Retirement outside CONUS. Where would you go and why?

[AlwaysVigilant]

Thread title says it all. My experiences are limited outside of Canada, Europe, Mexico, Turkey, and some former Comm Block countries. What do you all think?

[CaptBeach]

Only place on the entire planet I'd consider right now and I've been a lot of places...

SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND...probably have a small home somewhere around Nelson and a nice motor home/camper to travel the rest of the island on a regular basis...why...

Very liberal gun laws unlike its neighbor Australia...yes you do have to get a permit of sorts...basically get the .govs blessing with a single background check and then your golden...just about anything short of MG's...suppressors are just polite shooting available in blister packs sorted by caliber on the sporting goods store shelves for about $39-69 USD...

Good exchange rate on the dollar...actaully excellent...for example...a Norinco M14-M1A clone in 308 was $650USD after exchange. A Remington 700 (very popular) was basically the same as here...about $600USD

Hunting and fishing season is year round and only limited to availability of the seasons in its migratory movements...when salmon are around you catch them, want to bag an Elk for your freezer..GO DO IT...

People are an EXTREMELY positive and freedom loving people...love yanks...

Cost of living is extremely affordable...

Common language with an awesome accent...

Beer...absolutely the best lager on the planet...Speights...they will not export it...

Cleanest, clearest air and water in the world...

Words do not describe the place...get on plane and spend a few weeks there...rent a car or camper and fall in love...I have a few times...

Capt Beach

[AlwaysVigilant]

Sounds awesome, and something I had not even dreamed of considering. Good call.

[Fulanito]

Been overseas (outside of the US) for 20 years. 13 of those years were in a row. Been to 3 some countries, lived for years in 5.

I know I would only go to a place where we and our culture are appreciated (not many of them left). No one enjoys being looked as a threat, a meal ticket, or an outsider for the rest of your life. This is often what happens in developing nations. Also need to be where my money actually buys something, safe, good choices for schools for the kids. This is why I ended up back in the US...North Carolina. Meets my requirements.

Overseas? I had thought of Prince Edward Island. At this point, I have absolutely no interest in LATAM for living. Working, Yes. Living, NO. Funny, I always see at the top of the list of places to retire...Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama....Ha! I guess they're not considering 70% tax on a car, 150% tax on a gun, ridiculous corruption and more crime than you can stomach.

I spent many years observing US citizens retiring in places where I was working. they had been looking for paradise. Trying to convince themselves (after a heavy investment) that being away from the US was better, nicer, more convenient, safer, cheaper. The US is still the best place for me. Best, food, medical, dental, cars, easy to make a buck.

For me and for many, the idea of retiring overseas (away from the US) was nicer than the reality. It is one of the only countries with a line to get in...not to get out. Very few places have a line to get in....and that says it all. I often have told friends to go for the adventure, if that is what they are looking for. But, if they are leaving because they are unhappy in the US...it is likely not the fault of the country. Its their perspective. If you can manage to be unhappy in the US with all its comforts and convieniences, you can certainly manage to be unhappy in lesser nations.

[Maddog6]

Belize has been advertising heavily lately in the U.S. Been there but don't know if I would live there. By the way, that is where a lot of the movie "Dogs of War" was filmed.

[Gabriel Suarez]

Right NOW, the US is a pretty good gig. That may not always be the case. After four years of Mugabe, and then likely another four with president Hillary, and you will look at the dingiest LATAM hole as more desirable in terms of keeping your dough...if you still think like a good guy that is.

I am more of the "one toe in each pond" kind of guy. Meaning that having a place to go in Asia, Latin America (no paradise for certain), and Europe, is a smart thing. Also keeping your money in more than one place. I would not give up your US Citizenship...just let it go "dormant" with no forwarding address.

[bae]

Thread title says it all. My experiences are limited outside of Canada, Europe, Mexico, Turkey, and some former Comm Block countries. What do you all think?

On my list are, in no particular order, and for a wide variety of different reasons:

Uruguay
Monaco
The Channel Islands
Iceland
Canada
Thailand
New Zealand
Montana
Alaska

[Fulanito]

Right NOW, the US is a pretty good gig.

Yep, great time to move back to the US. The whole place is on sale! I got a great price on the nicest house I have ever had. A great discount on two beautiful new Ford's. Super safe small town with great schools. As long as you pick a conservative place, what the dip-shit in the oval office says and does only effects you if you let it. Keep the TV off and you will likely never notice what he did or didn't do. He doesn't effect me.

[CaptBeach]

Spent a lot of time lately in Saskatchewan and Alberta....other than the damned cold pretty nice places...

[choirboy]

On the basic thought:

How does one obtain "Joint Citizenship" ??

Choirboy, who traces roots to the Garden of Eden.

[Fulanito]

On the basic thought:

How does one obtain "Joint Citizenship" ??

Choirboy, who traces roots to the Garden of Eden.

There are many countries in the world that allow Dual Citizenship. It can be obtained by marrying into the culture, having a child in the culture, significant investment..or simply living there long enough and applying for it.

Check out this link: http://www.immihelp.com/citizenship/dual-citizenship-recognize-countries.html

[yoni]

I have multiple passports.

I will not layout which countries here.

My lawyer in DC, was very happy when I told him where all my passports are from.

America is still one of the best places in the world. Moving away for 99% of the people would not be smart.

By the way Tina Turner just got rid of her American citizenship.

[DaveJames]

I always said I would retire and move back to Chile, I admit its more out of passed memories and long dead friends, or Costa Rica, but with the movements there I'll pass, Capt got it right New Zeland, the ole man and my mom moved there for a few short years and they loved it,

[LawDog]

I am more of the "one toe in each pond" kind of guy.This is my plan. I am still too early in my career to be looking at retirement, but I have already identified a couple of escape plans. I have begun looking at the possibility of purchasing a small apartment in the Czech Republic and setting it up as a short-term rental for tourists. I would have a management company handle the day-to-day for me. Owning the property would give me the ability to set up a cache somewhere within it. And with a little bit of notice, I could simply move in. Having a second escape route would be desirable, but I'll start with just one.

I second the endorsement of New Zealand. That place is awesome. The views are unbeatable, the food is good, and the people are nice.

[WinstonSmith]

If you haven't looked, the cost of entry (immigration into) New Zealand ain't for the shabby Socialist. Their immigration laws would make Lindsey Grahamnesty's head pop.

[choirboy]

Not that I have any great criminal plans, but when in law school I was told that no US citizen could be extradited to any foreign country. They could be arrested and detained on US soil and the aggrieved country could prosecute, under foreign law, in the US. Any sentence would be served in the US at the expense of the foreign nation.

The reason I ask:

A local PA guy ( US CITIZEN) was on his honeymoon in Mexico and some hombre ended up dead. He got back to the US, but some months later, was arrested by US Marshals and taken to Mexico where some 18-24 months ( I THINK) later he is on trial in Mexico.

My half assed research shows nothing.

I know that late 70s - early 80s contractors were told to get back on US dirt and you were safe.

Choirboy

[MK-300]

I spent 2 months in Thailand about 5 years ago and determined I wouldn't want to live there but I could easily do 6 months there and 6 months in the the US every year. You're talking retirement and so am I. I wouldn't want to have to make money in Thailand. Just hang and dive.

[michael]

Aruba, Panama, Costa Rica.

[Base Bleed]

I second the endorsement of New Zealand. That place is awesome. The views are unbeatable, the food is good, and the people are nice.

Hows the population density? We talking Montana or Atlanta? NZ has always been on the radar. But as a MD I don't see that region as any where near as viable...even given the Spawn in DC.

God & Tribe

[LawDog]

Hows the population density? We talking Montana or Atlanta? NZ has always been on the radar. But as a MD I don't see that region as any where near as viable...even given the Spawn in DC.I skipped right on through Aukland, so I can't give any insight into their biggest city. But the south island has more sheep than people. Christchurch is the "big city" down there and it has the feel of a moderately-sized English town ("developed" but not crowded). The roads down there really had me longing for a motorcycle. And everywhere I went, they had these fabulous little meat pies. They were small and usually cost $1, so you just decided how many you wanted. (Kind of like tacos, as far as portions go.) I'm a sucker for a pastry with mutton in it.

And I remember walking through a sporting goods store and seeing sound suppressors on the shelf for $20. It took all the control that I have to not attempt to smuggle a few of those back.

[Goodspeed(TPF)]

And I remember walking through a sporting goods store and seeing sound suppressors on the shelf for $20. Why, oh why, can't we have it like that here...

[CaptBeach]

If you haven't looked, the cost of entry (immigration into) New Zealand ain't for the shabby Socialist. Their immigration laws would make Lindsey Grahamnesty's head pop.

DEPENDS ON YOUR AGE, SKILLSET and I'm told sex too...wife has already been granted basically a free pass due to her skill set, they need doctors, nurses, teachers, boatwrights, A&Ps, skilled workers...got a good skill and years to contribute and it gets easier...they want, nor allow no free loaders

[CaptBeach]

Hows the population density? We talking Montana or Atlanta? NZ has always been on the radar. But as a MD I don't see that region as any where near as viable...even given the Spawn in DC.

God & Tribe

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/NewZealandPopulationDensity.png/220px-NewZealandPopulationDensity.png

Anything GREEN in the image above is less than 10 people per square kilometer...light green 10, dark green less than 1

4.4 million people in 2011...I'd bet 75% or more on the North Island... I think they have a 10:1 sheep/people ratio though...if you don't like mutton...learn how to...also elk and reindeer are staples...


Land is dirt cheap too...they measure in meters and hectares but in 2011 I looked at basically a 1800 sq foot home on about 15 acres...nothing extravagant mind you, newer concrete block and stone floor house, terra cotta roof, fireplace, solar heat/water, wind generator with a huge bank of batteries, fenced in, barn, 90% of the land in pasture/paddock...frontof home looked up at the snow covered southern alps about 10 miles away straight up to 10-15K feet, back door dumped to about 300 feet of frontage on the Tasman sea...100 foot cliffs with a walkway down to a private beach shared with a couple of neighbors...10 miles from a decent sized town...$225K

Oh...and the guy who owned it paid for it outright over 10 years with gold he mined from a river about a mile from the house and jade he found on the beaches...

[Nick Randall]

Interesting info Cap'

[michael]

NZ has always been high on my list of countries to visit, and I think it is probably a wonderful place other than their draconian gun laws. Aren't firearms frowned on there just like Australia and the U.K.?

[Benjamin Liu]

IMO a lot depends on the individual.

I'd choose the Philippines since I have family there, everyone speaks English, the gun laws are in some ways better than the US (and in all ways better than some states,) and I have dual citizenship.

[Francisp]

There are many countries in the world that allow Dual Citizenship. It can be obtained by marrying into the culture, having a child in the culture, significant investment..or simply living there long enough and applying for it.

Check out this link: http://www.immihelp.com/citizenship/dual-citizenship-recognize-countries.html

Or in certain countries like Ireland and Italy having a parent or grandparent born there. Spain as well.

[Benjamin Liu]

In my case, my dad had is green card but was not yet a US citizen when I was born. Technically I've always been a dual citizen but I did all my paperwork to get it recognized officially last year.

People who immigrated from the Philippines to the US can get their Philippine citizenship back while remaining US citizens.

[CaptBeach]

NZ has always been high on my list of countries to visit, and I think it is probably a wonderful place other than their draconian gun laws. Aren't firearms frowned on there just like Australia and the U.K.?


NO...ABSOLUTELY NOT...read above...they have a thriving gun culture rivaled only by US...

[ERN]

Hows the population density? We talking Montana or Atlanta? NZ has always been on the radar. But as a MD I don't see that region as any where near as viable...even given the Spawn in DC.

God & Tribe

I worked with a Kiwi in my fellowship. He previously worked for the Australian health service rather than NZ since the pay was better. Either way I imagine they would be happy with any doc that wants to work.

The guys with the best gig are the radiologist who work days in Australia covering nights here in the US. Everything is done electronically, they get paid like US docs, but live down under.

[LawDog]

NO...ABSOLUTELY NOT...read above...they have a thriving gun culture rivaled only by US...You might be ranking NZ a bit too high. NZ is not Australia or the U.K., but it also ain't Texas. The sound suppressor thing is a novelty to us, because Americans have grown accustomed to them being highly regulated. But in many parts of the world, shooting without a sound suppressor is just rude and un-neighborly. I think NZ gun laws are probably closer to something like the laws in Finland. Culturally, they are more accepting of guns, but in a hunting/fishing kind of way. Most Kiwis would still be uncomfortable with the idea of carrying around a concealed Glock for personal defense, and I don't think that would be lawful.

I never sat down and really read through NZ's gun laws. I just had some casual conversations with people while I was there. So take my analysis with a grain of salt.

[Francisp]

NO...ABSOLUTELY NOT...read above...they have a thriving gun culture rivaled only by US...
Exactly

New Zealand is more gun friendly than my STATE.

[Al Lipscomb]

If you haven't looked, the cost of entry (immigration into) New Zealand ain't for the shabby Socialist. Their immigration laws would make Lindsey Grahamnesty's head pop.


Keeps the riff-raff out I suppose. Which is a good thing.

[Francisp]

I worked with a Kiwi in my fellowship. He previously worked for the Australian health service rather than NZ since the pay was better. Either way I imagine they would be happy with any doc that wants to work.

The guys with the best gig are the radiologist who work days in Australia covering nights here in the US. Everything is done electronically, they get paid like US docs, but live down under.

I've spent a bit of time in OZ as my sister was a resident there a long time (NSW). There is a lot of shooting there but Austalia's gun laws make NJ seem very gun friendly NZ is far better however that is on long guns. Handgun permits are hard to come by there and you have to log into a pistol club and shoot under an approved rangemaster to shoot them. There is a minimum visit to keep your license. However an FN FAL? No Problem! Handguns are a bit harder. They also have a handgun size requirement.

Anyone who wants to know about NZ self defense and gun laws should youtube kiwitedferny. The one thing is he is of the belief NZ's gun laws are on borrowed time as the parliament there ratified the UN Small arms control treaty.

[ZMB HNTR]

My wife and I will be celebrating 15 years of marriage soon, and NZ is on our short list of choices to travel to; I think I can use this thread to bolster my case all the more --- well that and we want to take the "Red Carpet Tour" of Middle Earth! :piratewheel:

[michael]

It's good to know NZ is fairly gun friendly, but I do like the capacity to pack a pistol if I choose to do so.