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.
Great post. I am about 15-20 years behind you. I share a few of your ideas but not the land part. I agree there is no better place to be an older retired man with a decent retirement than SEA. I prefer Thailand more so for the comradery with other open minded men at that stage in there lives. The hard part is keeping a healthy balance and not becoming a full fledge whore monger or booze hound. It takes discipline and hobbies or sports to keep you active. But they are available which is great also at a cheap price.....never understood those that want to retire in a gated golf community in Florida...place you go to die not live! Finally the last warning which You already know is the old saying "never invest in Thailand unless you are prepared to one day walk away from it with nothing in return".
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 also plan to keep a stake in South America but for me it will be Colombia or possibly Venezuela. I would want a warmer city away from the gringo invasion in MDE.... (Cali, Santader, or Coffee region,).... kicking around a few places in my mind but not settled on one yet. I love the big city life but I feel I will tire of this as I get older as I reside in Bogota.
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.
This is where I feel you can have the best of both worlds. I have a few retired friends that reside in "tierra caliente" 3-4 hours outside Bogota with nice pieces of land (Fincas)...(in La Mesa, Villeta, Melgar and one married couple that own an amazing piece of land in Villa De Leyva with rentals/eco-lodges) You can always pay the local families to watch the property while away or even rent them out as many do....a bit like a property manager at a reasonable rate. On your retirement it would be more than possible.
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 think I gave you advice on this in another thread. The schooling issue will be the biggest stumbling block. Read up on the repat thread with Colin Post. However, flights to and from Colombia are easy and close to USA for long summer breaks or vice versa.
My final plan which is still a plan... is to have a paid for small condo in USA near family and friends. To spend 3-4 months a year late summer-fall. 3-4 months in Colombia-Venezuela, and 3-4 months a year in Thailand. Renting in Thailand, and if I find a small decent apt in an area I like in Colombia/Venezuela buying there.
Great post. I am about 15-20 years behind you. I share a few of your ideas but not the land part. I agree there is no better place to be an older retired man with a decent retirement than SEA. I prefer Thailand more so for the comradery with other open minded men at that stage in there lives. The hard part is keeping a healthy balance and not becoming a full fledge whore monger or booze hound. It takes discipline and hobbies or sports to keep you active. But they are available which is great also at a cheap price.....never understood those that want to retire in a gated golf community in Florida...place you go to die not live! Finally the last warning which You already know is the old saying "never invest in Thailand unless you are prepared to one day walk away from it with nothing in return".
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 also plan to keep a stake in South America but for me it will be Colombia or possibly Venezuela. I would want a warmer city away from the gringo invasion in MDE.... (Cali, Santader, or Coffee region,).... kicking around a few places in my mind but not settled on one yet. I love the big city life but I feel I will tire of this as I get older as I reside in Bogota.
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.
This is where I feel you can have the best of both worlds. I have a few retired friends that reside in "tierra caliente" 3-4 hours outside Bogota with nice pieces of land (Fincas)...(in La Mesa, Villeta, Melgar and one married couple that own an amazing piece of land in Villa De Leyva with rentals/eco-lodges) You can always pay the local families to watch the property while away or even rent them out as many do....a bit like a property manager at a reasonable rate. On your retirement it would be more than possible.
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 think I gave you advice on this in another thread. The schooling issue will be the biggest stumbling block. Read up on the repat thread with Colin Post. However, flights to and from Colombia are easy and close to USA for long summer breaks or vice versa.
My final plan which is still a plan... is to have a paid for small condo in USA near family and friends. To spend 3-4 months a year late summer-fall. 3-4 months in Colombia-Venezuela, and 3-4 months a year in Thailand. Renting in Thailand, and if I find a small decent apt in an area I like in Colombia/Venezuela buying there.