Where to retire

[Worf]

Well, I am getting to the point where in a few years I will be close to retiring. But where should I retire to?

When I see what the current Ontario government is doing with taxpayers money, and now their buddies the federal government, I don't think the future is too bright, especially for my kids. The Ontario debt is not going down any time soon, and a change in government won't do anything since it is now taking on a life of its own. Public sector unions and government agencies don't seem to know how to manage money, since the taxpayer seems to have an infinitely deep pocket for them to plunder. With Justin in power now, the federal gravy train looks like it is getting ready to roll. Look at the Ontario pension plan - a massive scam if you ask me. Local governments are also addicted to taxes. Hydro is on its way up again, health care budgets are dropping. I know this sounds pessimistic, but after all is said, I can see the future where a good chunk of your retirement income and pension is eaten up by taxes even more than now, with little left. I am thinking of selling my house, buying something much smaller and further from the GTA, where the property taxes are much lower, and then maybe living somewhere else during the winter months.

So, where are good places to go and live, at least for 6 months of the year? I can't see myself living in the US. That will never happen. Maybe a Caribbean island or somewhere in south America. Or maybe rent an Italian villa or something for a few months every year.

 

[ogibowt]

why not 7 months?...o yes, govt funded health care may not be available to you..

 

[Galseigin]

Equador is considered one of the best places to retire, cost of living is good.

 

[Butler1000]

While I'm about 20 years away I plan to move to somewhere small as well for several months a year (summer).

As for winter I don't plan to buy own anywhere else. I plan to rent. Easier to take care of, and I will also be able to change where I want to go.

I very cheap option for summer, and while cliche, is a trailer if money is a factor. My brother bought in a place for about 25,000 and only the 3 thousand in maintenance, includes Hydro and water.

It's actually a nice well maintained park and would be quite a good option for June to September.

 

[|2 /-\ | /|/]

Adriatic or Mediterranean coast. Become a fisherman, own a small boat and live the simple life. There are a ton of villages that are still relatively untouched on small islands. Maybe open a bed and breakfast, maybe a taxi service or a tourist guide...who knows but definitely that part of the world and there are still very nice people and communities left.I can't just retire and do nothing, need something to be kept occupied.

 

[SkyRider]

Adriatic or Mediterranean coast.

I would not want to be anywhere near North Africa or the Middle East.

I thought about an island in the South Pacific. No wars, no refugees, no terrorists, no Winter. Maybe just the occasional cyclone.

 

[|2 /-\ | /|/]

I would not want to be anywhere near North Africa or the Middle East.

I thought about an island in the South Pacific. No wars, no refugees, no terrorists, no Winter. Maybe just the occasional cyclone.

Could be a lot of fear mongering. I don't think it will get as bad as they predict. Although South Pacific is really nice. Been to Tahiti, Bora Bora and Moorea and its was breathtaking. Only problem is that some people seemed off a bit, like how the movies portray people living in seclusion would act. Although, they were all nice.

 

[onthebottom]

Hawaii for me, Big Island....

 

[Butler1000]

Only problem with the islands is the cost of some things due to having to import. And fresh water can also be an issue. I've looked into it. Some things are cheaper by it involves a definite change to what you are used to.

 

[spankingman]

Ste Maarten St Thomas USVI or Tortola BVI in winter
Myrtle Beach Sept-Dec
Halliburton or Stoney Lake April-Sept.

 

[spankingman]

Well, I am getting to the point where in a few years I will be close to retiring. But where pshould I retire to?

When I see what the current Ontario government is doing with taxpayers money, and now their buddies the federal government, I don't think the future is too bright, especially for my kids. The Ontario debt is not going down any time soon, and a change in government won't do anything since it is now taking on a life of its own. Public sector unions and government agencies don't seem to know how to manage money, since the taxpayer seems to have an infinitely deep pocket for them to plunder. With Justin in power now, the federal gravy train looks like it is getting ready to roll. Look at the Ontario pension plan - a massive scam if you ask me. Local governments are also addicted to taxes. Hydro is on its way up again, health care budgets are dropping. I know this sounds pessimistic, but after all is said, I can see the future where a good chunk of your retirement income and pension is eaten up by taxes even more than now, with little left. I am thinking of selling my house, buying something much smaller and further from the GTA, where the property taxes are much lower, and then maybe living somewhere else during the winter months.

So, where are good places to go and live, at least for 6 months of the year? I can't see myself living in the US. That will never happen. Maybe a Caribbean island or somewhere in south America. Or maybe rent an Italian villa or something for a few months every year.

Problem is most of the Caribean uses US $ so you are still stuck with high exchange.

 

[Lady fisher]

Retirement

Well, I am getting to the point where in a few years I will be close to retiring. But where should I retire to?

When I see what the current Ontario government is doing with taxpayers money, and now their buddies the federal government, I don't think the future is too bright, especially for my kids. The Ontario debt is not going down any time soon, and a change in government won't do anything since it is now taking on a life of its own. Public sector unions and government agencies don't seem to know how to manage money, since the taxpayer seems to have an infinitely deep pocket for them to plunder. With Justin in power now, the federal gravy train looks like it is getting ready to roll. Look at the Ontario pension plan - a massive scam if you ask me. Local governments are also addicted to taxes. Hydro is on its way up again, health care budgets are dropping. I know this sounds pessimistic, but after all is said, I can see the future where a good chunk of your retirement income and pension is eaten up by taxes even more than now, with little left. I am thinking of selling my house, buying something much smaller and further from the GTA, where the property taxes are much lower, and then maybe living somewhere else during the winter months.

So, where are good places to go and live, at least for 6 months of the year? I can't see myself living in the US. That will never happen. Maybe a Caribbean island or somewhere in south America. Or maybe rent an Italian villa or something for a few months every year.

Right here in Ontario I will retire .........or out on the East coast where the people are friendly and of a slower pace and fishing is good.

 

[Butler1000]

Right here in Ontario I will retire .........or out on the East coast where the people are friendly and of a slower pace and fishing is good.

I did consider the east coast as well but the weather is a bit of a sticking point.

 

[wilbur]

Unless you are fairly wealthy, private health care/insurance is going to be expensive if you go outside Canada; insurance premiums are fairly high if you're over 60, plus all your present and previous conditions will be excluded. Don't think for a second that OHIP is going to cover you. They are not by a long shot. To have any chance of state health care (where they have it), you have to become a resident and at your age, past retirement, it's not going to be possible unless you bribe someone. The only place I've heard of that's fairly cheap but good is in Mexico; they have private and public systems; the private system is fairly cheap and the public system is not too bad. However, you will have to learn the local language, adapt to local culture and have to deal with the authorities/corruption. If you go to the caribbean, be ready for real estate you are not likely going to be able to afford, and if you could, probably will not be anywhere near the beach. Plus, after a month or two, get bored out of your mind.

If you have an EC passport, you could give it a shot in Greece or Eastern Europe. Spain is another possibility as real estate is cheap these days.

If you go and live abroad and become a resident there, and get a major illness that's going to cost you savings, don't think that you can just come back to Ontario and get treated for 'free'. You have to become a resident again, and that takes at least 3 months. In the meantime, you're going to pay for treatment and a hospital room in Ontario for non-canadian residents is over $1000 a day. India's fairly cheap and good, but would you want to live there?

 

[Worf]

Unless you are fairly wealthy, private health care/insurance is going to be expensive if you go outside Canada; insurance premiums are fairly high if you're over 60, plus all your present and previous conditions will be excluded. Don't think for a second that OHIP is going to cover you. They are not by a long shot. To have any chance of state health care (where they have it), you have to become a resident and at your age, past retirement, it's not going to be possible unless you bribe someone. The only place I've heard of that's fairly cheap but good is in Mexico; they have private and public systems; the private system is fairly cheap and the public system is not too bad. However, you will have to learn the local language, adapt to local culture and have to deal with the authorities/corruption. If you go to the caribbean, be ready for real estate you are not likely going to be able to afford, and if you could, probably will not be anywhere near the beach. Plus, after a month or two, get bored out of your mind.

If you have an EC passport, you could give it a shot in Greece or Eastern Europe. Spain is another possibility as real estate is cheap these days.

If you go and live abroad and become a resident there, and get a major illness that's going to cost you savings, don't think that you can just come back to Ontario and get treated for 'free'. You have to become a resident again, and that takes at least 3 months. In the meantime, you're going to pay for treatment and a hospital room in Ontario for non-canadian residents is over $1000 a day. India's fairly cheap and good, but would you want to live there?

Yes, health care will be a consideration. I will keep my Canadian residence, but I am not sure about Ontario. Maybe the east coast or some smaller town in Ontario where the cost of living is less that here.

 

[Dougal Short]

I am also on the cusp of full retirement... Having been fortunate to travel a fair bit over the years, and as someone who likes to spend as much time as possible in the ocean I am seriously considering a move to a warm and salty place. I've looked at some locations in the Carribbean, but there are huge issues with crime in many places, unless you are prepared to live in a gated "foreigners" community, which doesn't have much appeal.

I agree that as we get older, access to good health care becomes more of an issue, although there are lots of places in the world that have great health care, but you have to be prepared to pay for it. The good news is that it's generally a lot more affordable than it is in North America where a huge part of medical costs is to cover legal liability. As a small example, a colleague ruptured an ear drum while diving in Belize a couple of years. She ended up with a massive infection that quickly became systemic and very serious. With one phone call, we were able to get in to see an ENT Specialist (A local woman, but had received her medical training in the US). She examined my friend, admitted her to the hospital overnight and loaded her up with intravenous antibiotics. She was discharged the next day with a bag of injectable antibiotics (which I was "trained" to administer since we were located way offshore), anti-inflammatories and a bag of syringes. The cost for the ENT and medication was $63 USD. The hospital stay was something like $23... So for less than $100, we were good to go. (When we got home, my friend went to her doctor who confirmed that the antibiotics (which were made in Columbia) were entirely appropriate. Oddly, transiting through the US, the bag of syringes and white powder labelled "Made in Columbia" didn't raise so much as a sniff... go figure!

My "plan" is to move, but not entirety sever my relationship with Canada. I love it here and would never want to "leave" permanently. I expect that will sell my cottage and use those proceeds to buy something "away". I'm planing on renting my house out (it isn't quite paid for) so that I still have a place to return to.

Honestly, the biggest obstacle to moving is the fact that I have two dogs! Just yesterday, I talked to my youngest son and his g/f about adopting them and seemed agreeable, if not enthusiastic!

I am still working somewhat, and I can continue to do this remotely, so in theory, I shouldn't need to touch my "nest egg" for some time!

 

[uncleji]

Consider Thailand. Accommodation/Food/Women are plentiful and cheap. Great expat community. Western style medical facilities are easily available and not exorbitant. Thailand is a medical tourism destination. Your Dollarete (read Can$) goes a long way. Sunshine/Beaches/Mountains and one of the best sex scene in the world....what else do you need. You can apply for a "Retirement Visa" issued on an yearly basis. Plenty of YouTube videos to help u with your decision.
Only downside is the long flight, i guess.

 

[SkyRider]

Thailand is a medical tourism destination.

Morgan Spurlock of CNN did a show about this. Low cost excellent medical care. I think he had a colonoscophy where he just swallows a capsule.

 

[Dougal Short]

One of the biggest challenges of moving to someplace that is significantly different, is being able to adjust to the new culture. Places like Thailand, Bali etc. are beautiful and very attractive, but they are also VERY different than Canada. This is all part of the appeal of travel, but it's very different when you are planning on living there and immersing yourself into a new lifestyle.

I lived in the Caribbean many years ago (Bahamas and Grand Cayman) and even as a young guy, found it very frustrating at times. I spent some time with a retired Americn guy last year, who was building a modest place on one of the outer cayes of Belize. Little things like buying lumber are major chores and can take weeks to arrange.

 

[Keebler Elf]

This just sounds like a bitter rant about the OP's conservative gov'ts not getting reelected.

I find it funny how it's always the conservatives who want to "take their ball and go home" when things don't go their way.