Purpose & Principles
Wise and effective responses to the authoritarian/AI moment in America
I have devoured so many great Substacks, but hesitated to publish anything before now. It seemed vain. As if (cue eye roll) the world needs another Substack….
Yet, at least for Americans, since January so many things are changing at a velocity I’ve never seen previously in my lifetime, which is getting closer than I dare quite admit to the half-century mark.
Why are we here?
I’ve decided that — if only to keep my own thinking focused and useful on important questions about adapting to changes (both those in progress, and those looming) — I’m going to start writing.
And if the thoughts are reduced to writing, why not share them, where they can be made use of by others, challenged, discussed, and improved?
Perhaps this Substack will make some revenue (and if you wish to subscribe, thank you for that). But revenue isn’t the goal. The goal is clarity and utility of thought, and discovery of positive and effective adaptations to challenging, perilous, and disturbing times.
I don’t think I’m alone in what I’m trying to figure out, and I appreciate you becoming part of the discussion.
I give you my word that not a single word of Expat Prep will ever be crafted by AI. The LLMs may steal my efforts, but I will never steal theirs, because I don’t want them.
In a world awash in low-quality content, words aren’t scarce, but useful, real, human communication is, and that’s what we will strive to create and share.
What are these essays about?
Only five months ago, I thought we were heading for a repeat of Trump’s first term.
In other words, there were plenty of opportunities for Derangement Syndrome for those so inclined to feel that way, but plenty of reasons not to worry too much, if one wasn’t.
I was wrong, very wrong.
As I realized that, I focused on adaptation.
Because agency feels better than resignation, or rage.
The adaptations so far have included:
Moving assets offshore
Shifting cash reserves outside the USD
A complete update and renewal of passports
Building physical currency reserves
Increasing digital privacy, security, and resiliency
Protesting while staying off-grid
Building family vacations around expat location scouting
Exploring expat residency visa options
Joining small “resistance” planning cells to help nonprofits explore ways to shield assets from confiscation by the regime
Learning Spanish, to increase geographic optionality
Reallocating assets towards international stocks, trying to stay one step ahead of potential exchange and capital controls (
writes so well about this…)Turning to other historical times and places, to find useful models for adaptation to our own difficult current events.
Focusing on the controllables that can be controlled, like positive relationships, finding beauty and meaning in the everyday, and improving health and exercise
It’s been a busy, often tiring, and very interesting time. And the issues aren’t only political.
In the background there may be a far more significant issue unfolding: the purported AI-driven imminent obsolescence of many of us in what
and others call the “managerial class.” wrote beautifully about this in her recent post "You are not your job. And soon, you won't have one."As I discussed with
in a conversation he incorporated into his recent post, it feels like we’re living in “Senior Spring”.It’s a time when, for many of us, most of life feels much the same as it ever did - and it’s a life we may well enjoy greatly, and be quite grateful for. It hasn’t been completely transformed yet into something we know will be extremely different. But that change is coming - it’s probably unavoidable.
At worst, my tendency to over-worry, over-plan, and over-structure can turn out to be unnecessary. But at a time like this, I think it might operate to your benefit.
Along the way, we can help each other stay as pragmatic as necessary, and as cheerful as possible.
These essays at Expat Prep will tell the story of how I got here, how I’m continuing to adapt, and explore things that may make sense to do next.
They can only aspire to be as well written as those of
, but like her work, they might help find the patterns in the noise.Thank you for joining the conversation.