Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Italy
      • France
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Panama
      • Costa Rica
      • Nicaragua
      • Honduras
      • Belize
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
    • Others
      • North America
      • South America
      • Australia
      • Africa
      • Asia
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Italy
      • France
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Panama
      • Costa Rica
      • Nicaragua
      • Honduras
      • Belize
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
    • Others
      • North America
      • South America
      • Australia
      • Africa
      • Asia
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

LIFE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR EXPATS, DIGITAL NOMADS, AND DREAMERS.

  • Your Escape Plan

Reading Just One Document Convinced Me to Move to the Island of Tonga!

  • October 24, 2014
  • BY Don Halbert
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

I had said words like these many times before: “I want out this country, I may love American citizens, I may love America’s beautiful scenery, I may love America’s four seasons and I may even love America’s baseball and apple pies, but I want out!”

This time, my wise wife, in all her radiant beauty and charm just smiled and said, “Well, honey, then let’s move. I can be ready tomorrow. Why don’t you look on eBay?”

That one simple statement was all the encouragement I needed to leave the country I had called home my entire life. That night I did get on eBay and typed in such phrases as “foreign real estate”, “international property”, etc. It wasn’t until I typed in “New Zealand” on eBay’s real estate search that I saw a property that would change my life forever!

Amazingly enough, the property that caught my eye wasn’t in New Zealand at all, it was in Tonga! I saw the beautiful island pictures and began reading the listing out loud to my wife. After finishing the last word I turned to my wife, who was smiling one of those strange smiles, and said, “Why are you smiling like that”. She replied, “Tonga sounds perfect. Let’s move there.” I rolled my eyes and said, “No way. I am not moving to Africa or wherever this place is. I just wanted to know what you thought.” She replied, “I don’t think it’s in Africa honey, maybe it’s in Europe or Asia. Why don’t you research it?” and so that is exactly what this author did.

Much to my amazement, I found out that Tonga was not in Africa at all, nor was it in Europe or Asia, but it was located in the beautiful South Pacific. I read everything I could find online about Tonga and when I saw the following articles from the Tongan Constitution, I knew we were all about to leave our beloved America for a new love, Tonga!

No person shall succeed to the Crown of Tonga who has been found guilty of a felony or who is insane or imbecile. (Constitution of Tonga, 1975, Declaration of Rights, No. 35)

After living under a government that I felt to be bordering on “insane” due to some of its most recent decisions, it was a relief that such would not happen in Tonga.

It shall be lawful for all people to speak, write and print their opinions and no law shall ever be enacted to restrict this liberty. (Constitution of Tonga, 1975, Declaration of Rights, No. 7a)

After some of my own friends and colleagues had been denied their “freedom of speech” in some very curious ways in the United States, this declaration was a breath of fresh air as well.

There shall be but one law in Tonga for Chiefs and commoners for Europeans and Tongans. No laws shall be enacted for one class and not for another class but the law shall be the same for all people of this land. (Constitution of Tonga, 1975, Declaration of Rights, No. 4)

This article really eased my mind as I wasn’t sure what to expect from a monarchy, having lived under a democracy for my entire life. Needless to say when I read this, I was very relieved.

So, after doing a couple nights worth of research on Tonga, I told my wife, “We’re moving to Tonga, babe,” and her simple response was, “Great, let’s go.” So, after selling our Ozarks home and having a huge auction for all of our other items, we were off to the South Pacific without a care in the world!

Excerpted and adapted from the ebook “Retiring, Working and Doing Business in Tonga” by Trevor Jefferson.

Here are three amazing articles written about Bali.  I know you will love them.  

Practicalities of Moving to Bali Part 1; Part 2 and Part 3 – Enjoy

To contact our office, please reach out to us HERE

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • local government
  • local laws
  • Pacific Islands
  • Tonga
Previous Article
  • Food + Culture

Typical Food In Paraguay

  • September 11, 2014
  • BY EA Editors
View Post
Next Article
  • Australia

Renting or Buying in Australia

  • April 24, 2015
  • BY EA Editors
View Post
You May Also Like
best place to retire
View Post
  • Plan B
Retiring Abroad: Where Can You Actually Afford to Live?
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • June 18, 2025
Healthcare systems
View Post
  • Health
What You Need to Know About Healthcare and Insurance Abroad
  • BY Isha Sesay
  • June 11, 2025
Tourist visas remain the simplest path to setting foot abroad.
View Post
  • Plan B
Living on a Tourist Visa – How Long Can You Stay?
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • June 4, 2025
Moving abroad can be a fresh start—but only if you do it with your eyes wide open.
View Post
  • Plan B
Moving Abroad to Reinvent Yourself
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • May 28, 2025
Residency programs worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation.
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
Beyond the Golden Visa – The Future of Residency
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • May 7, 2025
Not all retirements are created equal—especially when taxes are involved.
View Post
  • Plan B
How to Retire Tax-Free Abroad
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • April 23, 2025
Choosing the right country can shape your investment strategy.
View Post
  • Plan B
How to Secure a Second Home Overseas
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • April 18, 2025
The good life in Belize.
View Post
  • Belize
The Plan B Strategy—Securing Lifestyle and Liberty in Belize
  • BY Michael K. Cobb
  • April 5, 2025
Trending Posts
  • best place to retire 1
    • Plan B
    Retiring Abroad: Where Can You Actually Afford to Live?
    • June 18, 2025
  • The True Cost of Leaving America 2
    • Interviews
    The True Cost of Leaving America
    • June 25, 2025
  • Happiest City in Australia, Adelaide’s skyline peeks through the Park Lands 3
    • Field Notes
    How Adelaide Climbed the Happy City Index
    • June 15, 2025
  • 4
    • Africa
    The New Africa Travel List for 2025
    • June 20, 2025
  • Living in Zurich Switzerland 5
    • Field Notes
    Zurich’s Formula for Happiness
    • June 22, 2025
Subscribe
Know Before You Go
  • The True Cost of Leaving America 1
    • Interviews
    The True Cost of Leaving America
    • June 25, 2025
  • 2
    • Africa
    The New Africa Travel List for 2025
    • June 20, 2025
  • Rolling emerald fields and soft skies in County Kerry. 3
    • Ireland
    Top 10 Things to Know If You’re Moving to Ireland
    • June 13, 2025
  • A new generation claims space through movement. 4
    • Africa
    How Ethiopia’s Girls Are Rewriting the Rules on Wheels
    • May 30, 2025
  • Residency programs worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation. 5
    • Second Citizenship
    Beyond the Golden Visa – The Future of Residency
    • May 7, 2025
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Newsletter Subscription
Our Spring Sale Has Started

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/