A New Option for Moving Overseas! Why I Recommend "Dual Life" (Two-Base Living) | Key Points, Pros & Cons
Many people researching overseas migration after achieving FIRE eventually come across the term "Dual Life" (Two-Base Living).
Dual Life refers to a lifestyle where you maintain bases in both Japan and an overseas country, and it is currently one of the migration methods gaining attention.
At first glance, moving back and forth between two bases seems to have more disadvantages, such as travel time and costs. So, why is this lifestyle attracting attention now?
In this article, I will delve into why Dual Life is attractive and summarize the pros and cons from my perspective.
What is "Dual Life"?
Dual Life is a lifestyle where you have living bases in two different locations—such as "City and Countryside" or "Domestic and Overseas"—and live while moving back and forth between them.
In the case of a domestic Dual Life in Japan, it is common to keep a work base in the city while spending weekends at a second home in the countryside. Spending relaxing time surrounded by nature refreshes the mind and body, leading to improved work performance and stress relief.
For "Domestic and Overseas" Dual Life, the common method is to travel back and forth every few months. This style is gaining popularity mainly among those who can work regardless of location (Remote Workers) and those who have already retired (FIRE achievers).
Pros of Dual Life
I believe the merits of Dual Life are the following three points:
- Refreshing Mind and Body
- Risk Diversification in Various Situations
- Encountering New Connections and Values
Since the topic is Dual Life in overseas migration, I will put aside the domestic discussion and explain these merits in the context of overseas living.
Refreshing Mind and Body
The great appeal of living between two bases is the ability to refresh your mind and body by switching environments. If you can work remotely, changing your working environment periodically can be expected to improve performance and reduce stress.
In addition, the stimulating and fresh environment of a foreign country may generate new ideas for your work.
Also, taking advantage of climate differences—such as spending the cold Japanese winter in a warm country—can have positive effects on your physical health management.
Risk Diversification in Various Situations
Having bases in both an overseas country and Japan allows for risk diversification in various aspects, such as economic conditions, price fluctuations, and natural disasters.
Specifically, even if the Japanese Yen is weak (Yen Depreciation), if you have income or assets overseas, you can minimize the impact, and vice versa.
If you are in a country with high interest rates, you may be able to try new asset management methods that are not possible in Japan.
Expanding options for medical care and living environments ensures a foundation where you can live with peace of mind even in emergencies. Living across countries and regions is an effective means to prepare for future uncertainties.
Encountering New Connections and Values
In a life moving between an overseas country and Japan, encountering diverse cultures and people becomes daily life.
Through exchanges with local people, the Japanese community, and peers from different industries, you will be exposed to new values and ways of living.
While it is difficult to expand your network on short-term overseas trips, repeating medium- to long-term stays naturally expands your relationships with people rooted in the local area.
Understanding and accepting different ways of thinking naturally cultivates flexible ideas and an international sense, and experiences on the ground may give birth to new business hints or career possibilities.
As your connections with people expand, your world expands, and life itself can be expected to become richer and more multifaceted.
Cons of Dual Life
Next, here are the disadvantages of Dual Life from my perspective.
- High Costs for Travel and Maintenance
- Complex Management of Life and Procedures
- Prone to Loneliness and Disruption of Life Rhythm
It is important to recognize these three points as disadvantages when planning your migration and asset formation.
High Costs for Travel and Maintenance
Living with two bases involves significant economic burdens, such as airfare, insurance, and visa procedures.
Not only that, but you also need to set up living infrastructure at both bases, resulting in double costs for utilities, communication fees, and property management.
While the freedom as a lifestyle is high, realistically, planned fund management is required.
Also, keep in mind that frequent long-distance travel adds loss of time and physical fatigue.
Complex Management of Life and Procedures
Having bases in two countries tends to complicate procedures such as address registration, taxes, insurance, bank accounts, and communication contracts.
Especially overseas, administrative procedures and trouble handling can take time due to differences in language and systems.
Issues such as managing luggage/mail and maintaining the home also arise, requiring you to think about how to manage the base you are absent from for long periods.
As life expands, the burden of management increases, so establishing a support system will be an important task.
Prone to Loneliness and Disruption of Life Rhythm
Living back and forth between two bases looks glamorous at first glance, but you tend to be in the position of a "Temporary Resident" in both places.
Friendships and communities are hard to stabilize, and you may feel lonely. If your base in Japan is a familiar city, there is no need to worry too much, but you should ask yourself if you have the vitality to actively expand your circle of friends in a foreign country where you have no connections.
Also, travel can easily disrupt your life rhythm, and differences in time zones and climate can affect your physical condition.
Especially if you continue this for a long time, how you build your place and relationships at each base becomes important.
The need for ingenuity to maintain mental stability is a disadvantage that is often overlooked.
Who is Suited for This? Points to Know to Avoid Regret
People suited for Dual Life between overseas and Japan are likely those who:
- Have flexible thinking.
- Can positively enjoy environmental changes and troubles.
- Have solid Financial and Time flexibility.
I believe that people with the ability to adapt to different cultures and new environments, planning skills, and independence are more likely to fulfill this lifestyle. On the other hand, for those without financial/time leeway or those who find maintaining bases stressful, the burden may feel significant.
To avoid regret, it is important to clarify the purpose—"Why do I want a Dual Life?"—and consider the balance between ideal and reality.
I recommend starting with short-term stays or "trial migrations" to determine the rhythm and combination of bases that suit you.
Summary
In this article, I explained "Dual Life" (Two-Base Living), which is attracting attention as a new option for moving overseas.
Personally, this is the form of overseas migration I want to aim for in the future, but it may be difficult unless you have a profession that allows remote work or have already achieved FIRE.
It is necessary to understand the pros and cons and determine what kind of asset formation is best to realize a Dual Life.
Also, for those who want to live with multiple bases while working, it seems better to think carefully about what kind of career to build and what skills to acquire.
Author: Yuki Ishida
Writer based in Thailand
In 2017, I fulfilled my long-cherished desire to move to Thailand and have been working as a sales and career consultant at a Japanese staffing company there.
I began my activities as a writer in 2019 and mainly share information useful for living in Thailand and moving abroad through both domestic and international media. Based on my own experience of relocating overseas, I strive to provide realistic information to help those planning to move abroad avoid regrets, and I write with this motto every day.
The media I have contributed to so far are not limited to Thailand-related topics, but also cover a wide range including domestic and international travel, local governments, food manufacturers, and educational institutions.
