Best Places In The World To Retire

In 2004 there was an earthquake where the epicenter was a hundred miles away that shook everything for 52 seconds. There were a couple of small cracks in the swimming pools here, but that’s about it.  We have only experienced 2 tremors over the years in Chapala and Ajijic.

 

Chapala and Ajijic is not in a hurricane or tornado alley. We have some heavy rainstorms that can cause a flood that is a foot high because of water from the creek coming down...

In 2004 there was an earthquake where the epicenter was a hundred miles away that shook everything for 52 seconds. There were a couple of small cracks in the swimming pools here, but that’s about it.  We have only experienced 2 tremors over the years in Chapala and Ajijic.

 

Chapala and Ajijic is not in a hurricane or tornado alley. We have some heavy rainstorms that can cause a flood that is a foot high because of water from the creek coming down the street after the rain, which is why the curbs on the streets of Chapala and Ajijic running north to south are higher than anywhere else. There was a week of heavy rainstorms 5 or 6 years ago in San Juan Cosala when a couple of arroyos (creeks) had rocks and trees washed down and in through town, which was the worst flooding we've had in all the time that we've been here in Chapala and Ajijic.

 

There are no wildfires in Chapala and Ajijic. However, we have man-made fires during April and May to get rid of dead plants that grew like crazy in the rainy season. There's a common saying in Chapala and Ajijic that if you stick a toothpick in the ground, it too will root.  Some of the man-made fires in Chapala and Ajijic can go out of control because of the wind that comes from Lake Chapala that pushes the fire up. What people do is water bomb the fire that’s on the mountainside between here and Jocotepec.

 

(Pool overlooking Lake Chapala, Mexico, pictured.)

In order to obtain the Non-Habitual Resident (“NHR”) Status, firstly it will be necessary to be considered as tax resident in Portugal in the same year that the Portuguese Tax Authorities accept the request to be a Non Habitual Resident.

 

Thereby, in general terms, to be considered as tax resident in Portugal, it is necessary to fulfill one of the following requirements:

 

i) Has remained there more than 183 days,...

In order to obtain the Non-Habitual Resident (“NHR”) Status, firstly it will be necessary to be considered as tax resident in Portugal in the same year that the Portuguese Tax Authorities accept the request to be a Non Habitual Resident.

 

Thereby, in general terms, to be considered as tax resident in Portugal, it is necessary to fulfill one of the following requirements:

 

i) Has remained there more than 183 days, consecutive or otherwise;

 

ii) Has stayed for less time, but has available there, on that year, accommodation in conditions that indicate an intention to keep and occupy it as an habitual residence;

 

iii) Is a crew member of vessels or aircraft, provided that in the service of entities with residence, head office or (place of) effective management in that territory;

 

iv) Exercises functions or commissions of public character under the Portuguese State, abroad;

 

v) Performs abroad an office or commission of a public nature, in the service of the Portuguese State.

 

After the requirements are fulfilled, the recognition of this status is not automatic.  Rather, it is still necessary to request the Registration in the Taxpayer Registry of the Portuguese Tax Authorities as a Non-Habitual Resident.

 

This registration as a Non-Habitual Resident must be made at the moment of the registration as Portuguese tax resident or subsequently until March 31st, of the year after taking up residency in Portugal.

 

(Cafe off the plaza in Montijo, Portugal, pictured.)

The best advice I can give about living overseas or retiring abroad is, if you want things to be like the way they are at home, then do not leave home.

 

For example, Panama is a lot different from where I come from and from where most people are from. When you go to Panama, you have to get used to the culture. For instance, the fact that there is not a lot of emphasis on education does not mean that the people of Panama are bad. For instance,throwing...

The best advice I can give about living overseas or retiring abroad is, if you want things to be like the way they are at home, then do not leave home.

 

For example, Panama is a lot different from where I come from and from where most people are from. When you go to Panama, you have to get used to the culture. For instance, the fact that there is not a lot of emphasis on education does not mean that the people of Panama are bad. For instance,throwing trash just out the window is a common practice here because it is not embedded in their education system to do otherwise.

 

From the perspective of a foreigner, some of the decisions and practices here in Panama are just plain shocking. People cry about it but nothing is going to change. As an example, there was actually one person who decided that taking the trash bins out of Casco Viejo was a good idea. So right now, what everybody does with their trash is throw it on the street; the street of a world heritage site! Yes, they pile up the trash in neat piles on the corners of the streets of a world heritage site. That happens because some person of authority thought it to be a good idea to remove the trash bins in Casco Viejo. You may think that being a person of authority, he wouldn’t have made that decision, but that is not how things work here. I guess being able to adjust to where you are living is a huge part of moving away.

 

(Fountain in Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama, pictured. )