The popular fantasy RPG has long been rumored to be getting a big-screen adaptation—and now we know who's behind it.

• Irish healthcare worker Imelda Collins, 52, launched a raffle for her two-bedroom house in October.
• Entrants only pay £5, or about $6.75, per entry. Collins will pay the fees to complete the transfer.
• Collins thinks it's a win-win: The buyer gets a cheap house, and she hopes to make more money.

This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Imelda Collins, who is selling her house in Ireland via an online raffle. Each entry is 5 euros (about $6.75), and people can buy multiple entries. The drawing is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, at 10 a.m. local time. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm from Ireland, and my husband is from Italy. We've lived back and forth between the two countries for a number of years.

In 2022, I bought this home near Manorhamilton, a small town about 20 minutes east of Sligo, because we were going to stay in Ireland full-time.

It's a two-bedroom house on 1.75 acres. I paid €133,000 (about $150,000), which was well over asking, but that's just what the market was. I estimate I put about €150,000 ($170,000) into the home as well — we completely gutted it.

The area is just stunning. It has the most amazing views and mountains all around. We're on a countryside road, and I barely see three cars a day. I love hearing birdsong. I love how we're out in the country but still so close to a city.

Now, our situation has changed. My heart is in Italy. My husband's family is in Italy. I got used to living there, with the amazing food, weather, and wine. That's where we belong right now.

It's really difficult to get a property in Ireland; there are hardly any homes for sale. It took me years to get on the property ladder.

I thought it would be really nice to give somebody the opportunity to win a home for the price of a latte.

Holding a raffle to sell my home seemed like a win for both me and the buyer

A year ago, I read online about a lady in Dublin who raffled off her apartment because she was moving to Paris. I thought that was kind of similar to my situation. I reached out to her a year ago, so this has been taking shape for a while. She's the one who showed me the Raffall platform for raffles and explained what was possible.

Selling it the normal route would be easier, but I thought it was a cool idea and wanted to try something new. Also, if the raffle succeeds, I hope to make more money than if I sold it traditionally.

With today's market, I would expect to get around €300,000 ($340,000). It's so hard to predict an exact figure, but that seems to be where I'd land.

There are a lot of costs associated with the raffle. I've paid a marketing professional to help me, I've run national ads in newspapers for seven weeks, I've paid for a photographer and drone videographer. Then, when it's all done, Raffall will take 10% commission on all the sales as well.

Even with all that, I expect to come in higher. Some people don't understand all those costs and just say, "Oh, she's sold 150,000 tickets, so she'll be taking in €900,000." It's not that simple. (Editor's note: Collins declined to share exactly how much she spent promoting the raffle. She also declined to share how many people had entered, but as of 1:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 23, 298,624 paid and free tickets had been issued, according to Raffall.)

I've laid out all the costs on my website. I'm paying for the legal fees associated with the transfer of the property, for example.

I want the winner to just pay the ticket for the home. There will be no extra costs whatsoever to the winner — none. I just thought that was fair.

The raffle has taken over my life, but it's been the adventure of a lifetime

The lady who raffled off her Dublin apartment told me the process would take over my entire life, and she was right. Sometimes it's caused me great stress. In the evenings, I come home from work and then I'm on the laptop for hours.

For months, I've been researching ways to get the word out, pitching myself to local newspapers in Ireland and the UK. I've joined Facebook groups where I thought there'd be interest, like one for Americans moving to Ireland. I even did research on where the most Irish descendants were in the US to target those cities.

You can enter the raffle from wherever you are as long as it's legal in your country. I can only see names on the Raffall page, not nationalities. I know that I've been featured in the New Zealand press. It's so fantastic to see the word is spreading.

It's all overwhelming. Before the raffle, I was never in the media. I was never even on social media. I will be happy for it to come to an end. It was a long seven months, but it's time now to find out who's winning.

Keith Urban, Riley Green, Brothers Osborne, Little Big Town also join the lineup for the event at Nashville's Ole Red

Disneyland and Walt Disney World have amazing rides—but the Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea have a few that will knock your socks off.

• After years of living and working in different countries, I visited Papamoa in New Zealand.
• It has beautiful beaches and a relaxed lifestyle that fits my priorities as a mom with a remote job.
• Papamoa's close-knit community and outdoor activities could be great for my kid as she grows up.

When I started traveling, I was determined to see as much of the world as possible.

So far, I've lived and worked in Colombia, Spain, the Netherlands, the US, and New Zealand, soaking in each destination's unique charm.

But no matter how much I loved the cozy vibes in Europe, the fast pace of the US, or the great food from South America, none of those places made me stop and think, "This is where I want to grow old."

That changed during a 2023 trip to New Zealand when I found myself in the breathtakingly beautiful coastal suburb of Papamoa.

Soon, I began dreaming of living there full-time.

The beachy suburb in New Zealand seemed like it'd be a great fit for me and my family

A year after I first visited Papamoa, I returned to spend four months living there.

Soon, I realized it had become my dream place to live — after all, it has so many things I want out of a home.

For years, living in remote areas left me feeling isolated, but busy cities overwhelmed me.

However, Papamoa has a small-town feel with fewer than 40,000 residents, yet it's close enough to a big city that it doesn't feel isolated. It's just 10 minutes by car from Tauranga, one of New Zealand's most populous cities.

I also want to settle somewhere where nature is greatly respected, so I loved how clean the beaches and parks I visited felt. The locals and visitors seemed to really take care of their surroundings.

In Papamoa, I love that a slower pace of life feels like the norm rather than an exception. The area also feels incredibly family-friendly, which has become a priority since having my daughter.

The fairly close-knit community has schools, playgrounds, and many outdoor activities for kids. Locals I've met have been incredibly welcoming and laid-back.

Financially, Papamoa also aligns with the life I want to build.

Although my cost of living wasn't super low during my time in the suburb, I was able to comfortably live below my means.

I spent less on transportation because the area is walkable, and most places I needed to be were within walking distance of my rental home.

Plus, so much of the local entertainment revolves around free outdoor activities. On a typical day in Papamoa, I finished working my remote job, packed a bag with snacks and sandwiches, and spent a few hours outside with my daughter.

We'd have a picnic while watching surfers, birds, and the sea from the not-too-crowded local beaches. On rainy days, we'd cozy up in a local café instead.

I fell in love with the idea of this someday being my daily routine for good.

I've lived in many places, but this is the first one that helped me picture my dream future

Every country and city I've lived in has its perks, but I couldn't picture growing old while living the life I want in any place until I found Papamoa.

The lifestyle, natural beauty, and sense of balance the suburb offers already make it feel like home to me. My daughter and I don't live there permanently yet, but I'm confident it's where I'd like to be in the long run.

Once I get the right visas, I plan to return to Papamoa and make it our forever home — ideally sooner rather than later.

The nation’s only sitting Black governor vetoed reparations legislation, dealing a blow to fellow Democrats and emphasizing his preference to "focus on the work itself" rather than form commissions.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore vetoed SB 587, legislation sponsored by state Sen. C. Anthony Muse, D-Forest Heights, that would have established the Maryland Reparations Commission.

The commission would have been tasked with providing recommendations by 2027 "relating to appropriate benefits to be offered to African Americans impacted by slavery and historic inequality."

Moore, however, did not issue his veto in any sort of opposition to the overall idea.

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"I applaud the legislature's work on this bill, and I thank the Black Caucus for their leadership," Moore said in his veto message.

"We have moved in partnership with leaders across the state to uplift Black families and address racial disparities in our communities. That is the context in which I've made this difficult decision."

Moore took issue with the potential for more bureaucracy that the resolution would bear.

"[N]ow is not the time for another study," he said, citing other recent commissions established, including the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

"Now is the time for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve."

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Seen as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful, Moore said he will always defend the history of African Americans in Maryland and focus on narrowing the "racial wealth gap," increasing minority homeownership and "closing foundational disparities."

Maryland itself has a mixed history when it comes to slavery, the Civil War and the treatment of African Americans.

The state hosts the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, connecting important towns and sites on the Eastern Shore and into Delaware, where Tubman, her aligned families and groups aided runaway slaves on their way to the relative safety of the North.

Its position as an often South-friendly state just north of Washington, D.C., also complicated its position during the Civil War. John Wilkes Booth, the actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, hailed from Bel Air, and his escape from Washington after the assassination led him through Confederate-friendly southern Maryland before crossing the Potomac into Virginia.

Dr. Samuel Mudd, the physician who abetted Booth and his colleagues after Lincoln’s murder, housed them at his property near Leonardtown.

Booth felt uncomfortable enough, however, in postwar Maryland that he fled to Virginia -- where he was eventually surrounded and killed by U.S. Marshals at a barn whose foundation now sits unmarked in the middle of the U.S. 301 parkway through Fort A.P. Hill’s grounds.

Maryland’s legislative Black Caucus also released a statement Friday expressing their disappointment with Moore’s veto.

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"At a time when the White House and Congress are actively targeting Black communities, dismantling diversity initiatives, and using harmful coded language, Governor Moore had a chance to show the country and the world that here in Maryland we boldly and courageously recognize our painful history and the urgent need to address it."

"Instead, the state’s first Black governor chose to block this historic legislation that would have moved the state toward directly repairing the harm of enslavement."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• Cruise lines are increasingly focusing their itineraries on their own private islands and resorts.
• By 2027, 90% of Royal Caribbean's Caribbean cruises will sail to one of its in-house properties.
• Almost every major cruise line is expanding its land-based portfolio.

Cruises have always been a vessel for exploration — a way for travelers to see the world. But over the last few years, these floating resorts have increasingly narrowed their focus to just one type of destination: theme parks in the middle of the ocean.

Cruise ships touch virtually every corner of the earth, from Antarctica to Albania, Madagascar to the Mediterranean. They're often the most convenient and affordable way to see several countries in one trip, which is why bookings have remained buoyant despite uncertain economic tides foundering the rest of the travel industry.

However, these exploratory roots are quickly becoming overshadowed by more lucrative, purpose-built beach resorts that not all travel traditionalists may be happy about.

Cruise lines want you at their private resorts

In recent years, commercial cruise lines have increasingly shifted attention, investments, and itineraries toward in-house land-based buildouts. Think branded private islands with waterparks and resorts with the same up-charges as their ships.

Industry titans like MSC Cruises, Carnival Corp, and Royal Caribbean Group collectively operate about 20 Caribbean ports, a number that seems to grow every day. Royal Caribbean expects to launch four more destinations (in addition to the two it currently has) by early 2027: two in Mexico, one in the Bahamas, and one in the South Pacific on Lelepa, Vanuatu.

By the time they open, the cruise line said earlier in May, 90% of its Caribbean voyages will sail to one of these in-house retreats. In some itineraries, they'll be the only ports of call.

Norwegian is expanding its private island and building a pier to accommodate thousands more travelers daily. Carnival and MSC are doing the same, in addition to each building a new getaway in the Bahamas.

Almost all Carnival ships have voyages scheduled for the company's upcoming Celebration Key resort, which will open in July. Similarly, most of Norwegian and MSC's future Caribbean cruises also include stops at their private islands.

If you're lucky, your voyage could visit other nearby, non-cruise-owned ports.

If not, you could spend every day of your cruise vacation at a themed beachfront park.

Take Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, for example. It's currently scheduled for 96 four-night "Bahamas and Perfect Day Cruise" voyages through April 2027. The itinerary only includes two ports: the cruise line's Perfect Day at CocoCay private island and Nassau, Bahamas, the soon-to-be home for its pay-to-enter Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

Islands planted with money trees

The shifting focus toward company-created destinations is a no-brainer for the industry.

These ports are often close to the ships' home ports, allowing cruise lines to save on fuel costs. Plus, they don't require third-party operators, which means the companies can pocket all food, beverage, and excursion profits.

And there are plenty of big-ticket activities to entice visitors, be it $100 to enter CocoCay's waterpark or $1,000 for a villa on Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay island.

If you're traveling with your multi-generational family, it could be a worthy vacation option.

Many of these resorts are accessible only by ship or walled off from the rest of the country (such as Royal Caribbean's Labadee, Haiti beach). They're also relatively small, consistent, and convenient, filled with kid-friendly amenities like kayaks and snorkel gear.

But if your goal is to tick off countries from your bucket list, consider another form of travel — or at least not a voyage to a remote amusement park.

Ziplining around a manicured beach or napping in an air-conditioned beachfront villa might not be the cultural immersion you want.

• A UK warship shot down a supersonic missile in what the Royal Navy called a "historic first."
• The HMS Dragon warship "obliterated" the missile in a test off the coast of Scotland.
• The Type 45 air defense destroyer is one of the UK's most advanced warships.

One of the British Royal Navy's most advanced warships, the HMS Dragon, completed a "historic first" when it shot down a supersonic missile in a test off the coast of Scotland on Friday, the force said.

The Type 45 air defense destroyer fired a modified Sea Viper missile and "obliterated" an "incoming high-speed target" that was designed to imitate some of the latest and most advanced threats facing the force around the world, the navy said in a press release.

It added that it marked "the first time the Royal Navy has faced down this kind of target," which it said was "significantly more challenging as it flies faster and carries out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres."

Footage shared by the Royal Navy on X shows the strike, which occurred as part of Exercise Formidable Shield 25, a large-scale NATO live-firing exercise taking place in Norway and the UK this year.

Commander Iain Giffin, the commanding officer of the HMS Dragon, said the strike was "a huge moment" for the destroyer.

"Not only does it prove that Dragon's world leading air defence capability functions as it should following an extensive maintenance period, but it also proves our ability to integrate and operate alongside NATO allies and partners," he said. "Training alongside ships, aircraft and land forces from 11 nations in this complex, multi-domain exercise ensures that we maintain our fighting edge against evolving Hi and Low-tech threats."

The HMS Dragon is a Type 45 destroyer and one of the UK's most advanced warships.

It forms part of the Royal Navy's six "Daring Class" destroyers, which were custom-built for anti-aircraft and anti-missile combat.

With more than 200 crew, the vessel plays a key role in Britain's air defenses, using its Sea Viper missile system to seek out and neutralise threats. Dragon can also be deployed to provide assistance in disaster relief scenarios and counter-narcotics boarding operations.

The UK has been testing out a range of new strike capabilities on its warships in recent years.

In 2024, the UK's Ministry of Defence first showed off its new DragonFire laser weapon, with video footage showing it in action off the coast of Scotland.

The laser directed energy weapon is a high-power, low-cost weapon system designed to target aerial threats with "pinpoint accuracy," according to the UK government.

A UK Ministry of Defence official told Business Insider in March that it was planning to deploy the weapon on four Royal Navy destroyers by 2027.

'Encanto', 'Turning Red', 'Coco' and 'A Goofy Movie' step into the spotlight in the party's festivities.

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• The Kinloch Wilderness Retreat sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand.
• The retreat has three rentable tiny homes with stunning views of New Zealand scenery.
• I spent a night in one of the tiny homes. It was the most magical place I've ever slept.

New Zealand is the land of hobbits and wizards, folklore and fairies, and unspoiled nature.

In the summer of 2022, I experienced the country's whimsical land firsthand.

I spent nights in five-star hotels and tiny homes with porta-potties.

The most magical place I stayed, though, was a tiny house outside Queenstown, New Zealand.

Duffy is finally back in California after 15 years away.

• What began as a short trip to Bangkok ended with Antoinette Yvonne moving there alone in 2023.
• She is now living in a $660-a-month apartment with views of the Thai capital's skyline.
• She said that while things may cost less in Bangkok than in the US, people shouldn't assume everything is cheap.

When Antoinette Yvonne arrived in Bangkok in 2023, it was supposed to be just a two-week trip.

It was her second visit to Thailand's capital city, but this time, something clicked. Those two weeks stretched into three months, and by the end of that extended stay, the full-time YouTuber and boutique travel agency owner knew she'd found her new home.

"The skyline literally is what sold me on Bangkok. I knew that I wanted to live in the city, where it's just so beautiful. And the cost of living here, I mean, it didn't hurt. So I was like, 'OK, let me do it,'" Yvonne, 37, told Business Insider.

She returned to the US for the summer and got ready to make the big move. By November 2023, she was back in Bangkok — for good.

The allure of living abroad

Yvonne is no stranger to living abroad.

Originally from Indiana, she moved to Spain in 2013 and lived there for about three years. Part of the reason she made that move was because she was burned out and looking for an escape from her corporate investment banking job.

"I saw the movie 'Eat, Pray, Love,' and I was like, 'OK, I want to be Julia Roberts and go abroad.' Six months after watching that movie, I was living in Barcelona," Yvonne said.

That experience of living abroad gave her a taste for adventure. She became a Delta Air Lines flight attendant for three years. When the pandemic hit, she left her job and spent two years exploring the US and Mexico while living in a van she had converted.

Her parents weren't shocked when she told them she was planning to move abroad again. "I always followed through with crazy ideas," she said.

But it did surprise her parents, who still live in Indiana, when she told them where she was going.

"When I mentioned Bangkok to them, they were like, 'What? Bangkok?' A lot of people are shocked to hear that," she said.

Bangkok has long been a hot spot for expats. Data from the Bureau of Registration Administration of Thailand indicates that there were 102,189 foreigners living in the city as of the end of 2024.

Compared to many Western cities, Bangkok offers a relatively low cost of living. With two well-connected international airports, it is also a hub for travel around Asia.

Several Americans who moved to the Thai capital previously told BI that they were drawn to the city's vibrant lifestyle, good food options, and relative affordability.

In July last year, Thailand also introduced the Destination Thailand Visa, or DTV, in an effort to attract remote workers and digital nomads.

Building a life in Bangkok

Apartment-hunting was a breeze since Yvonne already knew what she was looking for: Unobstructed views of the city skyline, a balcony, and a convenient location.

"I wanted to be near a 7-11, within a 5-minute walking distance. I knew I wanted to be near a regular grocery store, and as far as the unit itself, I needed a washer and dryer," she said.

Thanks to a real estate agent she connected with through a Facebook group, Yvonne found her one-bedroom apartment within a week of her move. Rent is 22,000 Thai baht, or about $660, each month.

She finds it hard to pick a favorite spot in her apartment.

"I love being in my bedroom because it has floor-to-ceiling windows, and the view is absolutely amazing," Yvonne said. "But I also love my balcony too."

Her building has a gym, a pool, and a large coworking space with private call booths.

Yvonne didn't know anyone in Bangkok before she moved.

When she first arrived, she started using Bumble BFF — the friendship version of Bumble — as well as an expat Facebook group to connect with new people.

"You go to different meetups, and then one friend literally turns into two, and three, and four. You just build from there," she said.

Yvonne has been working on learning Thai, as the language barrier has been the biggest challenge of living in Bangkok so far.

"When I speak their language, they just light up, and they're more welcoming. I just feel like you connect more, and I think that's important," she said.

Finding peace in the Thai capital city

Yvonne says she feels more relaxed compared to when she was living in the US.

"In 2019, when I was still a flight attendant, I was on the go so much. It was always fast-paced. I was go, go, go, go, go. Even when I was off work, I was still trying to keep up with the Joneses," Yvonne said. "Whereas now, although Bangkok is a city — and a busy city at that — I find peace in the city. It's so weird."

Part of it, she says, is due to the flexibility of her job. Being an entrepreneur gives her the freedom to arrange her schedule.

Apart from filming and uploading videos onto her channel weekly, Yvonne also travels often, both for leisure and as part of the group trips that she hosts under her travel agency.

Although things in Bangkok are relatively affordable compared to the US, it would be a generalization to assume that everything is cheap, she said.

"While it can be very cost-effective, and for us Americans, my dollar stretches further, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is cheaper," she said. "Especially if you're going out and spending so much money on dinners and things like that, it can add up."

That ties into the biggest piece of advice she has for anyone who wants to move to Thailand.

"A lot of people come and think that $2,000 will get them by for several months at a time. No, I think that doing the proper research on condos and what it really costs to live here is the way to go," she said.

Yvonne also encourages people who move here to get to know the locals.

"I think having local friends is a great way to get familiar with a country. They can help you when your expat friends are not able to," she said.

Regarding her long-term plans, it's hard to keep her wanderlust at bay.

"People ask me, 'How long will you be in Bangkok?' I don't know. I'm here until I'm not," Yvonne said. "So it is just until I feel like I'm called somewhere else, but for now, it's Bangkok."

Do you have a story to share about relocating to a new city? Contact this reporter at [email protected].

Providence, Rhode Island, officials have accepted a request to fly the Palestinian flag Friday at City Hall in the state's capital.

City officials emphasized that no American flags are being displaced by the display, adding there have been several other flags raised over the government office in the past.

"Providence City Hall displays many different flags throughout the year to mark different occasions and honor the many ethnic and cultural backgrounds and traditions that make our city strong," a spokesperson for Providence City Council told Fox News Digital Wednesday.

The spokesperson added the city has also flown the Dominican flag, Irish flag, Armenian flag and the Israeli flag in recent months.

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"Like those examples, this idea came to us from the community as part of a request to honor the important role Palestinian-Americans play in the fabric of our beautifully diverse city," the spokesperson said.

Council President Rachel Miller will display the flag during Thursday’s city council meeting and then outside City Hall Friday.

When asked about the decision, a representative for Democratic Mayor Brett Smiley suggested the ceremony was the city council’s prerogative.

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"In Providence, the executive branch and City Council are two separate branches of government. The Providence City Council, not Mayor Smiley’s office, will be raising the Palestinian flag on Friday," said Josh Estrella, a spokesman for Smiley.

A report from GoLocalProvidence added the Palestinian flag is reportedly becoming more prevalent at City Hall overall.

Typically, the indoor chamber only flies the state and national flags, the report said.

Fox News Digital reached out for comment from Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed, D-R.I.

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Fox News Digital contacted the State Department to ask where it stands on the flag debate given the ongoing Israel–Palestinian conflict.

A request for comment was also received by the office of Rep. Gabe Amo, D-R.I., who represents much of the Ocean State’s capital region.

The Henson classics and Disney's original park share an anniversary year, so it's good to see them included—but the former definitely deserves more from the latter.

For the theme park's 70th anniversary, the snack bucket game receives a fun tech upgrade.

• Work has been the center of my identity for most of my adult life, so I want to retire early at 50.
• I realized how much money I would need to do that in the US, so I moved my family to Thailand.
• The cost of living in Thailand is low, so the bulk of my earnings are going toward retirement.

My Gen Z children's view and attitude toward work were a wake-up call. They taught me a whole new way to live by not making work my entire identity. Of course, that was easier said than done.

So, I went to therapy, and my therapist challenged me to think about my long-term goals, how I want to spend each day, and my purpose.

I realized I spent too many years of my life making work a significant focus. I let what happened with my job affect my mental health because work was my identity.

I missed special moments with my children growing up because of work, which I could have put off since I'm a business owner.

I came to understand that my career is part of my purpose, but the main goal of my business is to create financial freedom. I want my business to generate enough revenue to make work optional.

With this healthier view of work, I set the goal of retiring early by 50. I'm 44 now, and that'd give me six years to push hard, save, and invest enough money to retire early. I realized that wasn't feasible in the US.

I'd need multimillions to retire early in the US

I was born and raised in Wisconsin and have lived in Florida for the past six years. I've raised six children in the US, helped support family members, and, like everyone else, witnessed the rise in the cost of living.

Life in the US is expensive, and retiring early means needing multimillions, at least. Early retirement typically involves a 4% stock portfolio withdrawal each year, so the invested money would need to be large to pay for everyday US living expenses.

My wife and I talked about this. She's older than I am, at 52, and has a goal of retiring early at 55. We realized it's not realistic (for us) to retire early in the US, so we started looking at where in the world we could move to accomplish our goal.

In our relationship, we've traveled extensively and have even lived in places with lower living costs, such as Medellín, Colombia.

We decided to move to Thailand

When we thought about the cost of living, quality of life, access to great healthcare, delicious food, safety, and access to amenities and goods, we settled on Thailand.

We got to work on the planning and logistics of leaving the US. The most shocking part has been discovering that it's costing us as much to leave the US as it costs us to live there.

Now that we're leaving, selling our vehicles is an issue because their value isn't the same. We have to take out personal loans to pay for the difference in what we sell the cars for. There's also getting rid of the physical items and other costs associated with the move.

Leaving the US was so complicated that it reaffirmed our decision to leave for good. The cost of being a human being shouldn't be this high.

We're slowly setting up our lives in Thailand

My wife, my two 22-year-old daughters, and I were approved for a five-year Destination Thailand Visa. We're also moving with our dog and two cats.

My wife and I came to Thailand ahead of our daughters and animals. We also signed a two-year lease on a beautiful apartment in the center of Bangkok.

The apartment came fully furnished, but we purchased a few items, like an 86-inch TV, to make it feel like home. We also set up our cellphone plans and everyday items and hired a cleaner.

Thailand is giving my family a better quality of life, a lower cost of living, and the opportunity to explore the rest of Asia.

Thailand's low cost of living will help us retire early

Our monthly expenses in Thailand are less than $3,000. That price covers our monthly rent, electricity, phone plans, cleaner, WiFi, water, groceries, and entertainment.

Compared to what I paid living in the US, these savings mean I can save and invest more of my earnings. I can now allocate the bulk of my income to my retirement fund.

Living in a country where dollars stretch far is how I'll achieve my goal of retiring by 50, and I can do so without sacrificing our quality of life. My wife loves Thailand so far, and I'm sure our daughters will also when they get here next month.

I had to ask myself how I wanted to spend my limited days on this earth, and it wasn't working in the US. I want to write, create art, travel more, romance my wife, and do many other things besides work.

Moving to Thailand checks all the boxes to live a more fulfilled life and accomplish my early retirement goal.

The opening of Epic Universe and Disneyland's 70th anniversary festivities are nearly here—get all the updates in this week's theme park news.

"Whenever it happens, I'm so happy for her, and I'll be there to support," Reid tells PEOPLE of her former costar's big day