Contemplating Retirement

[Desdinova]

So I've been thinking about where I want to be for retirement. I don't really want to live in ass-fvck & freezing Canada for the rest of my life, and I think there should be better alternatives out there.

First of all, I don't mind taking a lifestyle downgrade. I don't need to have the latest this, that, or be surrounded by a magnificent economy. I'm retiring with a decent buck, but I'm wondering if it could be a better buck by moving to a different country; most likely something that's warm all year round.

Women do NOT factor into this decision. This is something that I personally want for myself. If I end up with a good woman, she will join me. If not, perhaps I'll find a good one wherever I go.

Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm thinking about this right now, so I can figure out what I'd need to do to prepare for the lifestyle change. Would I have to learn a different language? Dress differently? Adapt to certain living conditions?

So why don't I want to change right now? Simple... I love my job and I'm pretty happy with where I live for this particular phase of my life. However, if I didn't have a job that I loved nor a child to support, I'd probably leave here sooner. Retirement spells a lifestyle change, so why not find something somewhere else to compliment it?

Again, ideas and thoughts are welcomed...

 

[sodbuster]

I'd look at Dominican republic,Costa Rica, Mexico, or Columbia if you speak Spanish or are willing to learn. Since my girlfriend is from Manilla, that MAY be where I'd end up....

 

[Tenacity]

You're 37, are you about to retire soon or something? I'm in Michigan and I might relocate, even though I like the Suburb area I'm at right now.

I was just thinking of the moving costs, I was looking at moving to Texas but the moving costs would be about $4,000 based on my calculation. Maybe that's too high, maybe it's too low, but that's what I calculated.

So I ask myself, do I REALLY need to move that bad?

 

[Desdinova]

You're 37, are you about to retire soon or something?

Not at all. I'm just seeing what I can plan ahead of time. I'd like to travel to a few places before I even consider where I'd like to end up, and travel will take time and money.

 

[Bible_Belt]

I hear Belize is nice. And they speak English.

 

[Lozboss]

Miami? Florida? Both active retirement communities.

 

[zekko]

It's NEVER too early to plan for retirement, although I have no desire to move or change lifestyles.

Florida is out for me, too hot. You might want to stay in Canada, Des, since the health care system up there is supposed to be pretty good. Health insurance is a MAJOR chunk down here in the States. If I was paying Canadian taxes all my life for health care, I'd want to stay in the system. There must be some nice places up in Canada to retire to, surely.

 

[Desdinova]

I hear Belize is nice. And they speak English.

That was an interesting suggestion...

http://www.paradisehunter.com/CountryInformation/Belize/Things-To-See-&-Do/Shopping

The website bytches about the sales tax, but even that's lower than here. Their dollar is worth about 65 cents here.

You might want to stay in Canada, Des, since the health care system up there is supposed to be pretty good.

That's probably the only thing that would convince me otherwise. However, "pretty good" is subjective. When you pay for health care down in the US, you get top notch care. When you get health care for free, you're subjected to some pretty atrocious wait times and 5hitty doctors. You truly get what you pay for.

 

[zekko]

When you pay for health care down in the US, you get top notch care. When you get health care for free, you're subjected to some pretty atrocious wait times and 5hitty doctors. You truly get what you pay for.

In the USA, they like to tell us that our health care system is the "envy of the world". Personally, I think it's overrated. I've been subject to some pretty atrocious wait times myself, and there are sh!tty doctors everywhere. If you're a millionaire celebrity checking yourself into Cedar Sinai you're probably going to get great care, but most of us common folk, as you say, "get what we pay for".

 

[taiyuu_otoko]

The way the world economy is going, there's literally NO TELLING which place will be good when you're ready. Just travel around when you can to a few places in the next decade or so so you'll have a good idea. What you're looking for a is a few places where the:

People
Language
Culture
Weather
Food
Healthcare System
Security
View of Americans
Banking System (need to be able to switch dollars in and out safely)

is something you can deal with. Then when the time comes, just pick a place that's economically appropriate.

Since all of the above vary from person to person, the only way to tell is to check and see.

IN THE MEANTIME

Buy a few Lonely Planet books from places you think might be OK and read through them, visit a few forums filled with lonely planet traveler types, and that will give you some good info before you drop any coin on plane tickets, etc.

 

[Tenacity]

Not at all. I'm just seeing what I can plan ahead of time. I'd like to travel to a few places before I even consider where I'd like to end up, and travel will take time and money.

Yeah, I would say it depends on your personal taste in terms of what you like. Do you like more quieter/calmer areas? Do you like more high city life/busy areas?

I've always been more of a staycation guy rather than a vacation guy. My idea of rest and relaxation is just to be at home, quiet, away from everybody, maybe drinking a nice protein shake, and watching a good documentary or movie or tv show. Being alone or having a non-drama filled chick with me is usually the pattern.

Basically, give me my money, my workouts, my protein shakes, some non-drama filled chicks, and let me lay in peace lol. I'm pretty simple and basic.

This has always been my form of rest and relaxation, not because I'm "cheap" (well, I am cheap but that's another story ), but it's just because I'm not interested in flying off to some Island or some other State every weekend to see their "monuments".

These chicks trip me out that I meet, with their seemingly every weekend "vacation trip" to XYZ State or Island.

 

[Bible_Belt]

When I lived in Tampa, I took a vacation with my then-wife to stay with her friends in Miami, and then take a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. I've been to San Juan, and it feels less like Latin America than Miami. No one spoke English in Miami, and they were p!ssed if you didn't speak Spanish.

I was only there for a day, but I really liked Cozumel, Mexico. It's an island off of Cancun. It's all tourists, but it's a nice place, very clean and nearly crime-free. And everyone speaks English. Buying a small bar there to sell Corona to the tourists would be a nice retirement.

 

[Desdinova]

I can see the climate becoming more and more of an issue for me. I fvcking HATE the winters here, and they can get really harsh. I do absolutely nothing in the winter because it's too cold and I get too damn miserable. I thrive well in the heat, and would like to eventually live somewhere that caters to it.

I've always been more of a staycation guy rather than a vacation guy. My idea of rest and relaxation is just to be at home, quiet, away from everybody, maybe drinking a nice protein shake, and watching a good documentary or movie or tv show. Being alone or having a non-drama filled chick with me is usually the pattern.

See, that's basically what I am. I think being near a busy city would be good, but I could see myself setting into a small town or maybe even somewhere rural. Just give me somewhere I can sit outside all year round and play my guitar on the porch, and I'm happy. I don't need scenery to dazzle me, so I wouldn't need beachfront property. I can walk or drive if I wanna be near the water.

I think people put a bit too much emphasis on travel and scenery. Have I seen the eiffel tower? Nope. Do I want to see it? Don't care. I can see pictures of it on the internet. I'm more interested in the environment, culture, and climate; basically somewhere I can be comfortable on most days.