Retire Overseas: Live Better and Cheaper Abroad
Every chance we get, my family and I travel to interesting and exotic locations. We have seen lot of fabulous and exciting places during our lifetimes, especially China, Brazil, France, Switzerland, Germany, the U. K., Canada, the Caribbean Islands, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Saint Maarten, Italy, Martinique and more. All of the destinations we’ve been fortunate enough to visit or live in were spiritually uplifting as well. Every place will be have excellent guide and we learned so much from him.
My two youngest children and I have all taken part in fantastic study abroad programs. My children have gone back to their host countries a few times and visited their overseas “homes.” They have always been welcomed as family members. This is something you, too, can expect when you learn to speak a new language and embrace the life and culture of the locals – as opposed to simply remaining a tourist.
Always be patient and respectful of other cultures. Familiarize yourself with the habits and everyday life of the nationals of your new country. One of the best things you can do to endear yourself to the citizens of your host country is to learn to speak their language. Stop being so dependent on English. It’s a crutch you should try to outgrow even if you can get along exclusively in English in your newly adopted country. Also, when you live abroad, you need to try to blend in with the crowd – not stand out. So don’t do anything that will attract unnecessary attention and scrutiny.
Are you looking to retire overseas? Expatriate living should be considered. Settling into an expat life can allow you to retire cheaply, retire early, and retire excitingly. Now, I call the US my home and have always enjoyed living here, but there are other options. Moving overseas is not for everyone. You can’t think that everything is going to be just the same as it was in your homeland. What you must remember when you retire abroad is that you should treat others in the same manner as you would want to be treated. It may sound clich, but it works. If you use this “clich” and good old fashioned common sense then you will appreciated by others and be at home anywhere you choose to live.
If you’re considering retiring in another country, remember that every country has its own history and culture. If you believe that the United States is superior to your new home, it’s likely to show in your attitude. Locals are not fools, and if you act as if you are superior to them, they will notice and they will not appreciate it. There’s no need to grovel or beg, but simply deal with the locals as equals; they will appreciate it.
If the only reason you want to move to Mexico is because you can live at low cost, you won’t be happy there, and you would be better to stay in the U.S. Only if you want to go to live there because 1) you find Mexico exciting, 2) its people are fun to get to know, 3) you respect their family values, and 4) you relish in the slower pace of life, then you will you have the proper attitude that will allow you to appreciate everything about your new home. If you can have all that plus also a low-cost place to live, then you’ll be a winner all the way around. These aspects of living in another country should be more important than how much it is going to cost.
The world provides us with a wealth of knowledge, and I am constantly doing what I love – learning and being with people. I want to learn all there is to know about other countries and their people. I find this very exciting and enjoyable. We all can live the good life and have intriguing relationships; we can participate in great conversations with people from all over the world.
Want to find out more about where to retire? Then visit this blog on how to choose the safest, lowest-cost places to retire overseas.