Feedback: Expatriate Destinations
I’ve got 14 years left of raising kids and working for the man. I’m fortunate, in that I’ll be able to retire at a relatively young 56, hopefully before I’m all used up. More and more my thoughts about what that life will be like have switched from a quiet, pastoral rural retirement, with the occasional vacation thrown in to break up the monotony, to the prospect of starting a brand new adventure in the twilight of my years and retiring overseas as an expatriate American.
I have always been a hedonist. I love good food and spirits. The problem is that I am also obsessive-compulsive, as evidenced by my 13+ years abstaining from strong drink. They better have a good bottle of Scotch waiting for me at the pearly gates, because I have missed it dearly. I am 42 haven’t gotten (too) fat yet, and love food. No, food is more of an obsession. I drive 34 miles to eat at my favorite Chinese restaurant, when there is a Chinese restaurant 3 blocks from my house. I drive 164 miles to Kansas City to have real barbeque instead of eating at the barbeque joint 3 blocks from where I work. To me a vacation destination is more about the food than the sights. If you’re anything like me and think that Anthony Bourdain has the world’s best job, I don’t need to say another word.
So, I started looking into the whole expatriate retirement thing. Obviously the goals are to find a locale that is friendly to non-citizens, one where urban amenities aren’t too terribly far away, and one that isn’t going to be completely impossible for you until you master the native tongue. Of prime importance, locations with a cost of living that is going to make your fixed income seem like a great deal more than it would be where you used to live. There are some good resources on the web to research this, and I’ve gotten some ideas I am going to explore deeper.
I would like to hear from Connected readers that have retired overseas, or even just those of you who have travelled. Share your thoughts about where you’ve been and how friendly an expatriate locale you think it would be.
Morocco? Singapore? The Phillipines? Chile? Tell me why or why not.
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Comment by Futon-Matt on 22 April 2008:
I’ve heard great things about Belize, but who knows what it’ll be like in five or ten years.
Comment by chrisinthailand on 22 April 2008:
Morocco? Singapore?? Who gives you these CRAZY ideas - Just get yourself on a plane to Krabi in Thailand and let the amazing food, incredible scenery and warm natured locals (english speaking) speak for themselves..
Comment by mlankton on 22 April 2008:
Belize is a good suggestion, and one that wasn’t on my radar. Thanks
The problem with Thailand is that non-citizens can’t own property, and becoming a citizen is hard to impossible. Bali would be my choice for that corner of the world, and Thailand would be an easy weekend getaway spot. Correct me if I have bad information.
Comment by chrisinthailand on 23 April 2008:
As an expat you can’t own LAND in Thailand, You CAN own property - US Citizens also get better treatment with regard to Visa’s, settlement, etc than anyone else (The only reason it sucks to be British).
If you want to buy Land, there are options other than marrying a local - a “perpetual” lease valid for 90 years with a clause which guarantees that in the event that the law changes your Leasehold automatically becomes freehold.
There are many expats here in Krabi who have no problems at all, I’ve been here 10 years already, my friend Tom from the US has been here 8 and has at the age of 43 now retired on the profits of the few plots of land he has sold around his house. I’m not bitter at all.
But that’s all the legal stuff, you’ll get bureaucracy wherever you retire in the world - there’s no escape from that - but at least if you’re living somewhere as amazing as this it seems insignificant.
Have a look at some pics if you like..
http://www.aqua-vision.net/Photo_Gallery/A%20Taste%20Of%20Krabi/Taste_of_Krabi_index.html
http://www.aqua-vision.net/Photo_Gallery/Krabi%20Places/Krabi_places_index.html
Comment by mlankton on 23 April 2008:
Thailand has a very similar arrangement to Bali then. Thanks for enlightening me.
Anywhere in that section of the world is such a great spot, not just for the locale, but for close proximity to other great Asian locations to visit. I will definitely add Thailand to my short list, along with Bali and the Philippines. Singapore would be a nice place to visit, but it appears that the cost of living is high, and by the time I’ll be looking to go expat, I’ll be a pensioner. Nevertheless, from a few expats I’ve spoken with, it sounds like the money I’ll net from selling my house and vehicles in the USA will get me set up well, and depending on the location I pick, I’ve been told that I can live anywhere from comfortably to like a king.
Thanks for straightening me out on Thailand, I’ll definitely be doing some deeper digging on it.
Comment by Rus on 23 April 2008:
Have you considered Malaysia? Economically stable country, friendly locals, most of them English speaking (unless you go deep into villages) A lot of expatriates there, nice warm weather, fantastic beaches and tasty food.
They have a program setup by government called Malaysia my second home, i don’t know details but you can check it yourself:
http://www.mm2h.gov.my/
Comment by mlankton on 23 April 2008:
Another good suggestion. Thanks
Comment by Dave Starr on 1 May 2008:
I’ve lived two years in tahailand and now nearly two years in the Philippines. I find life here in the Philippines more to my taste but I am _not_ knocking Thailand … that’s what these duscussions often turn into … my country is better than yur country. They can all be good, thye all have disadvantages.
Right off the bat, foreigners can’t own land in the Philippines either. I have _no_ idea why that is so important to so many people, but it’s an issue in mnay countries. I like it here because most things are relatively cheap, some things insanely cheap (cold bottle of beer at the corner store 100 meters away, 30 cents US), the people are friendly, English is an official language. For those not married to a local the Philippines gov now has a very attractive lifetime stay visa program.
The notion things may chnage a lot in 10 years is a good one to keep in mind, 10 years ago in both these countries things were a _lot_ different for foreigners and likely they will be in 10 more years as well.
I am a retiree with a pension, but I have a number of expat friends who came here before retirement and earn a good living online, so why wait 14 years? I might, at some time, move elsewhere but back to the US? Very unlikely … too many other places to try out … I love the expat lifestyle
Comment by Michael Lankton on 1 May 2008:
Dave,
if you don’t mind fielding some Philippines-specific questions, send me an email at:
admin AT aventhusiast DOT com
Thanks