I hope this will be useful, or at least enjoyable for some of you. Selfishly, I’m sure I’ll get some valuable feedback that will help me shape some future decisions.
I’m almost 58 years old, in good health, caucasian, airline pilot, father and grandfather. I’ve made a lot of mistakes but I find myself in a pretty good position so far. I have a nice 401k nest egg in addition to a military retirement check that will start when I’m 60 and I’ll probably start collecting (US) social security as soon as I can at age 62. On the negative side of the ledger I have to pay alimony for nearly 5 more years and I’m a bit upside down on a piece of land in AZ purchased in 2005.
My job is lucrative and enjoyable most of the time, but I want to retire for a couple of reasons. The job ties me to the USA. I don’t have strong game, and even if I did, it’s rough for us older sports models in the states. The other main issue is health. As I said before, my health is good but I don’t think my job is conducive to long term health. I’m exposed to fumes, chemicals, stale recycled air, microbes, elecromagnetic and gamma rays. During a normal 3 day trip I start to feel like shit on day 3 and have to spend the following day recovering. Then it’s 3 more days off (which is nice) and back at it.
My tentative plan is to keep working for 2 more years, then retire. I can see all this more or less clearly. The next step is a little hazy.
I’d like to retire in SE Asia; Thailand, Vietnam or the Philippines. They each have different pros and cons but they’re all great for an aging westerner. One major drawback that they all have is the inability to own land. I want to live in a rural or semi rural area and have a little organic farm. You can get a long term (25 to 30 years I think) lease, or you can marry a local and buy the land for her. The potential for problems is obvious.
I’m also drawn to S America, specifically western Argentina. I speak Spanish, I enjoy wine culture, I like the idea of living in the southern hemisphere, and I can own the land. I haven’t been to Argentina yet, but so far it seems like the best Latin American location for me based on my preferences. The places I’ve been in Latin America just don’t have the same vibrant social life for an old gringo like SE Asia, and I doubt Argentina is much different in that regard.
I guess that more or less sums up my dilemma. If I have a farm in S America I won’t be able to spend as much time in Asia as I’d like. If I live in SE Asia it will be more complicated to have a farm.
And there’s one more big thing. I’m the main father figure in my oldest grandson’s life. His father died recently, and I want to be in a position to spend a lot of time with him for the next 5 or 6 years. It’s actually another point if favor of S America because if I had a place down there I could probably convince my daughter to live there with me for at least a couple years to give my grandson that experience.
I’ve kind of rambled on. Feel free to comment or give suggestions. I’ll respond and add to this as required.
I’m almost 58 years old, in good health, caucasian, airline pilot, father and grandfather. I’ve made a lot of mistakes but I find myself in a pretty good position so far. I have a nice 401k nest egg in addition to a military retirement check that will start when I’m 60 and I’ll probably start collecting (US) social security as soon as I can at age 62. On the negative side of the ledger I have to pay alimony for nearly 5 more years and I’m a bit upside down on a piece of land in AZ purchased in 2005.
My job is lucrative and enjoyable most of the time, but I want to retire for a couple of reasons. The job ties me to the USA. I don’t have strong game, and even if I did, it’s rough for us older sports models in the states. The other main issue is health. As I said before, my health is good but I don’t think my job is conducive to long term health. I’m exposed to fumes, chemicals, stale recycled air, microbes, elecromagnetic and gamma rays. During a normal 3 day trip I start to feel like shit on day 3 and have to spend the following day recovering. Then it’s 3 more days off (which is nice) and back at it.
My tentative plan is to keep working for 2 more years, then retire. I can see all this more or less clearly. The next step is a little hazy.
I’d like to retire in SE Asia; Thailand, Vietnam or the Philippines. They each have different pros and cons but they’re all great for an aging westerner. One major drawback that they all have is the inability to own land. I want to live in a rural or semi rural area and have a little organic farm. You can get a long term (25 to 30 years I think) lease, or you can marry a local and buy the land for her. The potential for problems is obvious.
I’m also drawn to S America, specifically western Argentina. I speak Spanish, I enjoy wine culture, I like the idea of living in the southern hemisphere, and I can own the land. I haven’t been to Argentina yet, but so far it seems like the best Latin American location for me based on my preferences. The places I’ve been in Latin America just don’t have the same vibrant social life for an old gringo like SE Asia, and I doubt Argentina is much different in that regard.
I guess that more or less sums up my dilemma. If I have a farm in S America I won’t be able to spend as much time in Asia as I’d like. If I live in SE Asia it will be more complicated to have a farm.
And there’s one more big thing. I’m the main father figure in my oldest grandson’s life. His father died recently, and I want to be in a position to spend a lot of time with him for the next 5 or 6 years. It’s actually another point if favor of S America because if I had a place down there I could probably convince my daughter to live there with me for at least a couple years to give my grandson that experience.
I’ve kind of rambled on. Feel free to comment or give suggestions. I’ll respond and add to this as required.