If You Could Live Anywhere Outside the US Where Would You Go?
 

I was reading an article about people retiring outside the US due to the unfavorable political/tax climate here. I know a guy that retired to Thailand and another that "bought" some property in Mexico on the sea of cortez. Have any of you thought about leaving the US when you retire? Where would you go?

I wish I had enough money for the tax climate here to be a problem for me. I would live in Austria. My best friend's dad there is getting the family home ready to sell and I would so love to buy it. And they'd love to sell it to me, so it'd be out of the family, but with someone who is almost family they could visit anytime.

Morrea, Tahiti

I actually think I would choose Chili. I've always had an interest in South America.

Thailand, but it is not for everybody. Speaking the language, knowing the culture well, and a good group of friends both Thai and expats is necessary. That said, the native culture doesn't know about the Fonz, Beaver, or a myriad of other memories of our history. A good woman is not hard to find if one is smart, but there will always be a cultural disconnect at some junctures.

So northern Michigan works well for me and the economics are pretty close. When it comes to my automobile addiction, Thailand's automobile purchase taxes make it astronomically expensive.

Diverdan

Is that near Hungry or Feliz?

Southern France, Bellagio on Lake Como or Tuscany.

Not Mexico. I spent a month in an ex-pat community in Ajijic with the idea of possibly moving there someday. There is no way in he11 I would live down there. Infrastructure sucks and I could not get used to the culture. They celebrate everything with fireworks, and they have something to celebrate just about every night. The people are great until they get behind the wheel of a vehicle, when they become homicidal maniacs, and now there are gangs that behave like typical Mexican drivers 24/7.
I like central Italy and I hope to go spend a month there to check it out. It would be hard to give up my Porsches though.

Italy is mega expensive, and there are only certain areas such as the Amalfi coast that are free of Mafia.

I thought Sydney, Australia was fantastic. Great infrastructure, public transportation is great and the people are awesome. The biggest drawback is how expensive it is. Oh well, maybe I will visit more often.

I'd live on a mid-50' bluewater sailing yacht and home would be wherever I tied up or set an anchor.

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Jim, I know where you can find 190 lbs of "rail meat"!!!

For me....I'd have to say Wyoming ;)

There is no place like home. To put down big money into a foreign land I would be wishing I was back home. The grass is greener on the other side till I would realize that there is sh--t on the other side too.

We take for granted our legal system, infrastructure, property rights etc. Many countries lack compared to ours in these respects.

My current favorite is northern Spain. My girlfriend is from Thailand and would really like us to retire there since she has family and land there but between a language I could never learn and the lack of goods and supplies I'm used to here, I don't think I could do it. Plus my CaymanS would have cost over $300K US if bought new in Thailand!

Pretty much anywhere between the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer is in the running (short term and / or long term) but also specifically looking at NZ and AU. Both are damn nearly impossible to emigrate to though, but I'm still taking shots.

Beyond that I like Greece, Italy, France, parts of SE Asia and central / South America (Belize, Costa Rica, Brazil, a few others...). ;)

If it's got palm trees, coast / beaches and a decent potential for good quality of life I'll consider it.

Probably Texas, aka Baja Oklahoma ;)

Primosten Croatia. The Adriatic is as clear as a bath tub. Fresh fish for lunch that was caught that morning. Super friendly people.

Wife's family has had a house here for over 300 years.
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Southern Spain or Tuscany

I could deal with a house in walking distance to the Nurburgring. Beautiful scenery, the track, and I'm happy. Of course, I'd need to make enough money to retire first because I don't speak German.

Germany or Croatia.

We owned property on the Pacific in Costa Rica for 15 years. We built a nice house on it, I had a business there, I loved it. My wife didn't. We moved back.
I have thought a lot about Uruguay, Spain and Portugal. I think learning Portuguese would be tough. Doesn't matter, she won't leave the states. I can't even get her to leave California. For her it's the weather here and the lack of bugs. We can leave the doors and windows open and there are no bugs. No air condition and not a big heat bill in the winter. You can check out but you can never leave.

South of France. Around Vence.
Close to the Alps. Within striking distance of Italy.

I spent a number of years living outside the US, 3 in UK, 3 in Germany, 18 months in Sicily and 12 months in Egypt. There truly is no place like home.

If I HAD to go somewhere, probably Australia or Scotland. Then there is the whole no shooting sports there so I would have to get a new hobby so I guess I will stay here for now.

If there were a place I thought was better to live, I would have already moved. If I had to move to a foreign country, probably Oz or NZ.

It is funny how some of you throw in countries like Scotland and Germany. Geez, have you been there in November? You'll be locked inside for 5 months out of the year ... may as well retire in jail. :)

I came from Europe to live in California. I will retire in the US. Not sure where, except that it will be west of the Rockies. One of the greatest things about the US is that it is vast. Same language, currency, laws ...

G

I really could live anywhere.

My wife and I have discussed this many times. I love the farm except for the three months of summer...humidity is non toxic smog. But this is my home, where we raised a family and have deep, abiding family and friendships. Still, July?

Since she was born and raised in Maryland my wife views my aversion to humidity as a weakness, the rivulets of sweat that pore from me a symbol of my frailty. She would prefer to stay.

F her:cool:

Our goal is to pick a summer spot every year or every other and go and live there for three months, a new place each time.

It is a worthy goal, but as some know: Man plans and God laughs.

My home town, southern Italy, on the Adriatic coast. What a life!
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Southern Italy looks and feels very much like Croatia! Right across the Adriatic!

i dont think i could move somewhere that i find myself instantly illiterate.

maybe retired, you can spend the time and effort into full immersion..but damn. reading a bus stop in Thailand is a *****. Japan? ooff..mofo.

Maldives.


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That looks like Bari. Nice place.

BINGO! Just north of Bari....Molfetta, but my family is from Giovinazzo.

Easy.


Cocoa island, Maldives

Not sure I would retire there. But do hope that's how I meet my demise. :D

They talk funny there.

Gotta go with southern Spain.. No political climate there, yet.

Isn't the Maldives strictly Muslim? Sorry but that'd be an automatic deal-breaker for me.

Well I've pretty much had enough of southern Alberta's 2 seasons.....winter and 4 months of shytty skiing!.....although this last winter was very pleasant and mild.

Having said that, I do enjoy the 4 seasons but ....IN EQUAL AMOUNTS!

We have property on Shuswap Lake in central BC so we'll probably retire there or somewhere in the Okanagan valley of southern BC. Although BC is probably the most expensive province to live in Canada (taxes, surcharges, user fees, and more taxes!). In fact the saying goes, "BC" stands for "Bring Cash"!!!