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Considering moving to Portugal as an ex pat.... input welcome.

Astoneroad

Astoneroad

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I'm retired and in my late 60's and considering making my "next to last exit" and moving out of the U.S. (Las Vegas) I'm doing my homework for an ex pat destination and the usual suspects rise to the top, Panama, Albania, Portugal, Costa Rica and a few others including Canada. I only speak English, so being somewhere that this isn't a huge obstacle is a top priority, with cost of living the next check box. Nightlife isn't my scene, but I love art studios, museums, galleries, history and bohemian outlets, along with a cannabis tolerant, if not legal, locale. I'm looking at neighborhoods in Lisbon and Porto and there are several viable candidates. I'm open to any and all thoughts on any aspect of this move, including alternatives and "I wish I knew that before I moved" toe stubs. I intend to not bring anything other than clothes and necessary items. (So look for the gear sale that I'll post here... lol) I know that we have a very diverse group of eclectic members who have traversed the globe and can offer both objectivity and subjective flights of fancy on this topic. Your thoughts?

EDIT: NO POLITICAL NONSENSE or subtext please
 
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My first point of advice would be to loop up for your prospetive destinations how (and how much) you must pay for local healthcare. I am guessing you are unlikely to qualify for any local "free at the point of care" type services.

I know for people who are eligable to come live in UK there is a mandatory annual charge (not sure how much). Opting out is not an option.


EDIT : UK is £1035 per year, per person.

You'll also need to check if you can even get the permission to stay long term. People coming to the UK to work normally can if they meet some requirements (minimum level of income etc) but I've no idea if retired people (viewed as economically inactive) are going to be able to, unless they meet other conditions allowing them to do so.
 
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antcollinet said:
My first point of advice would be to loop up for your prospetive destinations how (and how much) you must pay for local healthcare. I am guessing you are unlikely to qualify for any local "free at the point of care" type services.

I know for people who are eligable to come live in UK there is a mandatory annual charge (not sure how much). Opting out is not an option.


EDIT : UK is 1035 per year.

You'll also need to check if you can even get the permission to stay long term. People coming to the UK to work normally can if they meet some requirements (minimum level of income etc) but I've no idea if retired people (viewed as economically inactive) are going to be able to, unless they meet conditions allowing them to do so.
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Thanks for finding that. The financial hurdles are different in each country, the ones listed are within my wheelhouse, as far as I've found so far. High "start up costs" disqualify a locale for me. I'm open to staying somewhere 6 months, the "usual" line between long and short term, then going somewhere else for 6 months... until there are no more months to be had... lol. If this is a viable work around... is yet to be fully vetted. Any suggestions from your personal experience?
 
antcollinet said:
My first point of advice would be to loop up for your prospetive destinations how (and how much) you must pay for local healthcare. I am guessing you are unlikely to qualify for any local "free at the point of care" type services.

I know for people who are eligable to come live in UK there is a mandatory annual charge (not sure how much). Opting out is not an option.


EDIT : UK is £1035 per year, per person.

You'll also need to check if you can even get the permission to stay long term. People coming to the UK to work normally can if they meet some requirements (minimum level of income etc) but I've no idea if retired people (viewed as economically inactive) are going to be able to, unless they meet other conditions allowing them to do so.
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Since I only speak English, I'd struggle in most parts of the U.K.... lol. That said... the museums of London & Glascow are draws for short term visits.
 
Given the number of English speaking foreign residents (EU nationals and not) living their golden years in southern Spain, Portugal and I guess other Mediterranean countries, I would be surprised if they don't have forums like this where they discuss all the practical information.
To your comment about Lisbon and Porto, like many other European cities, they start to feel the many issues of massive tourism and locals start to be not very happy about it. Not sure how can this affect you, but I think it is worth a bit of research.
From what I see the majority seem to opt for smaller towns where many fellows live. But then you have Ronnie Wood procuring lemon trees for his new apartment in Barcelona.... (Hey, they become handy for preparing cocktails)

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MCH said:
Given the number of English speaking foreign residents (EU nationals and not) living their golden years in southern Spain, Portugal and I guess other Mediterranean countries, I would be surprised if they don't have forums like this where they discuss all the practical information.
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Yes, there are and I'm looking at those as well, although I probably have more in common with ASR members than I do with the typical potential ex pat forum contributors, so I posted here where I can assume a certain level of BS filter being the objectivist advocates that we are... lol. I've been a recluse for 16 years, so I'm used to keeping to myself... so the tourist backlash isn't a front burner concern. I'm of Mediterranean descent and look it... so if I keep my mouth shut... I may blend more than the couple from the midwest that you can spot in a crowd.
 
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I would also look at Asia,specially the countries with an inherent respect for elders.
I was constantly amazed in South Korea for example,the way they treat older people is exceptional,art is high,etc.

(they have great respect for audio too :p )
 
Astoneroad said:
I only speak English
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If you're not prepared to learn the local language then I wouldn't advise moving anywhere where English is not a native language. Even though most under 40s in the EU will have learned some English in school the level varies tremendously. In southern/eastern Europe expect very little English comprehension outside large metropolitan areas or popular tourist spots, and even there only among people who use English regularly through their job. Even here in Denmark where I live, you will find many Danes who speak English as well, if not better, than I do myself but still the majority especially among older generations do not speak English well, if at all.

Rules regarding US citizens residency and elligibility to healthcare etc. will be broadly similar throughout the EU with some local gotchas.
 
I am nearing retirement and also considering a move to Europe, Spain,Portugal, or Italy. Most of the legal requirements are doable and I am fluent in Spanish, so learning Italian or Portuguese should not be a stretch.

Your ability to arrive empty handed is a huge advantage to making it happen, imo.

My biggest hangup, as would be for my wife, is parting with all of our shit accumulated over a lifetime! I have speakers I have built, woodworking shop, over a half dozen guitars and basses, guitar amps, music studio equipment; my wife has collected artworks and eclectic furniture. Moving even just some of all our precious belongings would be ridiculously complicated and expensive. We’d have to sell it all and reestablish ourselves somewhere else. ‍♂️

Maybe once my hearing is completely gone, it’ll be easier to part with all of that stuff!

Good luck! It’s totally doable, and there a lot of Americans that have done it. You’re dollars should stretch much further overseas, which is a nice advantage in retirement.
 
Ivanovich said:
I am nearing retirement and also considering a move to Europe, Spain,Portugal, or Italy.
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Find a place which floods less often than Ellicott City.
 
bluefuzz said:
If you're not prepared to learn the local language then I wouldn't advise moving anywhere where English is not a native language.
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As someone who isn't good at learning languages I completely agree. It's one thing the locals being good at transactional English in shops etc, and it seems hard to go anywhere these days where they aren't, but there is a huge difference if you try and have a proper conversation, which is important for quality of life.
 
Soniclife said:
there is a huge difference if you try and have a proper conversation, which is important for quality of life.
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I don't refute the importance of being able to communicate. However,... I do refute the "important for the quality of life" opinion. I mentioned that I've been a recluse (since 2008). In an average month, I spend a total of less than 5 minutes speaking to anyone, in person or on the phone (not including texts). The total of that is split between 2 trips per month to get groceries when I greet and thank the person who brings them to the car. That's it. Once or twice a year, I'll chat by phone with a favorite niece. My quality of life is far greater than when I had to spend so much time trying to decode what people were attempting to convey. So, the entirety of my communications would be transactional, not personal. I'm not interested in anyone else's story, nor am I interested in telling my own... although I guess I just did... lol. The point about speaking the native language is well taken though and is at the top of my list. Thanks.
 
MCH said:
I live in Luxembourg
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I lived half-time in Echternach for a few years. It was interesting and often enjoyable, but I'd likely not want to do that again.
 
Something you might want to consider is also how much effort it takes for others to visit you.
Panama and Costa Rica sound like cheaper options, travelling from the US.

Edit: Never mind my post, I just saw you mentioned you’re reclusive… Perhaps consider the inverse of effort :D
 
Sal1950 said:
Don't do it. Things are on track to greatly improve here in the immediate future.
You'll never know about your personal security elsewhere.
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I know what you're selling Sal... and I just ain't buyin' the Snake Oil. Let's not go down that track on a fact based forum.
 
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PjV said:
Something you might want to consider is also how much effort it takes for others to visit you.
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No one is invited to visit me... regardless of where it is... lol. It's been decades.
 
SIY said:
I lived half-time in Echternach for a few years. It was interesting and often enjoyable, but I'd likely not want to do that again.
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I feel the same way about my time living in Buffalo (75-76) .. lol. I hitch hiked to Key West a week before the blizzard of '76. I was playing poker in Gulfport hours before Katrina and escaped to Atlanta. My fight or flight hormones seemed to have served me remarkably well. (Sapolsky).
 
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