Retiring

[+ José Soplanucas]

Uruguay. Your close to Argentina and Brazil.

 

Hugs,

Greg

 

And cannabis is legal!

[+ OliverSaks]

I would visit Uruguay...

[Despardo]

Cuenca is way nicer than Quito.

[P Gren]

And cannabis is legal!

You register at the Post Office and sold through Pharmacies. So civilized.

[+ José Soplanucas]

You register at the Post Office and sold through Pharmacies. So civilized.

 

There is a caveat, though: you must be a citizen or a permanent resident. They do not want to pot head tourism.

[P Gren]

There is a caveat, though: you must be a citizen or a permanent resident. They do not want to pot head tourism.

I'm thinking that Uruguayan edibles are going to be big meaty weed burgers.

[+ Avalon]

Cuenca is way nicer than Quito.

 

And the US dollar is the currency.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency_of_Ecuador#2000_Dollarization

[P Gren]

And the US dollar is the currency.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency_of_Ecuador#2000_Dollarization

That's so scary and creepy when other countries use the US dollar as their currency

[+ GregM]

And cannabis is legal!

 

And has one of the most stable governments and economy in SA.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[marylander1940]

i am planning on retiring in 7 years. Until recently my fantasy was buying real estate in Argentina to settle back there. Now I am considering renting instead of buying, and traveling.

I am asking for advice from those of you living outside of the usa. What is a good city for home base? Buenos Aires is too expensive, and the country side in Argentina is not so well connected to the rest of the world. Rio? bahía? Lima? Quito? I know aomeones prefer Asia, but I think my Latin American heart pulls me to S America.

 

considering the kind of guys you like and now knowing how big or small your budget is:

 

Dominican Republic? Puerto Rico? Jamaica?

[marylander1940]

I would visit Uruguay...

 

You wouldn't like the food, is a country with less than 4 million people and 12 million cows. Beef, beef, beef!

[+ Avalon]

You wouldn't like the food, is a country with less than 4 million people and 12 million cows. Beef, beef, beef!

 

MEAT IS NEAT! I think Brian Kinney say that. ;-)))

[+ José Soplanucas]

I love Uruguay, but it is not a cheap country. None of South Cone countries is, that is why I did not even mention Chile. I would never live in the Caribbean, no hurricanes for me. Mexico, lets see in a few years. Right now my strongest candidates are Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

[BabyBoomer]

I love Uruguay.

 

Punta del Este with @Truereview.

 

~Boomer~

[+ José Soplanucas]

Punta del Este with @Truereview.

 

~Boomer~

 

My missed Rio de la Plata sister! Hell no, Punta del Este is expensive and too fancy for me. I like Montevideo and Colonia del Sacramento.

[BabyBoomer]

I'm sure @coriolis888 will have some thoughts. He spends quite a bit of time off-shore.

 

~Boomer~

[mike carey]

That's so scary and creepy when other countries use the US dollar as their currency

Perhaps, but not uncommon. Running a currency isn't cheap for a very small country. Several South Pacific countries use the AUD, and several in southern Africa use the ZAR, and although they issue their own currencies at par with the Rand, the Rand is legal tender in them.

[Epigonos]

Morelia, Mexico is a beautiful and a wonderful city and quite near many interesting places to visit. If I were younger and wasn't tied here to my family and friends I would move there. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico is a lovely colonial city which many people enjoy. It has a large expat U.S. colony living there which is something of a negative for me. If you are into major urban centers Guadalajara, Mexico is a great city. It is also quite near Puerto Vallarta which is a plus. Even though I love Puerto Vallarta and visit frequently I would NEVER live there all year -- the summers are beastly hot and humid.

[coriolis888]

I'm sure @coriolis888 will have some thoughts. He spends quite a bit of time off-shore.

 

~Boomer~

 

Thanks for remembering that I am gone from the U.S. a lot.

 

Much of my off shore time is spent in Austria and in South America. I have no plans to retire in either place.

 

I must be careful not to stay in one country for more than 180 days cumulatively each year (not necessarily consecutive).

 

Where I visit, each country allows 90-day tourism visits unless an extension of time request is obtained before the first 90 days expire.

 

One potential problem with staying too long in one specific foreign country (more than 180 a year) is that the foreign country may consider you a resident and make you subject to their tax laws. Mr. Trump says that our taxes in the U.S. are too high. He should check out the rules and rates in Austria before he makes more wrong assertions.

[P Gren]

And has one of the most stable governments and economy in SA.

 

Hugs,

Greg

The United Front of the left has done a good job with social reforms and the economy

[+ Avalon]

Wherever you choose I'd suggest getting a reputable local attorney to help you whether you buy or rent. Each country has their own laws about immigration and property.

 

Like in Mexico I think at one time that Americans living there had to return to the USA twice a year to get their passport stamped and then reenter Mexico.

[Epigonos]

You mentioned an interest in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Brazil. Here are my reactions to all four:

Colombia - has a rather fragile government and a major immigration/refugee problem because of its neighbor Venezuela. Escort scene -- does one really exist?

Peru - is a possibility but direct flights to the rest of the world aren't all that easy. There is also a crime problem especially in Lima. Escort scene -- does one really exist?

Ecuador - Is really isolated as far as international flights are concerned It is currently experiencing some severe economic problems. Escort scene -- does one really exist?

I have spent time in all of these countries but I really don't think I would want to live full time in any of them. However, Cartagena, Columbia is a lovely old colonial city but has a horrible Caribbean climate.

Brazil - Used to have a lot going for it BUT not now. The economic and political situations are horrible in the entire country. The state governments are so destitute for lack of money that they haven't been able to fund sufficiently their police departments. In all major Brazilian cities, especially Rio de Janiero, crime is rampant.

 

Crime in Mexico isn't a lot different than it is in any large U.S. city. There are neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Morelia, New York, Guadalajara, St. Louis and Puerto Vallarta where I definitely would go at 2:00 a.m. The one city in Mexico you couldn't pay me to live in is Mexico City. It is just too fucking big and polluted yet it is a great hub for foreign travel.

[+ WilliamM]

Wherever you choose I'd suggest getting a reputable local attorney to help you whether you buy or rent. Each country has their own laws about immigration and property.

 

Like in Mexico I think at one time that Americans living there had to return to the USA twice a year to get their passport stamped and then reenter Mexico.

 

I had a friend who worked in Ukraine. Even with dual citizenship, he had to leave Ukraine and enter again with his other passport

 

Thanks, good post, @Avalon.

[+ WilliamM]

Morelia, Mexico is a beautiful and a wonderful city and quite near many interesting places to visit. If I were younger and wasn't tied here to my family and friends I would move there. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico is a lovely colonial city which many people enjoy. It has a large expat U.S. colony living there which is something of a negative for me. If you are into major urban centers Guadalajara, Mexico is a great city. It is also quite near Puerto Vallarta which is a plus. Even though I love Puerto Vallarta and visit frequently I would NEVER live there all year -- the summers are beastly hot and humid.

 

Very interesting. I have only visited Mexico once, but drove almost everywhere. Not sure about other people who also live on the U.S., but never think of Mexico as vacation destination. So I appreciate your very intetesting post.

[+ José Soplanucas]

Colombia - has a rather fragile government and a major immigration/refugee problem because of its neighbor Venezuela. Escort scene -- does one really exist?

 

Fragile governments and economies do not bother me, I am Argentine. I love Venezuelan immigration. In my last trip to Buenos Aires I was captivated by a Venezuelan escort. Escort scene in Colombia? It is smoking hot, it is becoming a hot destination for sexual tourism.

 

Peru - is a possibility but direct flights to the rest of the world aren't all that easy. There is also a crime problem especially in Lima. Escort scene -- does one really exist?

 

The lack of direct flight is a good point, but it is very well located for flying all over South America, and in the Pacific coast to fly to Asia. Crime does not scare me, I live in DC. And yes, there is an escort scene. I just wrote in my blog about Perú.

 

Ecuador - Is really isolated as far as international flights are concerned It is currently experiencing some severe economic problems. Escort scene -- does one really exist?

 

Economic problems? Ja! Remember who you are talking about. I am not sure about an escort scene in Ecuador. It is indeed the weakest destination in my list. I actually included it because I read that is a trendy destination for expatriates because of the good prices. Let's drop it out of the list.

 

Brazil - Used to have a lot going for it BUT not now. The economic and political situations are horrible in the entire country. The state governments are so destitute for lack of money that they haven't been able to fund sufficiently their police departments. In all major Brazilian cities, especially Rio de Janiero, crime is rampant.

Crime in Mexico isn't a lot different than it is in any large U.S. city. There are neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Morelia, New York, Guadalajara, St. Louis and Puerto Vallarta where I definitely would go at 2:00 a.m. The one city in Mexico you couldn't pay me to live in is Mexico City. It is just too fucking big and polluted yet it is a great hub for foreign travel.

 

My previous comments apply to Mexico and Brazil.

 

Remember my situation. I grew up most of my life in Argentina. Political or economical instability do not bother me if we are not in civil war or revolutionary situation. I live in DC, I am used to a high crime environment. I will be retired, with an stable income in dollars, living in a South American country in economic disarray may actually play in my advantage, of course if we are not talking about Biafra, or the current situation in Venezuela. Normal, recurrent economical and political crisis like the ones in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Perú, are not a deterrent to my plans.

 

Brazil is a huge question mark. I am excited and curious about my trip to Salvador. There is a chance that next Spring break instead of going to Palm Spring I will be visiting Mexico City. Colombia, Perú, and Rio are also in the list for coming trips. My mother is still alive and I will give her most of my vacation time, but I can start traveling more and explore the surroundings the next years.