Sounds like you’re ready move. Any idea where you might be heading? Lol
Bye Felicia! 
1 Like
We looked last September in the Caribbean. Still totally on the table. It’s amazing how much more living they do there instead of sitting in front of brain draining devices all day. Computers at work, phones, tvs. We’ve substituted living for watching.
1 Like
I’m a lot closer to hitting the wall that NC is describing than most of my friends know.
Working endlessly and spending all of my time doing this meaningless crap for decades on end feels so empty.
It really hit home with me a couple of months ago when I was talking to a retiring CFO at a huge company. Dude worked til he was 70 and was scared of retirement. “All I know how to do is work”. He went on to say that he never took any time to develop any hobbies and his kids were grown and he wasnt close with them because he spent the last 5 decades working.
Watching his face when he said that hit me like a ton of bricks.
4 Likes
Yea, I was going to suggest Belize.
2 Likes
I’ve been coming to this conclusion slowly for a while, but now with a little one in the way, I’m not sure I can do this for another 25 years in a place that looks more divided by the day and continues to offer less rewards for more work for future generations.
Seems crazy to me to save $150-200k to send this kid to college if all it will get him is the ability to pay rent through the nose by working a soul sucking job and never get ahead. Unfortunately, that’s where we are headed.
Hell, I feel bad for kids who are just starting out now. If their parents didn’t help them by paying for college and housing or giving them a huge down payment, a lot of them will never be able to own homes. I can’t imagine 21 years from now.
3 Likes
I’m more than likely retiring next years. I’ll be 58 and I’m just over it. I feel what you guys are saying
2 Likes
So I’ve got question that another thread got me thinking about again. To some of the older guys, what’s your opinion on when to start taking Social Security? I know there are pluses and minuses either way
Asap… as long as you aren’t purely relying on it and if that won’t get you by.
I do suggest spending the money on a tax/retirement specialist to hammer out the numbers. You don’t have to have them manage your money but I think it’s pretty stupid to go about it alone unless you are a tax & retirement professional. I do everything myself and in the accounting field and I still plan to at least have a meeting or 2 once I hit 50.
1 Like
Yeah, that’s kinda my opinion too. We’ve got a financial guy and my wife is in banking so we’re good there.
Heck the way I like beer I doubt I make it past 75 anyway. Half kidding….
2 Likes
Any of you guys ever lived in another country for a short period of time? Might want to try it out first. I was in Taiwan almost a year. Couldn’t wait to get back.
I haven’t. I am not well traveled and it bothers me. I’ve been to Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, and all over eastern USA, but have only been west of Chicago once. Never been to Europe or Asia, etc.
That’s probably the main thing that’s stopping me besides my kids and sufficient funds. I’m not worldly enough to know where I’d like to ex-pat to.
clt wants to move back to campus
5 Likes
I’ve visited a lot of places but to find a place with the amenities I’m accustomed to and reasonable tax burdens is difficult. Factor in kids and someday grand kids makes it tough to just leave.
I’d consider move to the UK but shit there isn’t much better than here. I love Australia but that flight is insane. Caribbean areas are nice but those countries are not as advanced or stable as here plus hurricanes.
The painful thing is once you look around America even with current shit is still the best bet if you like low taxes with advanced economy.
2 Likes
Everything and everyone I love is right here. Other countries are interesting to visit, but my country is where I’m home.
1 Like
I would start taking social security payments as soon as you retire. I worked until I was 64 and then started. I took mine then because:
- You never know how long you are going to live.
- It takes a long time to make up for those years you aren’t receiving payments if you decide to wait until you’re 70 or so to start.
Most “professionals” tell you to wait. I preferred to get my money sooner than later. Even though the monthly payments go up the longer you wait. Still takes a long time to make up the difference.
My two cents.
3 Likes
Are professionals trying to make your money last in case you live to 90+? Bastards. The calculation is of course a lot of what ifs when using ROI and expected expenses but you can get a pretty good range of worst case and best case scenario. The true mystery is how long do you need your money to last where you can enjoy it and your kids won’t become coke heads.
I’ve been to… Jamaica, Mexico, London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Beijing China, Kyoto Japan, and Bangkok/Phuket Thailand… and granted these were very quick trips but Kyoto, London and Rome were the only places that I would even entertain. London and Rome aren’t too different than the US but Kyoto would have been a huge change. I don’t think I could move away unless all of my friends and family died and I was truly alone.
I couldn’t imagine the research to decide where to move to aboard. I guess you just visit the place a lot I would imagine. Rent, don’t buy and see what happens. That’s a different type of person to be able to try that.
Asia is so culturally different that that would be a no-go for me.
I could do Europe for sure, but they suffer many of the same issues as America with regards to affordability, though at least there taking time away from work is valued, and health insurance isn’t tied to your employer.
Latin America, particularly Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia would be doable. They’re developed enough countries that they offer a fair amount of infrastructure and amenities to make the transition to life there doable though it would certainly be an adjustment. Mexico is probably the best balance between affordability and development. It has its rough areas for sure, but it also has several very large cosmopolitan cities and it is the shortest and easiest trip back to the states.
Asia and Africa are out of the question.
Australia and New Zealand would probably be by far the easiest transition for Americans, but life is just as unaffordable there as it is here and its so far away that trips back to the states would be difficult.
1 Like
My travel experience is decent. Outside of living and working in Taipei. I have visited Japan, Singapore, Mexico (The resorts don’t count), Canada, England, Netherlands, and Belgium. I have also been to almost every US state. My take on why most people want to leave the US is because of political or social issues. The US society can be a drain on your mental state. The crime is terrible here in most places. The direction society is moving as a whole is just not good. However, the politics are lightweight compared to other places. In Taiwan I was told not to discuss politics because someone may kill you if they don’t like your views.
Europe is in the same boat as the US in my opinion. Their legal systems are not hard on criminals. Honestly, being in Europe for me was like being in the US. Not much difference culturally. Canada is the same except they don’t want you (Americans) to go there and work. So if you are not wealthy forget it. It is also cold there so that is a show stopper for me. Living in Iowa for 10 years killed the winter is fun theory. Mexico is a disaster of a country. Under constant fear of violence and is just poor in general. You don’t want to be the new gringo that just built a big house. I loved Asia. They love Americans also. Pretty safe environment, but huge culture shock and unless you learn Mandarin or Japanese you may have a tough time. Singapore is probably the safest and cleanest city on the planet. Very strict on crime from gum chewing to executions for drug offenses. Very safe on the streets even at 3am. English is the National language, but it is very expensive. Still wouldn’t want to be full time there. Also, the beds in Asia are extremely firm. Took me a good month or two to get adjusted to it, but afterwards it was ok.
The funny thing is that you can go visit places and have a blast. However, once you are out of country like 45 days or more you start to miss the little things. I don’t know how to explain it, but everyone that I talked to who has done it gets it. If I ever leave the US again, it will be to sail around the world and visit all of the different countries and islands that are in the warm regions. On a boat you can get away from people when you want to. When you live on the boat you also take your home with you. The same bed, the same memorabilia, etc… I think I could cope better with doing that.