Best country to retire to

I would love to have retired to the Outer Hebrides as I have visited several times in pursuit of family history. The quiet life would have suited me but not DH who continued working long after retirement age. Anyway we were needed here to support the family and now I wouldn’t want to be too far from all the necessary amenities. Here we can catch a bus to our local hospital. There would be much more problematic and frustrating.

I wouldn’t be able to stand the searing summer temperatures that are becoming more frequent in Portugal, plus all the fires that are becoming a regular event would frighten me. There’s no guarantee that theses issues won’t become more regular here (look at last year), but for me, staying here is where I want to remain, with family, friends and familiarity. This country certainly has its problems, but I honestly believe that’s true of every other country in the world.

I've never wanted to live anywhere other than where I am.Born in Glasgow and moved 18 miles outside it at 11 been here ever since .Started our business here ,had our family here and never moved more than a mile within the area.My daughter moved 35 miles away a few years ago still on the west coast of Scotland and her English husband calls it his little piece of heaven.They will stay where they are for life,my son has also never moved more than a mile from where he was born or raised.His children love being able to walk half a mile to the loch and swim (in wetsuits and with supervision)

We are very glad that we settled in Normandy, given the impact of climate changes on other regions. As for the children and grandchildren, we have one family in England and the other in Spain. France seems a reasonable compromise. I agree with others that you need to speak the language with reasonable fluency, especially in areas like ours where there are very few Anglophones. I am also glad that we learnt how to tackle French bureaucracy 20 years ago.

Fleurpepper

Casdon

Fleurpepper

Retiring abroad wihout speaking the language and without strong ties- has been a disaster for many.

However, those who did so at an earlier stage, then retired back to the UK when getting older- are often so disappointed about the state of the UK and even more so, the state of the NHS.

For us, returning to the UK with pre-existing conditions, with huge waiting lists and many treatments not available- is just not an option.

That doesn’t make sense to me Fleurpepper because you must be paying health insurance where you live now, and if you did the same in the UK you would get a similar service? I can think of many reasons why it would be preferable to live abroad, but that wouldn’t be one of them.

Where I live now, Health insurance cannot exclude pre-existing conditions, by Law. Bupa/Spire, etc, make it difficult, almost impossible, with huge premiums and said conditions often excluded, especially if over 70.

We moved not ot escape with UK at all- but to look after my parents in their latter years, with the absolute intention of returning to the UK we loved later. This is no longer an option- due to the country having changed so much since we left, and mainly due to State of NHS.

I see what you mean, thanks for explaining. Chronic conditions management is not good overall in the UK at the moment because of the shortfall in GP numbers, although of course it varies and in some places it is fine.

oh yes, thank goodness for that, before ****!

We now both have dual nationality, which makes things so much easier, and both speak the language well.

And yes, thank goodness we chose to live in the mountains and not in a hot coastal region. And few expats- so no expat bubble. A few compatriots but all settled here for some time and all fully integrated and able to communicate well with all, and mostly with local friends.

I know two couples who moved ‘for ever’ after retirement, to Spain and Cyprus, only to return maybe 10 years later after fairly major health problems arose and they wanted family close by.
The couple who moved to Spain had a hell of a job to sell their house for anything like what they’d paid many years previously - and meanwhile, UK house prices had rocketed so they were only able to buy a much smaller, cheaper property than the one they’d sold before the move.

I’ve know of another case similar - so lesson from that, keep a small bolt hole back home if you can.

Casdon

Fleurpepper

Casdon

Fleurpepper

Retiring abroad wihout speaking the language and without strong ties- has been a disaster for many.

However, those who did so at an earlier stage, then retired back to the UK when getting older- are often so disappointed about the state of the UK and even more so, the state of the NHS.

For us, returning to the UK with pre-existing conditions, with huge waiting lists and many treatments not available- is just not an option.

That doesn’t make sense to me Fleurpepper because you must be paying health insurance where you live now, and if you did the same in the UK you would get a similar service? I can think of many reasons why it would be preferable to live abroad, but that wouldn’t be one of them.

Where I live now, Health insurance cannot exclude pre-existing conditions, by Law. Bupa/Spire, etc, make it difficult, almost impossible, with huge premiums and said conditions often excluded, especially if over 70.

We moved not ot escape with UK at all- but to look after my parents in their latter years, with the absolute intention of returning to the UK we loved later. This is no longer an option- due to the country having changed so much since we left, and mainly due to State of NHS.

I see what you mean, thanks for explaining. Chronic conditions management is not good overall in the UK at the moment because of the shortfall in GP numbers, although of course it varies and in some places it is fine.

It is also about specialist appointments and if necessary, operations (as we both have had in last few years)- without any waiting list. As said, all private insurance- but legally without any exceptions or increased premiums, for pre-exisiting conditions, however severe.

And for those on UK pensions, who made the move before Brexit- all covered by S1 exemption- apart from a small contribution.

paddyann I think the response to your post will bedivided between those who envy you having the oppurtunity to be so grounded. It is a privilege granted to very few..

The other half will curl up on horror at living such a restricted life, I know you will say it isn't etc, but that is how you see it, but you need to see it from the point of view of others, who for all sorts of reasons from family problems, remoteness, to career to sheer wanderlust, look on the structure of your life with horror.

I am not sure which group I come into. I have spent the 55 years of my married life in the same county, both ends 30 miles apart, but most of that time I worked elsewhere, but my dad was in the army and I am also back living where I lived as a child for a few years.

On the other hand I could have married someone with wanderlust and would have spent the last 40 years in Australia for from family, and that I would not have wanted.

I think on balance I am happy with the places life, did, ir did not take me, although we are contemplating a move to some where 100 miles away, to be closer to our children. More for their sakes than ours.

I enjoy these thoughts, and listening to others' dreams or down to earth, stay-put choices.
I'm sure climate plays a big part in retirement locations. My father lived and worked all over the world, he wore 3 jumpers in London in summer, said he couldn't breathe in Hong Kong, sweltered in Africa, but happily retired to Western Australia where the weather suited him. (I assume it's nice there?!)
I am often tempted to seek out sunnier climes, but like Monica am trying to streamline foreign assets to save our children the inevitable hassle. They aren't interested in the boltholes where we would choose.

My life hasn't been restricted Monica we've run businesses that meant we've mixed with people from all walks of life done things some would only dream of.Climbed oil rigs,flown UNDER the Erskine Bridge in a helicopter spent time in the company of people like Bill Clinton and many celebrities.We've been abroad on holidays though neither of us is a "holiday" person and we've had a great life .I've never had the need to boast about where we've been or how much money we have so most people who know us just accept what they see.An ordinary couple with 2 kids who keep a low profile .
It hasn't been a life without drama or problems, far from it ,I could write a series of books on things we've dealt with but if you are happy in yourself and in your marriage, problems are coped with and we move on to the next .
I've never felt inferior because I dont cruise or for any other reason that includes the biggest house or most expensive car... .Contentment is a gift in my opinion

This is a very pleasant thread.
Hopes, dreams, home.

Thank you all.

👍

Witzend

I know two couples who moved ‘for ever’ after retirement, to Spain and Cyprus, only to return maybe 10 years later after fairly major health problems arose and they wanted family close by.
The couple who moved to Spain had a hell of a job to sell their house for anything like what they’d paid many years previously - and meanwhile, UK house prices had rocketed so they were only able to buy a much smaller, cheaper property than the one they’d sold before the move.

I’ve know of another case similar - so lesson from that, keep a small bolt hole back home if you can.

yes, plenty do that. They moan non stop about this country and boast about how fantastic, say, Spain is then they come home when they need the NHS.

My friend who moved to Spain was sending her daughter who still lives here, down to our surgery to collect prescriptions for her and her husband who had been living out there for about 18 months. She conveniently forgot to tell them they had moved.

Lots of posts on this thread mention England as their preferred option

But there are always Wales and Scotland 🙂
And N Ireland!

We live in the Thames Valley and we love it.

Grantanow

Brexit: the gift that keeps on giving, even to the retired.

More to life than Europe you know. Although last year two in laws moved to 1 Portugal,and 2 France. Both getting long term residence and work visa. Same as all countries really.

Of course you see your life as unrestricted paddyann, you would not see it other, but as I said, other people in different circumstances where a fixed life like yours might mean living with domestic abuse, or unhappiness or limited opportunities, or wanderlust would think diffently. We do not need to agree

The one in my life who ended up in Australia, was I am almost positive, set from day one on a life far from his family home. I never knew why, but from his behaviour together and afterwards I deduced that there was some problem at home that he wouldn't talk about or admit to any one else that it existed, but it was there.

Callistemon I spoke quite specifically of moving within England because both my DC are settled in England and far from a border with any other country. I will only move from my present location in England, if I am moving closer to them and that means moving within England, not only that but probably the south East Midlands.

Grantanow
Brexit: the gift that keeps on giving, even to the retired.
I know . . .
The worst part of the Brexit keeps on giving aspect is that according to statistics, people over 45 in 2016 were more likely to have voted leave, with the % increasing with age. 😥

Joseann

We often toy with the idea of retiring abroad, but like others say, the pull of the grandchildren is too strong.
It's also the little everyday things I would now miss. A kind of security in familiarity.

In one, for me too Joseann.

I don’t see paddy’s life as restricted. She has decided where she wants to be and is happy and content. Contentment is a great gift.

Germanshepherdsmum

I don’t see paddy’s life as restricted. She has decided where she wants to be and is happy and content. Contentment is a great gift.

Yes, the grass isn't always greener!

Foreign places may attract and be wonderful but there is always a homesickness for family.

Fleurpepper

oh yes, thank goodness for that, before ****!

We now both have dual nationality, which makes things so much easier, and both speak the language well.

And yes, thank goodness we chose to live in the mountains and not in a hot coastal region. And few expats- so no expat bubble. A few compatriots but all settled here for some time and all fully integrated and able to communicate well with all, and mostly with local friends.

Unfailingly you come across as smug.

You look down on so many folk. Ex-pats are often very nice people! Okay so they’ve not learnt the language of their retirement country but that’s not always the criteria I’d look for in a kind, friendly person.

👏👏👏 Urms. Nail on head.

I think the reality is much different than the dream for many!
Living in a northern climate, we sometimes dream of being somewhere sunny and warm. The reality for North America leaves you somewhere overly hot in summer.

Mexico is cheap living, and actually their health system is quite good, but I don't know anyone who has permanently re-settled. I do know some that are considered 'snow birds'; spending snowy seasons in the southern US or Mexico. Health insurance is costly, and for tax and pensions reasons you can only be out of country for max 6 months at a time.

And then there is missing family and friends. I think for most the ideal is to leave while in late 60's or 70's, but older than that usually means health and mobility issues when they want to be closer to family.

I love to hear about other's retirement plans in other countries, but the reality for us is to remain at home in BC.