Why don't most people do this once they reach a critical mass in their portfolio?
I just don't know. Maybe it's people getting trapped into "buy housing", traping you for 20 years, then the car, then getting the kids, then another bigger car, then paying their studies, and so on.
And if people think about not falling into this cycle (which does have its perks, mind you, it's just another lifestyle) and go your route, they think they need 3 millions or whatever. I mean, sure if you want to live the jet-set life.
But for me, I crushed the numbers over the last 10 years, as a Frog living 2km south of Paris (so still suffering from sky-high rents) it turns out I only spend ~21-22K€ per year. That includes rent, food, communication, various taxes, heck it even includes my 2 weeks of skiing per year, another week or two of summer vacations either in France or in an EU country, and a trip to Japan every 3 years. It includes everything.
Just 500K€ at they long-term return of 8% in the stocks market would net me 40K€ per year. Let's say it would become 32K€ after taxes. It's already more than I need, while living in a high-rent area. Just moving out in the countryside would make my yearly cost basis even lower (though I'd want to go to the Alps, it's definitely not cheap).
Not to mention moving to a SEA country like you did (which one did you pick?).
I'm not seeing myself moving out to a completely different country with a language barrier so high that even their writing is in ancient runes, but I definitely could see myself going to a cheaper and sunny EU country like Portugal.
Just a mere 500K€ is enough to keep my current lifestyle, or rather, better it as I wouldn't have to work. And in a sunnier place.
Let's say 600-700K€ for security margins with a bit in bonds and/or high yield oil divies. I'm already at 320K€, the inheritance alone in 10-15 years would make me reach 550K€, plus another 200K in savings from my job in the meantime
It's worth considering.