Do you have ambition to live or retire abroad? (13 Viewers)

[superchuck500]

Beyond the challenges with our son, I don’t want to give up my US Citizenship and I want to be able to collect social security. I’ve sure as hell paid a lot into it.

I'm not sure about the intricacies of social security but you won't give up you US citizenship by moving abroad - you can even obtain citizenship in a new country without losing your US citizenship.

 

[Grumpy Old Manatee]

Will there be raccoons involved?

 

[saintmdterps]

I"d be sitting pretty 20 years ago in Thailand had I not eaten dat damn wedding cake...

…dumb***!

 

[Semper]

I would never leave my country. I have traveled. Italy, Spain, Germany, Israel, Greece, Turkey, Bosnia and Tunisia and none of them are better than here. It’s not perfect here but there is a lot to be proud of.

 

[Rickboy]

I'm not sure about the intricacies of social security but you won't give up you US citizenship by moving abroad - you can even obtain citizenship in a new country without losing your US citizenship.

I was more alluding to the hurdles of living abroad as a US Citizen due to the tax and banking rules. It’s a real PITA.

 

[Clarkey]

I would never leave my country. I have traveled. Italy, Spain, Germany, Israel, Greece, Turkey, Bosnia and Tunisia and none of them are better than here. It’s not perfect here but there is a lot to be proud of.

Pride isn't lacking in this thread, it's overall happiness with one's location.

 

[Semper]

Pride isn't lacking in this thread, it's overall happiness with one's location.

Other than January and February I love where I live. My boss lives in Switzerland but spends 4 months a year here in the U.S. his goal is to retire here as soon as he can. He loves our country.

 

[saintmdterps]

Other than January and February I love where I live. My boss lives in Switzerland but spends 4 months a year here in the U.S. his goal is to retire here as soon as he can. He loves our country.

I hope he’s healthy

 

[bclemms]

I’m typing this from Laos. Yesterdsy Cambodia, spent the last two months in Japan, Korea and mostly Thailand.

It is hard to come home and makes less sense each time I do. I have no clue where I will end up but I do know it wont be in the USA.

I’m a wealthy god in SE Asia. In the USA I’m just cattle lining up for slaughter. No doubt the US is wonderful and does some great stuff but from a perspective of cost, life and freedom it is a really difficult place to live.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I’m typing this from Laos. Yesterdsy Cambodia, spent the last two months in Japan, Korea and mostly Thailand.

Which parts of Thailand mostly ?


I want to check out Laos in the near future myself .. also would not mind seeing Vietnam, and a return trip to the Philippines .

 

[bclemms]

Which parts of Thailand mostly ?


I want to check out Laos in the near future myself .. also would not mind seeing Vietnam, and a return trip to the Philippines .

I havent been to the South (Phuket, Crabi) but been pretty much everywhere else. Chiang Mai is probably my favorite, more chill but you can make it whatever you want. Bangkok is great but you lose some of the value that is so attractive. Buriram is so cheap, slow life but still plenty to do. Whatever you want is here so I would say bounce around. I need to explore Vietnam more. I still have to do Indonesia and Philippines.

 

[zeetes]

What part did you live in? I’ve never been but feel like I could be happy in Melbourne or Sydney

about 45 minutes nw of melbourne. i'd personally take it over sydney, but if you love your austin, you would probably like it better. melbourne is a combo of nj, ny, and several boring arse cities. at least sydney has culture, but i'd prefer the simple life of bogans.

also, you mentioned london earlier. i'd take it in a heartbeat. i was there for 3 months at 10 years old, went to primary school, and even with that not being a vacation, i loved everything i saw in england and scotland.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I havent been to the South (Phuket, Crabi) but been pretty much everywhere else. Chiang Mai is probably my favorite, more chill but you can make it whatever you want. Bangkok is great but you lose some of the value that is so attractive. Buriram is so cheap, slow life but still plenty to do. Whatever you want is here so I would say bounce around. I need to explore Vietnam more. I still have to do Indonesia and Philippines.

Trust me when i tell you that you are missing nothing with Phuket.. it was the first place i ever went in Asia, about 18 months ago (w/the exception of a few days layover in Bangkok) and i found it extremely crowded and congested, all while paying American prices.. Krabi is at the top of my list to visit, hopefully in the next few months.. Lived in Chiang Mai for a couple months and it was ok, but limiting due to lack of decent public transport (i dont do motos)…. Im living in Bangkok now for the last six months almost (Thong Lor district near the city center) and what you said is so true, esp in re to Bangkok- it has something for everyone and is truly whatever you want to make it… if you’re ever back around here and want to grab a plate of mango sticky rice, let me know .

 

[Get in the Carr]

I can say with a military background that retiring in Asia is a goal for many. The pension of a high ranking US military person affords them to live like a rock star over there with the cost of living. This has been a thing since the early two thousands and now probably taught at boot camp. As with anything that seems too good to be true, there are some pitfalls. I’ll let people with the experience state them but it can’t be all rainbows or everyone would do it.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I can say with a military background that retiring in Asia is a goal for many. The pension of a high ranking US military person affords them to live like a rock star over there with the cost of living. This has been a thing since the early two thousands and now probably taught at boot camp.

Try even earlier, since at least the 1980s .

As with anything that seems too good to be true, there are some pitfalls. I’ll let people with the experience state them but it can’t be all rainbows or everyone would do it.

You are incorrect…. Sure, no place is perfect, that part is true.. but the minor trivial bs ‘problems’ here in Asia pale in comparison to the issues that America and the West is experiencing … What you are wrong about is the reason that everyone doesnt do it.. it’s not b/c it’s ’too good to be true’, it’s because most Americans are fat, lazy, addicted to being miserable and cant imagine ever leaving the Yankee Doodle Dandy bullcrap we’ve been fed all our lives for something “unknown”…. Personally ill take my chances on what’s ’unknown’ 100 times over the ‘known’ miserable quality of life in America….. I think last i read something like 80% of Americans dont even have a passport (dont quote me on that exact number)- so why would they ever look beyond US shores for a better life ??


ETA but i thank all that is holy that people like urself think the way you do, b/c if not, then you’d be correct that places like Asia would be overrun with loud, entitled Americans .