‘Health care will keep us from going back...’ says Texas couple who retired to Spain on $2k a month

www.marketwatch.com ^ | Published: Oct 17, 2019 1:18 p.m. ET | By Catey Hill

[Red Badger]

Though they ‘love America,’ this couple has chosen to put their roots down in the coastal town of Denia in Spain.

Call ‘em Texpats.

Kevin and Susan Bryant, 55 and 48, spent most of their lives in Texas, recently in retiree hot spot Austin. But “when Austin became a mini Silicon Valley, we were priced out,” Kevin, a now-retired history teacher and principal, tells MarketWatch.

History buff Kevin says he’d always wanted to live in Europe — “in a castle, specifically, but I let that part go,” he jokes — and began hunting for where the couple might retire on his educator’s pension. They considered more than a dozen countries, finally settling on Spain for a variety of reasons, including its relative affordability, good health care, and that his teacher’s pension could qualify as income to help him get residency there.

To find the right spot, they toured Spain, rejecting Barcelona because it was too big; Tarragona because it was too far north (they wanted somewhere a little warmer); and Peñiscola, because, though they liked it, Susan jokes, “I could never tell my mother I lived in a town with that name.”

[Red Badger]

Yep, if it weren’t for the high labor costs a car might actually be affordable.

Robots will eventually replace most of the workers and then maybe the cost will come down.................

[BobL]

The big problem that I see are the results of putting off having kids, since these days, it’s often difficult to get them off the books before they’re 30.

[al_c]

An “educator’s pension” is VERY GENEROUS.

Not in Texas. His is higher due to having been a principal.

[Kommodor]

And what’s the cost of living there???

(on topic, a friend of mine and his wife are currently visiting Spain, and I think they’re considering leaving Cali & moving there. I’ll have to ask them what they think when, or if they get back...)

[SunkenCiv]

Mostly a 30 years and out retirement is available to teachers. Sounds like a couple of NEA Austin Texas libs, so, PMS... Thanks Red Badger.

Partisan Media Shills update.

[al_c]

I’ll bet this guy’s pension is way more that that. And we are supposed to worship public school teachers like they are some kind of selfless saints. In the mean time, private sector pensions no longer exist.

Texas teacher pension is crap. His is better because he was a principal. And there are still some pensions left in the world ... I've got one waiting for me from my 12 years at Blue Cross and Blue Shield and one that is growing now from my current job at the City of Plano.

[V V Camp Enari 67-68]

That will never happen...the cost not the robots. sigh

[rfreedom4u]

Ah! I’ve got five kids (four still living) and eight grandchildren. Since I quit working I’ve made three trips to Europe and one to Belize. I’m enjoying my time a lot!

[Hot Tabasco]

If I were married and didn't have the interests that I do, I'd become an "expat" in another country in a more temperate climate along a coastline somewhere where everyday life is laid back and not as hectic as it is here........

With my retirement and my imaginary wife's pension, we could probably live very comfortably.

Any single ladies here with the same thoughts?........LOL!

[moovova]

They’re living in Denial, Spain?

That’s appropriate.

[Hot Tabasco]

Posting in from the Greek Island of Longevity...Ikaria

Are you saying you live there now?

[ptsal]

Good government job.
They should change the plan and make retirees stay in the district to collect.

[posterchild]

But you know, if you don't have family, it can be quite lonely.Why? Are you in a remote area? Are locals not welcoming?

[Hot Tabasco]

Are they going to continue to vote in US elections from abroad?

Why wouldn't they? Sounds like you have a problem with this couple finding another country that suits their lifestyles and dream. Or is it just jealousy?

[Red Badger]

Do you like pina coladas?.........

[moovova]

But you kinda like the music...

[Gamecock]

His wife is only 48.

Really?

[moovova]

“His wife is only 48.”
“Really?”

That’s 48 stone.

[Hot Tabasco]

But you know, if you don't have family, it can be quite lonely.

I have a cousin in northern Michigan who I thought would never get married. Then I found out that maybe 15 years ago he decided to join an international dating site and met and married a Filipino lady. Don't know how but they appear to have been a perfect match.

He's an avid fisherman having run fishing charters in northern Michigan (not any more) and she was the daughter of a professional fisherman. She also worked for a high government official. When they spend time in Florida they can be found fishing......LOL!

[crusher2013]

Health care is way too expensive in the USA due to cartels and lack of competition.

For a family it can easily run 20K a year or more which is equivalent to a full time job (at minimum wage).

Hopefully technology and innovation will make a difference. But until their is genuine political reform I don't think it will make a real difference.

The left loves the current situation because it allow them to push for medicare for all. But with health care costs it just means the government will go broke instead of individuals and or care will be severely rationed.