework: 8 tests drawn from environmental psychology, place attachment studies, and seven years of personal trial and error. It’s how we translate abstract values into observable signals you can actually evaluate – whether you’re researching from home or testing boots-on-the-ground.
Learn more about the 8 tests →
If something’s holding you back
Values-first doesn’t mean ignoring reality. Career impact, finances, family considerations, healthcare, wondering if you’re “too old” for this – these concerns are real, and worth taking seriously.
But many of the most common fears are either outdated assumptions – or solvable constraints.
We’ve unpacked the five fears we hear most often, drawing on research and lived experience. If something’s been keeping you stuck, this might help.
Ready to explore?
If you’re curious whether this approach might work for you, the Values Compass is our free tool for getting clarity on what actually matters to you in a place – and which destinations might be worth a closer look.
It takes about 10 minutes. No spam, no pressure. Just a starting point.
“To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive.” – Robert Louis Stevenson