Expatriate Living - How Safe Is It?
Retire Overseas? Americans are more frightened than ever when they travel abroad. They don't dare think about retiring abroad. I guess it's a legacy of the war on terror. However, I have not heard of an incident among the lots of people I know who've lived abroad when they were harmed or injured. I guess if you are alert & aware of your circumstances at all times, you shouldn't have any dangerous encounters. The advice that I offer here is common sense, but I will mention it anyway because common sense isn't always so common. Now, here are my words to the wise:
One should avoid any high crime areas as far as possible. To know about such areas one can always ask the locals or the expatriates living nearby. Also many a times one has an instinctive feeling when we enter in an area of rampant violence and crime. To protect oneself from any mishap, one should dress conservatively, no expensive jewelry or anything flashy should be worn while using public conveyances, if one needs to they can wear a cheap plastic watch or other cheap commodities.
When out in public areas, conceal your money. You should travel light, and use a slim travel wallet that can be concealed underneath clothing. Don't wear fanny packs, or carry large purses. Those items virtually scream out to pickpockets and thieves, "Steal me, please!" All over the world, there are pickpockets skilled in their trade. In one incident, an entire public busload of foreign passengers were targeted. Be vigilant when it comes to your possessions.
Confirm things with the State Department and the CDC regarding possible safety concerns or bulletins on health issues health advisories in the district that you plan to retire abroad in. However, as usual, there are some things you can do to protect yourself. You should also stay away from performing any behavior that would be risky. Refrain from remaining out in town late at night, particularly if you are by yourself. You should always go places with a friend or with some other twosome. Above all, don't drink too much and go crazy. Stunts like that will only become your worst bad dream if you aren't cautious. Another thing important is to remember to only to ride in secure public transportation or with known, trusted drivers.
You need to be prepared if an emergency comes. So you should know who to call if something goes wrong and where the nearest hospital is. You should buy a health insurance policy that will cover you wherever you live; additionally, make sure you have 24-hour emergency assistance that will take you back to the USA in the case of a severe problem. Before you leave America, get a complete physical and dental exam so that you're less likely to need medical assistance right after you've retired.
If you want to live abroad and want to blend in without looking like a tourist, you will have to learn how to get around the city on your own. You should always keep a local cell phone or an international cell phone on you because you never know when you will need it. Soon you will be dressing and blending in with the locals and will be able to spot a tourist in a heartbeat.
At the age of 65, rather than working in the US, commuting for 2 hours a day, I would like to be retired in overseas to a country with less crime than the US. This is certainly something many Americans can achieve if they put their minds to it. It is up to you whether you work longer to compensate for a poor economy.
Did you think you had your retirement all paid for, with a good sum of money stashed away only to have it cut in half by an economic downturn? Okay, here is a solution. Think about how to retire early outside the United States, perhaps in Mexico, Ecuador, or Panama, where you can find many, many citizens from the United States and Canada living out their retirement years in comfort.
You could move to Mexico for example. It is close by, and you won't be the only one who speaks English because a lot of Americans and Canadians are already enjoying expatriate living there. You don't even have to change citizenship.
Why consider retiring overseas? Well, let's look at one example. You can live very well on less than $2000 a month (and in many cases you can live comfortably on $1000 a month) in many Central American and South American countries. You might never have to do housework again because on that budget (in some countries) you can also hire a maid and a cook are included.
One should avoid any high crime areas as far as possible. To know about such areas one can always ask the locals or the expatriates living nearby. Also many a times one has an instinctive feeling when we enter in an area of rampant violence and crime. To protect oneself from any mishap, one should dress conservatively, no expensive jewelry or anything flashy should be worn while using public conveyances, if one needs to they can wear a cheap plastic watch or other cheap commodities.
When out in public areas, conceal your money. You should travel light, and use a slim travel wallet that can be concealed underneath clothing. Don't wear fanny packs, or carry large purses. Those items virtually scream out to pickpockets and thieves, "Steal me, please!" All over the world, there are pickpockets skilled in their trade. In one incident, an entire public busload of foreign passengers were targeted. Be vigilant when it comes to your possessions.
Confirm things with the State Department and the CDC regarding possible safety concerns or bulletins on health issues health advisories in the district that you plan to retire abroad in. However, as usual, there are some things you can do to protect yourself. You should also stay away from performing any behavior that would be risky. Refrain from remaining out in town late at night, particularly if you are by yourself. You should always go places with a friend or with some other twosome. Above all, don't drink too much and go crazy. Stunts like that will only become your worst bad dream if you aren't cautious. Another thing important is to remember to only to ride in secure public transportation or with known, trusted drivers.
You need to be prepared if an emergency comes. So you should know who to call if something goes wrong and where the nearest hospital is. You should buy a health insurance policy that will cover you wherever you live; additionally, make sure you have 24-hour emergency assistance that will take you back to the USA in the case of a severe problem. Before you leave America, get a complete physical and dental exam so that you're less likely to need medical assistance right after you've retired.
If you want to live abroad and want to blend in without looking like a tourist, you will have to learn how to get around the city on your own. You should always keep a local cell phone or an international cell phone on you because you never know when you will need it. Soon you will be dressing and blending in with the locals and will be able to spot a tourist in a heartbeat.
At the age of 65, rather than working in the US, commuting for 2 hours a day, I would like to be retired in overseas to a country with less crime than the US. This is certainly something many Americans can achieve if they put their minds to it. It is up to you whether you work longer to compensate for a poor economy.
Did you think you had your retirement all paid for, with a good sum of money stashed away only to have it cut in half by an economic downturn? Okay, here is a solution. Think about how to retire early outside the United States, perhaps in Mexico, Ecuador, or Panama, where you can find many, many citizens from the United States and Canada living out their retirement years in comfort.
You could move to Mexico for example. It is close by, and you won't be the only one who speaks English because a lot of Americans and Canadians are already enjoying expatriate living there. You don't even have to change citizenship.
Why consider retiring overseas? Well, let's look at one example. You can live very well on less than $2000 a month (and in many cases you can live comfortably on $1000 a month) in many Central American and South American countries. You might never have to do housework again because on that budget (in some countries) you can also hire a maid and a cook are included.
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