Psss! Wanna live in Europe without having to go through all of the bureaucratic red-tape? Nah, I'm not talking about sneaking in and living on the continent illegally. Forget the Schengen zone. There are places where the American passport is warmly welcomed for up to one (01) full year without ever needing to file any paperwork at an Embassy or online.
The Republic of Albania - lets Americans and only Americans stay on the national territorial for up to one year. Not even European Union passport-holders can stay in Albania as long as Americans can without a visa. Truly the American passport is King in Albania. Why? This has to do with favorable American policy toward Albania from Woodrow Wilson through William Jefferson Clinton.
What's in Albania? The question should be - what isn't in Albania? From Greek to Roman to Ottoman, Italian and Communist influences - Albania offers quite the cross-section of European history. Best of all, the country is extraordinarily affordable. Sarande - only a short ride away by ferry from the island of Corfu in Greece has this lovely Airbnb for less than 500 euros in the month of November 2016. If you are willing to go up the road from Sarande to Vlore you can get Airbnb deals at under 360 euros for the month. You'll still be in a nice coastal city with beaches. Numerous Italians and Greeks have been purchasing as well as renting in these areas.
The capital of Albania - Tirana is substantially CHEAPER than Detroit according to Numbeo.com. Why stick around the rust belt when you can live on the Adriatic Sea for a fraction of the cost? If you wanted to mix it all up without losing the view - you can always spend part of your time in Batumi on the Black Sea.
The Republic of Georgia - allows most passport-holders be them American or European Union to stick around for up to a full year without requiring a visa. Batumi is the big Georgian port on the Black Sea and this November there isn't a shortage of Airbnb bargains at under 300 euros per month! Is even Batumi less expensive than Detroit, Michigan? You betcha! Sure, it is off-season pricing, but why bother with large crowds and inflated tourist rates?
Don't think you have to beg some bureaucrat at an Embassy somewhere to get a residence permit or buy an expensive subscription to some monthly newsletter to start living the dream. Don't worry about giving up your American passport or having to jump through endless hoops before you take the plunge. None of that is necessary to get what you want. Is Albania the perfect spot? Is Georgia a veritable paradise? It can't be any worse than Detroit. These are great places to get your feet wet for a long time and for very little money per month. Dump the hassle and overthinking.
You could literally kick back at your Airbnb in either of these countries smoking cigars, drinking whiskey and earning money on Steem to float your bills. In fact, I'm hoping to do the very same myself!
Postscript: Remember Thailand only gives you 30 days without having to do a border-run. The European Union gives you 90 days!