Please help me plan our exploratory trip to plan a retirement-in-Europe second home

[Anonymous]

What's the timeline? Can you wait? The anti-American sentiment is incredibly strong right now all over Europe - European here. It's borderline hate.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I'm getting a lot of typical DCUM responses. While I appreciate them, many are just basically second guessing all the things I tried to name up front in my post. Yes, we're fully aware that we'll need a long-stay visa allowing us 90 days out of every 180. We know the places I named are hot. We know that renting is a better option for some, but are choosing buying because we want to become part of a community. We know that we'll be older (I'm in my mid-50s0 and that having nearby emergency medical care is a consideration. Yes, my French and Italian need brushing up. As does DH's Spanish.

Thanks for the Aix-en-Provence idea, PP.

Anywhere else outside of France anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the timeline? Can you wait? The anti-American sentiment is incredibly strong right now all over Europe - European here. It's borderline hate.

Do.you have evidence of that directed to actual individuals? Have a few friends who have gone over the last few months, said it was fine. Sure may have gotten a couple of comments about Trump, etc, but not directed at them in any way, and only in passing. Other posts here have said the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the timeline? Can you wait? The anti-American sentiment is incredibly strong right now all over Europe - European here. It's borderline hate.

The plan is in 2 1/2 years. I get the anti-American sentiment for the same reasons that we want a second home elsewhere and a chance to get out of Trump's Washington. We're willing to chance it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I'm getting a lot of typical DCUM responses. While I appreciate them, many are just basically second guessing all the things I tried to name up front in my post. Yes, we're fully aware that we'll need a long-stay visa allowing us 90 days out of every 180. We know the places I named are hot. We know that renting is a better option for some, but are choosing buying because we want to become part of a community. We know that we'll be older (I'm in my mid-50s0 and that having nearby emergency medical care is a consideration. Yes, my French and Italian need brushing up. As does DH's Spanish.

Thanks for the Aix-en-Provence idea, PP.

Anywhere else outside of France anyone?

Genoa? Went to a beach town nearby a few years ago really liked it. Genoa would have the benefits of the region but not be a ghost town outside of summer. It's hot but never super hot because of the sea as long as you are within a couple miles. Highs upper 80s in peak summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is different, but my first preference would be a country where I speak the language. Are you ok with grey and rainy weather most of the year? Do you want to be near the ocean? City or small town? I would definitely go rent somewhere for a few months before committing.

Same. If I move abroad in retirement it will be to Spain because I speak Spanish. If you'll only live there half of the year, the weather doesn't matter as much because you'll pick the nice half, though I would never live somewhere perpetually cloudy.

So, I would really pick a country online and then go and try three different cities and narrow down from there.

I think all the places you would pick would have a decent english speaking expat community. Most places do.

And, I think it goes without saying that you'd need to figure out a way to live there legally like EU Citizenship or a visa. Anyone well travelled is aware of the need to get the legalities squared away.

Agree with Spain. There’s a reason why so many Northern Europeans retire to Spain, Portugal, etc… One word: weather!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is different, but my first preference would be a country where I speak the language. Are you ok with grey and rainy weather most of the year? Do you want to be near the ocean? City or small town? I would definitely go rent somewhere for a few months before committing.

Same. If I move abroad in retirement it will be to Spain because I speak Spanish. If you'll only live there half of the year, the weather doesn't matter as much because you'll pick the nice half, though I would never live somewhere perpetually cloudy.

So, I would really pick a country online and then go and try three different cities and narrow down from there.

I think all the places you would pick would have a decent english speaking expat community. Most places do.

And, I think it goes without saying that you'd need to figure out a way to live there legally like EU Citizenship or a visa. Anyone well travelled is aware of the need to get the legalities squared away.

Agree with Spain. There’s a reason why so many Northern Europeans retire to Spain, Portugal, etc… One word: weather!

Not this northern European. I hate hot weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I'm getting a lot of typical DCUM responses. While I appreciate them, many are just basically second guessing all the things I tried to name up front in my post. Yes, we're fully aware that we'll need a long-stay visa allowing us 90 days out of every 180. We know the places I named are hot. We know that renting is a better option for some, but are choosing buying because we want to become part of a community. We know that we'll be older (I'm in my mid-50s0 and that having nearby emergency medical care is a consideration. Yes, my French and Italian need brushing up. As does DH's Spanish.

Thanks for the Aix-en-Provence idea, PP.

Anywhere else outside of France anyone?

If I had to choose, I’d go with Palma de Mallorca. Beautiful island, great food, friendly people, small enough to reach most of the island quickly (medical care). Has a quaint city, gorgeous mountains and beautiful country side.

[Anonymous]

https://www.spendlifetraveling.com/living-in-altea/

Check out this series of interviews of expats abroad. This one focuses on Altea, Spain.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! Adding Genoa, Altea, and Palma de Mallorca

[Anonymous]

We’re second guessing you because some of this sounds like a crazy way to choose a place to live for the last years of your life.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I spent a few weeks in Nice a couple of years ago, and was surprised by how much I enjoyed being there. Granted, it wasn't July or August and swarming with tourists. But really relaxing and a quick drive to so much. Would we get tired of it, I wonder? I was thinking we'd check out Villefranche-sur-Mer so as not to be smack dab in Nice but a very quick drive in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re second guessing you because some of this sounds like a crazy way to choose a place to live for the last years of your life.

We're choosing where to spend 4 months annually, not the last years of our lives. We've been in DC since 1990 and will keep our home here, also have a beachhouse, and we have plentry of friends in these countries. Is that really any crazier than all the people fleeing DC for mid-western or southern towns? It's entirely rational to us. We're proactively searching for a beautiful place to spend time, go on adventures, take up new hobbies, etc. We're really excited about it!

[Anonymous]

There are more Europeans living in the US than US citizens living in Europe. And I'm glad for it. The unfriendly European who posted needs to get over it. It's a global world now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the timeline? Can you wait? The anti-American sentiment is incredibly strong right now all over Europe - European here. It's borderline hate.

Do.you have evidence of that directed to actual individuals? Have a few friends who have gone over the last few months, said it was fine. Sure may have gotten a couple of comments about Trump, etc, but not directed at them in any way, and only in passing. Other posts here have said the same.

I spent a week in Italy and Switzerland. No negativity directed at us personally, but we had several conversations with sympathetic Brits, Germans and people of other nationalities bemoaning the chaos and weird policy choices Trump has foisted upon the world.