Best Places In The World To Retire

My experience as an American woman in Portugal 30 years ago was not good; at that time I found it a frustratingly "macho" country. However, this has definitely changed, perhaps as Luis da Silva mentions in an earlier post, this is due to most women now working, better education, and greater exposure to global influences.

 

(Woman in Lisbon, Portugal, pictured.)

My experience as an American woman in Portugal 30 years ago was not good; at that time I found it a frustratingly "macho" country. However, this has definitely changed, perhaps as Luis da Silva mentions in an earlier post, this is due to most women now working, better education, and greater exposure to global influences.

 

(Woman in Lisbon, Portugal, pictured.)

In Nicaragua, if you are planning to live near a primary city such as Leon, Managua or Granada, you can opt for Claro services. Possibly the worst company in Nicaragua, Claro offers internet service via USB or Turbonett (fiber optic). Unfortunately, once you get through their marketing pitch, and they convince you to sign a contract with them, you'll experience the worst service you can ever imagine. So, if you choose to go this route, be ready.

 

If you are outside...

In Nicaragua, if you are planning to live near a primary city such as Leon, Managua or Granada, you can opt for Claro services. Possibly the worst company in Nicaragua, Claro offers internet service via USB or Turbonett (fiber optic). Unfortunately, once you get through their marketing pitch, and they convince you to sign a contract with them, you'll experience the worst service you can ever imagine. So, if you choose to go this route, be ready.

 

If you are outside of the city centers, you should look into IDEAY or IBW which can set up a private tower at your house and provide the fastest, most consistent internet. Its costly though at US $70-$130 a meg of download speed.

The best reasons to retire overseas would include the low cost of living, experiencing different cultures, having a better quality of life, and being in a healthy living environment. In many places abroad, the cost of living is lower than it is in the US or Canada. There are many different kinds of cultures than what people experience in the United States, and we get to see and experience more of that when we retire overseas. 
 
The overall quality of life is also better...

The best reasons to retire overseas would include the low cost of living, experiencing different cultures, having a better quality of life, and being in a healthy living environment. In many places abroad, the cost of living is lower than it is in the US or Canada. There are many different kinds of cultures than what people experience in the United States, and we get to see and experience more of that when we retire overseas. 
 
The overall quality of life is also better when living overseas because you get the chance to have a healthier living environment. Everything is less expensive overseas, and the climate is better. If you pick a place where you enjoy the climate, you have the advantage of being active, which is important in maintaining your health. When I’m overseas, I’m a lot more active and healthier in general.
 
As an example, we were in Tulum, Mexico, for three months. It was just a short stint, but I can definitely say that the cost of living in Tulum is extremely low. We rented a one-bedroom apartment in Tulum for US $520 a month, including all the utilities. The apartment we rented in Tulum was a bicycle ride to the beach with all the comforts of home for a third of what it would have cost to rent that same place in Dallas, Texas. In general, rent and meals cost about a third of what it would cost in the United States or in Canada.
 
I spent about a week in the Amazon in Ecuador, living with the tribe of Huaorani Indians, one of the last indigenous groups in the Amazon. Huaorani Indians are still living in the Stone Age- they don’t have metal pans or electricity, for example. 
 
We lived with the Huaorani Indians in the Amazon jungle for about a week and a half, with everything that we ate coming out of the ground or river. These were different types of roots, plantains and fish. Naturally, they didn’t have cooking oil.  Everything was very basic and very filling, because it was all natural. There were absolutely no preservatives, which is always better for us. 
 
Another example is when I lived in Brazil for about a year. There’s a better overall  quality of life in Brazil because you’re more active. Being overseas means that you do not live the American lifestyle of driving and sitting on your behind all day. Living overseas gives you more time for activities such as walking and biking. 

 

(Living with the Huaorani indians in the Amazon rainforest, Equador, pictured.)