I Suck At Doing Nothing
Spain said yes to two more years. Here's the six months of chaos that came with it.
Hey Geo-arbitraguers,
So one thing I’ve learned about myself over the last couple of years is that I suck at doing nothing. Really, I can’t sit still. In fact I’d say I’m happiest when I feel productive and am working towards a goal. Fitness, study, writing, business. Whatever, it doesn’t matter, but I have to be moving forward.
2026 has been crazy! For a guy who’s supposed to be retired, I’ve been super busy. Teaching, trading options, writing a lot, speaking at conferences all over the place, and trying to help 1,000 people retire early through geo-arbitrage, currently at 3. It’s a start I know but I’ve got the rest of my life to make this difference and I’m committed to it.
So this article is a little different, more of an update for you all.
University.
Study continues, but the end is in sight. I started studying back in 2022, when I realised that after retiring I’d need a way to keep my brain busy or I’d go insane. It’s been really good for the most part, pushing me and engaging my mind to think differently.
That said, I am looking forward to finishing. October 2027, let’s go!
Teaching.
This one came out of left field. At the end of 2025 I was approached to teach geo-arbitrage and options trading, an hour each per week, to a financial education academy in Australia. It’s been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done since retiring. It’s so cool to watch that light switch moment, when people realise “shit, if I just move to a lower cost of living country, or a country with lower taxes, I can retire now?!” That’s an incredible moment. They get so excited and I love it. Same with the options trading. Watching them see how it works, how they can grow their income with options without working more hours, or how retirees can create extra income. It fills my cup, and honestly, I want to do more of it.
Substack.
This has been a huge lift for me this year. I’ve gone from writing 1 article a month to now writing 2-3, sometimes 4, times a month. My favourite stuff to write is the blueprint articles, where I show people how to combine geo-arbitrage and remote income to retire decades earlier. Because I’ve been travelling a lot this year, I’ve been able to use the countries I’m in as case studies: Vietnam, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland, and more.
Strategy Help.
I’ve been getting more requests from people looking to move abroad and retire somewhere with a high quality of life but lower taxes. I help them put together a strategy, then connect them with top people in the locations they’re targeting. It’s been a great way to meet people with a similar mindset and help them figure out their own jigsaw puzzle.
Discord Channel.
This has exploded! My options trading Discord has grown from nothing to over a hundred people, which is fantastic.
We discuss stocks, strategies, and share trades so everyone can see what we’re making money from. There’s also a paid channel for the hardcore crew who want to focus on financial freedom through options, and that membership is growing fast too. I run weekly live calls, share all trades, run an options education session, and publish a stock breakdown each week. A bit of work, but worth it.
If you’re into options and want to see the trades, join the strategy talk, or just lurk and learn, come find us in the Discord. Link below, the free channel costs you nothing but your attention
Spain Situation. We’ve now been living in Spain for a year and literally today received word that our visa renewal has been approved for another two years. This is huge! My partner will be able to apply for her Spanish passport next July and that’s going to be a life changing moment for her. Coming from Panama, having a tier 1 passport like Spain’s is going to open up so many new and exciting opportunities and I can’t wait to see what she does with them.
Camino, Camino, Camino.
Since moving to Spain, I’ve hiked 2 more Caminos. The Sanabrés, from north-central Spain, roughly 300km to Santiago de Compostela. Met some absolute legends along the way, shared great stories, food, and views. Then earlier this year I snuck away and hiked the English Way from Ferrol in the north of Spain to Santiago de Compostela. I’d partially done this one before, but not from this starting point. What made this one different was hiking while teaching a couple of classes along the way. If I’m honest, it pulled me out of the Camino mindset, so next time I’m pre-recording sessions for the students so I can just focus on hiking.
Already planning the next one, later this year or early next (university assignments permitting).
Speaking gigs!
These have been amazing. I’ve been really lucky this year, invited to speak at conferences all over the world. First up was a FatFIRE conference on Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. What an incredible experience, visiting that place alongside some truly impressive people. Business owners, investors, plane owners, lol. Just a really good time, and it genuinely inspired me to take a step in a new direction, but more on that later.
Second gig was in Bansko, Bulgaria, to a conference of 700 digital nomads. I spoke about how remote work isn’t real freedom, even if you can travel and work from your laptop. I said that without financial freedom, most of them will eventually be forced to stop travelling when AI or other market shifts mean they simply can’t afford it anymore. I thought I might get some hate for that topic, but people responded really well to it, and I was surprised how many came up to chat with me about their plans during the week. Great vibes.
And I’m not done yet. I’ve just been booked to speak at another FatFIRE conference, this time in the Philippines, early 2027. If anyone’s been and has food or activity recs, send them my way, I’m all ears.
Future projects I’ll fill you in on as they develop:
New business launching September-October 2026
Options trading course going digital
Spanish road trip, LFG!
New business acquisition in 2027
Trip home to NZ to see family, late 2026
So yes, 2026 has been huge, and we’re only halfway through. I can’t wait to see what the rest looks like. Thanks for joining me for the ride, and if you liked this update and want to see more of these personal posts, drop a comment below and give the article some love. Then I’ll know you want more.
And while you’re down there, if you want early access when the options course goes live, DM “COURSE” and I’ll add you to the list.
Cheers
Andy
Krakow, Poland
