Posted on 09/25/2013 1:44:34 PM PDT by Red in Blue PA
Got here at age 54, wish I was as smart as all the 30 year olds rushing down here now.
People wonder about the smarter young adults...I can tell you many are leaving the US for good for a less stressful life that embraces traditional family values.
You give up creature comforts like going to super walmarts for one stop shopping, more like the 1940s here, every store is a specialty store...because you don’t have the mammoth stores crushing out family stores.
Most people walk or bike around, one have motorcycles 4 wheelers, cars are expensive here. Everyone drives a diesel.
Food is basic and healthy very little prepackaged crap.
I love it here, wish I had the guts to get here sooner, but sadly my country ran me off with taxes, Obamacare, spying and all the other attacks on values I had cherished...
Fair warning, before anyone makes a move like this you better have years of experience in a foreign area you plan to settle in.
You will get frustrated at the slow pace and weird logic here, but so many other things balance it out.
I miss certain foods for example, and quick easy shopping, but after a beer at the beach and a sunset with the chatter of local children laughing with each other reminds me, that what was good in the 40s and 50s in the USA is still tangible here.
I love the slow pace of life, I love the people here as well.
Wish I didn’t waste 3 years of French in high school, but my Spanish is improving daily with help from locals who want to learn English, it s a great community of about 16,000 people. About 2 1/2 hours from Managua...wher super stores, malls and fancy stuff exists plus a rat race...
Sounds very nice....am jealous of you. I have been to South America several times and loved it there. Could see myself living there. I must admit, I am hooked to the prepackaged crap and the large stores, but do not think I would miss them.
What are gun rights like down there? Are there any? I have a bunch and would hate to leave them behind. That being said, I have no idea how I would transport a safe thousands of miles to central America.
There is a waiver/exemption if you are in a Health-Cost sharing network (Christian) such as Samaritan Ministries, Medi-Share or Christian Healthcare Network. Everyone should join one- you don’t have to get Obamacare and accept abortion/ru486 etc. and It’s a lot cheaper per mont- like 375 for a family of 4. Your “needs” are met 100% up to 200,000.00 per health incident. So in my case with lymphoma, I have used up @ 40k. And if/when I get it again...I pay what I can- so as to submit the amount to be shared/recouped and not get to my 200k. It’s great!!
Already happening, we get realtors that come by with potential expats so they can ask questions about our experience. Tips of the dos and donts....
We are 20 miles north of costa rica and the expats are leaving CR for Nica...too expensive in CR, a beer here in the grocery store is 60 cents and 1.00 at a bar...
A beer in a bar in CR is 3.00...
Cigarettes here are 1.25 a pack as another example, pineapple 25 cents, mangos are essentially free...chicken and eggs cheap here as well as seafood.
Diesel is about the same as in the states...electricity is high if you can’t live without a/c...we have open window
Ws and ceiling fans, electris is 60.00 a month for a 3 bd 3 bath house.
My security 365/24/7, water, sewer and trash is 25.00 a month...
Groceries, dog food, beer, rum averages 800.00 a month.
Mandatory car insurance 35.00 a year. Wifi is 60.00 a month, we use that and skip satellite or cable we stream what we want to watch.
You buy cell phone minutes on special days and can get about 300 minutes for 20.00.
Easy living here, just need to know that the petty crime here is generally thugs robbing drunk tourists in the late evening...or the prostitutes who set a John up for a robbery....
Typical wild west nonsense, no different than Hester year in the USA
“I’m in Nicaragua, where do you call home?”
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I am now in the Philippines, since Jan 2009. Prior to that, I was in Slovakia, as well as time in other central European countries..
I see that central and NW South America are booming with expats. I receive, as well as recommend, the International Living and Escape From America web sites for those that are interested in an escape plan.
I can bring in 2 guns, I must prove to the local police I have been trained to use a fire arm I have had a conceal carry permit in Texas for about 12 years and a gun safe.
Other than that yes people here can get arms.
My father in law owns a farm here and his full time caretaker and family have a 22 rifle for hunting and for protection...
Only 2?
Can you bring in additional guns over time?
Highly recommend them as well...great resources on the web.
bfl
Speaking of cost, I, along with my wife and child, have a happy life on less then $1000 per month. That includes rent.
We live on a beach, and have all the conveniences as in America, except for a car, which is neither needed or wanted here. I bicycle to the market area once a day to buy daily needs, fruits, meats, and veggies. We live in the vegetable capital of Cebu.
To travel out of town, we have air conditioned buses that travel the perimeter highway. We can catch them anywhere, and rarely have to wait more then 10 min. for one to come.
The aircon buses often have movies and WiFi.
If we want world class shopping, it is 2 hours to the city
which has two malls that would rival any in the world.
I recommend central and South America for married western couples, with or without kids.
For single men, nothing beats the Philippines.
Where do you call home?
“Where do you call home?”
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The Philippines is now my home.
Prior to expating I was born and spent all of my life in Tennessee. I have one daughter, age 30, back in Memphis, and twin brothers near San Francisco.
That’s the premise behind my novel “Castigo Cay.” A sailboat guy whose only asset is his sailboat has been out of U.S. waters for years. He must pay the back taxes if he returns to American waters. They will take his only asset for the garnished taxes: his sailboat. Hence, a new class of bitter forced ex-pats.
That’s an EXCELLENT premise!
1984 for the 21st Century America.
Every convenience you mentioned exists here, many people here don’t bother with a car, however we chose to buy one because the terrain to several surfing beaches is pretty tough and a 4 x 4 is needed, plus my hubby has a damaged leg that prevents long walks, biking etc.
However we have chicken buses, 25 cent fare all over the country and then the high class a/c buses, wifi etc etc...which range around 25.00 fare and many offer weekend offers of reduce fares and hotel,packages to resorts in adjoining countries such as Honduras, Guatamala, el Salvador and costa rica...they also go to panama.
We grocery shop every few days for fresh veggies, and meat and do a monthly run for house staples....
Easy living here, labor is cheap a daily minimum wage here is 8.00 a day...can get a lot down around the house for 8.00 a day.
Managua ~2 hour drive...same thing, they have. Costco, ace hardware on the scale if a lowes and high end shopping malls.
I just can’t understand how anyone that is sick and tired of the USA and the coming inflation that will destroy their senior years and retirement don’t get the hell out NOW, before the govt stops the exodus...
I am only 55 and retired 10 years before my friends who are enslaved to debt debt debt and when the next 10 years roll around for them, they have no retirement and easier life waiting for them...
Silly people...glad I led my life debt free which allowed me freedom from Orkney, bills and bosses...
2 guns per person, so a married couple could have 4. I think the restriction also excludes certain fire power, I have a shotgun and a 40 sig saucer heading my way.
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