That's an interesting essay you wrote, well, yesterday, your time. I know exactly what you are talking about - while not an expat I have family living overseas (actually only a few hundred miles from you) and via that relationship have met various expats. It seems to me that your type of expat is rare for the following reason. It has been my observation that most Americans who go the expat route tend to be either Transnational Globalist Progressives and therefore hate Borders, Language and Culture, as well as traditional American values, or, even worse, they are more of the pirate or criminal type and live overseas to escape their past and to engage in corruption. The worst manifestation of this is a type who are a particular problem in SEA, namely, what I would term to permanent sex tourist. An overall hatred of their own country seems to fit hand in hand with both groups. Sadly, it would seem that the rare exceptions to either are mostly missionaries. Not that being a missionary is not a good thing, but it's sad to me that those many who purport to represent the diplomatic and business communities are so poorly representing the USA abroad. Off rant ...