Where to retire, or not..

jpbrackin · Aug 25, 2019

After my father retired, he felt a general unease or anxiety within the US and settled in the mountains of The Philippines after living in Costa Rica, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, and Honduras (and numerous other places he visited, but wouldn't claim to have lived there). My uncle got a sailboat in the Gulf and eventually found his home in Honduras. They're both happier and healthier than they seemed in the US. I don't think the language barrier will be the issue, especially if you select a country lacking in their own culture. My dad loved Brazil, but, in his opinion, he felt Brazil had such a rich culture they, in general, seemed less enamored with meeting and building friendships with an American... He felt a much warmer personal reception while in the Philippines and has kept a condo there for over 20 years now (and not returned to the US for almost a decade now). Good luck, travel light, enjoy the trip.

WRATH OF KANE · Oct 25, 2019

I think that everyone should consider Thailand. It has its pros and cons like averywhere, but I've lived here for a couple of years and so far, I like it.

Observer · Oct 25, 2019

WRATH OF KANE
I think that everyone should consider Thailand. It has its pros and cons like averywhere, but I've lived here for a couple of years and so far, I like it.

Cons include the fact that their king is a lunatic who will throw you in prison for making fun of him.

kkt · Oct 25, 2019

Observer
Cons include the fact that their king is a lunatic who will throw you in prison for making fun of him.

My understanding was that was the ruling generals, not the king.

I suppose it's all the same from the inside of a cell.

Professor · Oct 26, 2019

Some of these Asian countries will execute you by firing squad for possession of a dried out booger that vaguely resembles a Marijuana seed.
A major deal breaker for living in the vast majority of countries is highly restrictive gun ownership laws. I don't do much shooting these days other that target practice with airguns but I prefer to have the option of using firearms for self defense and/or hunting.
I own a few valuable (to me at least) antique rifles and handguns that I'd hate to have to dispose of if I decided to live in another country.

At my age I can figure on at best ten more years of being able to get out and about without assistance and maybe five more of just living at home without a care giver. Its better for me to be near family than among strangers no matter how good their health care might be.

Spacefruit · Oct 26, 2019

Observer
Cons include the fact that their king is a lunatic who will throw you in prison for making fun of him.

The king won’t throw you in prison, other people will.

The Lesse Majeste law in Thailand states that anyone can bring the charges against anyone else for insulting the monarchy. It also compels the police to investigate every complaint of Lesse Majeste.

The king of Thailand does not make the prosecutions himself (well the last king did not - this new one might)

The (Perhaps apocryphal) fairy story told to newly arrived expats tells of two drunk Germans in the back of a taxi making fun of the numerous images of the king. The taxi driver said nothing, but drove to a police station and filed a complaint. It cost the Germans a great deal of money and a little liberty to get away from it.

Mostly in Thailand the LM law is used by political opponents to mess with a rival.

In England the only person who can bring a LM charge is I understand, the queen herself.

As to the allegation that Asian countries will readily execute foreigners on the discovery of something that looks like a drug, is one that underlines why we must get our news from multiple sources and dig the back ground too.

Malicious prosecutions are almost always financially or politically motivated. So on the rare times a drug trafficker is prosecuted it’s financial (didn’t pay of the police) or political - like the extrajudicial killings in Philippines in its so called war on drugs.

None of this should stop a retiring person from considering Thailand - though the cost of living there is much higher that 10 years ago.

Tubber · Oct 27, 2019

Observer
Cons include the fact that their king is a lunatic who will throw you in prison for making fun of him.

There was also a rumour a few years back that people who displeased him were fed to crocodiles.

neilbardsley · Oct 27, 2019

Edward53
Some observations from a UK perspective. I left Central London after many decades and moved to a remote part of rural England. I never want to go back. It's quieter here, cleaner, infinitely less stressful, the roads aren't crowded and the cost of living is cheap. We live in a large house with a beautiful garden that would cost an obscene sum in any major southern city and we have lovely countryside on our doorstep. Not surprisingly, cultural and other amenities are limited, but there are compromises to make wherever you live. Priorities change as one gets older and the good things are still there, you just have to look a bit harder for them. Admittedly the principal pasttimes round here are incest, witchburning and coming round blind bends on the wrong side, but hey, some prices are worth paying.

I understand the appeal of escaping London for somewhere quieter. I'm lucky enough to have a small place in London and in the country. Never large or expensive. I do enjoy the country life but I'm still happy to return to London each Monday. I'm thinking about retiring in the next 5-10 years (rather dependent on the S&P) but I would miss London if I were to sell up

Tubber · Nov 20, 2019

Spacefruit
The king won’t throw you in prison, other people will.

The Lesse Majeste law in Thailand states that anyone can bring the charges against anyone else for insulting the monarchy. It also compels the police to investigate every complaint of Lesse Majeste.

The king of Thailand does not make the prosecutions himself (well the last king did not - this new one might)

The (Perhaps apocryphal) fairy story told to newly arrived expats tells of two drunk Germans in the back of a taxi making fun of the numerous images of the king. The taxi driver said nothing, but drove to a police station and filed a complaint. It cost the Germans a great deal of money and a little liberty to get away from it.

Mostly in Thailand the LM law is used by political opponents to mess with a rival.

In England the only person who can bring a LM charge is I understand, the queen herself.

As to the allegation that Asian countries will readily execute foreigners on the discovery of something that looks like a drug, is one that underlines why we must get our news from multiple sources and dig the back ground too.

Malicious prosecutions are almost always financially or politically motivated. So on the rare times a drug trafficker is prosecuted it’s financial (didn’t pay of the police) or political - like the extrajudicial killings in Philippines in its so called war on drugs.

The verdict today from the Constitutional court regarding Thanathorn and his disqualification as an MP has a significant impact on the intermediate and long term future of Thai politics. Prayut and Prawit may be severely detrimental to the advancement of the country but the other sabre rattling General in the background would be a disaster. Another Coup d'etat? Based on that, the growing xenophobia and the strong Baht I would not consider retirement in Thailand.

None of this should stop a retiring person from considering Thailand - though the cost of living there is much higher that 10 years ago.

Alpha · Nov 20, 2019

Doubt anyone would consider retiring to the UK 🤦

Mac5 · Nov 20, 2019

Getting out of Orlando, FL. Too much traffic, too many visitors, and most of all too many bad drivers. I'd like to move and retire here. North Carolina mountains. Trout fishing, dark skies, breweries, and still plenty of golf courses!

BlackTalon · Nov 20, 2019

^^^ Nice. Is it fall there all year long? 😁

I'm up outside DC, and it's not very scenic.

Stufflers Mom · Nov 20, 2019

If you value a warm climate virtually every day then head for Tenerife, never too hot in the summer and never too cold in the winter, perfect for an active outdoors lifestyle.

take57 · Nov 20, 2019

Mac5
Getting out of Orlando, FL. Too much traffic, too many visitors, and most of all too many bad drivers. I'd like to move and retire here. North Carolina mountains. Trout fishing, dark skies, breweries, and still plenty of golf courses!

I've got a place in Raleigh and had some friends from Portland fly in a couple of weeks ago. Drove them to Asheville and they had a tremendous time. Spent a good part of the evening brewery crawling and ended at Catawba Brewing downing White Zombie Ale and listening to local musicians play music their granddaddies taught their daddies that taught them on open mic night. It was magic.

Steve9pm · Nov 21, 2019

Interesting thread! Of the places outside of the US, it seems like the most mentioned places are Portugal, Spain, and Southeast Asia.

For the people that have moved your permanent residence abroad, how easy is it? Does Portugal (or wherever you moved) just let you in? What kind of visa do you need to get?

Do you still have US investments (stocks, property) that you need to pay taxes on (dividends/appreciation, rent)? How does that work?

Walid4watches · Nov 21, 2019

gop76
as portuguese i'm possibly biased but Portugal is a comfortable and peaceful place to live: good weather, good to very good healthcare services (and cheap), low cost of living, low to very low crime rates (with almost non existent violent crime) good food, good infrastructures, attractive tax system for expatriates...

We have our problems, of course, but in general i think that we have a good life here in Portugal

Most importantly how hard is it to find vintage watches in Portugal?? 😀

Stufflers Mom · Nov 21, 2019

Walid4watches
Most importantly how hard is it to find vintage watches in Portugal?? 😀

Lot's of old TT Rolex on the wrists of the retirees in Vilamoura.

Explorador · Nov 21, 2019

blufinz52
Is anyone as surprised as I am how fast this all went by?

6 years still to go until retirement here.
Well, the funny thing is the last 50 years felt like only 6 weeks, but the next 6 years feel like 6 decades! I can hardly wait for my retirement!!
Portugal is surely a nice place to retire. One of the favorite places to retire for us Europeans is Spain. My wife and me need to decide between going back home to West-Berlin (in my time we had a wall around us) or staying in Switzerland.

Mac5 · Nov 21, 2019

BlackTalon
^^^ Nice. Is it fall there all year long? 😁

I'm up outside DC, and it's not very scenic.

LOL! The second pic is the other season.....

jsducote · Nov 21, 2019

Steve9pm
Interesting thread! Of the places outside of the US, it seems like the most mentioned places are Portugal, Spain, and Southeast Asia.

For the people that have moved your permanent residence abroad, how easy is it? Does Portugal (or wherever you moved) just let you in? What kind of visa do you need to get?

Do you still have US investments (stocks, property) that you need to pay taxes on (dividends/appreciation, rent)? How does that work?

The requirements vary from country to country of course, but in general you must show that you are financially independent, including private health insurance. For permanent residence, there are usually specific visas that must be applied-for and obtained in specific order in a process (which is not necessarily logical to us) that can take months or years. It's not hard to find country-specific requirements online and a good starting point for anyone interested are expat forums. There was a (not entirely useful) article last week in the NYTimes travel section (online).

Where to retire, or not..

jpbrackin

WRATH OF KANE

Observer

kkt

Professor

Spacefruit

Tubber

neilbardsley

Tubber

Alpha

Mac5

BlackTalon

Stufflers Mom

take57

Steve9pm

Walid4watches

Stufflers Mom

Explorador

Mac5

jsducote

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