I'm still about 20 years out from possibly retiring, but my wife and I have discussed retiring abroad, and Panama is the front runner.
A recent article I read in Forbes mentioned how two retired Americans can easily get by there for under $2k/month, taking into account rent, groceries, entertainment, and utilities.
It's also got a quality healthcare system, with doctor visits running roughly $20-$60.
Government stability can be a concern in Central America, but Panama has been relatively stable.
Just curious if anybody has, or even thought about, spending their golden years outside the US.
Briefly. A couple of places I've looked at are Portugal, Montenegro, and Argentina. The first two make it relatively easy for EU citizenship which would be nice. The latter has some areas that fit our lifestyle really well. We have a kid now, so that throws a different calculus into the equation, but we certainly don't ever rule out moving abroad. My job is remote, so I can work from anywhere.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 06, 2023, 01:34:08 PM
Briefly. A couple of places I've looked at are Portugal, Montenegro, and Argentina. The first two make it relatively easy for EU citizenship which would be nice. The latter has some areas that fit our lifestyle really well. We have a kid now, so that throws a different calculus into the equation, but we certainly don't ever rule out moving abroad. My job is remote, so I can work from anywhere.
Portugal I think was ranked the highest on the article I read. Sounded like there's a lot of upside to living there as well.
So much can happen in 20 years. I'm 10 years away from retiring, and not even giving much thought to it yet. I'm just hoping to be alive by then.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 06, 2023, 01:48:19 PM
So much can happen in 20 years. I'm 10 years away from retiring, and not even giving much thought to it yet. I'm just hoping to be alive by then.
Very true, but it is just a discussion we've had once we can retire, and the kids are (hopefully) out of college and thriving.
Plus, markets dictating how well our 401k plans do. IF I get social security, and that's a big IF, I'm just treating that as a bonus. :-)
I have thought about it. There is lots of information on YouTube and on the internet. I have traveled in Central America quite a bit.
Panama is, by far, the most developed country, and, due to its history, has major English skills very common. It uses the US $. It is pretty stable, and its airport is a world hub, you can fly from there to anywhere. The canal pretty much pays for everything the government wants to do, so there is not the import duties that most third world countries have. It is less expensive than the USA, but not really that much less.
Pre-C**** I spent multiple weeks per year in Nicaragua. I met a Canadian gentleman who was traveling the world checking out retirement places, and we had a long talk. Nice guy. Nicaragua has almost no tourist infrastructure, English skills are VERY rare, but it is cheap cheap cheap. The government at the top is a kleptocracy, and at the local level, every cop or anybody else with authority is corrupt ($20 will get you out of "speeding", $40 will get you whatever permit you need). But as long as you are bringing money in the country, they leave you alone. The internet is better than most poor places in the USA as is the cell service. Energy is really expensive.
I have not been to Costa Rica, but I hear it is a mix between those two extremes.
I'm retired now and could go anywhere. The main hurdle for me in a place like Panama, or Ecuador which is also high on these lists, would be the language barrier. I took my three years of high school Spanish but it was "classroom Spanish". Any time I was outside the classroom and happened to be sitting next to someone speaking Spanish as their native language I could barely understand a word. So that would require an immersive education before I could consider it.
Along with low cost of living and choosing a nice climate, the other attraction would be getting away from the acrimonious political atmosphere in the United States, which seems to be getting worse every week, month and year.
So, yeah, if I start leaning this way in the next few years I might put in the language work.
Quote from: gonealookin on April 06, 2023, 01:56:45 PM
I'm retired now and could go anywhere. The main hurdle for me in a place like Panama, or Ecuador which is also high on these lists, would be the language barrier. I took my three years of high school Spanish but it was "classroom Spanish". Any time I was outside the classroom and happened to be sitting next to someone speaking Spanish as their native language I could barely understand a word. So that would require an immersive education before I could consider it.
Along with low cost of living and choosing a nice climate, the other attraction would be getting away from the acrimonious political atmosphere in the United States, which seems to be getting worse every week, month and year.
So, yeah, if I start leaning this way in the next few years I might put in the language work.
Spanish in high school, college, and decades of living in Southern California have helped her and I speak the language pretty well.
Right now, I use a free app called Duolingo. It's something where I can do 5-10 minute lessons a day, and stay sharp. If you're looking to really expand your skill in a language, you can devote more time to it. Pretty user friendly interface, and a good mix of writing, listening, and filling in the blanks.
A comfortable retirement anywhere seems like a more unattainable goal by the day. I pray that we have something leftover for this generation by the time we're at whatever the retirement age is raised to by the 2060s.
I've heard that countries like Portugal are clamping down on entry for foreign retirees (both of the conventional age and earlier) due to their adverse effect on the local economy and housing market. It would not surprise me to see more countries banning foreign ownership of homes unless you can bribe your way up enough.
My wife stands to be in line for inheritance of family property down in Mexico. We both like it down there but I believe it would require some residency requirements. I wouldn't be opposed to the idea after retirement given I like the more laid back and simple lifestyle. Our money certainly goes way further than it does domestically. My wife is fluent in Spanish, I'm functional and keep improving as the years go on.
Never really thought about it. If I did, though, I'd have some requirements:
1) Not tropical. I don't do well with high heat/humidity
2) English must be widely spoken. Not fluent in any other languages and probably not learning any at this point
I moved from California to North Dallas with the intention of retiring here in about ten to fifteen years. The thought of retiring abroad is an option as I am perpetually single with no kids, but not something I considered seriously. Of course, I'm saving up like crazy so that when I retire, I work on my own terms.
I have been looking into it. I plan to retire in 2 years.
Right now, Spain is my front runner. I know Portugal gets ranked higher, but I speak Spanish (it was my minor in college 45+ years ago), but not Portuguese.
I prefer Europe because most of the travel I want to do in retirement is in Europe. Being able to hop on a train and go to another country sounds really good. And, I figure I'll save enough in expenses that I can afford to come back to the States to see my grandkids at least once a year.
Quote from: Bruce on April 06, 2023, 02:05:19 PM
A comfortable retirement anywhere seems like a more unattainable goal by the day. I pray that we have something leftover for this generation by the time we're at whatever the retirement age is raised to by the 2060s.
I've heard that countries like Portugal are clamping down on entry for foreign retirees (both of the conventional age and earlier) due to their adverse effect on the local economy and housing market. It would not surprise me to see more countries banning foreign ownership of homes unless you can bribe your way up enough.
Yep, I've heard the same regarding Portugal. If anything, the TikToks about people complaining about housing prices being driven up by foreigners in Portugal have increased considerably.
My wife and I intend to travel a lot in retirement if our health allows, but we don't see ourselves staying put in one country abroad.
I might think about it, but that's not a top priority for me right now. Europe sounds nice, though.
My dad has been retired and lives about 8-9 months a year in Thailand. Once you're there it's cheap cost of living and lots of expats and good food. I guess the weather is nice if you like 90s and humid (not my style). But he's lived there the majority of the year since 2004 but has to come back to the states every so often for his insurance and visa purposes.
Quote from: zzcarp on April 07, 2023, 09:16:25 AM
My dad has been retired and lives about 8-9 months a year in Thailand. Once you're there it's cheap cost of living and lots of expats and good food.
And...
I am of course far from thinking about retirement, but I wouldn't have any interest. I wouldn't want to have to travel to another country just to see my kids or the rest of my family, nor the places I lived and worked in during my younger years. I wouldn't want to reset my life that hard.
Quote from: JoePCool14 on April 07, 2023, 10:05:30 AM
I am of course far from thinking about retirement, but I wouldn't have any interest. I wouldn't want to have to travel to another country just to see my kids or the rest of my family, nor the places I lived and worked in during my younger years. I wouldn't want to reset my life that hard.
I've lived a 3+ hour flight away from my parents for most of my life (since age 17), so an 8-9 hour flight doesn't seem that unreasonable. Much less something in Central America where it's the same distance, just another country.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 07, 2023, 10:50:06 AM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on April 07, 2023, 10:05:30 AM
I am of course far from thinking about retirement, but I wouldn't have any interest. I wouldn't want to have to travel to another country just to see my kids or the rest of my family, nor the places I lived and worked in during my younger years. I wouldn't want to reset my life that hard.
I've lived a 3+ hour flight away from my parents for most of my life (since age 17), so an 8-9 hour flight doesn't seem that unreasonable. Much less something in Central America where it's the same distance, just another country.
It's not the length of the flight that would be my problem, it would be different country. Think back to the virus restrictions for example. Internationally, things can change quickly sometimes.
I still would personally prefer being within a day's drive of most people I care about seeing.
Quote from: JoePCool14 on April 07, 2023, 11:00:59 AM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 07, 2023, 10:50:06 AM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on April 07, 2023, 10:05:30 AM
I am of course far from thinking about retirement, but I wouldn't have any interest. I wouldn't want to have to travel to another country just to see my kids or the rest of my family, nor the places I lived and worked in during my younger years. I wouldn't want to reset my life that hard.
I've lived a 3+ hour flight away from my parents for most of my life (since age 17), so an 8-9 hour flight doesn't seem that unreasonable. Much less something in Central America where it's the same distance, just another country.
It's not the length of the flight that would be my problem, it would be different country. Think back to the virus restrictions for example. Internationally, things can change quickly sometimes.
I still would personally prefer being within a day's drive of most people I care about seeing.
Let's hope the virus restrictions were a once in 3-generation kind of thing. For me, and obviously others feel differently, if my family isn't right in town, so a 20-minute drive or whatever, a day's drive is just a good as a day's flight.
Hm. I grew up with my grandparents being either up to a 20-hour drive from our home (mother's parents) or a three-day drive out to the West (father's parents). We'd go down to my maternal parents' in KY almost every year and then out to my other grandparents much less frequently (they came out a few times themselves).
For the most part, flying the five of us out anywhere all at once was prohibitively expensive.
All my grandparents have passed away. My parents sometimes express regret about living so far away from their parents and the limited visitation. This is especially because my father had a close-knit extended family in the Mid-Atlantic that he grew up with and he missed that dynamic.
My brother and sister now live near each other in Washington state and we've wondered at times if we should all move out there. My career, though, has cemented my feet where I am, for better or for worse.
But, I've found myself in a similar situation as the one I grew up in: I'm driving to my parents' place this weekend, but my in-laws are out West (my wife is one of a few odd members of her family that live out here in the East; the remaining huge family all live relatively close to each other). We're trying to see them every Memorial Day Weekend now.
I can definitely see myself retiring outside of Massachusetts and the Northeast for a variety of reasons. But I'm not sure I would move abroad. For each potential benefit (better weather, lower costs, etc.) there is a drawback (crossing international borders, flying, instability, etc.).
By the time I grow old the retirement age will be 90 and social security payments will be 1 cent per month. If the planet is even still liveable by then.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 07, 2023, 05:40:34 PM
By the time I grow old the retirement age will be 90 and social security payments will be 1 cent per month. If the planet is even still liveable by then.
Find a job with a pension system and max pay into a 401k.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 07, 2023, 05:43:11 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 07, 2023, 05:40:34 PM
By the time I grow old the retirement age will be 90 and social security payments will be 1 cent per month. If the planet is even still liveable by then.
Find a job with a pension system and max pay into a 401k.
Yep, my wife is in education so doesn't pay into social security at all. Not quite at the point financially where we're maxing 401k, but getting there.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 07, 2023, 05:56:59 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 07, 2023, 05:43:11 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 07, 2023, 05:40:34 PM
By the time I grow old the retirement age will be 90 and social security payments will be 1 cent per month. If the planet is even still liveable by then.
Find a job with a pension system and max pay into a 401k.
Yep, my wife is in education so doesn't pay into social security at all. Not quite at the point financially where we're maxing 401k, but getting there.
My wife and I have pensions we've been both vested in for a decade (me slightly longer). I'm maxed out on my 401k, she's not quite there yet. Once I hit 20 years I'll be at my max pension benefit which is based off my top three earning years. Considering I won't be in my 50s when I hit 20 years I kind of wonder what I'll do then? I can probably go for the 30 years and take the retirement early without penalty.
I don't like the idea of retiring abroad for one particular reason. All retirements come to an end at the end of life. And when your life is over, your children may want to have a memorial service for you. What sort of red tape would your children have to go through to get your remains back to the USA, or to settle up your affairs? I mean that's what pre-planning is all about, but that's going to take careful research and planning with your children. And those children may one day have their own children who you would miss out on seeing grow up if you were all in different countries. Not everybody is going to be in that situation, but I do believe that if you care for your children and grandchildren enough, that you wouldn't burden them with end-of-life issues that would put undue strain on their own financial situations. Or for that matter, just stay as close to them as you can. I'm already an 8 hour drive from either of my parents, and as they get older I start to think it's just a little too far. At least I have siblings who are much closer to them.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 07, 2023, 05:40:34 PM
By the time I grow old the retirement age will be 90 and social security payments will be 1 cent per month. If the planet is even still liveable by then.
If you're relying primarily on social security, even for those retiring now, you did it wrong.
Quote from: wriddle082 on April 07, 2023, 06:32:52 PM
I don't like the idea of retiring abroad for one particular reason. All retirements come to an end at the end of life. And when your life is over, your children may want to have a memorial service for you. What sort of red tape would your children have to go through to get your remains back to the USA, or to settle up your affairs? I mean that's what pre-planning is all about, but that's going to take careful research and planning with your children. And those children may one day have their own children who you would miss out on seeing grow up if you were all in different countries. Not everybody is going to be in that situation, but I do believe that if you care for your children and grandchildren enough, that you wouldn't burden them with end-of-life issues that would put undue strain on their own financial situations. Or for that matter, just stay as close to them as you can. I'm already an 8 hour drive from either of my parents, and as they get older I start to think it's just a little too far. At least I have siblings who are much closer to them.
In that line of thought, I don't have kids and not much of my family remaining. Should I meet my demise in any capacity I can't imagine it would be much of a burden for my living family members. Likely all arraignments would be made by my wife's family in the event of my passing. Considering my wife has a sizable amount of family still in Mexico that's one of the primary drivers of why we are considering retirement there.
I hear that Belize is nice.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 06, 2023, 01:34:08 PM
Briefly. A couple of places I've looked at are Portugal, Montenegro, and Argentina. The first two make it relatively easy for EU citizenship which would be nice. The latter has some areas that fit our lifestyle really well. We have a kid now, so that throws a different calculus into the equation, but we certainly don't ever rule out moving abroad. My job is remote, so I can work from anywhere.
I'm surprised you haven't considered India; you probably know the country very well from your travels there. English isn't a major problem in the southern half of India so you should be able to get by, especially in the cities there.
Come to think of it, I've liked the idea of buying a retirement place on that strip in Sandusky that leads to Cedar Point -- the one where residents fail to keep visitors to the park off their road.
Quote from: jgb191 on April 08, 2023, 12:52:25 AM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 06, 2023, 01:34:08 PM
Briefly. A couple of places I've looked at are Portugal, Montenegro, and Argentina. The first two make it relatively easy for EU citizenship which would be nice. The latter has some areas that fit our lifestyle really well. We have a kid now, so that throws a different calculus into the equation, but we certainly don't ever rule out moving abroad. My job is remote, so I can work from anywhere.
I'm surprised you haven't considered India; you probably know the country very well from your travels there. English isn't a major problem in the southern half of India so you should be able to get by, especially in the cities there.
A) Haven't been there yet. I will be visiting for the first time in June.
B) Not having English as the predominant language wouldn't be a detriment for me if I were to move somewhere. I speak relatively fluent Spanish and pick up languages pretty easily. (Linguistics was one of my majors in college.) Plus, most of the world speaks English in some form or another -- not every person, but you can get around without knowing the local tongue. When I travel, I prefer to go to places where they don't speak much English outside of tourist centers. It makes it a little more tangible that I'm out of the country.
C) I've thought about Southeast Asia, having been there a number of times and knowing how dirt cheap it is. My wife and I both like cold weather though, so that's probably a no go.
D) My ideal place to retire is in a nice town in the mountains. India has okay towns and nice mountains. There are no nice towns in the mountains however (maybe Darjeeling or something of that nature, but still not in the mountains per se).
E) I'd also like a somewhat similar standard of living as the U.S.. India is an incredibly crowded place and has far different norms than we have here. "Exotic" I like for travel, not necessarily for settling down.
My fiancée and I have discussed retiring in Italy. She's from South Africa, which has a great cost of living and a lingua franca of English, but politically is an absolute mess to the point that I will never complain about the US again.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 08, 2023, 06:27:38 PM
My wife and I both like cold weather though
India's got you covered there as well -- the Himalayas probably? A fact lost on a lot of people is that snow does fall in India every winter along its northern border with Nepal and parts of Pakistan. Another fact lost on many people is the tremendous culture shock the hour they step off the plane. For some reason, people only have visions of the five-star hospitality, the wining/dining, palaces, temples, and other neat architectural wonders (Taj Mahal); they never think of lifestyle for the vast majority of Indians there until they see it first hand.
Quote from: jgb191 on April 09, 2023, 01:03:18 AM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 08, 2023, 06:27:38 PM
My wife and I both like cold weather though
India's got you covered there as well -- the Himalayas probably? A fact lost on a lot of people is that snow does fall in India every winter along its northern border with Nepal and parts of Pakistan. Another fact lost on many people is the tremendous culture shock the hour they step off the plane. For some reason, people only have visions of the five-star hospitality, the wining/dining, palaces, temples, and other neat architectural wonders (Taj Mahal); they never think of lifestyle for the vast majority of Indians there until they see it first hand.
Well aware of the mountains there; the main place I'm traveling is Ladakh. As I alluded to in my previous post, none of the cities near the mountains are particularly nice. I'll be based in Leh, and most travelers report that it's a nice enough place to base yourself for exploring the region, but it's not a particularly nice city overall.
If you want an example of the kind of town I'm interested in, check out Bariloche, Argentina.
Heh. My parents were just talking about their time in Bariloche last night. My father lived there for a short time in about 1970, while they both visited a few years ago while living for a stint in Buenos Aires.
There's a reason the town has a strong German influence... :D
Quote from: Rothman on April 09, 2023, 08:49:27 AM
Heh. My parents were just talking about their time in Bariloche last night. My father lived there for a short time in about 1970, while they both visited a few years ago while living for a stint in Buenos Aires.
There's a reason the town has a strong German influence... :D
Yeah, sadly I looked up my last name (German) and saw there are a lot in Argentina and Brazil. I'm pretty sure I'm related to some scumbags.
Overseas but still in America: Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Marianas, American Samoa.
As for my retired self, I am happy to stay in my hometown. From where I was born to all the various family properties/houses were are all within 4 blocks. Home is very important to me.
Rick
Quote from: nexus73 on April 09, 2023, 09:58:45 AM
Overseas but still in America: Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Marianas, American Samoa.
I have an acquaintance who retired to Saipan and loves it.
Quote from: nexus73 on April 09, 2023, 09:58:45 AM
As for my retired self, I am happy to stay in my hometown. From where I was born to all the various family properties/houses were are all within 4 blocks. Home is very important to me.
I think the fact I moved so much as a kid means that home has a different definition for me than others.
Any thoughts on retiring to a cruise ship (https://markholtz.info/2qi)?
Quote from: ZLoth on April 09, 2023, 10:08:48 AM
Any thoughts on retiring to a cruise ship (https://markholtz.info/2qi)?
Cruises are already floating prisons to me. So, I might as well at least attempt to embezzle large sums of money first if I'm going to end up in the same place.
The "retire on a cruise ship" deal has been a cute story for a long time. Fun with math, the cost of living there is less than either an apartment or a nursing home. The problem with that is most cruise ships are the same trip over and over. Same ports, same activities, same acts, same food rotation, same everything, over and over and over.
The "retirement ship", which is dedicated to the subject, and travels around the world, has been tried a dozen times. It generally falls through after a while.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 09, 2023, 08:56:23 AM
Quote from: Rothman on April 09, 2023, 08:49:27 AM
Heh. My parents were just talking about their time in Bariloche last night. My father lived there for a short time in about 1970, while they both visited a few years ago while living for a stint in Buenos Aires.
There's a reason the town has a strong German influence... :D
Yeah, sadly I looked up my last name (German) and saw there are a lot in Argentina and Brazil. I'm pretty sure I'm related to some scumbags.
It is my understanding that there was a significant German influence in the area before the Second World War, which is why a number of people went there afterward. So, maybe you are but maybe you aren't.
My Family discussed about retiring in the Philippines mainly because thats where they are born and its in their home province. However their neighborhood from childhood is now being gentrified. The Area they knew about that at one point was an American District because of Clark Air Force base is now a Korean District. It not just knowing about the culture of the Philippines and the US history of the Philippines I have to look at but also Korean Culture in that area.
https://www.kkday.com/en/blog/43716/asia-philippines-pampanga-koreatown-best-restaurants-cafes (https://www.kkday.com/en/blog/43716/asia-philippines-pampanga-koreatown-best-restaurants-cafes)
https://jmds.upou.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Vol7_4-De-Leon_FullPaper.pdf (https://jmds.upou.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Vol7_4-De-Leon_FullPaper.pdf)
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on April 09, 2023, 12:06:27 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 09, 2023, 08:56:23 AM
Quote from: Rothman on April 09, 2023, 08:49:27 AM
Heh. My parents were just talking about their time in Bariloche last night. My father lived there for a short time in about 1970, while they both visited a few years ago while living for a stint in Buenos Aires.
There's a reason the town has a strong German influence... :D
Yeah, sadly I looked up my last name (German) and saw there are a lot in Argentina and Brazil. I'm pretty sure I'm related to some scumbags.
It is my understanding that there was a significant German influence in the area before the Second World War, which is why a number of people went there afterward. So, maybe you are but maybe you aren't.
Uh huh...
Quote from: wriddle082 on April 07, 2023, 06:32:52 PMI don't like the idea of retiring abroad for one particular reason. All retirements come to an end at the end of life. And when your life is over, your children may want to have a memorial service for you. What sort of red tape would your children have to go through to get your remains back to the USA, or to settle up your affairs? I mean that's what pre-planning is all about, but that's going to take careful research and planning with your children. And those children may one day have their own children who you would miss out on seeing grow up if you were all in different countries. Not everybody is going to be in that situation, but I do believe that if you care for your children and grandchildren enough, that you wouldn't burden them with end-of-life issues that would put undue strain on their own financial situations. Or for that matter, just stay as close to them as you can. I'm already an 8 hour drive from either of my parents, and as they get older I start to think it's just a little too far. At least I have siblings who are much closer to them.
I have thought of this obstacle to retiring in a strange country, but more from the vantage point of navigating senescence with an unfamiliar healthcare system. What happens after death is generally much more straightforward--a death certificate is issued (I think by the country of residence if you actually die abroad), and then there are procedures for it to be officially recognized in the US; human remains can be repatriated, and are often done so by air freight; pretty much every country has companies that will clean out a property so it can be sold (never mind what happens to memorabilia like old family photos)--it doesn't have to be like the last scene in
Zorba the Greek; etc. But every healthcare system (even the ones that are far more functional than ours in the US) has tips and tricks to be learned, and it becomes harder to do so in a language other than your own and with the loss of mental flexibility that often comes with old age.
In his autobiography, which he published shortly before he died, the British thriller writer Eric Ambler talks about living for decades in the US (where he worked as a screenwriter on a green card, never naturalizing as a US citizen) and then for a time in Switzerland, only for him and his wife to move back to England when they became old and started to have serious health problems.
Quote from: SP Cook on April 09, 2023, 11:54:08 AMThe "retire on a cruise ship" deal has been a cute story for a long time. Fun with math, the cost of living there is less than either an apartment or a nursing home. The problem with that is most cruise ships are the same trip over and over. Same ports, same activities, same acts, same food rotation, same everything, over and over and over.
Many cruise ships are in fact floating nursing homes in all but name. When family friends retired and went on a round-the-world cruise, they discovered a fair few of their fellow passengers were repeating the same trip over and over because it was actually somewhat cheaper than being in assisted living.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 09, 2023, 10:01:58 AMI think the fact I moved so much as a kid means that home has a different definition for me than others.
Many of the people I know who have retired abroad come from what would now be called third-culture backgrounds.
I've thought about retiring to Medellin. Solid infrastructure and it's the city of eternal spring. But I'd have to learn a lot more Spanish (you can really only get by on English if you're within the tourist bubble) and, for safety reasons, would have to live in a high-rise somewhere rather than out in the country.
Quote from: abefroman329 on April 12, 2023, 11:37:52 AM
I've thought about retiring to Medellin. Solid infrastructure and it's the city of eternal spring. But I'd have to learn a lot more Spanish (you can really only get by on English if you're within the tourist bubble) and, for safety reasons, would have to live in a high-rise somewhere rather than out in the country.
It's funny how Latin American cities do things the opposite from the U.S. In the U.S., downtown can be rough and a lot of people with money live in the hills/mountains nearby. In Latin America, downtown is normally very nice and expensive and there's a ton of poverty in the hills/mountains nearby.
Quote from: abefroman329 on April 12, 2023, 11:37:52 AM
I've thought about retiring to Medellin. Solid infrastructure and it's the city of eternal spring. But I'd have to learn a lot more Spanish (you can really only get by on English if you're within the tourist bubble) and, for safety reasons, would have to live in a high-rise somewhere rather than out in the country.
Somebody likes cocaine. Medellin's reputation was pretty lousy not so long ago.
Quote from: Rothman on April 12, 2023, 01:59:04 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on April 12, 2023, 11:37:52 AM
I've thought about retiring to Medellin. Solid infrastructure and it's the city of eternal spring. But I'd have to learn a lot more Spanish (you can really only get by on English if you're within the tourist bubble) and, for safety reasons, would have to live in a high-rise somewhere rather than out in the country.
Somebody likes cocaine. Medellin's reputation was pretty lousy not so long ago.
I've not been (I've been to Bogotá), but every traveler I've talked to that's spent time in Colombia said that MedellÃn is their favorite.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 12, 2023, 11:48:22 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on April 12, 2023, 11:37:52 AM
I've thought about retiring to Medellin. Solid infrastructure and it's the city of eternal spring. But I'd have to learn a lot more Spanish (you can really only get by on English if you're within the tourist bubble) and, for safety reasons, would have to live in a high-rise somewhere rather than out in the country.
Very true. In my research of Panama, you can be in downtown Panama City which is one of the nicer areas. I looked at a high rise condo with an amazing view that was incredibly affordable.
The outlying areas are definitely hit or miss. If you go to them, a lot of people urge looking into a gated home, or even gated neighborhood.
It's funny how Latin American cities do things the opposite from the U.S. In the U.S., downtown can be rough and a lot of people with money live in the hills/mountains nearby. In Latin America, downtown is normally very nice and expensive and there's a ton of poverty in the hills/mountains nearby.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 12, 2023, 11:48:22 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on April 12, 2023, 11:37:52 AM
I've thought about retiring to Medellin. Solid infrastructure and it's the city of eternal spring. But I'd have to learn a lot more Spanish (you can really only get by on English if you're within the tourist bubble) and, for safety reasons, would have to live in a high-rise somewhere rather than out in the country.
It's funny how Latin American cities do things the opposite from the U.S. In the U.S., downtown can be rough and a lot of people with money live in the hills/mountains nearby. In Latin America, downtown is normally very nice and expensive and there's a ton of poverty in the hills/mountains nearby.
That's starting to change in a lot of US cities. Chicago has had an influx of money into some areas near the Loop that used to be really bad.
Quote from: NWI_Irish96 on April 13, 2023, 07:14:34 AM
That's starting to change in a lot of US cities. Chicago has had an influx of money into some areas near the Loop that used to be really bad.
Call me when Humboldt Park is nicer than St Charles. That's kind of what Latin American cities are like.
Quote from: J N Winkler on April 09, 2023, 02:10:07 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on April 09, 2023, 11:54:08 AMThe "retire on a cruise ship" deal has been a cute story for a long time. Fun with math, the cost of living there is less than either an apartment or a nursing home. The problem with that is most cruise ships are the same trip over and over. Same ports, same activities, same acts, same food rotation, same everything, over and over and over.
Many cruise ships are in fact floating nursing homes in all but name. When family friends retired and went on a round-the-world cruise, they discovered a fair few of their fellow passengers were repeating the same trip over and over because it was actually somewhat cheaper than being in assisted living.
Depends on what kind of nursing and assistance you need. Cruise ships are hardly "floating nursing homes." Yeah, they make your bed daily and prepare all your meals. But they won't step in if you need assistance getting clothed/bathed/going potty/eating. Medical service is very limited; if you develop anything serious while at sea, count on an expensive airlift to land. You can't get medical equipment serviced onboard; you'll have to hope someone in port can do it and in the limited time you're there. If you arrange to pick up medication or equipment at a port but then that port gets skipped for some reason, you've got problems.
You can pay for someone to travel with you to assist (which can double your cost) but they won't be able to do anything about some of these situations.