Retired at 40 in Vietnam: My Shocking Cost of Living Secret!

I retired out of about 40 in Vietnam I retired out of about 40 in Vietnam from my job of 17 years as an from my job of 17 years as an from my job of 17 years as an international school teacher and I want international school teacher and I want international school teacher and I want to walk you through the actual story of to walk you through the actual story of to walk you through the actual story of why I'm here, what I left, what it costs why I'm here, what I left, what it costs why I'm here, what I left, what it costs to live in North America right now and to live in North America right now and to live in North America right now and my old cities compared to what I pay to my old cities compared to what I pay to my old cities compared to what I pay to live well here in Ho Chi Minh City, live well here in Ho Chi Minh City, live well here in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, what nobody told me about this Vietnam, what nobody told me about this Vietnam, what nobody told me about this life and and some other stuff that has life and and some other stuff that has life and and some other stuff that has nothing to do with money. So, let's nothing to do with money. So, let's nothing to do with money. So, let's start with Calgary. I wasn't born there. start with Calgary. I wasn't born there. start with Calgary. I wasn't born there. When I took a job offer there in 2015, I When I took a job offer there in 2015, I When I took a job offer there in 2015, I was literally on a Zoom call in a villa was literally on a Zoom call in a villa was literally on a Zoom call in a villa in Koh Tao, Thailand having arrived in Koh Tao, Thailand having arrived in Koh Tao, Thailand having arrived there from a year-long stint in there from a year-long stint in there from a year-long stint in Melbourne. Melbourne. Melbourne. Meaning [snorts] I might have been a Meaning [snorts] I might have been a Meaning [snorts] I might have been a younger decade ago, but I was no spring younger decade ago, but I was no spring younger decade ago, but I was no spring chicken. I'd already been around the chicken. I'd already been around the chicken. I'd already been around the world a bit. I'd traveled. I'd been an world a bit. I'd traveled. I'd been an world a bit. I'd traveled. I'd been an expat. And if you've never spent a expat. And if you've never spent a expat. And if you've never spent a winter in Calgary, oh my god, it is winter in Calgary, oh my god, it is winter in Calgary, oh my god, it is February. It is minus 30 not with wind February. It is minus 30 not with wind February. It is minus 30 not with wind chill just actual temperature. Your spit chill just actual temperature. Your spit chill just actual temperature. Your spit freezes. The sun sets before 5:00 in the freezes. The sun sets before 5:00 in the freezes. The sun sets before 5:00 in the afternoon and you can walk from a cafe afternoon and you can walk from a cafe afternoon and you can walk from a cafe to your car and have your hot coffee get to your car and have your hot coffee get to your car and have your hot coffee get cold before you sit down. You're stuck cold before you sit down. You're stuck cold before you sit down. You're stuck in traffic on Deerfoot Trail going in traffic on Deerfoot Trail going in traffic on Deerfoot Trail going nowhere at 30 km an hour just staring at nowhere at 30 km an hour just staring at nowhere at 30 km an hour just staring at red brake lights and you know, black sky red brake lights and you know, black sky red brake lights and you know, black sky inside a car is fogged up, ice on the inside a car is fogged up, ice on the inside a car is fogged up, ice on the outside. You're wearing a parka that outside. You're wearing a parka that outside. You're wearing a parka that cost 600 bucks. You got on $250 cost 600 bucks. You got on $250 cost 600 bucks. You got on $250 Timberland boots.