31Likes
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16-10-2020, 03:51 PM #11
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16-10-2020, 04:32 PM #12
I am thinking the nomad thing as well...only problem with the nomad option is...pets. Would love to have a dog in retirement, my lifestyle now is not fair to a dog, my cats don't care if I live or die but a dog is a pack animal and I don't want to leave it behind or, in my current lifestyle, home alone for 12 hours per day. I guess if I live in all rabies-infested countries I am OK to move around, country to country, it's only been Japan, HK, and TW that have had issues.
On another thread I believe I mentioned Ecuador, Cuenca in particular where it's between 20-25 degrees all year round- the idea of not needing heat OR AC is pretty sweet. Don't want cold but don't want heat either...Ecuador uses the US dollar, convenient for Americans, relatively easy retirement visa to obtain, etc. Other South American destinations also look good. That said, I have never actually BEEN to South America so it would pay to spend a few vacations there first...before proclaiming I would retire there. However, have had enough of both the heat and the cold that the idea of moderate temps year-round is amazingly appealing. Also have had enough of expensive so inexpensive plus moderate climate is quite a draw...
If I get PR in Taiwan, would consider spending retirement here part-time, it has a lot to offer. But if I have pets, cannot move them in and out of TW very easily, it's a big factor for me as I will have pets of some kind in retirement.
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16-10-2020, 04:44 PM #13
Quite possibly Portugal at this stage... We're locked in for at least 6 or 7 years now. I'll be 55 then...
The cost of living here is very low... we've spoken to retired couples who own their own homes who are drawing down 1000 pounds per month and living very well... we have two kids and are renting so we're using about 3000 at this stage but it's obviously a lot cheaper than Hong Kong...
A lot of what we like doing is 'free'; hiking, mountain biking, beach, playing instruments... good coffee for under a euro and just over a euro in 'posher' cafes... our local cafe we had 3 coffees, 2 iced teas and 3 cakes for about 8 euro...
The roads are good... you pay tolls everywhere but parking is mostly free and diesel is a lot cheaper...
Like anywhere, the skies the limit for housing... but for normal 'middle class' folks you can buy a good house for 120000 - 200000 euro... if you're willing to do a little work or go a little bit more rural you can go under 100000 easily...
For digital nomads, there is fast internet and WiFi everywhere and tax is relatively low...
Everything you need is here and, you know, there's still Amazon...
People say bureaucracy here is a nightmare but we were in Spain first... here is walk in the park comparatively... I had residency within a few days...
People are very friendly... muuuuuch friendlier than in Spain... and after Hong Kong... my God! For example, yesterday, I went into a cafe and, excuse me, do you have WiFi? Sorry, no, but that cafe over there does... thank you, you're welcome... in HK, NO! Do you know where? NO! Even most of the bureaucrats have been helpful.
Probably the only thing that I don't like is it's a little isolated... we also considered the French Riviera and the Italian Riviera... both are arguably better situated in Europe but the climate is not as good and they're a lot more expensive... you have to way it up...
Anyway... from my experience now, if you're considering retiring to the Med! (I know Pt. isn't the Med!) don't go for the obvious which is Spain... Portugal/France/Italy make more sense... don't get me wrong, we also loved Spain... but eventually you have to listen, they don't want Brits. to go and live there... that's the only rational conclusion for how absurdly complicated they're making the rules... tax for self-employed people in Spain is ridiculous, etc, etc... but this thread was for retired people...
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16-10-2020, 04:55 PM #14
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16-10-2020, 06:45 PM #15
I'm British so we slipped in before the Brexit gate shuts... to learn more about D7 you want to join the Expats in Portugal Facebook group where this topic comes up daily... very friendly bunch!Original Post Deleted
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16-10-2020, 06:53 PM #16
We started in the Algarve and we spent 4 weeks exploring... we've now settled in Nazare which is a seaside town on what they call the 'Silver Coast'... about an hour and a bit north of Lisbon... I've always been like this in that I hate living and working in cities but I want to be near them for the amenities as and when I need them...
We loved The Algarve too... quite a different vibe up here, but then it's starting to get cooler, so that's a factor... there are inland towns that are interesting as well, especially along the rivers... lots of castles and churches... lots of cafes and great seafood...
There are a few expat ghettos in the Algarve but not so many that you can't avoid them, if you want to avoid them... Remember that some Algarve towns are overrun with drunken Brits. for 2 months of the year... avoid Lagos and Albufeira I guess... there's less of that up north because it's a bit cooler and not as developed for that side of tourism...
Thing is, The Algarve and The Silver Coast are only three hours apart so it's not like you cut one off by choosing the other...
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16-10-2020, 07:13 PM #17
As someone who lives off savings/investments, the tax regime needs to be of the non-toxic variety before I'd take up residence somewhere. (Obviously, there are other factors to be considered as well.)
The idea of going nomad and airBnBing our way around a post-covid world while retaining HK as a base has considerable attraction.
Not sure if this has been posted before or not, but the PWC tax summaries are a useful starting place:
https://taxsummaries.pwc.com
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16-10-2020, 08:07 PM #18
Explain how it's hypocrisy?Original Post Deleted
As I explained very clearly at the time... from pure self-interest, I'd rather we remained... that said I fully understand why people want to leave and I respect the outcome of the referendum.
I am doing what many Remoaners said they'd do but haven't the balls to do and that's moving my family into the EU... you can do it too! If you love the EU, come and live here... you live in Japan but expect Brits. to remain in the EU for your benefit? Piss off... sorry, you're full of shite on this one.
You've still got time TB... the door is still open... December 31st... it's up to you...Last edited by Mr Chips; 16-10-2020 at 08:14 PM.
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16-10-2020, 09:44 PM #19
No worries... and by the way, I just saw the Boris video and I am mindful that it's not a great day for many so... yes, there's that too. I get it.Original Post Deleted
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16-10-2020, 09:47 PM #20
Originally Posted by mrgoodkat:
