Relocate in old age, where to?

[cc3]

No taxation or income reporting, as long as I don't work in UA.

[The Natural]

things in Crimea are now much worse under Russian rule than Ukrainian.  Simferopol airport used to have a 3 hour 45 min flight to Berlin, from there you could catch DB to any train station in continental Europe and the UK in just a few hours, or you could fly to Istanbul in just 45 minutes.  Those days are gone and now you have to fly to Moscow first and then catch another flite to your intended destination, plus credit cards don't work at all in Crimea now.  Meest no longer delivers to Crimea.  Also consider that the Duma is considering a bill to make Sevastopol a "closed city" again.  So if you buy property there you might not be allowed to live there unless you acquire Russian citizenship.  My way of dealing with the negative impact of all the "bad news" in the media, is to stop listening to it and just focus on the things around me, my family, my neighborhood, and not worry about the rest of the world, I feel a lot better this way, ignorance is bliss!

That's the sanctions at work. Before when going to Crimea, I flew out of Riga. So that one don't make much difference for us. We have to transit en route from Oslo anyway. Difference now is that Our son and I need a visa.
We got the visas this year but could not go because my wife got a job and couldn't get much time off.

Speaking of sanctions. We wanted to send some Money to MIL and my wifes goddaughter, but it was stopped by my bank With the explanation that Crimea is under sanctions. We solved it by sending the Money With no problem to MIL's other daughter and husband in Moscow. MIL went there on a pre-Christmas visit and she could give the goddaughter Euros that she still had from when she was here. Very frugal, you see, which came in handy now 

Krimster; I didn't know credit Cards don't work in Crimea now. Bank Cards too? Good to know when going there. I always did take a good sum of cash, dollars/Euros when I was there before, but of course also had to withdraw quite a few times and had no problems With the ATM's then.

Making Sevastopol is a bad idea. I'd like to visit there if we get to visit Crimea next summer.

I kinda disagree that ignorance is bliss. Not overdoing it, but feel it's good to pay a little attention to what's going on in the world.

[alex330]

Someone mentioned Costa Rica, fun place and very lush greenery. I never saw the crime that as has been mentioned. Not in San Jose or Jaco .

Most tourists will never see any crime. It is a numbers game and being in the wrong place.

Stop to feed saltwater crocs at the Tarcoles bridge and you will be light several backpacks when you walk back across the bridge to your car. Only tourists on a sandy stretch of beach down South in Marina Ballena Natl Park? You will get mugged. Ride a bus with backpack under your seat, your camera will be gone when you get off. Hang out with some ladies and your passport or wallet may take a walk.

Like in most places expats retire, you become more of a target once you live there. People get to know you and you become a big fish in a little pond. They become aware of your routine and what you own. Your maid or gardener tells his cousins about you, and their friends pay you a visit one night. Or you hook up with a young Latina who immediately becomes pregnant with your child even though you were safe. Guess who owns your finca now?

Jealousy runs rampant and the finca you own used to be owned by someones grandfather. It was in the family for generations and now a gringo owns it. The gringos now own all the good property, and the young punks who sold it to become a cabbie are bitter. A few words exchanged and you get stabbed down at the beach.

If you can live more like a local, and use your common sense much of this can be avoided, but foreigners need to be aware of things like this before taking the plunge.

[BC]

'If' I wanted to move somewhere else to retire I would likely pick the southern regions of Spain or Turkey. When I hit medicare age the US might come into play.

[msmobyone]

What do you know about Sardinia, BC ?

[BC]

What do you know about Sardinia, BC ?

Is a very nice quaint island with fantastic coastline and some very nice beaches.  A far as cost of living, is more expensive than the mainland due to higher logistics costs getting goods and products there.  Of course travel to/from is more expensive due to either an extra plane hop or ferry, a few EU flights though, think from paris and london, more during the peak travel season than off season.

If you plan to visit, like most of Italy best time is June and September

Cheers!

[msmobyone]

Is a very nice quaint island with fantastic coastline and some very nice beaches.  A far as cost of living, is more expensive than the mainland due to higher logistics costs getting goods and products there.  Of course travel to/from is more expensive due to either an extra plane hop or ferry, a few EU flights though, think from paris and london, more during the peak travel season than off season.

If you plan to visit, like most of Italy best time is June and September

Cheers!

Thanks, for the concise, summary,BC

I have a long-term male pen friend, there and I know things  aren't wonderful, there economically.

Intend to visit, to check... as I keep hearing good things from folk who have lived there when stationed with NATO duties.

[LiveFromUkraine]

Seems to me the western world is on a path to disintegration. Won’t dwell on that here. Just want to hear your thoughts about the alternatives in, say the next 10-15 years.

I expect to be debt free in 10 years. House paid off but of course nobody knows what the house value will be then. Save a little in gold and silver (physical now and in the meantime).

I am thinking a little about where to retire to when the times comes. Thought a little about a pretty high-end apartment in Crimea, but my wife is skeptical (she’s Crimean). Says it’s too criminal and too different (to live grand) to the big masses living in poverty (unless you’re a criminal). Told her I can turn criminal once I’m a senior citizen, but she just smiled at me.

That her relatives experienced their property just being stolen in Moscow, just add to the feeling of it being too high risk of being invested in Russia. Even though I’m a fan of Russia, I’m still aware of the three big problems there; crime, corruption and beaucrocracy.

So where to go to enjoy the last years of one’s miserable life, somewhere where there’s sunshine more than just a couple of months a year, low cost country where a pension will last pretty well and where the political situation is stable? Any ideas?

I don't think I would be looking at purchasing property if I was ready to retire.  Especially if I haven't lived in a particular place for years already.   I am more than happy to rent for the rest of my life to be honest.  The big thing is having enough cashflow from investments and/or pensions to pay for rent and activities.  Renting also gives you the flexibility to get out if economical or political forces become unsavory. 

[Wayne]

You could live on a boat and travel around whenever you like. Do some fishing. Not pay taxes. Live somewhere warm.

[BC]

Thanks, for the concise, summary,BC

I have a long-term male pen friend, there and I know things  aren't wonderful, there economically.

Intend to visit, to check... as I keep hearing good things from folk who have lived there when stationed with NATO duties.

Indeed the streets are not paved with gold and most bizzness there either services or tourist oriented.  If you have a good independent source of income would be a great place to retire.  IOW it's not really a place to setup a new small business and expect to live off of it.  Unfortunately the tourist season is fruitfull but only a few months per year. What one gains in summer is mostly lost in winter.  As with many places in southern Italy there is some opportunity potential with off-season vacation rentals/tours for europeans from the north that run around in shorts when 20 celsius when the locals start putting on jackets but that's about it IMHO. LOL

[msmobyone]

Thanks, BC

I would NEVER try to rely on income from helping the odd ex-pat ..defo worth a visit

[BillyB]

So where to go to enjoy the last years of one’s miserable life, somewhere where there’s sunshine more than just a couple of months a year, low cost country where a pension will last pretty well and where the political situation is stable? Any ideas?

People are giving advice based on you but a few years ago you announced the birth of a baby and now have a toddler to consider. Where you decide to live to retire will help or hurt your child's ability to succeed in life. A place that can give the child a good education, provide stability and have an abundance of jobs should be considered. Making a good decision will help your child and future generations.

Rumor has it that Panama to the south is improving, and could be an option.
 

Northern Panama is very nice as long as you are not in the lowlands. But it is not cheap to live nicer areas there.

In my three years in an Army unit nobody performing guard duty was given any live rounds except for the time we were in Panama in the early 90's. I guess there may have been a real threat there for us to receive live rounds. The good news is that the situation could've changed. That's also the bad news. In countries like that the situation can easily change.

[alex330]

In my three years in an Army unit nobody performing guard duty was given any live rounds except for the time we were in Panama in the early 90's. I guess there may have been a real threat there for us to receive live rounds. The good news is that the situation could've changed. That's also the bad news. In countries like that the situation can easily change.

Yes, Panama was more unstable at that time. It has since stabilized and is not too bad. Now that they kicked the gringos out they are remorseful and want us to return.

I have a brother living down in there right now as he has dual citizenship.

But as you mention the situation in Central America can change on a whim. Nicaragua looks like it may have an upcoming conflict in the near future. I was speaking to a Nico last night and he just moved to Panama due to fears over those in power currently.

[AkMike]

CC3, I should have my Permanent Residency in a week or so!    No more of the 90/180 for me.


 I've already made my plans and started making it happen several years ago by buying properties here in UA for income and investment. We bought the new homestead late this last summer. I'll retire next winter and move. As I understand the Medicare angle.. Expats don't have to pay into it anymore. Health care here is dirt cheap and the quality is good at the private clinics and private hospitals. Western quality dental costs 10% of what I'd have to pay in Alaska too. That point alone has made flying here worthwhile.

[ML]

As I understand the Medicare angle.. Expats don't have to pay into it anymore. Health care here is dirt cheap and the quality is good at the private clinics and private hospitals. Western quality dental costs 10% of what I'd have to pay in Alaska too. That point alone has made flying here worthwhile.

Mike, not to sound to pessimistic AND I am not a total expert on this, but . . . 

1) You  have already paid big money into Medicare over the years.
2) You WILL want back into the Medicare system at some point.
3) It will cost you X times as much to get back in later compared to sticking with it always.
4) The supplemental plans also have big extra penalty premiums for every month that you do not join after the first month of eligibility.
5) As someone else posted,  it may be great for X years to be outside the USA . . . but we all WILL want to come back at some point.

There was a man, perhaps some know who I am talking about, who moved to Ukraine permanently, took $100,000 in USD converted into UAH at 5-7 or so, put  in Ukraine bank earning 20% annual return.

I told him it was foolish because high interest earnings are simply a reflection of the risk of default of the bank and risk of currency devaluation.  For some time he was living high, but now with UAH massive devaluation and the associated inflation . . . his principal and interest is worth one fifth or so of what he started with.

Not an exact analogy . . . but  something like this is what will happen in the health care realm to those who take  the plunge.

[cc3]

CC3, I should have my Permanent Residency in a week or so!    No more of the 90/180 for me.


 I've already made my plans and started making it happen several years ago by buying properties here in UA for income and investment. We bought the new homestead late this last summer. I'll retire next winter and move. As I understand the Medicare angle.. Expats don't have to pay into it anymore. Health care here is dirt cheap and the quality is good at the private clinics and private hospitals. Western quality dental costs 10% of what I'd have to pay in Alaska too. That point alone has made flying here worthwhile.

Mike, congrats! My wife said to me that my obtaining Ukrainian residency proved my devotion to her and her daughter almost as much as our getting married. As far as Medicare goes, I will continue to pay the Part B premium, it's only about $100/month, as an emergency fallback, but I do not pay for commercial supplementary insurance.

[AkMike]

I'll look into the SS later after I get back. I'm not too worried about it at this point. It's still a year away.

[BC]

Malta anyone?

[GatoMoon]

For me, BUENOS AIRES!!!!!!

[Maxx2]

I've been living in the Republic of Georgia for the last 6 weeks and a day. I can easily live comfortably here on half of my Social Security. The nice things about Georgia is there is no visa required, automatic one year stays with a border jump to renew, monthly costs are one-third of the US and a friendly people who take pride in being hospitable to strangers ("A gift from God!"). Plus it is not too far from those areas most of you guys are interested in and only a few hundred dollars for round trip tickets to there and back.


They like Americans here. We have a George W Bush Street with a billboard size photo along it and a bronze statue of Ronald Reagan in a city park.













 Georgia wants to integrate into the West so English is taught in the schools from grade one and on. It is a business friendly place. It takes less than an hour to open up a bank account. ATMs are everywhere that payout in Georgian Lari (GEL) and US dollars. Of course as BillyB pointed out everything can change but for now this place deserves a look. I plan on checking out Batumi soon as the climate there is quite temperate being along the Black Sea coast like Sochie. Here in Tbilisi similar to Northern Texas.


Did I mention Georgians are not fond of Russians? So they would agree with much of the political statements around here. Georgians regard Ukrainians as kindred spirits. Every time I mention Ukraine and Ukrainians I am told what wonderful people they are in contrast to Russians who are perceived as the "cold people." 

[AkMike]

And Georgian food is fantastic!     They don't skimp on the spices!


There's a place here that serves 'harcho' soup/stew and I love it..

[BillyB]

Georgian wine is really good. Maxx, what some of the single guys want to know is how are the women there? I know it's a small nation and I rarely see any Georgian ladies on dating/marriage sites but would it be a good place for a guy to get to know a Georgian woman or are they too patriotic to leave their country?

[ML]

, but I do not pay for commercial supplementary insurance.

When you do 'want' into the supplementary plans later (as you will), you will pay a penalty premium each month forever, for every month you have gone past the initial eligibility month without it.

The logic is they don't want people to be waiting to join until they find they have a serious illness and will be incurring huge medical bills.

The standard insurance concept of 'adverse selection.'

[msmobyone]

Well,

I can see plenty of 'ol gits with Thai g/f / wives in Thailand ....I find it some what seedy - and I have no idea about healthcare, but the sea is warm in winter

SC says the Russian tourists are WAY down on her last trip here..

If you like fresh fruit and coconuts you'll be happy

[cc3]

When you do 'want' into the supplementary plans later (as you will), you will pay a penalty premium each month forever, for every month you have gone past the initial eligibility month without it.

The logic is they don't want people to be waiting to join until they find they have a serious illness and will be incurring huge medical bills.

The standard insurance concept of 'adverse selection.'

Living in Ukraine, as I do, Medicare supplemental insurance is useless to me...better to buy commercial health insurance for American expats, valid in Europe and not the US, at rates far below US insurance rates, due to the relative absence of predatory medical litigiousness outside of the US.