What is the best country to retire to? | |
s. d. butler User ID: 974819 United States 12/07/2012 07:29 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Not all expats are retired geezers on pensions. In fact most of us are not. Quoting: DrKnow 29269490 From what I gathered, its the baby boomers who were used to vacationing in certain locals, Mexico/ Costa Rica, and that they did not have enough SS to retire. So they pioneered this concept of early retirement in these low cost of living areas. This is the first I have heard differently. OP have you ever even been out of the country? Your posts read like you have no experience, |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 29280062 United Kingdom 12/07/2012 07:30 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 07:33 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
TheBiss User ID: 25023924 United States 12/07/2012 07:35 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | My shortlist is Dominican Republic, Belize, CR, Thailand, and I've even recently traveled to the Czech Republic to "czech it out" as an alternative location for my family and I. Quoting: TheBiss Was not considering the Czech, but yes, the others. You are referring to Croatia? Cheaper than Italy and not too far away. (My wife wants Italy). What do think of Bulgaria? Dunno about Croatia or Bulgaria... I just went to CZ. Couple of good things about it for an expat: COL: The average Czech income (once you remove the politicians) is around $800 - $900 a month. FORGET living in Prague. That's where the politicians live. It's as expensive there as it is here in Raleigh NC, with less opportunity for income creation. Olomouc, Kromeriz... somewhere in Moravia near the Slovak border, is a different matter all together. Atmosphere: Like living in Disneyworld. Beer: Costs less than water in a restaurant, and you'll always pay for water in a restaurant. Lunch: The big meal of the day. Usually several courses and you can get some right fine lunch specials for around $4 US (once again, not in Prague). Disadvantages? The language. Ranked as one of the top three most difficult in Europe with Hungarian and Norwegian. Buying a house or car is very very expensive... as much so as the US. I know Czechs who have gone to Germany to buy cars as it's less expensive there. Czech society is very post modern and secular humanist. About 1/2 of Czechs are avowed atheists. This may be and advantage or disadvantage depending on your spiritual journey. It's not unusual for a Czech man to have a wife and a mistress, who both know of each other. One thing I know is that the US is on a path I call nouveau feudalism. The fiefdoms are already laid out. They're called congressional districts. We'll have vassals to Lord President, and serfs who work the vassal's fiefdoms for the privilege of living on the manor. If I'm going to be poor, I would rather be poor somewhere the people are already accustomed to it. [link to www.grainmill.coop] - Bulk foods, long term storage solutions [link to www.CatawbaCoops.com] - Unique A-Frame chicken coop plans |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 07:37 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Not all expats are retired geezers on pensions. In fact most of us are not. Quoting: DrKnow 29269490 From what I gathered, its the baby boomers who were used to vacationing in certain locals, Mexico/ Costa Rica, and that they did not have enough SS to retire. So they pioneered this concept of early retirement in these low cost of living areas. This is the first I have heard differently. OP have you ever even been out of the country? Your posts read like you have no experience, Korea and Europe. Never Latin America. The lack of experience was sorta the point of the post. Now that I am close to this pension I want to travel again. All I have found of expat communities is retired 60 something's. |
s. d. butler User ID: 974819 United States 12/07/2012 07:54 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Not all expats are retired geezers on pensions. In fact most of us are not. Quoting: DrKnow 29269490 From what I gathered, its the baby boomers who were used to vacationing in certain locals, Mexico/ Costa Rica, and that they did not have enough SS to retire. So they pioneered this concept of early retirement in these low cost of living areas. This is the first I have heard differently. OP have you ever even been out of the country? Your posts read like you have no experience, Korea and Europe. Never Latin America. The lack of experience was sorta the point of the post. Now that I am close to this pension I want to travel again. All I have found of expat communities is retired 60 something's. Not that this means anything but I have about 10 years over time in central and south america and mexico. the last time was three years living in honduras. If you are contemplating latin america I would definitely spend some time there first. the culture isn't for everyone. Last Edited by s. d. butler on 12/07/2012 07:55 PM |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 08:01 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | ... Quoting: SlimExponent From what I gathered, its the baby boomers who were used to vacationing in certain locals, Mexico/ Costa Rica, and that they did not have enough SS to retire. So they pioneered this concept of early retirement in these low cost of living areas. This is the first I have heard differently. OP have you ever even been out of the country? Your posts read like you have no experience, Korea and Europe. Never Latin America. The lack of experience was sorta the point of the post. Now that I am close to this pension I want to travel again. All I have found of expat communities is retired 60 something's. Not that this means anything but I have about 10 years over time in central and south america and mexico. the last time was three years living in honduras. If you are contemplating latin america I would definitely spend some time there first. the culture isn't for everyone. Would you want to retire to any of these countries? |
diego08 User ID: 1541164 Austria 12/07/2012 08:07 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Consider Austria, Beautiful alps and countryside in the middle of Europe. Full of art and old history. Easy-going people, yet diligent. Besides, living here is more affordable compared to Switzerland. [link to www.austria.info] [link to www.youtube.com] |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 08:09 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I understand that 40 % of those that try to retire to Costa Rica end up leaving. And that should be an easy county. So I think I could do that. Language could be a problem. I have a type B personality that can deal with culture shock. Europe would be the safer bet, but when I say retire I do not mean old codger style. |
DUCM900 User ID: 29304597 Italy 12/07/2012 08:11 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Consider Austria, Quoting: diego08 Beautiful alps and countryside in the middle of Europe. Full of art and old history. Easy-going people, yet diligent. Besides, living here is more affordable compared to Switzerland. [link to www.austria.info] [link to www.youtube.com] yes but its a bit: :windy: - Last Edited by IWASTHERE on 12/07/2012 08:16 PM |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 08:18 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Consider Austria, Quoting: diego08 Beautiful alps and countryside in the middle of Europe. Full of art and old history. Easy-going people, yet diligent. Besides, living here is more affordable compared to Switzerland. [link to www.austria.info] [link to www.youtube.com] yes but its a bit :windy: - I do not think these countries have pension visa's. And yea, too cold. |
Lady Jane Smith Forum Administrator User ID: 27473171 United States 12/07/2012 08:22 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Virgin Islands. Note the AV. Cannot wait to go back this summer! Have HS friend getting ready to move there. He sold all his car dealerships & wants to start a boat tour company on St. Thomas. There are many boats that are abandoned by traffickers available just for the price of getting them running. It is his sail boat in the distance I am watching. Last Edited by LJS on 12/07/2012 08:26 PM Fate whispers to the warrior "You cannot withstand the storm" the warrior whispers back "I am the storm" INTJ-A |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 26836006 United States 12/07/2012 08:23 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Since you asked what County...not country...I say Gem County in Idaho. Cheap homes with gardens and great water, fishing etc. Lots of farmland ...apples, fruit, corn. No drought! Low taxes! I mean in the hundreds a year...like $485.00 for the year. Nice people and nice small shopping. Thirty min to big ole Boise with tons of shopping. Also safe from ocean waves, mobs, hurricanes, twisters, fires, volcanoes etc. Yellowstone is clear accross the state and way downwind. Bread is about $1.25 for a quality WW grain bread with flax, and milk is about $2.29 per gal. |
s. d. butler User ID: 974819 United States 12/07/2012 08:34 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | ... Quoting: s. d. butler OP have you ever even been out of the country? Your posts read like you have no experience, Korea and Europe. Never Latin America. The lack of experience was sorta the point of the post. Now that I am close to this pension I want to travel again. All I have found of expat communities is retired 60 something's. Not that this means anything but I have about 10 years over time in central and south america and mexico. the last time was three years living in honduras. If you are contemplating latin america I would definitely spend some time there first. the culture isn't for everyone. Would you want to retire to any of these countries? Not Honduras, the income disparity is just to great. Even though we would probably still be there if it weren't for dengue. Never been to uruguay. I like argentina but the gubmint is just bad. I think of all of them perhaps panama or ecuador. It won't be as cheap as you think and there will be problems no matter where you go. It's mostly a matter of what you are willing to trade. I can guarantee that it won't be as tranquilo as you might wish for. Both use the dollar. Not sure if this is good or bad considering the likely economic problems. Most or at least many expats in latin america marry a much younger local, aka walking dictionary. There is good and bad about that. But I gather that's not your situation,it wasn't mine either. I guess I'm just saying to check something out for a long enough time before making any hard decisions. On balance I like the culture and speak reasonable spanish but many anglos develop contempt and can't function that well. A lot of those old retired guys like on Roatan are basically just drinking and drugging themselves to death. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 27811313 Finland 12/07/2012 08:35 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 28785669 United States 12/07/2012 08:36 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 08:37 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Since you asked what County...not country...I say Gem County in Idaho. Cheap homes with gardens and great water, fishing etc. Lots of farmland ...apples, fruit, corn. No drought! Quoting: waitn4end Low taxes! I mean in the hundreds a year...like $485.00 for the year. Nice people and nice small shopping. Thirty min to big ole Boise with tons of shopping. Also safe from ocean waves, mobs, hurricanes, twisters, fires, volcanoes etc. Yellowstone is clear accross the state and way downwind. Bread is about $1.25 for a quality WW grain bread with flax, and milk is about $2.29 per gal. That all sounds good, but winters gotta be brutal. Plus in the U.S. we got obamacare coming. Health care is too expensive here. I have not traveled extensively outside this country. But from the Web I gather health care is much cheaper and of the same or even higher quality outside the U.S. |
Burt Gummer User ID: 7702124 United States 12/07/2012 08:43 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 08:47 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | ... Quoting: SlimExponent Korea and Europe. Never Latin America. The lack of experience was sorta the point of the post. Now that I am close to this pension I want to travel again. All I have found of expat communities is retired 60 something's. Not that this means anything but I have about 10 years over time in central and south america and mexico. the last time was three years living in honduras. If you are contemplating latin america I would definitely spend some time there first. the culture isn't for everyone. Would you want to retire to any of these countries? Not Honduras, the income disparity is just to great. Even though we would probably still be there if it weren't for dengue. Never been to uruguay. I like argentina but the gubmint is just bad. I think of all of them perhaps panama or ecuador. It won't be as cheap as you think and there will be problems no matter where you go. It's mostly a matter of what you are willing to trade. I can guarantee that it won't be as tranquilo as you might wish for. Both use the dollar. Not sure if this is good or bad considering the likely economic problems. Most or at least many expats in latin america marry a much younger local, aka walking dictionary. There is good and bad about that. But I gather that's not your situation,it wasn't mine either. I guess I'm just saying to check something out for a long enough time before making any hard decisions. On balance I like the culture and speak reasonable spanish but many anglos develop contempt and can't function that well. A lot of those old retired guys like on Roatan are basically just drinking and drugging themselves to death. Thank you. This is what I am looking for. The only hard decision I would make would be to obtain the pension visa. I do not intend to buy, only rent. Well, if my wife does not want to come I will consider the Roatan route. Sounds fun. |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 08:50 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 08:52 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 08:54 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Virgin Islands. Note the AV. Quoting: Lady Jane Smith Cannot wait to go back this summer! Have HS friend getting ready to move there. He sold all his car dealerships & wants to start a boat tour company on St. Thomas. There are many boats that are abandoned by traffickers available just for the price of getting them running. It is his sail boat in the distance I am watching. Have not considered the Virgin Island's yet. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 29281839 United States 12/07/2012 08:57 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 20566260 United States 12/07/2012 08:58 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | The best county? Any of these of course... Anderson Andrews Angelina Aransas Archer Armstrong Atascosa Austin Bailey Bandera Bastrop Baylor Bee Bell Bexar Blanco Borden Bosque Bowie Brazoria Brazos Brewster Briscoe Brooks Brown Burleson Burnet Caldwell Calhoun Callahan Cameron Camp Carson Cass Castro Chambers Cherokee Childress Clay Cochran Coke Coleman Collin Collingsworth Colorado Comal Comanche Concho Cooke Coryell Cottle Crane Crockett Crosby Culberson Dallam Dallas Dawson De Witt Deaf Smith Delta Denton Dickens Dimmit Donley Duval Eastland Ector Edwards El Paso Ellis Erath Falls Fannin Fayette Fisher Floyd Foard Fort Bend Franklin Freestone Frio Gaines Galveston Garza Gillespie Glasscock Goliad Gonzales Gray Grayson Gregg Grimes Guadalupe Hale Hall Hamilton Hansford Hardeman Hardin Harris Harrison Hartley Haskell Hays Hemphill Henderson Hidalgo Hill Hockley Hood Hopkins Houston Howard Hudspeth Hunt Hutchinson Irion Jack Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis Jefferson Jim Hogg Jim Wells Johnson Jones Karnes Kaufman Kendall Kenedy Kent Kerr Kimble King Kinney Kleberg Knox La Salle Lamar Lamb Lampasas Lavaca Lee Leon Liberty Limestone Lipscomb Live Oak Llano Loving Lubbock Lynn Madison Marion Martin Mason Matagorda Maverick McCulloch McLennan McMullen Medina Menard Midland Milam Mills Mitchell Montague Montgomery Moore Morris Motley Nacogdoches Navarro Newton Nolan Nueces Ochiltree Oldham Orange Palo Pinto Panola Parker Parmer Pecos Polk Potter Presidio Rains Randall Reagan Real Red River Reeves Refugio Roberts Robertson Rockwall Runnels Rusk Sabine San Augustine San Jacinto San Patricio San Saba Schleicher Scurry Shackelford Shelby Sherman Smith Somervell Starr Stephens Sterling Stonewall Sutton Swisher Tarrant Taylor Terrell Terry Throckmorton Titus Tom Green Travis Trinity Tyler Upshur Upton Uvalde Val Verde Van Zandt Victoria Walker Waller Ward Washington Webb Wharton Wheeler Wichita Wilbarger Willacy Williamson Wilson Winkler Wise Wood Yoakum Young Zapata Zavala |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 27811313 Finland 12/07/2012 09:00 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Finland. We are white, we have excellent English and we like white Americans. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 27811313 Finland sounds too cold. Does Finland have a pension visa? I do not want to have to renew a visa every three months. Finland VISA information [link to www.formin.fi] Think also of Estonia, it is cheap priced white country to live in, many pensioners live there |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 09:03 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | The best county? Quoting: J-Honey Any of these of course... Anderson Andrews Angelina Aransas Archer Armstrong Atascosa Austin Bailey Bandera Bastrop Baylor Bee Bell Bexar Blanco Borden Bosque Bowie Brazoria Brazos Brewster Briscoe Brooks Brown Burleson Burnet Caldwell Calhoun Callahan Cameron Camp Carson Cass Castro Chambers Cherokee Childress Clay Cochran Coke Coleman Collin Collingsworth Colorado Comal Comanche Concho Cooke Coryell Cottle Crane Crockett Crosby Culberson Dallam Dallas Dawson De Witt Deaf Smith Delta Denton Dickens Dimmit Donley Duval Eastland Ector Edwards El Paso Ellis Erath Falls Fannin Fayette Fisher Floyd Foard Fort Bend Franklin Freestone Frio Gaines Galveston Garza Gillespie Glasscock Goliad Gonzales Gray Grayson Gregg Grimes Guadalupe Hale Hall Hamilton Hansford Hardeman Hardin Harris Harrison Hartley Haskell Hays Hemphill Henderson Hidalgo Hill Hockley Hood Hopkins Houston Howard Hudspeth Hunt Hutchinson Irion Jack Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis Jefferson Jim Hogg Jim Wells Johnson Jones Karnes Kaufman Kendall Kenedy Kent Kerr Kimble King Kinney Kleberg Knox La Salle Lamar Lamb Lampasas Lavaca Lee Leon Liberty Limestone Lipscomb Live Oak Llano Loving Lubbock Lynn Madison Marion Martin Mason Matagorda Maverick McCulloch McLennan McMullen Medina Menard Midland Milam Mills Mitchell Montague Montgomery Moore Morris Motley Nacogdoches Navarro Newton Nolan Nueces Ochiltree Oldham Orange Palo Pinto Panola Parker Parmer Pecos Polk Potter Presidio Rains Randall Reagan Real Red River Reeves Refugio Roberts Robertson Rockwall Runnels Rusk Sabine San Augustine San Jacinto San Patricio San Saba Schleicher Scurry Shackelford Shelby Sherman Smith Somervell Starr Stephens Sterling Stonewall Sutton Swisher Tarrant Taylor Terrell Terry Throckmorton Titus Tom Green Travis Trinity Tyler Upshur Upton Uvalde Val Verde Van Zandt Victoria Walker Waller Ward Washington Webb Wharton Wheeler Wichita Wilbarger Willacy Williamson Wilson Winkler Wise Wood Yoakum Young Zapata Zavala Okay, lets clarify that. Not county, but Countries. My bad. |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29294223 United States 12/07/2012 09:09 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Finland. We are white, we have excellent English and we like white Americans. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 27811313 Finland sounds too cold. Does Finland have a pension visa? I do not want to have to renew a visa every three months. Finland VISA information [link to www.formin.fi] Think also of Estonia, it is cheap priced white country to live in, many pensioners live there Nationals of the other Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland) can enter Finland without restrictions and stay in the country without a residence permit. They do not need a residence permit for an employed person either. I will check this out but I am not on that list as I can see so far. |
s. d. butler User ID: 974819 United States 12/07/2012 10:36 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | ... Quoting: s. d. butler Not that this means anything but I have about 10 years over time in central and south america and mexico. the last time was three years living in honduras. If you are contemplating latin america I would definitely spend some time there first. the culture isn't for everyone. Would you want to retire to any of these countries? Not Honduras, the income disparity is just to great. Even though we would probably still be there if it weren't for dengue. Never been to uruguay. I like argentina but the gubmint is just bad. I think of all of them perhaps panama or ecuador. It won't be as cheap as you think and there will be problems no matter where you go. It's mostly a matter of what you are willing to trade. I can guarantee that it won't be as tranquilo as you might wish for. Both use the dollar. Not sure if this is good or bad considering the likely economic problems. Most or at least many expats in latin america marry a much younger local, aka walking dictionary. There is good and bad about that. But I gather that's not your situation,it wasn't mine either. I guess I'm just saying to check something out for a long enough time before making any hard decisions. On balance I like the culture and speak reasonable spanish but many anglos develop contempt and can't function that well. A lot of those old retired guys like on Roatan are basically just drinking and drugging themselves to death. Thank you. This is what I am looking for. The only hard decision I would make would be to obtain the pension visa. I do not intend to buy, only rent. Well, if my wife does not want to come I will consider the Roatan route. Sounds fun. you think drinking and drugging yourself to death sounds fun? Your voice is getting more inauthentic with every post. Last Edited by s. d. butler on 12/07/2012 10:39 PM |
SlimExponent (OP) User ID: 29372743 United States 12/08/2012 08:07 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Here I am, whiskey glass full, staring down life full in the eye. Here I am. Here I am. I know you don't like it, but here I am. Life was a choreographed dance. We played our parts. We played our parts. And when the haunting time comes, we pray, yes we pray. It was not me that played that part, no, not me. It was the part I was born to play, but that was not me. Oh God that was not me. It is nothing more, and nothing less. God help us, God help us all. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 29372980 Australia 12/08/2012 08:35 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |