Retiring abroad

[VinnieVincentsVag]

No, not divorcing your wife.

Looking at possibly moving from US in the next 8-10yrs.
Looking at some locations, seems you can live like a king in some places for a small portion of the cost it takes to retire in the US.

Anyone else looked into this and if so, what are your thoughts?
Panama, Costa Rica, Bulgaria, Malaysia etc….

[TooOldToCare]

No, not divorcing your wife.

Looking at possibly moving from US in the next 8-10yrs.
Looking at some locations, seems you can live like a king in some places for a small portion of the cost it takes to retire in the US.

Anyone else looked into this and if so, what are your thoughts?
Panama, Costa Rica, Bulgaria, Malaysia etc….

It is where my head is, but I have not begun researching. So, I am interested, too. We live in Ohio but want moderate weather year-round, minimizing life, close proximity to sand and surf preferred, and a lot of sun. Aruba was on our list back in the early 2000s. Returned in 2022, and we took it off the list. It isn't inexpensive now. I would be interested in LATAM countries where you don't often find heads in duffle bags or government coups.

[LAglamrocker]

never

[LAglamrocker]

I wanted Baywatch-Motley life
Everyday is retirement

I look at USA map and just laugh that people want live in 90% of it

Like the “good life “ in Ohio
google Crystal Cove CA vs stupid life Ohio

Those 4 countries I probably got wrong on a map test in 4th grade sounds like pure hell..bye

[TooOldToCare]

I've concluded, based on years of trying to read LA's posts, he/she/they have a touch of the 'tism.

[VinnieVincentsVag]

No, not divorcing your wife.

Looking at possibly moving from US in the next 8-10yrs.
Looking at some locations, seems you can live like a king in some places for a small portion of the cost it takes to retire in the US.

Anyone else looked into this and if so, what are your thoughts?
Panama, Costa Rica, Bulgaria, Malaysia etc….

It is where my head is, but I have not begun researching. So, I am interested, too. We live in Ohio but want moderate weather year-round, minimizing life, close proximity to sand and surf preferred, and a lot of sun. Aruba was on our list back in the early 2000s. Returned in 2022, and we took it off the list. It isn't inexpensive now. I would be interested in LATAM countries where you don't often find heads in duffle bags or government coups.

Lived in Cincinnati area for 40+ yrs.
Was pretty glad to leave.

[pieceofme]

No, not divorcing your wife.

Looking at possibly moving from US in the next 8-10yrs.
Looking at some locations, seems you can live like a king in some places for a small portion of the cost it takes to retire in the US.

Anyone else looked into this and if so, what are your thoughts?
Panama, Costa Rica, Bulgaria, Malaysia etc….

You started watching that video huey sent on that other thread

[VinnieVincentsVag]

No, not divorcing your wife.

Looking at possibly moving from US in the next 8-10yrs.
Looking at some locations, seems you can live like a king in some places for a small portion of the cost it takes to retire in the US.

Anyone else looked into this and if so, what are your thoughts?
Panama, Costa Rica, Bulgaria, Malaysia etc….

You started watching that video huey sent on that other thread

Not yet.
My wife and I have been kicking around the idea for a while now.

[LAglamrocker]

Have you considered Bolivia? Chad? Greenland?
40 years of hell in WKRP
I wouldn’t even want to fly over Cincinnati
40 years someday I’m going live in Bulgaria

[BernieTaupson]

I wanted Baywatch-Motley life
Everyday is retirement

I look at USA map and just laugh that people want live in 90% of it

Like the “good life “ in Ohio
google Crystal Cove CA vs stupid life Ohio

Those 4 countries I probably got wrong on a map test in 4th grade sounds like pure hell..bye

Sent from my i fone

[HueyRamone]

I hear costa rica is no longer cheap. Tons of others had that same idea.

My uncle moved to Panama with his wife around the time Obama got elected because he "didnt like the way the country was headed" I think they felt pretty isolated and moved back after i wanna say 7 years or so.

[GreatWhiteSnake]

I've concluded, based on years of trying to read LA's posts, he/she/they have a touch of the 'tism.

Give it another 15 years and they'll be clear as day...

[VinnieVincentsVag]

I hear costa rica is no longer cheap. Tons of others had that same idea.

My uncle moved to Panama with his wife around the time Obama got elected because he "didnt like the way the country was headed" I think they felt pretty isolated and moved back after i wanna say 7 years or so.

I’m finding lots of good YT videos on the subject.
I also search for negatives about moving to the areas as well.
Recently watched one on Panama, both positive and negative.
Lots of negatives about Panama.
Would definitely need to vacation somewhere first before blindly moving there.

[LAglamrocker]

You are going be around 70 with the wife when you move..live the dream! Perfect time to move to another country
Hey look Ecuador looks awesome on Facebook!!! Let’s move now! Don’t wait!

Maybe you should vacation in Youngstown first before making this BIG life choice

Always amazing to me some peoples lives actually suck

[cowpins]

I suggest investing in 3-4 Airbnb's in various places that you can then bounce around from. Summers Costa Rica, Winters in Thailand, etc....You can totally turn some fixer uppers around.

[KISStian]

Completely by accident, I wound up discovering that Belize is a great place for expat retirees. A modest retirement income will have you living like royalty as it stands right now. Seriously considering it but it will depend upon where my kids are at that point in life.

[Mojo]

I despise this trend of old White Americans moving to foreign countries with no interest in the country beside the cheapness and it having beaches. You're white-washing the planet, giving zero fucks about the cultures, the languages, or the ways of life, and are driving up the costs of everything so that the locals can't afford to live in their own communities, anymore.
I totally get where you're coming from and don't blame you for wanting to live more cheaply. I have absolutely considered it, too. I've just travelled way too much and have seen too much of the downsides of it.

Also, 100,000% fuck the term "expat." You're an immigrant. If all of the people coming to this country aren't expats, then you aren't, either.

[Mister Freeze]

I wouldn’t even want to fly over Cincinnati

I've thought about this too. I have this fantasy that our house will reach a million bucks, we'll cash out, then live out our final years in a nice little apartment on a coast somewhere.

The problem is ... the secret's out on all the expat destinations people talk about (Belize, Costa Rica, etc.), so the "deals" are gone and will only get worse in the years ahead. We vacationed in Puerto Vallarta last year and could see getting a place there. There's a big gay community that will continue to spruce up neighborhoods. Ubers, food, and good tequila are all cheap.

An easy way to research this stuff: Watch the international editions of House Hunters on HGTV. My wife had it on last night and somebody was browsing apartments in the $450 range in Laos or Cambodia. Can't remember which one, but it looked interesting.

[TooOldToCare]

I despise this trend of old White Americans moving to foreign countries with no interest in the country beside the cheapness and it having beaches. You're white-washing the planet, giving zero fucks about the cultures, the languages, or the ways of life, and are driving up the costs of everything so that the locals can't afford to live in their own communities, anymore.
I totally get where you're coming from and don't blame you for wanting to live more cheaply. I have absolutely considered it, too. I've just travelled way too much and have seen too much of the downsides of it.

Also, 100,000% fuck the term "expat." You're an immigrant. If all of the people coming to this country aren't expats, then you aren't, either.

I disagree, personally. And, I don't like the term expat either.

Yes, the beaches and sunshine are attractive characteristics for me, but I love the cultures. I've been slooooowly learning Spanish (mainly because our IT partners are LATAM-based (Mexico and South America). I've been to both for work and pleasure. I love the history of these "ancient" cultures and countries. The amount of calm, quiet, and simplicity are good for my mental health. Cost of living and oceans are in the background, while climate is in the foreground. In my 57 years, I spent 10 in Florida and the rest in Ohio (the nation's armpit). I friggin hate winter, gray skies, and tor-fucking-nados. Whatever we do, it won't be done lightly. Pros and cons to everything. For example, if I wind up needing major healthcare in my twilight years, I want good healthcare, whether in a foreign land or returning to the US. As someone said, family will play a part in our actions. We have a granddaughter now. I'd love to be able to have family come and stay wherever we are, but that is often easier said.

[TooOldToCare]

An easy way to research this stuff: Watch the international editions of House Hunters on HGTV. My wife had it on last night and somebody was browsing apartments in the $450 range in Laos or Cambodia. Can't remember which one, but it looked interesting. [/size]

I bet they also have a good Ladyboi population, for those that indulge.

[Mister Freeze]

Also, 100,000% fuck the term "expat." You're an immigrant. If all of the people coming to this country aren't expats, then you aren't, either.

"Expat" and "immigrant" aren't the same thing.

[Danzig in the Dark]

Also, 100,000% fuck the term "expat." You're an immigrant. If all of the people coming to this country aren't expats, then you aren't, either.

"Expat" and "immigrant" aren't the same thing.

Fuck this pedantry. If you're planning to live there, you're an immigrant.
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20 ... d-an-expat

[Mister Freeze]

Also, 100,000% fuck the term "expat." You're an immigrant. If all of the people coming to this country aren't expats, then you aren't, either.

"Expat" and "immigrant" aren't the same thing.

Fuck this pedantry. If you're planning to live there, you're an immigrant.
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20 ... d-an-expat

Not sure what your "church" reference is about, but feel free to reframe things as you like in your own imagination.

Expat refers to a more temporary situation, usually work-related. I was an expat twice when my dad's job took us overseas to Southeast Asia. Were we immigrants? No. We weren't trying to become citizens or permanent residents.

We had family friends in the same line of work who moved every few years. They didn't say "We immigrated to Japan. Then two years later, we immigrated to the Philippines. And now we're immigrating to Hong Kong."

Because that would sound stupid.

[Mojo]

We weren't trying to become citizens or permanent residents.
[/size]

You’re using half-assed semantics. People who retire in foreign countries, intending to live there for the rest of their lives call themselves expats. There are entire communities who label themselves as such. You may not use that term, but it’s the term these groups use.

[quote=Mojo post_id=7776906 time=<a href="tel:1715521958">1715521958</a> user_id=93646]
I despise this trend of old White Americans moving to foreign countries with no interest in the country beside the cheapness and it having beaches. You're white-washing the planet, giving zero fucks about the cultures, the languages, or the ways of life, and are driving up the costs of everything so that the locals can't afford to live in their own communities, anymore.
I totally get where you're coming from and don't blame you for wanting to live more cheaply. I have absolutely considered it, too. I've just travelled way too much and have seen too much of the downsides of it.

Also, 100,000% fuck the term "expat." You're an immigrant. If all of the people coming to this country aren't expats, then you aren't, either.

I disagree, personally. And, I don't like the term expat either.

Yes, the beaches and sunshine are attractive characteristics for me, but I love the cultures. I've been slooooowly learning Spanish (mainly because our IT partners are LATAM-based (Mexico and South America). I've been to both for work and pleasure. I love the history of these "ancient" cultures and countries. The amount of calm, quiet, and simplicity are good for my mental health. Cost of living and oceans are in the background, while climate is in the foreground. In my 57 years, I spent 10 in Florida and the rest in Ohio (the nation's armpit). I friggin hate winter, gray skies, and tor-fucking-nados. Whatever we do, it won't be done lightly. Pros and cons to everything. For example, if I wind up needing major healthcare in my twilight years, I want good healthcare, whether in a foreign land or returning to the US. As someone said, family will play a part in our actions. We have a granddaughter now. I'd love to be able to have family come and stay wherever we are, but that is often easier said.
[/quote]
That’s really great that you are interested in these cultures and languages. You are the minority. I’ve spent way too much time with friends in popular “expat” areas like Ensenada and Rosarito that are full of people who don’t.

[Danzig in the Dark]

"Expat" and "immigrant" aren't the same thing.

Fuck this pedantry. If you're planning to live there, you're an immigrant.
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20 ... d-an-expat

Not sure what your "church" reference is about, but feel free to reframe things as you like in your own imagination.

Expat refers to a more temporary situation, usually work-related. I was an expat twice when my dad's job took us overseas to Southeast Asia. Were we immigrants? No. We weren't trying to become citizens or permanent residents.

We had family friends in the same line of work who moved every few years. They didn't say "We immigrated to Japan. Then two years later, we immigrated to the Philippines. And now we're immigrating to Hong Kong."

Because that would sound stupid.

It would be a shame if you sounded fucking stupid.

[Mister Freeze]

We weren't trying to become citizens or permanent residents.
[/size]

You’re using half-assed semantics.

No, I'm not. Words have meanings.

You're the one misusing a specific word as a blanket term to cover situations that don't apply.

[Mojo]

No, I'm not. Words have meanings.

You're the one misusing a specific word as a blanket term to cover situations that don't apply.

The Expat community is huge and has been for a while. I'm sorry that you don't like how they're using the word, but it is what it is. This isn't new.

[Danzig in the Dark]

No, I'm not. Words have meanings.

You're the one misusing a specific word as a blanket term to cover situations that don't apply.

The Expat community is huge and has been for a while. I'm sorry that you don't like how they're using the word, but it is what it is. This isn't new.

It's the return of Mumm-Ra.

[Love_Industry]

Looking at some locations, seems you can live like a king in some places for a small portion of the cost it takes to retire in the US.

Anyone else looked into this and if so, what are your thoughts?

From those you listed, Malaysia may be a good option, and also India and Sri Lanka are affordable and improved a lot in the last 10-20 years. Otherwise most places that improve significantly also become expensive - so forget living on the cheap in former budget destinations Lithuania, Poland or Croatia anymore unless you move to some some godforsaken village, and still things like food and energy can be expensive.

I would guess that Ukraine may end up as a nice and affordable place but there's a war that needs to end (with Ukrainian victory) before that.

[TravisBicklesMohawk]

I've heard some great things about Spain and Portugal.

Although Spain, I suspect, is probably tired of the Brits invasion, and would be just as tired of a US invasion.

Good luck though whatever you do. Would not mind living in Paris someday.