The Retirement Thread

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Boone Chris

Hey guys I'm red white and blue and a veteran. I'm not leaving the US because I hate it, it's just a lot of things here that I don't agree with anymore. And that's not necessarily a political statement.

One thing I really disagree with is health care. American pharmaceutical companies make 80% to 85% of their money here in the US by overcharging everybody. You move to another country a lot of the doctors are trained in the US and use American products but the price is about 80% cheaper. Colombia for example.

I'm in a financially secure situation so I don't really have to worry about that too much. I've also been fortunate enough to see a lot of the world and I'm just ready to live somewhere else. I can fly back anytime I want. I'm not resigning my citizenship LOL
 
RedWolf said:
Boone Chris

Hey guys I'm red white and blue and a veteran. I'm not leaving the US because I hate it, it's just a lot of things here that I don't agree with anymore. And that's not necessarily a political statement.

One thing I really disagree with is health care. American pharmaceutical companies make 80% to 85% of their money here in the US by overcharging everybody. You move to another country a lot of the doctors are trained in the US and use American products but the price is about 80% cheaper. Colombia for example.

I'm in a financially secure situation so I don't really have to worry about that too much. I've also been fortunate enough to see a lot of the world and I'm just ready to live somewhere else. I can fly back anytime I want. I'm not resigning my citizenship LOL
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There's no need to apologize. Live anywhere you want. It sounds like you've earned it.

I currently live in St Maarten. But unlike you, I'm not a big fan of even going to a dentist outside of the US. I recently flew back to Florida for 2 weeks for the sole purpose of having implants put in. No way would I even consider doing that in Mexico, St Maarten, Jamaica, etc. I've heard too many stories, and I know the dentists in the US go to school much longer than those in Mexico--unless they are ex-pats themselves.

I just flew into Cefalu, Italy today. I'll be living here for the next month, and it's pretty incredible. I could definitely see myself retiring here. It's shockingly affordable, but the time difference doesn't currently work with my job.

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I live half of each year in what can best be described as a democratically socialist country. Health care is ‘free’ for the most part (and of good quality). Two years ago I experienced two related health events. The 1st had me hospitalized for 3 days and under going a battery of tests (CT scans, MRI, etc). The second, 6 weeks later, resulted in 5 days in hospital with a repeat of that testing. My combined out-of-pocket was @ 400 euros. Pretty great, huh?

The trade-off is that residents here pay about 42% of gross income in taxes, which includes a National Value Added Tax of 25.5% that is added to every dollar spent on anything and everything. All products, all services, etc. (The equivalent of a state or county sales tax in the U.S. but on steroids.) Even food is not exempt, although it is reduced to ‘only’ 13.5%.

Long story short is there is no such thing as a free lunch.
 
An interesting framing that I came across today and thought it was worth sharing-

The vast majority of people who are financially able to put away money for retirement do so. They do so not because it is more enjoyable to save than to spend, but because they know it will be beneficial for later in life.

Having the safety and security that is derived from socking away money for a future benefit is a wonderful and empowering thing

At the same time, the vast majority of people who are physically able to put effort into the physical training of their bodies fail to do so.

So why are so many overlooking, ignoring, or flat out uninterested in also investing into the obvious benefits, both current and future, of exercise and fitness?

Perhaps it is the intimidation of starting or not knowing exactly how to? It doesn’t need to. I have been helping individuals at every conceivable starting point, both professionally and socially, for about 20 years. A reasonable, well designed and articulable plan of attack is definitely not rocket science.
 
A timely thread.

Turned 61 this Summer. Years ago our financial planner said we could go out when I turned 62. As that approaches, I feel a bit of trepidation. Not unusual I guess.

Biggest question is where to go. My better half and I both would like to relocate, but have not had the time to fully investigate different places. Not sure if we should pick a nice town or plunge into an over-55 for the social perks.
 
Well, I'd look very closely at the over 55 places. Lots of perks, but some have some messed up rules from what I've seen. One story I read was about a couples grand kids spending the weekend, and there was a rule about under age over night guests. Issues when they went to the pool and other stupid stuff. We have the Villages down here, very popular over 55 community. I know a couple of people living there, and they love it. So again, do your homework on those communities, they can go either way. Don't bother looking at Lee Co Florida, it's a mess at this point. It's turning into the east coast, and lots of places losing the small town feel. I'd move to N Florida in a heartbeat.
 
I mean retirement communities are for 80 year olds imho. I don’t get the appeal. Find a great piece of property and live your life any way you want to unless you are no longer mobile lol…
 
Boone said:
I mean retirement communities are for 80 year olds imho. I don’t get the appeal. Find a great piece of property and live your life any way you want to unless you are no longer mobile lol…
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Lol. There is a span of 25 years between 55 and 80.

It's a matter of social life.

Hard (not impossible of course) to build a social network if you relocate to a place where you don't know anyone.

The appeal of the over 55s is that the social network is built in and part of the DNA. It's "our tribe", so to speak. There is an appeal in knowing that most around you share a historical and cultural perspective i.e. they know who Kurt Cobain was.
 
I guess I’m just wired differently. My social network is family and life long friends, not random people I move in with. Some people
bond with their fellow humans much more readily than I do and I am not belittling that, it’s just not me. I can’t even relate to the term ‘social life’ lol so maybe that makes me ‘anti-social’, that’s probably not a stretch. To each his own :cheers:
 
Sicily is definitely moving up my list of best places in the world to retire.

A large, meat lovers pizza, real dough that would cost $25 to $28 in the US, costs $10 here.

Opulent desserts that would cost $10 to $20 in the US, only cost $3 here.

This is Cefalu, a coastal town in Sicily. The winters aren't too bad, and the streets look like they're from a Broadway set.

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The over 55 communities are on my horizon but I'm waiting until I'm older before moving into one of them. We still enjoy our yard and space. Once my mom leaves us, we will look for one last home away from all the congestion of Norther Virginia. The wife wants to be on the water so we can get a boat. After I've had enough of the water, then I can see us moving into a 55 community.

The 55 communities remind me of Town Centers. Everything is convenient and within walking distance. Some folks like to live at Town Centers and some folks like to just visit Town Centers. I like to just visit them but when I'm older, I'm sure I'll enjoy the daily convenience of them too.
 
McD5 said:
Sicily is definitely moving up my list of best places in the world to retire.

A large, meat lovers pizza, real dough that would cost $25 to $28 in the US, costs $10 here.

Opulent desserts that would cost $10 to $20 in the US, only cost $3 here.

This is Cefalu, a coastal town in Sicily. The winters aren't too bad, and the streets look like they're from a Broadway set.

View attachment 15467

View attachment 15468
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There had been a program that allowed you to get a villa basically free. Had towns on the mainland doing the same thing.
"CNBC. Taylor Locke. November 8, 2019.

It could cost between $133,000 and $2.8 million to purchase a home in Sicily, Italy, according to Realtor.com. But now, in Cammarata, an ancient town located in central Sicily, homes are being offered for free.

However, there is a catch.

In order for new residents to land a free home, they must present a clear renovation proposal for the property and renovate it within three years. Though there is no information on how much a renovation in Cammarata might cost, in Mussomeli, a town about 11 miles away that gave away 1 euro homes in June, renovation costs were estimated to range from 100 to 700 euros per square meter ($110 to $773 per 10 square feet), according to Case 1 euro."
 
Ashburn Dave said:
The over 55 communities are on my horizon but I'm waiting until I'm older before moving into one of them. We still enjoy our yard and space. Once my mom leaves us, we will look for one last home away from all the congestion of Norther Virginia. The wife wants to be on the water so we can get a boat. After I've had enough of the water, then I can see us moving into a 55 community.

The 55 communities remind me of Town Centers. Everything is convenient and within walking distance. Some folks like to live at Town Centers and some folks like to just visit Town Centers. I like to just visit them but when I'm older, I'm sure I'll enjoy the daily convenience of them too.
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We have a newer community in the area that is set up like that. Not a 55 and older. Lots of activities always happening, with a nice town square / common area. People who bought early got closest to the town center, and the place is huge, so over time it won't be as convenient for some. It's all solar powered too, and most folks have golf carts to get around. Super market and other shopping, a school... you name it.
 
Boone said:
I guess I’m just wired differently. My social network is family and life long friends, not random people I move in with. Some people
bond with their fellow humans much more readily than I do and I am not belittling that, it’s just not me. I can’t even relate to the term ‘social life’ lol so maybe that makes me ‘anti-social’, that’s probably not a stretch. To each his own :cheers:
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Same here. The thing is most of my lifelong friends are here or in New York aka two very expensive places to retire.
 
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