Retirement-Where and why

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We will probably retire to Florida but we talk often about Spain and Portugal.

Many Europeans do that, for the great food, culture and weather, low COL and cheap healthcare (not sure how/ if Americans would be covered). Main obvious problem would be distance from the family. What about Costa Rica or Panama?

Yeah, we talk about those too but would prefer to be based in Europe for more travel opportunities there. We also just love Spain and Portugal!

Well, then now it's the time to do it! The euro is quite cheap, and there's huge unsold inventory of houses and condos in popular touristic areas of both Spain and Portugal

We did it & now live in Lisbon. Love, love, love it. Weather is better than California, COL is very reasonable (maybe 1/2-2/3 of DC overall, but can be much less if you want to be more frugal), you can travel easily, etc. We bought private health insurance. Lots of hospitals, many doctors speak English quite well. The hills are steep, so you need to be happy with cobblestones & hardcore leg workouts. It's fine for now, but well probably have to find another solution when we are really old.

[Anonymous]

Pennsylvania is tax friendly, and close enough that you can still enjoy some of the great things about the DC area.

Colorado would be a no go for me. I have a lot of native Coloradans in my family. They said it's becoming hellish with real estate, people (influx of 9k per month), schools, and commutes. When I went to visit last month the plane was full of potheads (not the occasional recreational user). They talked about it the entire flight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We will probably retire to Florida but we talk often about Spain and Portugal.

Many Europeans do that, for the great food, culture and weather, low COL and cheap healthcare (not sure how/ if Americans would be covered). Main obvious problem would be distance from the family. What about Costa Rica or Panama?

Yeah, we talk about those too but would prefer to be based in Europe for more travel opportunities there. We also just love Spain and Portugal!

Well, then now it's the time to do it! The euro is quite cheap, and there's huge unsold inventory of houses and condos in popular touristic areas of both Spain and Portugal

We did it & now live in Lisbon. Love, love, love it. Weather is better than California, COL is very reasonable (maybe 1/2-2/3 of DC overall, but can be much less if you want to be more frugal), you can travel easily, etc. We bought private health insurance. Lots of hospitals, many doctors speak English quite well. The hills are steep, so you need to be happy with cobblestones & hardcore leg workouts. It's fine for now, but well probably have to find another solution when we are really old.

where in lisbon do you live? Is the benfica area near the zoo and football stadium a good area?

[Anonymous]

Charlottesville or Williamsburg?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is impossible to predict where I will retire because likely I would follow my only child wherever she goes. However, given the choice maybe San Diego or Charleston or Florida.

I agree that San Diego would be the perfect place to retire at.

Not as expensive as the Bay Area (Alameda County,) and not as traffic congested & smoggy like Los Angeles.

Not as pricey as San Francisco or L.A. either.

Perfect weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We will probably retire to Florida but we talk often about Spain and Portugal.

Many Europeans do that, for the great food, culture and weather, low COL and cheap healthcare (not sure how/ if Americans would be covered). Main obvious problem would be distance from the family. What about Costa Rica or Panama?

Yeah, we talk about those too but would prefer to be based in Europe for more travel opportunities there. We also just love Spain and Portugal!

Well, then now it's the time to do it! The euro is quite cheap, and there's huge unsold inventory of houses and condos in popular touristic areas of both Spain and Portugal

We did it & now live in Lisbon. Love, love, love it. Weather is better than California, COL is very reasonable (maybe 1/2-2/3 of DC overall, but can be much less if you want to be more frugal), you can travel easily, etc. We bought private health insurance. Lots of hospitals, many doctors speak English quite well. The hills are steep, so you need to be happy with cobblestones & hardcore leg workouts. It's fine for now, but well probably have to find another solution when we are really old.

We moved to Lisbon & we love love love it, too! No mosquitos, awesome weather, high quality of life, reasonable COL, short flights to the rest of Europe, tons of culture/festivals/etc. Portugal has a better tax regime (& better weather, imho) than Spain. For 12:15, we live in Bairro Alto, but off the main drag - so not much prob with noise. Benfica would be close to Hospital da Luz (great private hospital with good English language support) & Colombo mall for easy shopping. But it isn't as pretty as the historic districts. Go and check out a few areas! Be warned that there are little microclimates - not unlike San Fran. For example, our apt only gets morning sun and is high on the hill, so a lot of breezes and protection from the pm sun. We don't have ac and don't really miss it except for maybe a few days a year.

[Anonymous]

East Africa!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pennsylvania is tax friendly, and close enough that you can still enjoy some of the great things about the DC area.

Colorado would be a no go for me. I have a lot of native Coloradans in my family. They said it's becoming hellish with real estate, people (influx of 9k per month), schools, and commutes. When I went to visit last month the plane was full of potheads (not the occasional recreational user). They talked about it the entire flight.

I read an article the other day about how Durango had been overrun with drifter pot heads. I knew it was an issue in Denver, but I didn't realize it was affecting the smaller towns, as well. We had our eye on southwestern Colorado, but are now reconsidering....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pennsylvania is tax friendly, and close enough that you can still enjoy some of the great things about the DC area.

Colorado would be a no go for me. I have a lot of native Coloradans in my family. They said it's becoming hellish with real estate, people (influx of 9k per month), schools, and commutes. When I went to visit last month the plane was full of potheads (not the occasional recreational user). They talked about it the entire flight.

I read an article the other day about how Durango had been overrun with drifter pot heads. I knew it was an issue in Denver, but I didn't realize it was affecting the smaller towns, as well. We had our eye on southwestern Colorado, but are now reconsidering....

This person is not informed. We live in co/denver (marijuana sales are banned in my county). and this is NOT how life is. Drugs are a problem in our public schools but they are prescription drugs. Show me a school where drugs are NOT a problem? You know you are way more likely to be hit or killed by a drunk driver/person. Durango has always been a shithole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We will probably retire to Florida but we talk often about Spain and Portugal.

Many Europeans do that, for the great food, culture and weather, low COL and cheap healthcare (not sure how/ if Americans would be covered). Main obvious problem would be distance from the family. What about Costa Rica or Panama?

Yeah, we talk about those too but would prefer to be based in Europe for more travel opportunities there. We also just love Spain and Portugal!

Well, then now it's the time to do it! The euro is quite cheap, and there's huge unsold inventory of houses and condos in popular touristic areas of both Spain and Portugal

We did it & now live in Lisbon. Love, love, love it. Weather is better than California, COL is very reasonable (maybe 1/2-2/3 of DC overall, but can be much less if you want to be more frugal), you can travel easily, etc. We bought private health insurance. Lots of hospitals, many doctors speak English quite well. The hills are steep, so you need to be happy with cobblestones & hardcore leg workouts. It's fine for now, but well probably have to find another solution when we are really old.

Sounds nice- Have you been able to make friends and have a social life? That's the part that scares me the most- I don't want to be just DH and myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We will probably retire to Florida but we talk often about Spain and Portugal.

Many Europeans do that, for the great food, culture and weather, low COL and cheap healthcare (not sure how/ if Americans would be covered). Main obvious problem would be distance from the family. What about Costa Rica or Panama?

Yeah, we talk about those too but would prefer to be based in Europe for more travel opportunities there. We also just love Spain and Portugal!

Well, then now it's the time to do it! The euro is quite cheap, and there's huge unsold inventory of houses and condos in popular touristic areas of both Spain and Portugal

We did it & now live in Lisbon. Love, love, love it. Weather is better than California, COL is very reasonable (maybe 1/2-2/3 of DC overall, but can be much less if you want to be more frugal), you can travel easily, etc. We bought private health insurance. Lots of hospitals, many doctors speak English quite well. The hills are steep, so you need to be happy with cobblestones & hardcore leg workouts. It's fine for now, but well probably have to find another solution when we are really old.

We moved to Lisbon & we love love love it, too! No mosquitos, awesome weather, high quality of life, reasonable COL, short flights to the rest of Europe, tons of culture/festivals/etc. Portugal has a better tax regime (& better weather, imho) than Spain. For 12:15, we live in Bairro Alto, but off the main drag - so not much prob with noise. Benfica would be close to Hospital da Luz (great private hospital with good English language support) & Colombo mall for easy shopping. But it isn't as pretty as the historic districts. Go and check out a few areas! Be warned that there are little microclimates - not unlike San Fran. For example, our apt only gets morning sun and is high on the hill, so a lot of breezes and protection from the pm sun. We don't have ac and don't really miss it except for maybe a few days a year.

We love Portugal, but we found Lisbon had pretty bad air quality in the city center. I was coughing from all the diesel cars, etc. Is that only downtown?

[Anonymous]

I'm 16:23. No problems with air - DH normally has horrible allergies, but has been breathing much easier since being here. Less pollen, less humidity. There's almost always a constant breeze and the temperatures are cooler than D.C. summers and much warmer than D.C. winters.

Re. making friends, DS is in middle school, so we have met many local people through his school. We also go to language lessons ourselves and have met several people who have newly settled in Portugal like ourselves. I also have a bunch of friends throughout Europe from my grad school days, so being here makes it so much easier to see them. And then there are friends and family who come to visit. We're definitely not lonely!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Charlottesville or Williamsburg?

That's what I was thinking. Williamsburg has water, but maybe more tourists? is COL comparable in each?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm staying in DC. I like it here and I'm a native. The weather and COL are fine.

I want to stay here and go explore all the things that I don't have time for now! But DH will be lobbying to move to wherever our daughter ends up when she has babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Charleston SC

My brother lived in Beaufort, SC about halfway between Charleston and Savannah. That's a gorgeous area with a walkable downtown and so much cheaper than DC. However, it's too conservative for me. I could never live down there long term but it would be a lovely place to retire otherwise.