• Lisa Desai moved her family of eight from Florida to Barbados.
• The mom said the kids have more freedom and independence living on the island.
• There are some cons, she added, but they are far outweighed by the pros.

This story is based on an interview with Lisa Desai, 46, founder and CEO of a facility management corporation that operates remotely in her adopted country, Barbados. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Our twins were approaching 14 when my husband, Ebrahim, 59, and I decided to move them and our four younger kids from Hutchinson Island North, Florida, to Barbados.

We were looking for an adventure before they hit 16 and took on responsibilities like getting a driver's license.

Ebrahim and I could run our facility management corporation, The Harmil Group, remotely, and we wanted a drastic change of scene.

We considered Thailand but were put off by the time difference, as we operate in Canada and the US and would be juggling separate schedules.

Greece and Italy seemed like slightly better options, but moving there involved a lot of bureaucracy.

Someone suggested Barbados

Then someone suggested to us, "Hey, why don't you try Barbados?" There was a $3,000 "welcome stamp" program for people who didn't work for a Barbados company and could show they had a certain amount of money in the bank.

It made perfect sense to us because it had super-reliable WiFi and an international airport from which you could fly directly to world cities like New York City and London.

We rented out our homes in Ottawa and Florida and arrived in Barbados on April 19, 2025. It was one of the best decisions of our lives.

I've homeschooled all six kids — now between 5 and 15 — since 2019, and there's a great homeschooling community here. We usually start at 7 a.m. and finish at 1 p.m.

Islanders are polite and friendly

Then we'll do something fun like go to the beach, go sailing, and play golf or tennis. The children are very independent, and we give them freedom to be themselves. Life in Barbados is the adventure we craved.

I don't think they'll fully appreciate it until they're adults, but the exposure to a new culture is very helpful.

Bajans are very friendly, polite, and open-minded. The kids are happy to chat with strangers and don't shy away from them.

Another advantage is the great healthcare system. It's inexpensive, and you get same-day or next-day service.

As for cons, the food can be expensive, and Amazon deliveries take between one and three weeks. If you want to buy something like a rashguard, you might visit five stores before finding the right size.

Transportation is a bit scary for me because it's the other side of the road, and the highways need maintenance. Infrastructure is in progress.

Everyone drives like they're in little go-karts. But you learn to go with the flow. You also need to adapt to island time, when a visit by a plumber arranged for 9 a.m. means sometime that day.

The kids' childhood is unusual

We visited Canada, where Ebrahim and I were raised, in the fall of last year, and it was nice to get some North American vibes. The kids spoke to their friends and family and came away thinking their childhood wasn't the norm.

We still have wanderlust, and our next journey may take us to Europe, but we'll always treasure our stay in Barbados.

• Erin Vlack was 280 pounds overweight and resolved to get in shape and change her lifestyle.
• She took things further when she moved from North Carolina to Spain to be closer to her son.
• The single mom told Business Insider that she is much happier and healthier after the switch.

This story is based on an interview with Erin Vlack, 48, a pharmaceutical supply chain consultant living in Valencia, Spain. It has been edited for length and clarity.

In April last year, two months after leaving my steady job in pharmaceuticals, I was in discussion with another company about a full-time position.

It was tempting to accept the senior directorship they offered, but I dismissed the idea at the last minute.

My 25-year-old son, Gavin, was studying medicine in Spain, and I missed him so much. "What if I moved to Europe to be with him?" I asked myself.

I spoke to immigration lawyers

I reached out to immigration lawyers that very afternoon. I'm a great believer in striking when the iron is hot, before excuses creep in.

Now, just over 12 months later, I'm renting a three-bedroom house less than 20 minutes away from Gavin in Valencia, the happiest and healthiest I've ever been.

Still, I'm no stranger to reinvention. A decade ago, at 5ft 5in, I weighed 430 pounds — 280 pounds overweight for my height — and wore size 28 clothing. I struggled to catch my breath when I did anything active, like taking my kid to the park.

Both my parents died within a year of each other, and I binged and comfort ate out of grief. I was a single mom, and there were financial issues that left me unable to afford fresh food all the time.

I'd buy things from Walmart and the Dollar Store, which weren't very healthy. Before long, I looked in the mirror and thought, "Oh my God, what have you done to your body?"

I had a mastectomy

The shock was enough to make me follow the Keto diet and start exercising. I lost 172 pounds before having gastric bypass surgery in 2022, which helped me get down to 140 pounds and size six jeans.

In 2024, I had a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction because breast cancer runs in both sides of my family.

But the biggest change by far was selling my home near Raleigh, North Carolina, donating my property to charity, and arriving at the airport in Madrid with three suitcases.

I quickly found my bearings and my house with Gavin's assistance. I traveled on a so-called "non-lucrative visa," which means you come to Spain with only your passive income and savings.

Now, I'm waiting to convert to a highly qualified, high-value immigrant status that will allow me to be a digital nomad.

I'm fluent in Spanish now

As soon as I get my new visa, I'll plow my energy into the clinical trials supply company I founded. It feels exciting to be working for myself.

I'm in it for the duration and plan to stay in Spain, where I'm fluent in the language, until I can apply for long-term residency. The only things I really miss about the US are my friends and my sports car.

It's great to be so close to Gavin again. Although he's busy with his studies, we make time for meals and hugs.

We recently returned from a weekend trip when we talked, cooked, and enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine.

Food here is healthy

Everything is easygoing here. You'll walk through a plaza where a group of kids is playing while parents enjoy a coffee and casually kick the ball back to them.

The produce is fresh, and people walk everywhere. I look after my health by going to the gym six times a week and doing yoga outside on my terrace.

Every morning, I wake to the magnificent views of the mountains near the city. I've never felt more content and settled in my life.

• My 18-year-old daughter starts college as a freshman this summer.
• It will free up her bedroom, which I'd planned to turn into my home office.
• I changed my mind because I needed more time to accept her leaving home.

Like any other proud family, we celebrated when our 18-year-old daughter was accepted into one of her chosen colleges in February this year.

She is fiercely independent and has wanted to study outside our home state of New York since middle school.

She can't wait to move into a dorm — she's already found her roommate on a student-matching app — and hopes to join a sorority.

It will be a rite of passage when my husband and I drop her off at university in August. A bittersweet goodbye.

The flight from the nest will mark the start of a whole new chapter, not only for her but also for me, her dad, and her younger brother, as we adapt to life without her.

I planned to turn her room into a home office

It will feel strange not to have a fourth place at the kitchen counter and not to hear her news every day.

One good thing was that the change would free up space in our house, including in the kids' bathroom, which my 15-year-old son longed to have to himself.

Meanwhile, I planned to take over my daughter's bedroom, which was now available to me as a home office.

I worked out of my bedroom, where my desk was exactly two-and-a-half feet from my bed. It might have been a hop, skip, and a jump in the morning, but it was claustrophobic.

I felt I needed two monitors to do my job more productively. But one of them was gathering dust in the garage because there's no place for it.

Family and friends sent congratulations

The room was much darker and colder than my daughter's, and received only a little light at the back of the house. It seemed like a no-brainer to move.

I went online to look for a bigger desk and office chair. I thought I'd be more efficient in a more professional-looking environment.

Decision day came on May 1. Our senior had already accepted her place, but I felt emotional when she drove to school wearing merchandise from her new college.

She let me post a photo on Facebook of her wearing the hoodie. Family and friends sent congratulations. It suddenly felt real that our little girl was about to leave home.

Something made me walk into her bedroom and sit down. I gazed at the pictures of Paris, her favorite city, on the walls and the stuffed animals who'd seen better days.

I wanted to maintain the status quo

There were half-burned scented candles on the dresser and a whiteboard with a list of past exams propped up against the window.

Random clothes and damp towels were strewn all over the place, but the mess didn't bother me for once. I caught the lingering smell of her perfume.

In that moment, I changed my mind about moving my office into her room. Although it would have been practical, I wanted to keep things as they were.

I had been too hasty in trying to move forward. I've given myself time and grace to see what's coming next.

• Mathilde Turco was unhappy with the appearance of her skin at 34.
• She considered cosmetic surgery and decided on a mini-facelift.
• The New Yorker flew to Seoul for the procedure, which, she said, gave her the desired result.

This interview is based on a conversation with Mathilde Turco, 34, a content creator and sales professional for an electrical contracting company from Brooklyn, New York. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Four years ago, when I entered my 30s, I began to notice sagging on my face and a general loss of elasticity, making me appear older than I was.

It really bothered me, especially when I was making videos as a content creator or having on-camera meetings in my sales job.

I'd pull my skin taut when I looked in the mirror, and it became a habit. As a perfectionist, I became a little obsessed and started thinking of ways to make my skin look younger.

The surgeons recommended a mini-facelift

Initially, I tried treatments such as resurfacing lasers and fillers, but I was still very aware of fine lines, especially around my mouth.

In the summer and fall of 2025, I consulted some cosmetic surgeons in New York about facelift surgery, and none of them said I was too young for it.

Instead, they recommended a mini-facelift, which is far less invasive than the deep-plane one I originally thought I needed, to also tighten my jawline. This would have involved a deeper scar.

Still, I was on a tight budget, so I widened my search abroad. I had online consultations with clinics in Tunisia, Colombia, and my native France before deciding on a place in the Gangnam district of Seoul.

South Korea attracted my attention because its cosmetic surgery industry uses innovative, high-tech techniques. I liked the natural look of the results.

I told my fiancé about my plans, but didn't tell too many other friends or family. I thought they'd be scared or tell me to wait until I'm older, but it's a very personal decision.

I'm a grown woman who can make up my own mind. I didn't want to worry them for no reason.

My girlfriend and I flew to Seoul a week before the surgery on February 9, 2026, and stayed for a total of a month.

I needed painkillers

One surgeon performed the mini-facelift — including an endoscopic forehead lift — and another doctor did my breast implants at the same time. The operation lasted around seven hours.

I woke up with some discomfort, but it was manageable with painkillers. There was a minimal incision around the hairline, and it started healing pretty quickly.

I was very careful and only ventured outside when the medical team said it was OK. Once the swelling and bruising had receded, I was able to go sightseeing with my friend again.

Back in New York City, I've been taking things easy as I fully recover. My eyebrows are still high, but they're settling back into place as each day and week go by.

The surgeon told me it would probably take up to six months for all the sensations in your temple area to return.

It's boosted my confidence

I did this for myself, and it's obviously not about him, but my fiancé seems to have appreciated the results. He's pleased that I'm pleased.

I look at my reflection and am so glad I went ahead with the procedure. I don't see those smile lines as much. It's given me a lot more confidence.

Some people have said, "Oh, you don't look that much different," which is fine by me. I want it to look as natural and as subtle as possible.

• Winston Hall works out seven days a week and spends up to five hours a day outside on his bike.
• The 77-year-old has been super-fit since he was drafted into the US Army during the Vietnam War.
• He wants other seniors to follow his lead by gradually increasing their movement.

This interview is based on a conversation with Rena Clare, 67, a retired professional photographer from Omaha, Nebraska. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I wasn't particularly sporty in high school. Golf was just about it. The whole idea of fitness or having a healthy lifestyle wasn't much of a concept.

Then, in 1969, I was drafted into the US Army, assigned to the First Cavalry Division, and completed basic training before being deployed to Vietnam.

I enjoyed running

In basic training, you had to run three miles before breakfast. Then, during the day, you were always on your feet.

I found that I really enjoyed running and looked forward to doing it. It made me feel more energetic. But I hadn't really connected the dots when it came to food. I ate a standard American diet, including red meat and potatoes.

After three years in the military, I returned to my college studies before becoming a full-time professional photographer. My workplace was nine miles from home, and I'd usually cycle there. I found it fun.

Meanwhile, my father was having severe health issues, and I didn't want to go through the same thing. I started thinking more about the role of diet and stopped having meat altogether.

Still, midway through my career in the late 80s, I realized I was getting out of shape. My job took me around the world, and I stayed in hotels where it was hard to choose what to eat.

I became more focused through exercise

I knew I felt better and more focused after exercising, so I'd use the hotel gym. If it didn't have one and I couldn't get outside, I'd run around the parking garage.

It could be 8 p.m. or later, and the security guards would stop me and ask what I was doing.

Movement became a regular part of my life. I ran or biked as much as I could to expend any pent-up energy. After a while, I started doing more endurance cycling and running in biathlons.

One of the best things I've done is go on bikepacking trips. They're exhilarating, like an adventure. I have a small, lightweight tent which I keep in a pannier. It compacts nicely until you set up camp for the night.

I have a household gym

Last summer, I went to Colorado and would ride from the campground every day to visit new places. I also bicycle a lot in my home state of Nebraska, as well as Minnesota, Iowa, and Kansas.

Back home, I have a gym on the lower level of my house, where I work out seven days a week. Also, when the weather is good, I can spend up to five hours outside on my bike, particularly along gravel trails on disused railway tracks.

I weight train three days a week before moving to the treadmill or stationary bike. On the other four days, I do isometric-type exercises and core work.

I adopted a whole-food, plant-based diet — part vegetarian, part vegan — and enjoy cooking for my wife, Sharon, and me. Typically, I'll have two meals a day.

Breakfast is usually between 10 and 11 a.m., consisting of oatmeal with chia and hemp seeds, soy milk, and fresh fruit.

Society can ignore people my age

I don't snack in the afternoon. Then, around 5:30 p.m., I'll either prepare a salad with beans for protein or a dish like rice and beans. I like to finish eating at least three hours before going to bed.

Recently, I was thrilled to learn that Senior Planet, an AARP initiative, appointed me as one of its 2026 Sponsored Athletes, working to redefine what it means to stay active in later life.

Society has somehow bought into the idea that, once we reach retirement, we're irrelevant, disappear, and no longer contribute.

And many people my age let themselves go, thinking it's the beginning of a decline.

Firstly, I don't believe that's true, and it's a great opportunity to make the most of the time you have on your hands. Secondly, I want to inspire and motivate older people to get out and about and find adventures.

You don't have to start big. It's good to increase your movement gradually. Please believe me when I say it's never too late to get healthy — and feel more alive — through diet and exercise.