How To Retire Abroad

Diving would be a great retirement activity ...

The decision to retire abroad is an easy one to make. However, it is difficult to make a good decision that you can live with throughout your retirement. This article will attempt to help guide you through the decision to retire abroad.

Just keep in mind that it is only part of the research process. In the end, part of the research process will be for you to spend an extended period in country to see whether or not the decision to retire abroad is right for you.

How to Retire Abroad 101:

The first step in the process of selecting an overseas retirement destination is to do some research. There is a lot of information on the Internet about your country of interest. I recommend that you research the country and the major cities.Try to develop an understanding of the physical and cultural environment that you might retire to. Read about its political system, its economy, its history, language and culture to begin to familiarize yourself with the country. I read a lot of wikis and tour guides to start.

As you advance in your plan to retire broad, provide yourself with a visual experience as well. Try to watch some online videos and television shows to begin to get a more gut level feel for the country. My favorite shows on television were on the Travel Channel, National Geographic, and Discovery types of shows. Viewing Youtube videos also proved both educational and entertaining.If your country of interest passes Retire Abroad 101, then you are ready to go to the next step.

How to Retire Abroad 201:

The second step in the process of living abroad is to begin to engage in more active conversations with people who are actually doing it. They will provide first hand knowledge about what it really is like to retire abroad.

... and so would reading in a peaceful hammock

You can do this by joining any number of online forums. These forums are communities of expatriates living abroad and they regularly share their problems and joys of living abroad. Sometimes, the information provided is very contradictory and embedded in hot debate. Rather than getting caught up in the debate, I recommend spending your time trying to understand why people have different points of view.

Go ahead and ask your dumb newbie questions. Most members of the community will be extremely helpful. Some will be outright buttheads. Just let it roll off your back. You are there to learn, not engage in some pointless debate with someone who has a chip on his or her shoulder. Use the forum search function and look back over old posts.

What are you trying to learn here? You want to discover how people are faring financially, how much things cost, how good is health care, where can you buy your favorite mayonnaise, what banks to use or not use, scams to beware of, the romantic adventures and disappointments, the cost of rent, and the good and bad places to live at your potential retirement destination. 

The online community will give you insight into the day to day living experiences of someone who is actually living abroad. All the information will often times be very contradictory and confusing. The point is to not always get an answer but to get an understanding of the kinds of problems, joys, and experiences that people go through when they retire abroad. Some of the expatriates love the country, others will absolutely hate it. But through all the discussion, you will begin to get a feel for the kinds of day to day issues that a typical expatriate goes through.

You may be absolutely shocked that Best Foods mayonnaise is not available, and it’s a good way for you to begin to understand how easy or difficult the transition to living abroad will be for you. On the other hand, if it is totally irrelevant, then it says something else about you and the transition process.

If you complete How to Retire Abroad 201 and are still interested in retiring abroad, then congratulations and move on to the next class.

How to Retire Abroad 301:

Now that you are in your junior year at Retire Abroad University, it is time to go beyond the textbook and engage in a field experience. At this point in your plans to retire abroad, it is recommended that you begin to take short trips to your country or countries of interest.

What I did was to take one or two week vacations to countries that were potential retirement destinations prior to my retirement. I loved China and still do, but I found it difficult to learn Mandarin even with the CD ROM going every day on my way to and from work. To get around, I felt most comfortable with a travel guide and interpreter in tow wherever I went. On the other hand, I discovered that language wise it very easy to get around in the Philippines and I could solo the country quite well. Over time, I gradually narrowed down my decision to retire abroad to the Philippines.

The taxi driver's cousin ... hehe ... actually she's a pinay model.

On those vacations, instead of visiting the regular tourist sites, I made a point of visiting the major cities. In those cities, I looked at real estate, visited the malls, checked out the availability of hospitals and clinics, dental offices, fancy supermarkets and local open markets, fine dining restaurants and local eateries, coffee shops, internet cafes, and got to know people. Realtors still email me to this day and there are a couple taxi drivers or three who wanted to hook me up with a “cute” relative.

I avoided expatriates and tried to wing it on my own. Good news – I passed with flying colors. My goal on these vacations were two fold. I wanted to get a feel for how well I would adjust to the foreign culture and develop an understanding of the availability and prices of the basic amenities required for living overseas.

How to Retire Abroad 401:

I have just begun the class myself, so am learning as I go along. But during Retire Abroad 301, I was able to decide upon not only what country I wanted to retire to, but narrowed it down to a specific city.

This city will not be my permanent retirement destination. Instead, for the next year, it will be a base from which to travel around the country and continue my research on the country. I selected a nice central location, accessible by sea and air and for the next year will continue to scout additional locations. In other words, even when I land in country, I will still be evaluating my choices as to whether one city or another are among the best places to retire.

I am not selling all my belongings. Nor am I taking all my belongings with me. If things don’t work out, I will have someplace to return to. And when I do board the plane next month, I will be carrying one suitcase and a carryon with my laptop and camera.

So, even after moving to the country I will spend a year or two to continue my research. And I will do a little sight seeing and vacationing. I already have opened up a bank account in the Philippines and have established some contacts with locals in the area in preparation of living abroad.

I think in this fourth year of Retire Abroad University, when you make the move to your retirement destination, it will be a good idea to continue your research of the country and to keep your ties with people back home as you develop new relationships.

I think the last major piece of research to Retire Abroad University will be to define a new purpose and objective to life. Without an active career, retirement in a new country will be fun for a while. But to sustain living abroad, I also believe that finding a new purpose and goals will be as important as anything else. A location can be one of the best places to live, but my mindset also has to be in synch with my new life when I retire abroad.

Summary: the decision to retire abroad should be based on research and not a whim. If you listen to the communications on the expatriate forums, you will discover expats who are extremely happy and those who are miserable. In my judgement, planning, research and purpose plays a key part in deciding whether you end up in one group or the other. Plan properly and you will greatly increase the likelihood that living abroad will be joyful and productive.

(Photos by: Moalboal Beach Resort, Moalboal Beach Resort and MarvZG)

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