Quote:
Originally Posted by fracmeister
I am fortunate that I have saved a bit and can probably retire anywhere I would like (save Manhattan, Tokyo, etc)
WHile the location of my children and grandchildren is important, I have a whole list of things I'd like to satisfy for that "last move" and I can even rank them fairly well....
SURELY somebody has done a really good job of taking that input and finding the best spots... I tried a couple online ones but they were pretty weak and certainly didn't give me the flexibility I would like.
I would appreciate any input here..
Thanks
fracmeister
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Believe me, DH and I have been going through this process for a few years now, in anticipation of his retirement from the AF in (Yikes!!!) TWO weeks!
We're still having to work, so, our "semi-retirement" move will have to include where we can find jobs. However, we're still trying to obtain these jobs somewhere near our "top 5" ideal places to live.
Having said that, I think you have to consider so many other things than prior posters have mentioned. Sure, there are the typical desires for the ideal climate (depending on your outdoor pursuits), cultural wants/needs (symphony, museums, college-town or not, etc.), cost of living, crime rate, etc.
But then there are the intangibles...like proximity to family, friends, and the "familiar". Or, does that not matter?
What about living within or outside the US? We considered that, too. Until we lived overseas for over 10 years, and experienced the availability (mostly lack thereof...) of good/excellent health care, and the high cost of living.
Or, the instability (or potential instability) of a government, for example. Many years ago, I was intrigued with all of these home shows on cable TV where people moved to a variety of different foreign countries. Beautiful turquois waters, affordable beachfront properties and the like.
So, I've got countless friends, too, who were similarly and so intrigued, they either bought time shares, or moved to these countries...only to now find they're trying to leave asap because of high crime, gangs, cartels, and even just resentment against the imagined "rich American", who has scrimped and saved all of their lives to go to live somewhere exotic!!!
You've probably guessed that some of these countries include Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and others of their ilk.
OK, let's move on to Europe. I can't tell you just how many places I'd love to live...Firenze (Florence) for example. It's beautiful, historic, scenic, and full of art...I could stare at the Baptistery doors all day admiring Ghiberti's ground-breaking work bringing the concept of dimension to the art world.
Or, marvel at all of the different marble brought in all over Italy to create the façade of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Strolling around the market over the centuries-old cobbled streets while reveling in the various culinary aromas wafting through the air.
It's a great cultural center, convenient to so many other places in Italy and Europe, etc.
I could go on and on with countless places in Europe.
The same goes for Great Britain (would LOVE to live in Oxford or Stratford-upon Avon), Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Austria (especially Salzburg!), Sicicly (Taormina!) and on and on.
The downside? Higher cost of living - probably prohibitive inside the various historic city centers....then you're relegated to living in the equivalent of the 'burbs, which for many European cities, results in block after block of mundane, even dilapidated high-rises on a train line (if you're lucky). Even then, you pay quite a bit for a minimum of square footage. In some places, like 20 miles outside of Vienna where my cousin lives, it's expensive to rent or own a 600 sq.ft-1000 sq.ft apartment. Many are "walk ups", too.
What does one do if one becomes infirmed? You're pretty much stuck upstairs in the apartment!
Then, there's the issue of healthcare. Each country has different laws regarding foreigners' accessibility to health care. You may find either you'll have to pay cash (quite expensive) for medical care. Or, if you ARE allowed to use their different variations of socialized medicine, you may be on a waiting list for over a year or longer.
This happened to a couple of neighbors of mine in England. One died waiting for her cardiac catheterization (in her 8th month of "waiting" for this "emergency" procedure). Another man went in for what should have been a relatively common surgery on his prostate, only to die from septicemia at age 54.
This was in the late '90s...at that time, the rate of septicemia deaths in that part of England was unacceptably high. It shouldn't have happened.
As a physician, I still cringe when I think about the procedures, equipment, and environment I observed in a variety of clinics and hospitals, especially in Italy and the UK. Their cleanliness and sterilization processes, not to mention glass hypos and thermometers, were, and in some places, still are questionable.
Countless times, my DH had to send veterans (who had married German nationals) back to Walter Reed or somewhere else stateside, for many medical reasons. Including, but not limited to the procedures not being available in Germany or Europe in general, certain IV meds for cancers not being available in the country or Europe, or because of the long waiting lists.
Then, of course, there can be absolutely crazy laws in each country. Crime. Corrupt governments. Unbelievable taxes, VAT, etc.
The list goes on and on.
So, unless we have some idea of what you like to do, if you want to stay within or move outside of the US, your health, age, along with many other bits of info, I think the CD world would be hard-pressed to advise you!
Now, I can share with you various places I've found that would be "ideal" for my DHubby and me, but that would take pages of writing and explaining reasons...futile for you, as your criteria may be completely different from ours.
As other posters have advised, start making your lists of "must haves" "would likes" and "absolutely don't want!!!" and start whittling down from there. Then, compare it with lists and info from a variety of retirement magazines and websites, along with the wonderful data here on CD. Post specific questions in specific forum locales.
Make your short list, research, research, research, and visit, visit, VISIT!!! Ask questions of the "locals". Rent for awhile. Try out the restaurants, health care, and local culture.
Finally, when you find "Utopia", share it with me and post it here!!! By the way, I had found a post here somewhere on CD in part, called "finding Utopia" or something similar. I'll try to find it and re-post it here for you.
BTW, could you post what resources you have used, as well as your "top 10" or "top 5" and why? I'd be interested in seeing what you've come up with, and why....and it would also give us an idea of what you're looking for! I'd be happy to help, if I can.
In the meantime, happy hunting!
Regards,
~Dandiday