It’s that point of yr! A time after we sit again and mirror on the previous one year. I’ve been writing these “Wanting Again” posts since 2012 and I’m unhappy to say that for numerous causes (a few of which you’ll examine right here), I missed writing about 2022.
Most of 2022 was wonderful and we had some very memorable moments – like celebrating our fifteenth anniversary collectively in Cyprus, an epic press journey to the Bahamas, dwelling and touring round Slovakia for nearly 3 months, and spending Christmas in Canada with our households.
Nonetheless, the top of 2022 and into the primary few months of 2023 had been very rocky occasions and we discovered ourselves flailing. Fortunately, the tumultuous begin didn’t final, and we transitioned our yr from questionable to superior.
Every year has a sense or theme, and for us, the phrase that involves thoughts for 2023 is transition and transformation: of who we’re, what we do, and the life we lead.
On this publish, I’ll begin with the craziness. Though it was so messy at first, this was a unbelievable yr general, and I’m excited to share our wins and failures with you on this publish.
If you wish to learn our earlier yr’s roundups, take a look at 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012.
Flailing into 2023
For a lot of 2022, we had been engaged on the paperwork wanted to acquire residency in Bulgaria (extra about dwelling in Bulgaria under).
It’s a really lengthy story, however after months and months of gathering the (many) paperwork required to use for residency, our lawyer referred to as.
It was Friday night and we had been sitting on our sofa in the home we rented in Bulgaria. He was calling to tell us that we had 5 days to go to the Bulgarian consulate in Canada and apply for the long-stay visa, in any other case one in all our paperwork would expire.
We knew we needed to go to Canada finally, however we should always’ve nonetheless had months earlier than we would have liked to use. How might this be taking place?!
Since every thing took so lengthy to do (appointments, gathering paperwork, notarizing/apostelling, and many others.), the validity of one of many preliminary paperwork we had procured from our residence nation of Canada was about to run out.
If that doc expired, we wouldn’t be capable to apply for the long-stay visa, and finally, residency in Bulgaria. All of our arduous work would have been for nothing.
Our lawyer referred to as us on November thirteenth and by November fifteenth we had been on a airplane from Bulgaria to Canada – essentially the most direct and solely affordable flight choice for an entire week. If one thing went fallacious or we missed our connecting flight in Poland, we wouldn’t make it on time. There was lots of strain on that flight!
Fortunately, we made it and on the morning of November seventeenth, we went to the Bulgarian consulate in Toronto with all of our paperwork to use for our long-stay D-Visa.
We utilized on the final day it could have been doable. The Bulgarian consular normal confirmed that to us with a humorous smile as we handed him our paperwork.
Now all we needed to do was wait and hope we’d be authorized. The consulate mentioned it could take round 5 weeks for the visa to be authorized (or denied).
Spending the Holidays in Canada
Since we had been already in Canada (thoughts you, on the opposite aspect of the nation from our households), we determined to spend Christmas and New Yr’s with our dad and mom, siblings, and kinfolk. Reasonably than ready round in Toronto for five weeks for the paperwork to return again, this gave the impression of a way more gratifying thought.
It was the primary time we’d spent Christmas at residence since 2013.
It was chilly, snowy, and oh-so festive! We went ice skating and tubing on the ski hill. We danced and mingled at three Christmas events. Nick went searching along with his brother, we went for snowy hikes and bowling with household, and we laughed, ate, and drank an excessive amount of.
We rang within the new yr with my household and celebrated Nick’s grandma’s eightieth birthday every week later with family members. It was a terrific go to again residence and a very good method to begin 2023.
Initially of January, we heard again from the Bulgarian embassy and our visas had been prepared for pick-up in Toronto. We obtained our long-stay visa for Bulgaria! This was step one to acquiring residency, with extra to observe as soon as we returned to Bulgaria.
Though we had been so relieved the celebrities aligned and every thing was authorized, we had one thing behind our minds…
The Rocky Begin to the Yr
That is troublesome to jot down, and we haven’t shared this publicly but. However, on the finish of 2022 and into March of 2023, we had been contemplating promoting Goats On The Highway (I do know, I can’t imagine it both).
We had been feeling off and in a artistic hunch (which began throughout the pandemic), and with the entire new developments round AI, we had been feeling deflated and as if we most likely wouldn’t have a enterprise for for much longer.
We had been being very “doom and gloom” and (because it seems) overreacting about the entire thing. On the time, nonetheless, we thought we should always exit our enterprise and transfer on whereas we might.
We deliberate to promote simply the web site itself, with out our social media accounts and Nick’s running a blog programs. I wished to maintain the reference to our readers which might’ve been doable to take action via social media, and Nick wished to proceed educating his college students. Two points of our weblog that we each adore.
We had no thought what we’d do for a job and revenue going ahead, however for no matter motive, on the time it felt like the fitting factor to do.
Goats On The Highway had been our life for 10 years. This was an extremely arduous determination to make and I used to be actually crying after we pressed the “submit” button on the promoting platform.
Had been we making the fitting determination?
We listed our web site at a excessive value and we obtained lots of curiosity. We ended up doing 5 critical calls with enterprise capitalist corporations who had been interested by buying our website and including it to their portfolio.
Of these 5 calls, we obtained 3 official provides. Financially, they had been wonderful, life-changing provides. However, the phrases of the agreements didn’t sit proper with us and we declined all of them.
Throughout the entire supply calls, we needed to checklist the wonderful points of Goats On The Highway to those consumers, together with viewers engagement, revenue, analytics, model power, and potential for the web site. What finally occurred throughout these calls was that we offered our website again to ourselves.
This entire course of reminded us of why we love Goats On The Highway and it gave us an enormous push to maintain shifting ahead and ignited a spark inside us. We had a lot readability on what we wished to do going ahead with our enterprise.
We determined that we had been going to maintain our web site and we doubled down on it, investing our time, power, and love, implementing all of the finest search engine optimization practices now we have realized over time – and inside 6 months, we doubled our site visitors. Woohoo!
As quickly as we determined to not promote and eliminated our beloved web site from the itemizing platform, it was like an enormous weight was lifted. We might breathe once more.
We’re Residents of Bulgaria and Have a Base
I’m thrilled to say that in February 2023, all of our paperwork cleared and we obtained our ID playing cards. We’re formally residents of Bulgaria. We’ve transitioned from full-time digital nomads to having a house base the place we’ll journey from ceaselessly 😀
The complete course of was tedious, demanding, prolonged, troublesome, and stuffed with infinite quantities of forms, however in the long run, we succeeded and are so glad that our persistence paid off.
On this article, we listed one in all our main targets, which was to have a base the place we might stay, and do small journeys from there. A spot the place we might unpack and make our personal. Someplace to have roots so we weren’t always shifting from place to position. Right here’s what I wrote in that article:
“Ideally, that vacation spot would have forests, mountains, seashores, and rivers. A spot with a number of facilities, a neighborhood of like-minded folks, and exquisite lodging for hire (oh, and Nick says he wants there to be fly fishing).
Our good place would have quite a lot of eating places, unbelievable wine, and quite a few enjoyable issues to see and do. I’d prefer it to be reasonably priced, comfy, and have an excellent vibe. It additionally must be well-connected to different elements of the world. “
Our new residence in Bulgaria checks all of these bins, apart from the neighborhood half. We haven’t actually discovered that but, however to be honest, we haven’t been attempting. We’ve had so a lot of our superior nomadic pals come to go to and stick with us that we haven’t felt the necessity.
A giant factor that was sporting on us over the previous few years was realizing that we couldn’t keep wherever for greater than 3 months. Significantly throughout 2020/2021 when many borders had been closed and there have been many guidelines and restrictions on entry necessities.
Vacationer visas are sometimes legitimate for 3 months, or 6 months in some instances. And your complete Schengen Zone is a 3-month keep. So there was at all times this sense that we “have to go away quickly”, and we had been at all times discussing “the place ought to we go subsequent?”.
Now, now we have someplace we will keep for so long as we wish! Finishing this main life objective has reworked our lives and our general psychological well being and well-being.
The Yr Transforms
By this level within the article, a lot has occurred and we’re solely in March of this yr. It’s unbelievable simply how a lot went on throughout the first few months of 2023. Fortunately, it was (principally) all downhill from there.
Settling In
The excellent news was we had already rented our home earlier than getting residency, so after we returned to Bulgaria from Canada, we didn’t have to seek for someplace to stay. Now that we knew we had been legally allowed to remain within the nation, we settled in and made the home extra our personal.
We made enhancements to the yard: purchased an inflatable scorching tub, a BBQ, a fireplace pit, and a hammock, and we even planted a small backyard. Inside the house, we embellished some extra and added some private touches.
We nearly adopted a canine, rescued 3 kittens from sure demise (and adopted them out), and purchased a brand new automobile as nicely – tons has occurred!
Exploring our New Residence
We first got here to Bulgaria again in 2016, so we had seen among the nation, however there was (is) much more to discover.
We headed north to the historic metropolis of Veliko Tarnovo, taking in among the huge communist-era monuments alongside the way in which.
Subsequent, we went southwest to the mountain city (and in style digital nomad metropolis in Europe), Bansko. We’d been right here earlier than, however this time, we had been assembly up with entrepreneurial pals previous and new.
It was such an exquisite go to with this group of like-minded folks, and after many chats with them, it solidified to me that we made the fitting determination in holding Goats On The Highway. We additionally had another running a blog pals come to go to us and had a good time exhibiting them round – this was a really friend-focused yr as nicely.
Lastly, we went northwest for a couple of days of fly fishing. Other than these three longer journeys across the nation, we did many journeys about an hour from our residence – hikes, fishing spots, wineries, and little cities.
Travels Overseas to Seven Nations
For us, the purpose of getting a base isn’t in order that we stay there year-round. The purpose is that we will go on journeys and know that now we have someplace that we’re trying ahead to returning to. This yr, we managed to journey to 7 completely different international locations.
Grenada
First up was a 5-week journey to Grenada, our residence away from residence. As at all times, we had an unbelievable time catching up with our shut pals, island hopping across the Grenadines, visiting Carriacou, and plenty of liming. My birthday was spent on a personal sundown sail, whereas the very gifted artiste and pal, Akheem, serenaded us. It was wonderful.
Our flight stopped off in England on the way in which residence, so after all, we needed to meet up with our good pal and journey buddy Jason for some shenanigans round London.
Scandinavia
This may be our first time visiting any of the Scandinavian international locations! Our shut pals, Tom and Anna, got here to stick with us in Bulgaria for every week and after that, the 4 of us flew to Copenhagen, Denmark.
The journey was stuffed with consuming, exploring, laughing, ingesting…and witnessing the 2 of them getting married.
We fell in love with Copenhagen. The quite a few parks, colourful buildings on the water, and pleasant folks had been among the highlights. We additionally met up with a Danish pal of ours, Kristine, whereas we had been within the metropolis who confirmed us round.
After Copenhagen, we parted methods with our pals and took the prepare to town of Malmö in Sweden. This scholar metropolis was lots of enjoyable. Whereas we had been solely there for two days, we discovered town very gratifying. It was picturesque, walkable, and had some nice eating places and wine bars.
From there, we continued to the capital of Sweden, Stockholm. Right here we joined a strolling tour, and explored the previous city and some different areas – Östermalm, Södermalm and Norrmalm. We spent 3 days and solely scratched the floor of this beautiful metropolis.
Greece
Whereas not a brand new nation for us, this yr we returned to Greece to go to a brand new island within the nation, Paros. We had been there for Tom and Anna’s second marriage ceremony! Along with 33 of their closest household and pals, we celebrated their union.
Paros is a beautiful island and our 8 days there have been spent hanging out with new pals, marriage ceremony festivities, and exploring the island by automobile. Nick and I had 3 days to ourselves earlier than anybody arrived.
We primarily based ourselves in Naousa and zipped across the island trying out completely different coves and seashores, quaint villages, bars and eating places, and coastal walks. This journey to Greece for our pal’s marriage ceremony was a particular spotlight of the yr.
Mexico
Nick’s dad was within the hospital, so with out hesitation, we booked a last-minute, 3-week journey to Puerto Vallarta on the finish of September.
Inside 3 hours, we had deliberate, packed, and booked flights, lodging, journey insurance coverage, and a taxi to the airport. We had been on our means: Sofia -> Frankfurt -> Mexico Metropolis -> Puerto Vallarta.
Fortunately, every thing is ok now and he’s recovering. However, it was an extremely demanding time.
Romania
To spherical out our worldwide travels this yr, we headed on a highway journey north to Romania for Nick’s birthday. Not solely had been we celebrating Nick’s special occasion, nevertheless it was on today precisely 15 years in the past that we give up our jobs, offered our possessions, and headed off on our lifetime of journey.
Romania was a brand new nation for us, and we loved our 5-day journey to Bucharest and a few surrounding areas. We ate at fabulous eating places (each conventional, and upscale), did a day journey to the Delau Mare wine area, soaked within the spectacular Therme Baths, and walked everywhere in the metropolis. It was a terrific journey.
Enterprise Plans
Other than now having a house base, the opposite main transition for us this yr has been how we have a look at our enterprise and what we wish for it.
By way of site visitors to our web site, it wasn’t the place it ought to have been – the place it deserved to be after 10+ years of arduous work. The truth that we had been simply “holding it afloat”, merely wasn’t acceptable to us.
As soon as we knew in our hearts and minds that we had been holding Goats On The Highway, we went for it! We employed a big workforce of professional writers on numerous matters, two digital assistants, an editor, and a supervisor and we each spent much more time giving the weblog the adore it deserves.
We made build up our model and website a precedence and between the time that we deliberate to promote, and now, we had been capable of double our guests to the location.
However, that’s only one small a part of what we did. We each wished (need) to be extra artistic and have much more of a neighborhood connection.
Nick has been working arduous on updating and creating new content material for his Running a blog Kickstarter Course and his Superior search engine optimization Made Easy course as nicely. He’s additionally been attempting to construct up our YouTube channel once more.
I’ve been managing our superior workforce behind the scenes, but in addition sharing much more on social media and brainstorming our subsequent enterprise for the brand new yr.
We’re placing a give attention to our neighborhood (that’s you!), and are engaged on a program to assist digital nomads and aspiring digital nomads discover methods to make cash on-line, spend much less whereas build up their companies, and stay and journey overseas.
We’re very enthusiastic about this…keep tuned! And, if it’s a program that you simply assume you’d be interested by, ship us an e mail and tell us what you’d wish to study concerning the location-independent life-style.
Objectives and Ideas for 2024
Heading into the brand new yr, there are a couple of fundamental targets and issues that we need to accomplish.
Investing in Ourselves
By this I imply, investing in methods to enhance ourselves – mentally, bodily, and business-wise. We’ve taken the primary steps even earlier than the brand new yr has arrived, and we’re at present concerned in a training course to find out how we will create the very best supply for our college students, and be the very best coaches and mentors doable.
I’ve additionally signed us up for Bulgarian language classes (want us luck!), and there are a couple of fascinating conferences that we’re planning on attending within the yr. We need to proceed to develop and evolve, and never be afraid to spend cash on issues that can assist us do this.
Touring to New Nations
This previous yr, we solely visited three new international locations and the others had been repeats. This yr, whereas we do have a few repeat favorites deliberate, the objective is to go to some new locations to see fascinating cultures and sights, and to have some memorable experiences.
Well being & Wellness
Since I didn’t do the 2022 roundup publish, you didn’t examine us dropping lots of weight – Nick dropped 40 kilos, and I misplaced 20 kilos. We obtained impressed by the 4-hour physique by Tim Ferris and after dropping the load, we began to work out with weights and HIIT applications.
I’m proud to say we’ve maintained our weight for greater than a yr now and can proceed specializing in our bodily well being as we head into 2024.
Shopping for a Property
It is a little bit of a lofty objective, however not out of attain. The primary factor is that we’re undecided precisely the place to buy the property and whether or not it’ll be an funding property or our main residence.
Because of Our Tribe
As at all times, however much more so this yr, we need to thanks for being part of our tribe. In case you don’t know, a gaggle of goats is usually referred to as a tribe 🐐 – how good is that?! (They’re additionally referred to as a “herd” however that’s not almost as cool)
As we’ve transitioned our lives from full-time digital nomads to having a house base, we’re feeling much less careworn and extra impressed and able to creating impactful content material for you. This yr you possibly can count on a number of thrilling issues from us!
Our enterprise goes to be branching off in several instructions to be extra of a neighborhood – we need to work extra carefully with the individuals who learn this weblog and observe us on social media and who’ve desires of a affluent, digitally nomadic future.
For those who haven’t already, be certain that to subscribe to our e mail checklist, Instagram, YouTube, and Fb.
Wishing you a cheerful and wholesome yr forward.
Dariece & Nick (the “Goats”)