+1 to Portugal. Of course as a European, I would not need to worry about visas. Portugal is surely the most laid-back in Southern Europe, you have great nature, an exciting array of food, and it is far less touristy in some spots still (compared to Spain). Somebody mentioned the Balkans, Serbia? First, a country where the writing is cyrillic is an automatic no-go, why would I put myself in this hassle? Secondly, in many places in this region, there is frequent strife between the different ethnicities (I have friends from both Bosnia and Serbia, which can be "tricky") while living costs are shooting up as well. Nice nature though, so of course maybe worth a holiday, but not more. Middle and South America countries... as the current foreign policy of their big neighbour in the north goes, I would not want to stay there. As an American, even less so, as the local people might react adversial if this form of politics goes on uninterrupted. My 'Plan B', if I ever would seriously need one, would keep me in Southeast Asia. Indonesia, maybe, there must be a million places to explore to fill the rest of my lifetime. Malaysia, if I look for a place with stability to live, from which to travel.