Probably not the right place to say all this but Im looking for opinions/advice because this will be the biggest decision of my life. (My therapist told me to ask people who've lived in Japan)
Im 31 year old American, I've never been to Japan yet, but Im in love with the culture, the politeness and the architure of new and old Japan. I'm almost obsessed with the country, and my gut tells me its everything I think it will be. I keep having this feeling of leaving my ordinary US life behind and going to Japan as an English teacher or anything to get started.
The hard part is, I'm getting married in 5 months.. and I make close to $260,000 a year and owe a nice home. I guess if you were me would you leave it all behind for a fantasy that "might" be the best decision of your life, or the worst decision of your life potentially? I know I should travel there first but my fiancée wants to wait for the honeymoon, which at that point it might be too late. I'd do right now solo, but my anxiety lately is too much to travel alone.
The other side of me says "Get a secondary house there, and go for 3 months out of the year". And that I'd be very lucky to have the home there, while making great money in America.
The only thing I hate about that plan is that Japan currently/and foreseeable future doesnt offer visas for long term foreigners to use, or retire with. So I'm afraid I'll never get the full experience I hear, read and see online.
by Select_Aside_4782