“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Though Eleanor Roosevelt wasn’t talking specifically about a retirement overseas, she could well have been.
While it’s true that in the right places abroad you can lower your cost of living, improve your quality of life, enjoy sunny skies year-round, and stop worrying you’ll outlive your nest egg…perhaps the biggest benefit, expats report again and again, is the opportunity to enjoy a richer life experience.
As Mike Herron says of his move to Cuenca, Ecuador, “While the reduced cost of living is welcome, it isn’t the most important part of our new lives. I made more money before, but I’m richer now in so many other ways.” Read Mike’s story here.
When it comes to rich experiences, you really can dream big. You might think a retirement on a sailboat is the prerogative of the very wealthy. But, as we show you in this month’s feature story, that’s not necessarily the case. You could cruise the sapphire waters of the Caribbean, the Pacific, or the Mediterranean…and do it for less than it costs you to stay home.
Most folks assume a retirement in Europe’s culture-rich corners is a prohibitively expensive endeavor, but don’t be so sure. Tricia A. Mitchell uncovers the allure of Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, where you can enjoy its wild beaches, ancient history, vibrant festivals, and a home with a sea view from $115,000. Go here to read her full article. And part-time expat Carol Barron pulls back the curtain and shares her insider tips for spending a few months at a time in Nice, Barcelona, and Florence—on the same modest budget she maintains when she’s in Florida.
If living “rich” is all about experience, Cambodia offers a wealth of rewards. Derek Howell pays just $355 a month for his apartment in Phnom Penh—but that’s not the best reason to retire there, he contends. “The whole point of traveling and living overseas is to see something unexpected and experience a totally different culture.” He’s doing both—savoring the art, music, and history of his new overseas home—and doing it, conveniently, for pennies on the dollar. His full story can be found here.
Known as the “Paris of the East” in the early 1900s for its art nouveau architecture and glamorous high life, the Romanian capital, Bucharest, went through dramatic changes during the dark decades of communist rule. Those days are long gone now...
Ibiza, Spain—one of the four Balearic Islands in the Spanish Mediterranean—is better known around the world as a hangout for jetsetters and celebrities than for its cuisine. While I worked as an English-language assistant on the island, I found that the...
Racing a pod of dolphins riding your wake…gazing at the Milky Way in all its splendor…hopping from private island to isolated cove…catching fresh mahi mahi for dinner. There are many pleasures that come with sailing the open sea, whether you’re...
What I like most about my new life as an expat is that it has enabled me to reconnect with what is truly important. It should come as no surprise to anyone that what turns out to be important isn’t the big houses, the new cars, or all the possessions...
For decades now, International Living has been sharing information about all that Panama has to offer. Panama is blessed with a warm, healthy climate that fosters some of Central America’s most verdant rainforest. You’ll find a wealth of wildlife in...
Did you know you can download and read your entire May issue as a PDF? Simply click on the link below and discover the secrets to retiring and investing overseas. Download your May 2018 Issue PDF here.