[Javeth]

Thanks for any suggestions and details.

[Clemenza]

I live in São Paulo, Brazil. Imagine a country where the Obamacrats are the right wing party (PSDB) while the ruling left wing party is led by a former Marxist guerrilla feminazi. We have the taxes of Sweden and the services of Nigeria.

On the plus side people are genuinely friendly (unlike superficial southern hospitality), and the women are hot.

[Fiji Hill]

Malta might be a possibility It has a stable republican government and is centrally located. English is widely spoken, and the Muslim population is small.

[mosaicwolf]

None are gun friendly. I looked into Belize. Nice place but.....very unfriendly toward guns. If you are from the gun culture and enjoy the shooting sports, look into this closely before committing.

[exnavy]

My advice to you is move fast.

[Jean2]

One of the OPM investigators that comes in for law checks is planning to retire in Cebu City, Philippines. He says the cost of living is very cheap and can get property there for around $100,000. he says there is a magazine called International Living that covers all of this stuff.

[nascarnation]

I expected if Baraq won, the necessary discussion on FR will be “bolt or revolt”.

[doubled]

bfl

[corkoman]

Santiago and Valparaiso are delightful places. Chileans are for the most part industrious + hard-working. They speak rapid Spanish but are sympathetic to gingos who make the effort to habla. The Chilean economy is on fire as they have a capitalist system unspoiled (so far) by the looters and moochers.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Invest only where there is the rule of law.

[chuckles]

I went through this during the Clintoon administration. Just save yourself a bunch of frustration. There is still no place like here. I found out quickly that I won't go anywhere my guns aren't welcome. I almost decided on Ecuador and in less than 2 years, they went commie. I would go to Australia, but they are expensive and they have already lost their guns. It's just an intellectual exercise that ends up back in the US.

The questions to be pondering are "When do you join a militia?" "At what point do you start firing on your neighbors?" "When do you say enough is enough?"

The Founders found a point they would not budge. Where is that point? Lincoln drew a line in the sand and the south gladly crossed it. No one wants to see this type of situation come upon the nation, but how far will we go? It would be easier to go to Belize, but how long before SHTF there? I would be in Alaska if I could, but I would lose my wife in that move.

[Chickensoup]

If I had your choices and family on the continent I would have a home in finland, visit and shoot in Germany, and have a smmer place on an island in Greece.

It would be difficult to get into Finland, I imagine, and I suspect they are clannish.

[montanajoe]

I spend a lot of time in SE Asia (liked the area since my senior trip...), lived in the Philippines and Thailand about half the year until the kids got old enough for school. Will probably go back nearly full time at some point.

My suggestion would be this....decide on a couple places and then go and live there for at least 3-6 months before you actually decide to leave permanently. There is so much of a difference between here and anyplace else you have to actually experience it nobody can adequately explain it to you

[DCMacNerd]

I’m a long time lurker but decided to log in when I saw this post, mainly because of the danger it poses to both the OP and any others who might be thinking the same thing.

Without commenting on your reasons for wanting to retire abroad, you should realize that for tax purposes, it doesn’t matter. You are an American citizen. It doesn’t matter where you are living, you are still subject to US taxation, regardless of whether a tax treaty is in place with your chosen country or not.

For retirement accounts, such as 401K and IRA or other securities, it’s all considered ordinary taxable income the moment you start drawing on it. Income you earn from business you are doing in that country might have some tax exclusions for you under the Foreign Earned Income code. You are still required to file a 1040 and failure to do so can result in a $10,000 fine.

The other option is to renounce your citizenship, but this poses its own financial problems. At the time of such a renouncement, you would be required to add up the value of all your assets (retirement, checking, savings accounts, homes, cars, artwork, etc.) and pay a lump tax on the value of them all. It’s called an Exit Tax and it was enacted to discourage the kind of thing you seem to be wanting to do.

Hope this helps and I strongly advise speaking to both a lawyer and a competent accountant before making any major decisions.

[leapfrog0202]

Bump for later

[wjcsux]

later

[Cboldt]

I’d consider Ireland. My favorite place is northern Italy, near Switzerland. Plenty of small town living. Food can’t be beat.

[austingirl]

I’m researching Panama. There are several programs for retirees, people who are economically self-supporting, and a new program for friendly countries- they need English-speaking people to work! That last program is quick, and less red-tape.

[Mikey_1962]

While working in Guanajuanto Mexico I was really bored on weekends so I would drive around to nearby towns.

I discovered San Miguel de Allende, a beautiful town in the Eastern part of the State of Guanajuato.

I never heard of it before I went there, but found out it has the largest community of ex-pat Americans in the world.

About 13,000 Americans year around and 20,000 in Winter.

Since it is in the Central Highlands plateau it never goes below 62 degrees or above 82 degrees.

That's where I am going in 15 years.

[cva66snipe]

“I wash born here, an I wash raished here, and dad gum it, I am gonna die here, an no sidewindin’ bushwackin’, hornswagglin’ cracker croaker is gonna rouin me bishen cutter.” Gabby Johnson