Location, Location, Location - a Problem for Retirement!

Most of us nearing retirement have considered relocating to some exotic location - South America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean come immediately to mind!

From a writers perspective, you are conscious of the fact that even in retirement you can continue your craft from anywhere in the world today that provides internet connections. I must confess that this has played heavily on my mind over the last few years. Having lived and worked in 25 countries around the world you would think I would find such a decision easy - it is not!

Like, I am sure many of you out there in readersville; I pursued a number of careers that do not offer retirement benefits or for that matter a pension. My gross income from my social security benefits amount to just over US$2,000 a month, not exactly Bill Gates you might think. You'd be right!

Some years ago my work took me to China for 9 months. A place on the southern tip of that vast country called Zhuhai, where I was privileged to assist in the development of the Paradise Hill Hotel, one of the most beautiful hotel/resorts that I have been privileged to stay at. I must confess that my view was somewhat colored by the fact that I was staying in the Presidential Suite (eat your heart out Bill!) with a Limo at my call and 8 restaurants to choose from. Just across the street from the hotel was a shopping mall of sorts full of amazing bargains. I bought a tailored suit that was in my wardrobe until last year for the amazing price of - are you ready for this - US$ 9.75! Yes, you read right, nine US dollars and seventy five cents! Mind you that was in 1997, however little has changed in Zhuhai.

So if I decided to blow my whole months income I would have over 200 suites in my wardrobe. I dare say even Bill would be jealous of that?

The point I am trying to make here is that there are locations around our tiny planet, which by the way keeps getting smaller by the day, where the good old US dollar, and many other currencies as well for that matter can be made to work a lot harder.

Here again, income may not be and indeed should not be your sole consideration. If you have spent the best part of your life gazing out of an office window in downtown Manhattan, or in some factory somewhere in our industrial north you may very well be in search of a tropical beach or the serenity of the Arizona Desert to spend the most valuable remaining years that the good Lord allows you.

Certainly the tropics of Belize, or the mountains of Uruguay have been high on my list over the last few years.

A word of caution however - try before you buy! Having relocated 25 times in my lifetime I have learned that it is madness to just pack up and move. You need to spend (if possible) at least 6 months in your chosen destination before you put down any permanent roots - like buying a home etc.

This is a subject that I will re visit in upcoming articles; with our present economic situation that I feel will take several years to heal, now is a good time to look seriously at all your options.

Enjoy - Dr. peter j. Shield phD - http://pjshield.com