Retirement: inside or outside the USA?

Plano Pilot said:
I spent 1998 to 2003 out of the US, except a 2 week trip back home, on our boat in the Caribbean. My retirement plan is to something similar but in the Pacific.

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This guy has it figured out.
Thats my plan in another 15-20 years.

You can live pretty cheap "on the hook" ie anchoring or using moorings. Pop into a harbor or marina to stock up every 4-6 weeks. Roam the Earth and see the sights.

Or Central/South America. This place is going to the dogs and will more than likely be a complete over taxed ****hole by the time I'm done working.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
Almost 5 years in, and no regrets, at least not for me. Laurie does wish we were closer to town a lot of times, but the reality of the impact for us isn't bad. When we lived in a neighborhood in Ohio (because she felt our PA house was too far away from everything) we found it took just as long to get to the places we needed to go.

In another 15 years or so when we're empty nesters and our kids are out of college, I could see us reevaluating things. But we're a long ways off from that.

Honestly, the most annoying part is the lack of being able to order a pizza and have it delivered. But we've gotten used to it.
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One advantage is that you are young. People I've known that have made that move and then had to move back were either empty nesters that wanted to check off a lifelong dream, or had kids in high school. The culture shock for the kids (leaving their friends for a new school, leaving their local hangouts, leaving their social net), made for unpleasant moments at home. The other thing that the parents had to learn was "there are no days off", and still working full time and taking care of another one or more full time jobs at home meant a lot of compromise and adjustments. For a lot of people, that ends up being too much to handle, so they move back into town.

You and Laurie have managed to work out your own arrangements and schedules, are relatively self sufficient for vehicle and property maintenance (not a lot of people will, or are able to, fix things on their own), your kids are fitting in, and that's a great combination!
 
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ChemGuy said:
This guy has it figured out.
Thats my plan in another 15-20 years.

You can live pretty cheap "on the hook" ie anchoring or using moorings. Pop into a harbor or marina to stock up every 4-6 weeks. Roam the Earth and see the sights.

Or Central/South America. This place is going to the dogs and will more than likely be a complete over taxed ****hole by the time I'm done working.
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Yeah except for pirates. No thanks. Would not want to tie up my entire retirement to chance on the open ocean. It's not as glamorous as it appears. Certainly short trips or vacations in or around the US Coastal waters, but international seems a great way to get killed unless you have the cash to hire some security to go with you.
 
I decided to retire to Austria and work BBQ contests year round (This was last week on a frozen lake - and no, I wasn’t there.):

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Matthew said:
One advantage is that you are young. People I've known that have made that move and then had to move back were either empty nesters that wanted to check off a lifelong dream, or had kids in high school. The culture shock for the kids (leaving their friends for a new school, leaving their local hangouts, leaving their social net), made for unpleasant moments at home. The other thing that the parents had to learn was "there are no days off", and still working full time and taking care of another one or more full time jobs at home meant a lot of compromise and adjustments. For a lot of people, that ends up being too much to handle, so they move back into town.

You and Laurie have managed to work out your own arrangements and schedules, are relatively self sufficient for vehicle and property maintenance (not a lot of people will, or are able to, fix things on their own), your kids are fitting in, and that's a great combination!
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Yeah, and that's where it becomes the wrong time to do it "just for fun", especially if it involves changing school districts and the like. We lucked out - moved here before our kids were in school, decided this is what we wanted, and reality is the kids remember very little (if anything) of life elsewhere. So we did it right. And, like you said, we're already pretty self-sufficient.

I will admit though that there is a lot of work that goes with the property and we are glad we have seasons. We love the Spring/Summer/Fall, but by the time we've mowed the lawn for the last time for the year, we're happy for the break that comes with that. Of course last summer our son started mowing the lawn himself (even though the front fell off of the mower once) and by next summer we might have a full crew of yard mowers to make that job easier (on us). You also have to realize that you're not in a subdivision and don't have to worry about the president of the HOA complaining that your grass was 2.2" instead of the required maximum of 2".

But then I went and bought a bulldozer that's excessively hard to start, because I'm just not sane like that.
 
When we visited NYC we were in the observation deck of one of the WTC towers, right at dusk. The whole city was laid out below us, and the sunset was beautiful. The shadows from the buildings meant that sunset hits a lot earlier on the street. But the view and the perspective was outstanding. I remember there were two younger guys, maybe late teens or early 20's that were also admiring the sight. One of them said something like, "Look at all that! I can't imagine living out in the country somewhere and missing all this!"

I can watch a Kansas sunset out in the Flint Hills and get similar, but totally opposite feelings. It's all what you're used to. I can appreciate life in a place like NYC, but I don't think I could get used to it.

I'd have to pick a retirement destination that's pretty similar to what I'm already used to...so I guess I have no reason to go anywhere else? I better figure it out soon, though!
 
NealRomeoGolf said:
I might just retire to Prague for the trdelniks.

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Ha!

Czech republic isn't half bad as a place to retire to. Gotta learn the language to make it work. For those all hung up about 2A issues, it's one of the few places in the world that routinely issues carry permits.
 
Matthew said:
When we visited NYC we were in the observation deck of one of the WTC towers, right at dusk. The whole city was laid out below us, and the sunset was beautiful. The shadows from the buildings meant that sunset hits a lot earlier on the street. But the view and the perspective was outstanding. I remember there were two younger guys, maybe late teens or early 20's that were also admiring the sight. One of them said something like, "Look at all that! I can't imagine living out in the country somewhere and missing all this!"

I can watch a Kansas sunset out in the Flint Hills and get similar, but totally opposite feelings. It's all what you're used to. I can appreciate life in a place like NYC, but I don't think I could get used to it.

I'd have to pick a retirement destination that's pretty similar to what I'm already used to...so I guess I have no reason to go anywhere else? I better figure it out soon, though!
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I moved to the city. There are definitely plusses and minuses. The best part of the city are the edges on the water, or early in the morning when there are fewer people around.
 
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weilke said:
Ha!

Czech republic isn't half bad as a place to retire to. Gotta learn the language to make it work. For those all hung up about 2A issues, it's one of the few places in the world that routinely issues carry permits.
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Met a guy in Prague that was a food writer from the UK. He'd taken up residence and spoke highly of it; said he wasn't going back to the UK.

I've enjoyed my visits there.
 
wsuffa said:
Met a guy in Prague that was a food writer from the UK. He'd taken up residence and spoke highly of it; said he wasn't going back to the UK.

I've enjoyed my visits there.
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Yeah, as a food writer there is only so much you can write about 'bangers & mash' with a side of overcooked string beans.....*


Prague, Warsaw, I can eat myself silly in those places. In the czech republic, you are also only a few hours drive from any number of interesting places and cost of living is below the european level overall. Oh, and for the most part people wouldn't hate you for being american.










* Yes, I know, the UK now has a vibrant internationally influenced cuisine. It's what they call a 'joke', in this case one that plays on the allegedly bland british food.
 
Caramon13 said:
Yeah except for pirates. No thanks. Would not want to tie up my entire retirement to chance on the open ocean. It's not as glamorous as it appears. Certainly short trips or vacations in or around the US Coastal waters, but international seems a great way to get killed unless you have the cash to hire some security to go with you.
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It's a good thing we all do not like the same things, I loved my time on the boat. In the 5 years we had one problem, an anchor was stolen.

I will add that you can also get robbed and or murdered in the US.
 
Plano Pilot said:
It's a good thing we all do not like the same things, I loved my time on the boat. In the 5 years we had one problem, an anchor was stolen.

I will add that you can also get robbed and or murdered in the US.
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Of course you can. Different strokes for different folks.
 
weilke said:
Ha!

Czech republic isn't half bad as a place to retire to. Gotta learn the language to make it work. For those all hung up about 2A issues, it's one of the few places in the world that routinely issues carry permits.
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Yup, love my CZ75B.
 
Sort of funny when this thread started three weeks ago I was looking to retire fully in three to five years...now it’s 10 days away as I had a buyer for my business make me a deal...not moving anytime soon but some interesting ideas...many of them I have already eliminated...love sailboats and long voyages, but no way live...funny love Prague but probably gain to much weight...Merida is my favorite non US city but my heart is always drawn to North Yorkshire...Probably just stay in Texas and wait to be blessed with grandchildren...
 
Warlock said:
...love sailboats and long voyages, but no way live...
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I think it depends on how long you want to live like that for. I could see living like that for a few years (like until you're blessed with grandchildren), and then return to normalcy.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
I think it depends on how long you want to live like that for. I could see living like that for a few years (like until you're blessed with grandchildren), and then return to normalcy.
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I will have a great time soon come May for about 5 weeks from the week before Memorial Day in the BVI and end up at Liberty Landing, Jersey by July 4th weekend with a possible stop in Bermuda...I average 30 or so days a year on sailboats...if I was younger...single and did not have kids I probably could have wandered the world in a sailboat...but age makes me wanting and enjoying comfort, post adventure...I have tried to live life along the way and I think Ted your the same...no regrets...and now still looking for the next adventure!
 
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Warlock said:
I will have a great time soon come May for about 5 weeks from the week before Memorial Day in the BVI and end up at Liberty Landing, Jersey by July 4th weekend with a possible stop in Bermuda...I average 30 or so days a year on sailboats...if I was younger...single and did not have kids I probably could have wandered the world in a sailboat...but age makes me wanting and enjoying comfort, post adventure...I have tried to live life along the way and I think Ted your the same...no regrets...and now still looking for the next adventure!
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I could see us doing the boat thing at some point, but honestly I could see us doing motorcycle tours first in our retirement. Maybe after we finally do the long motorcycle trips we'd planned to do before kids we'll switch it up and live on a boat for a while, or at least learn to sail, something else we'd wanted to do before kids.
 
IK04 said:
Rumor is there is somewhere outside Texas worth living.

I ain't buying it...
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The next time I visit Texas will be to be buried in the family plot. The 12 yrs I spent there were more than enough.
 
Half Fast said:
Yes. It is the absolute right of every American to complain about his country, a right that is not available in certain other countries.
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Not just a right, but expected!
 
German guy said:
I met Rich Wellner @rwellner98 a couple years ago on North Fox Island in Michigan: Even though I don't think that he is truly retired, he spoke highly of the small community in Mexico, in which he is living in. Flying back and forth between Mexico and the USA in his Maule doesn't seem to be an issue.

A friend of ours moved from Michigan to an airpark in Tennessee to retire and loves it: Relatively low cost of living and 4 seasons with a still moderate climate.

My wife and I are still quite a few years away from retirement, currently the higher elevations of Arizona, like Flagstaff, are however high on our list. We might even want to move close to a rather touristy area and start an Airbnb as a retirement business.
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I’m thinking Prescott. Same altitude as Denver, nice little airport, much better deals on housing, Costco, a great little asian restaurant, and a jr college so I could keep teaching.
 
Caramon13 said:
Yeah except for pirates. No thanks. Would not want to tie up my entire retirement to chance on the open ocean. It's not as glamorous as it appears. Certainly short trips or vacations in or around the US Coastal waters, but international seems a great way to get killed unless you have the cash to hire some security to go with you.
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Folks talked like this before my big Mexico trip. They all thought years from now anthropologists would find some aboriginal tribe wearing pieces of my motorcycle in their noses. Instead I had the time of my life, an adventure I'll never forget. There are always those who will swear to the dangers of foreign lands despite having never stepped foot there.
 
steingar said:
Folks talked like this before my big Mexico trip. They all thought years from now anthropologists would find some aboriginal tribe wearing pieces of my motorcycle in their noses. Instead I had the time of my life, an adventure I'll never forget. There are always those who will swear to the dangers of foreign lands despite having never stepped foot there.
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So true. Travel through Mexico is EXACTLY like travel on the open ocean.
 
Salty said:
So true. Travel through Mexico is EXACTLY like travel on the open ocean.
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In terms of the risk of being beset by pirates or gangs of marauding bandits (which is the risk he was speaking of) yes.
It happens, but relative to the risks inherent in either sailing or riding a motorcycle on mexican roads, the risk of piracy or banditry is small.
 
In most places, folks respect travelers. There are those who will attempt to prey on them, but they're in the vast minority. Most cultures have ingrained mores concerning travelers. Most Central and South Americans love gringo travelers. Gringos bring money, keep folks eating. No one frowns on that.
 
I was fortunate to have traveled all over the world for work, spent tons of time in Asia and Europe. An adventure to reflect on, but, LOVED coming home. I couldn't leave New England. Would miss the wise-aker humor, Corn Beef, ice cream, seafood, beautiful ocean, marshes, farms and mountains, and the Boston accent. Plus, I don't tan and I can't stand humid-heat, so if I moved to Costa Rica I'd be dead in a month. In spite of all our nutty politicians, outrageous debt load and ever growing political correctness, I wouldn't want to live anywhere but the good o'l US of A.
 
There may come a point in your retirement where you are no longer capable of looking after yourself. Assuming you have a family member who will be looking after you, you need to be physically close to that person. When my inlaws started declining, they were about 40 minutes away from my wife and her brother, which wasn't too bad. When they were no longer able to live independently, they moved into an assisted living facility that was about 20 minutes from where my wife and I live, and five minutes from her brother, and that was ideal. My wife being an RN took care of all their medical visits, while her brother took care of everything else, and that worked very well. When my mother started her decline, I was 400 miles away and my sister was 90, and that was very hard on my sister. If my mother had lived longer we would have moved her up closer to one of us.
 
Once one approaches 80, most bets are off with health issues. Of course it varies, plan the more adventurous stuff earlier in retirement.
 
Some say that retirement has three phases: starting with the go-go, followed by go-slow, and finally no-go.

Moving abroad would definitely be an activity to be started only in the go-go years. If it takes you far from family who can take care of you, it would have to end when the go-slow years creep up on you.
 
FormerHangie said:
There may come a point in your retirement where you are no longer capable of looking after yourself. Assuming you have a family member who will be looking after you, you need to be physically close to that person.
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One advantage of living in some of these lower cost retirement locales is that you can hire private duty nursing for a fraction of what it costs in the US. So rather than spending ungodly amounts of money in 'assisted living' you can have a nurse and a driver/gofer who come to your home or live there. And if things really go downhill, after you have burned through your retirement money while abroad, you are immediately eligible for Medicaid upon your return to the US.
 
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