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"The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.” So wrote Thucydides more than 1,000 years ago. I was reminded of those lines lately. Because we see a trend among our readers who have picked up stakes and moved overseas.

Takigi O-Noh takes place in Kyoto, Japan June 1 and 2. Noh is the oldest form of Japanese musical theater, where performers dance in the evening behind fiery torches.

If you haven’t heard of them yet, chances are you will. Apps are everywhere. And these software programs for smart devices like iPhones, Blackberrys or tablet computers are nifty travel tools. There are hundreds of them—many with similar functions—and they do everything from convert currencies to language translation.

While discount travel websites can be helpful, the only real way to grab an awesome flight deal is by researching and getting a bit lucky. Airlines offer short-term sales that often expire within days of starting. And some carriers advertise discounts at only certain (and often late) hours.

I’ve driven almost all of Ecuador’s 1,400-mile coastline exploring its beach towns and aspiring resort communities…not once, but seven times.

More and more of us like the idea of living “off the grid,” or, at very least, living lighter on the land. That used to mean lots of hard work and isolation. But today, with the world at our fingertips, it’s easy to find a plot of oh-so-affordable fertile land to grow your own vegetables, raise some chickens, maybe milk some goats…and check your email 11 times a day if you feel like it.

My husband Jack and I decided to move to Nicaragua in early 2009. We had been successful realtors in Atlanta for 22 years, but when the real estate market collapsed in 2008, we decided it was time to quit.

Hidden cafés on cobblestone lanes, window sills bursting with flowers, medieval castle views at sunset…. I find the neighborhood where I live near the center of the Czech capital of Prague every bit as enchanting today as it was four years ago, when I first moved here.

When exploring a new overseas destination, there’s no better way to see it than by driving. And contrary to popular belief, travel in most any country can be safe and enjoyable.