Although I was born and raised (mostly) here in America (two years overseas) I've been thinking about leaving... There seems to be a growing population leaving, not just America, but other previously celebrated countries; like Australia, Germany and England. The only 'sad' part of that is their reasons for doing so in my opinion...especially us old-timers...
While searching the 'retire in' Thailand, or Mexico, Philippines, Central America, South America and other places, I'm finding a 'lot' of happy expats living in these places. Now I'm not talking about obviously paid actors on sites which broadcast for 'services' like "buy a condo" or "cheap land for sale" etc...I'm seeing these happy people just posting to show others how 'happy' they truly are with their move.
One of the most common raves from expats in these countries is the lower cost of living; their money not only goes further for necessities, they actually can afford a few luxuries as well. How about a monthly rent for $150. to $200. dollars? Here in America, if your a low income senior citizen you might qualify for 'subsidized' housing at typically 1/3 of income...but, that would take $400. out of your pocket if you fit within the $1,200. dollar a month average Social Security recipient.
Then there are the food prices which have been not just 'creeping' up over the past few years, but taking huge 50 to a hundred percent jumps...One of the only cheese I regularly buy has just recently increased in price by 75% as an example. Look at the price of low grade ground beef, with the bones, brains cartilage and who knows what other emulsified extenders added to it. Is 6 to 8 dollars a pound worth wasting your money on? I don't think so...and neither do many other Americans according to what I see at the market. The shit sits there in abundance, even on busy shopping days.(that's a big plus for the Steers though) Poor things are abused to the hilt.
How about the $15.00 tolls in New York City...??? They charge you fifteen dollars to either visit New Jersey, or come back...Is Jersey worth that kind of financial oppression? I think not. But hey...if you want to get to Pa., De. or any place outside of NYC, you HAVE to pay the price...like a punishment for wanting to escape the governmental oppression they have going on there...
Did you know that you can hop on a mini bus in Thailand for about ten cents? Some places in America offer a senior citizen discount on public transportation. My area actually issues a 'free' bus pass to old folk, but you'll maybe have to wait an hour or more in the freezing cold for a bus to arrive. In Thailand, private transportation is about as far away as a sneeze... How about breakfast for under a dollar? Perhaps a bit more depending where you go...but, possible. Stay away from the $3.00 mango though; why they are so expensive is beyond logical explanation.
I love our America...the beauty of its landscape, but people have really fucked it up terribly. People who run governments, corporations, institutions and the like have been infiltrated by the most corrupt, incompetent scumbags in existence. As an old 'blues' song puts it, "wrong people in charge"
That's about it for now my fellow humanoids...I'm outta here.
Regards, @angryman
I think about leaving Canada all the time, and I'm only 35. When steem goes up in the hundreds of dollars it will probably become a reality I'll be seriously considering. Dominican Republic is a nice looking spot to me.
Where I'm at now, a large part of the population are Dominican and they tell me not to go there because of the crazy dangerous people/areas...I choose to listen to them. An ex brother-in-law moved here from Dominica at fourteen years of age, now retired he moved back there...he has pretty much the same advice.
I certainly understand your desire to leave Canada due to the political ineptitude, like here in America. It is my hope that life gets better for you wherever you are living. Perhaps Canada will become 'Great' again...??? We're still aching for the same here in America.
Funny, I know there are people that say that about Dominican and how it can be dangerous. I'd surely be going down there to check it out for a while before committing, but I've also heard people say it depends how you live. Gated expat communities are more likely to be targeted I guess, from what I've heard. I've also heard that you don't pay income tax on the the first $130K or something like that on anything you make outside the country. It's what makes it appealing to look into if I ever get the chance to leave Canada. There are always other places like Mexico or Panama as well. It's still only a dream but hopefully someday it becomes a reality.
Hold onto those dreams...they can manifest into reality at any time. Your child is the most important focus for any life-changing decisions; a beautiful thing, but certainly complicates the decision making process. Hope your day has been a happy one.
Agreed. If I was younger, I'd do that in a heartbeat. For me it's too late...
A major consideration, which I understand being an old goat too. I'm at least going to visit when able, then decide how to proceed. I wish you well herrleeb....
Thank you! Same here! Well, we old angry white men are not very much welcome here I suppose.
No place for us in the "Brave New World". Better pack our packs :)
Not welcomed here may actually be an understatement...I get hard looks and nasty remarks all the time from certain types of people. I'm nearing 70 years of age and have needed to fend off actual physical assaults, one of which I was on the losing end of a few years ago when 'suckered' with a hard, blunt object to the face. (requiring reconstructive surgery to shattered bone structure)
Wow. That bad? I have been lucky so far. All I am getting is dirty looks when I dare to smoke outside. But I rarely leave the house. Are you actually on the road? I am mulling over this idea for while myself...
Yes...pretty bad, but it didn't hurt much oddly...I dropped my guard, standing to close to the punk.
I'm not on the road right now; want to be, but I need to tie up some loose ends and prepare better.
You are not alone with your idea.
The problem with these "exotic" and cheap places, for senior citizens is the quality of medical services there and medicines accessibility.
That may be true for some places, but there are exceptions...Thailand has a pretty respectable medical establishment from reports I have heard. Fortunately I'm a'healthy' old coot so I'm not all that worried about it; but I can certainly understand the apprehension of those who have serious chronic health issues...
If you need any advice on Thailand dm me in discord, I spent over 6 years there, Spain is also very cheap to live, rent is low, food is fairly low priced also. Cambodia is dirt cheap though the police are very corrupt and like bribes.
Thanks deliberator I will do that; I knew you at least visited Thailand according to a post, but had no idea you have such experience with the country. I've explored Cambodia and Vietnam as possibilities too. Philippines, although I have a 'heart' connection to it's people, just seems to downtrodden with very sad, hopeless people; I think I'd be heartbroken there.
Thailand people seem to be a bit more clean and organized...I hear they still respect/tolerate old bastards like me too...
They prefer pensioners to young guys, as it is considered at pension age, you have a pension, thus guaranteed income, the only real drawback for me was leaving the country every 6 weeks to get a new entry stamp, you also would not have that problem, as they would give you a residence visa, as long as you have a pension and can prove it, you must of course pay for it.
I heard about that having to leave some of these places for a week then re-entering...what a drag...Guess I'll get lucky with an old folk residence visa. Damn...I should have gotten older sooner in life.
It is supposed to be 24 hours you leave for, but the border guards take a bribe, so whoever organises the trips over to Cambodia, pays them in advance, and ferries minibus loads of people over every day.
I would suggest Pattaya as a starting point in Thailand, cheap n cheerful hotels for $130 a month plus electric, and just up the road in Jomtien it gets really beautiful, apartments over looking the sea are only $150 a month, with a view to die for. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293919-d462836-Reviews-Jomtien_Beach-Pattaya_Chonburi_Province.html
Bribes are good sometimes...
I actually considered Pattaya, thanks for the advice and reinforcement. I was thinking of checking out Chiang Mai as well. Heard it's 'smoky' there at a certain time of year.
I have thought about doing this often. I'm still fairly young and have a family, but would be wonderful if I could actually spend some time with my children and teach them how to survive in this crazy long con of a world. I would just love to have a small little farm and try to live off the land as much as possible. But the Govs seem to not like this idea and tax the crap out of us when we want to "separate" ourselves from the "system." :( I haven't lost hope yet, often I feel that just beyond the horizon there is a solution. I just can't quite see it yet.
I fully understand your dilemma having the responsibility for children. I couldn't even leave the State that I wanted too, until my child reached an age where I figured they can choose to come along or remain. Sharing child custody at the time also complicated things; I would not have wanted to separate them from their mother who loved them just as much as I...
Shared custody is always a very hard thing. I've had a lot of friends in this boat. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about that. When we said till death do us part, we meant it. There is really no getting out of it from this point, which is super comforting to know, but I have to take that into consideration when I may feel like, being all: "Let's go live in the woods or something (seemingly)crazy." I really don't want to be stuck with a wife who is perma-pissed at me, that would be... well torture. It took me a long time and had to switch hemispheres to find my "Eve," so as much as I may want to just get out of the rat race, I have to do it in baby steps, with gentleness, and love. The good news is she is defiantly open to the idea of a bit of farm land now, which is huge, as she was sort of a city/suburbs girl. The only big problem is a total lack of resources to acquire such property. Oh well, God may have to provide that, as I'm currently unsure how to acquire that sort of money while still abiding by my ethics.
When I said, "till death do I part" I meant it too...unfortunately she changed her mind. After eight years of marriage she began coaxing me to go play in traffic. When I refused dodging buses and zooming taxis to play hop-scotch on the avenue...she just packed up the tent and left...
We're still friends though after all these years...
I'm sorry to hear that brother, I didn't mean to imply that you were not fully committed FYI. I guess what I meant was we both are, which seems to be rare these days. Yeah, in that situation the only thing you can do is to let them go.
Don't worry bro...I wasn't offended. It is difficult sometimes through text to telegraph the flavor of words. Have a nice day. Thanks for the concern.