2 years ago we were in Vietnam strolling along the beach in Da Nang when I asked Dan the question, "what do you think about living here for a little while?". Dan gazed at me with big eyes and said "no, I don't think so". I replied, ok. And we left it at that.
Later on that day he said to me that my question has been weighing on him. He has always wanted to live abroad but never had an opportunity and this is an opportunity and a great one at that because we have a tons of families in VN and they would be a great resource and help to us. He said the idea became really enticing and all he could think of the rest of the day was how he could make it happen. He knew it would require a remote job, and so that was what he set off to do.
He began interviewing with different companies, some promising they are looking into that option. One specifically was Zillow, who brought up on their own that they are trying to start a remote team which will start up in 2017. It sounded perfect for what Dan wants. He negotiated his salary with them and we've loved everything they have given us. Without Zillow the dream of living in the beach of Da Nang would not happen. Vietnam is so different now than what it was 20+ years ago when I was living there. January 2017 came and we said "let's be serious and make living abroad in Vietnam become a reality". Let's go in the Fall of 2017 was Dan's acclamation.
However as Dan completed his first year at Zillow what he did not expect was to be called in one afternoon with some disturbing information. Zillow decided that organizing a remote team was not going to be beneficial to the company and that the alternative route is better. Dissolving the idea of a remote team. Crushed, we thought. How is this going to happen now? We set a goal and here it is the year barely beginning and already our one big goal, tramped down. No way! No freaken way was my reaction. We got our hopes up too high. Maybe we set a goal that is not achievable? Maybe we should just go back to enjoying our beautiful home doing the same thing we've been doing the last several years. What more do we want?
But the thought kept coming back...Perhaps we could make this work. Dan ran some calculations, did some math and I did some research into the cost of living in Vietnam and our budget here in the States. Our house would rent for $4000 giving us some room for a decent living style in Vietnam. We got Zillow's year bonus and stocks that more than cover expenses without Dan having to work! Any work would be icing on the cake. We can afford to live a luxurious life and still have some left over to help the poor there. We thought of all the missionary opportunities and savings and sabbatical time for Dan and the idea was enticing again! We began celebrating the idea and even thanking the Lord for providing the way and helping us see that there are other options just as valid and satisfying. So IT IS STILL ON!
We knew families will want to know and hear all about it so we held off from telling anyone until we have a more detailed plan and buy tickets. We are still fine tuning the details and I'm still in denial that we are actually doing this. This is only possible because of the type of work that Dan does and the flexibility that it gives us. Also the best investment was building our home when we did. It has returned much value and continues to be a blessing to us.
I took the kids in my church class to Jamba juice so we could chat and get to know each other
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