Here’s What You Do Next
Panama City, Panama
You’ve got your list.
Now you need another, shorter one…a list of the countries that might support the lifestyle you seek.
Here are 20 countries to consider:
- Argentina
- Belize
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- France
- Honduras
- Ireland
- Italy
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Portugal
- Spain
- Thailand
- Uruguay
The truth is, right here, right now…I can’t take this conversation much further. You’ve got your list of what matters to you…and now you’ve got a list of the world’s top retirement havens today.
Given all this, should you retire to Panama…or to France? To Uruguay…or to Thailand? I have no idea.
I’m not copping out. I’m being honest. You’ve got to do the work of considering the 20 countries on my World’s Top Havens list in the context of your personal preferences and priorities.
You’ve got to connect your own dots.
For example:
If you’re looking to retire on a limited budget, look into Ecuador, Nicaragua, Thailand, and Uruguay, the world’s most affordable retirement havens.
If you want a temperate climate, put Argentina (in the north), Ecuador, and Panama (in the mountains) on your list. If you want four seasons, think about Uruguay (on a budget) or Paris (the most romantic place on earth but certainly not a budget choice).
Want to pay no local income tax? Think about retiring to Belize, Panama, Malaysia, or Uruguay.
Get the shakes at the thought of life without reliable Internet? Take Nicaragua off your list. And if you’re interested in any of the other Latin American or the Asian countries on my list, reconcile yourself with city living. You can’t count on regular, reliable Internet in the “interiors” of any of these places.
Don’t like bugs? Don’t retire to a tropical beach.
Get sad without sunshine? Don’t move to Ireland.
Want to start a business? Come to Panama, perhaps the most business-friendly jurisdiction in the world today…or perhaps Malaysia if you want to be on that side of the planet.
Travel a lot? Come to Panama in the Americas…or maybe France in Euro-land. From Tocumen you can get anywhere in North or South America with ease…and from Charles de Gaulle, you’re no more than a couple of hops away from anywhere, period.
Value regular nights of culture? Consider Buenos Aires (on a budget) or Paris (not).
Want to be far away from the troubles of the world right now? Think about Cafayete, Argentina…the coast of Uruguay…Granada, Nicaragua…or maybe New Zealand.
“Retiring” with children? Education becomes your number-one priority. In this case, consider France, Costa Rica, Panama, or Uruguay.
If you have an ongoing health concern, medical care facilities are your top priority. Put, again, France, at the top of your list if money is not another key criteria…and consider Panama and perhaps Uruguay if it is.
Panama is an international banking center…Nicaragua is not.
You can’t own your own home outright in Thailand, if that matters to you.
Argentina enjoys drama…in its politics…in its economic policies…in its cocktail party conversation… Will that make you nervous?
France is one of the most legislated places on earth. The French, though, simply ignore the rules and the restrictions as suits them. Could you?
Taxis in places like Panama City, Panama, and Managua, Nicaragua, often come minus things like door handles, air conditioning, and tail lights. Will that bother you?
Over to you, dear reader. You’ll have to continue this line of thinking for yourself. Meantime, of course, we’ll do everything we can to support your connecting-the-dots efforts in these dispatches.
More tomorrow,
Kathleen Peddicord
P.S. Step #3 in this How To Find Your Own Personal Retirement Haven Overseas process? Get on a plane. Once you’ve identified a handful of countries that might qualify, you’ve got to go to see them for yourself. A place can make great sense on paper but just not feel right. You can’t spreadsheet your way to a new life in paradise. Start with a spreadsheet, but make your final determination with your gut.
