When the pandemic hit, Keith Romes moved to Mexico to work remotely without informing his employers. Seeking a better quality of life and lower living costs than in California, Romes plans to work remotely abroad again, valuing affordable living and cultural exploration.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Keith Romes, a 40-year-old tech professional in California. This story has been edited for length and clarity.
From High School to Tech: A Journey Begins
Keith Romes didn’t attend college after high school. Instead, he started applying for jobs in 2005, driven by his passion for tech, video games, and “Star Wars.” He honed his interview skills through group interviews and landed a quality assurance position at LucasArts, working on “Star Wars Battlefront II” for six months.
Romes secured more contract roles at Electronic Arts, Friend Finder, and eventually companies like Meta and TikTok. Initially, he lived in California, but during recent contracts, he worked remotely from Mexico without informing anyone.
First International Trip Sparks Love for Travel
While working at Friend Finder, Romes took his first international trip to Tokyo, igniting his love for travel. He stayed at Friend Finder until 2008, then landed his first full-time job at Apple in the App Store division. The demanding schedule led to burnout, prompting him to seek shorter contracts and more breaks.
Reentering Contract Work
In 2010, Romes returned to contract work, joining Google to work on the Google Play store. After nearly a year, he moved on to Kabam in San Francisco, followed by a series of contract roles at Meta, where he worked in developer operations and chatbot testing. Burnout struck again, leading him to leave Meta and take a project-based contract at Twitter in 2016. After a break, he returned to Meta in 2018.
Seeking a Better Quality of Life
In 2020, Romes moved to Mexico, drawn by lower dental costs and a better quality of life. The pandemic made remote work mandatory, easing his decision. He relocated to Cancún with minimal luggage, set up his life and workstation, and began working for Meta remotely. The cost of living was significantly lower than in California, and he enjoyed beach access, great food, and friendly people.
Affordable Living in Mexico
Romes lived on less than $1,200 a month, with expenses one-third to one-fifth of his California costs. Despite initial concerns about remote work from another country, he connected to Meta’s systems without issues. Even during hurricanes, WiFi remained reliable for meetings.
Balancing Multiple Roles
While in Mexico, Romes secured a second contract job as an app marketing manager for Avalara, using a family member’s California address to apply. He flew back to California to pick up a company laptop but returned to Mexico. He worked both jobs until December 2021, when his Meta contract ended, continuing with Avalara.
Returning to the US
In March 2022, Romes left Avalara for a new contract role at TikTok. When TikTok required office presence in October, he returned to California. Despite preferring Mexico, he needed the job. He stayed at TikTok until February 2023 and now works in two remote roles focused on content review and AI content from California.
Future
Romes plans to return to Mexico or explore other countries like Colombia, Japan, or the Philippines. With an average salary of $40,000 per six-month contract, he aims to set up a side hustle for more income and flexibility. He seeks a better quality of life, affordable healthcare, and opportunities to explore other cultures.
Source: Business Insider
