Global Citizen: My Hometown Is Great — So Why Don’t I Stay?

Hello everyone. Today, I would like to share two specific observations from a recent weekend trip to my hometown in mainland China, where I traveled with my children to visit my mother.

The trip highlighted two contrasting themes: the highly practical reality of living in a modern Chinese city, and the philosophical reasons why I choose to maintain a global lifestyle.

The Practical Reality: Quality of Life and Cost in Mainland China

My hometown is considered a relatively small city by Chinese standards. However, the level of infrastructure and convenience often surprises people who are unfamiliar with the region.

Within the city, you can easily access international retail standards, including Starbucks and Walmart. My mother resides in a residential complex situated next to a meticulously maintained public park. This park features a large lake with a seven-kilometer walking loop.

By my estimation, this single small city contains around seven cinemas and ten public parks. The infrastructure is thoroughly modern and highly accessible.

From a practical and financial standpoint, the cost of living is exceptionally efficient. An individual can maintain a very high-quality, comfortable lifestyle in my hometown for approximately $500 USD per month.

When people discuss global mobility and relocation, mainland China is not always the first option that comes to mind. However, if you evaluate a location based strictly on public safety, modern infrastructure, and cost-effectiveness, mainland China is one of the most practical destinations available for expatriates and immigrants. It is an option worth serious consideration.

The Philosophical Dilemma: The Rich Man and the Fisherman

This high quality of life inevitably leads to a recurring conversation with my mother. Every time I visit, she asks a very logical question: "Henry, why do you continuously travel and work across the world when you could stay here, surrounded by extended family, and enjoy a comfortable life in your hometown?"

It is a difficult question to answer simply because it stems from fundamentally different value systems. To explain my perspective, I often think of the classic fable of the rich businessman and the fisherman.

The story goes that a rich businessman advises a relaxed fisherman to work longer hours, buy a fleet of boats, build a processing factory, and eventually achieve financial freedom. The fisherman asks, "What then?" The businessman replies, "Then you can relax and live a peaceful life, just like me." The fisherman points out that he is already doing exactly that, without all the extra effort.

The traditional takeaway from this fable is that we should adopt the fisherman's mindset—to be content and avoid overcomplicating our lives in the pursuit of corporate success. However, the first time I heard this story, my immediate reaction was the exact opposite: I wanted to be the rich businessman.

Life as a Continuous Film Production

My reasoning is straightforward: life is not solely about the final outcome. It is entirely about the journey. The fisherman and the businessman might end up sitting on the exact same beach in their later years, but the paths they took to arrive there are completely different.

I approach my life and career with a specific operational philosophy. I view every day as an opportunity to record "footage." When you reach the end of your life, all of that daily footage is compiled into a single movie. The ultimate measure of success is whether you are satisfied when you sit down to watch that final film.

If I stayed in my comfortable hometown, the outcome would undoubtedly be peaceful. However, I want to explore the world, experience different business environments, and actively generate diverse footage for my life’s movie.

This is not always an easy concept to explain to my mother. I acknowledge that my hometown is an excellent place, and it may very well be where I eventually conclude my journey. But for now, my priority remains exploring the world and building a life I am fully satisfied with.

Thank you for reading.