Well I may go to Italy for a year- not to retire but just for a year long vacation- I do have the right to live and work anywhere in the EU.
But I would not consider working there - the Italians like most European countries have tax rates that would prevent me from working there. The European welfare state may be on it's last legs though, so who knows, things may change.
Seems the whole world is moving away from Socialism while the USA keeps moving towards it. Europe may be the place to be afterall in a few years.
But unless you are like me- and have the rights of a european citizen, I think all you can get is a visitors visa- they don't want you staying there.
Raees wrote: BMH, all I can tell you is I have researched it, tens of thousands have gone before me, and Americans who can support themselves financially are welcomed.
Where I'm going to retire is not a "better" place, it's "another" place and one that I think will serve well as a base to weather any coming economic or other catastrophe. There's a whole world out there. Why spend your entire life in the same place? It's like living in one state your entire life. I'm thankful to have been born in the United States and have the opportunity to move about the world and live elsewhere, if I chose.
Because I chose to live that last part of my life somewhere doesn't mean I like it better than the United States. It only means it has certain things I want in my later life that I cannot have or afford here in the U.S. I also can't just quit my job and start retirement early, although I really wish that were financially possible.
And if I had lived there, as a citizen, I would have already been retired. As you know, the U.S. probably has the highest retirement age in the world. We also work more hours and get less vacation. Here, we live to work where many other countries work to live.
Please don't ask me where I'm going. I would prefer it maintain its current ratio of expats from various countries when we move there. Just know that when you know what hits the fan in the U.S. and the rest of the world, I'll be smiling, glad of the choice I made to get while the getting is good.
I have several--(as in: 8-10)--friends who are giving serious consideration to going ex-pat as soon as they are able. Some to Costa Rica; some to Canada. In most cases it boils down to the same thing...being fed up with the conservative political climate and the lack of affordable health-care. (Canada, in particular, has it SOOO much better than the for-profit thievery of the U.S.) There's a reason the U.S. ranks 37th in the world in health care. (Oh yeah, the quality is usually pretty good--if you're rich enough to afford it.) I don't know about the health care in Costa Rica. But all of them think they can retire with a better quality-of-life and better bang-for-their-buck outside of the U.S.
So much for the wave-the-flag "exceptionalism" faux-patriots....
Canada has great health care- if you are still alive after waiting 6 months to see the doc- and most areas outside of the big cities won't have up to date MRI machines and other equipment that you are used to seeing here.
Will they be going to Canada illegally? Reason I ask is that they usually don't let deadbeat's in there anymore, you need to prove that you have a special skill that they need in order to get a visa to stay.
Democrat for sale- are all of your friends whacky liberals?
If you can- try to talk even more of them into leaving.
Raees wrote: BMH, all I can tell you is I have researched it, tens of thousands have gone before me, and Americans who can support themselves financially are welcomed.
Where I'm going to retire is not a "better" place, it's "another" place and one that I think will serve well as a base to weather any coming economic or other catastrophe. There's a whole world out there. Why spend your entire life in the same place? It's like living in one state your entire life. I'm thankful to have been born in the United States and have the opportunity to move about the world and live elsewhere, if I chose.
Because I chose to live that last part of my life somewhere doesn't mean I like it better than the United States. It only means it has certain things I want in my later life that I cannot have or afford here in the U.S. I also can't just quit my job and start retirement early, although I really wish that were financially possible.
And if I had lived there, as a citizen, I would have already been retired. As you know, the U.S. probably has the highest retirement age in the world. We also work more hours and get less vacation. Here, we live to work where many other countries work to live.
Please don't ask me where I'm going. I would prefer it maintain its current ratio of expats from various countries when we move there. Just know that when you know what hits the fan in the U.S. and the rest of the world, I'll be smiling, glad of the choice I made to get while the getting is good.
I have several--(as in: 8-10)--friends who are giving serious consideration to going ex-pat as soon as they are able. Some to Costa Rica; some to Canada. In most cases it boils down to the same thing...being fed up with the conservative political climate and the lack of affordable health-care. (Canada, in particular, has it SOOO much better than the for-profit thievery of the U.S.) There's a reason the U.S. ranks 37th in the world in health care. (Oh yeah, the quality is usually pretty good--if you're rich enough to afford it.) I don't know about the health care in Costa Rica. But all of them think they can retire with a better quality-of-life and better bang-for-their-buck outside of the U.S.
So much for the wave-the-flag "exceptionalism" faux-patriots....
St. Grover? Driving the liberals out of this country with his no tax pledges! Good job man. Maybe Alec Baldwin will join the exodus.
rofllol
Oh wait, I thought all the top earners of the 1% were catching the last flight out too?
Awesome, I could stand a few million less people living in America.
Trivia, more Americans are expatriates living and working overseas than live in Colorado, about three times as many.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
All my Canadian friends say the bullcrap talking-points of the conservatives in the U.S. just make them laugh. They don't have any longer wait times for care than the standard PPO take-a-number-and-wait for-profit vultures here. But you keep regurgitating that crap...I know how it makes you feel better--even when it's not true.
And, yes, as a matter of fact the ones that plan to emigrate there DO have skill sets that make them eligible. Must drive you crazy.. :thumbsup: rofllol
Sort of reminds you of the John Galt thing, doesn't it?... All the talented people leaving the NASCAR bubbas, gun-totin' inbreeders, neanderthals and racist types behind...
Awesome, I could stand a few million less people living in America.
All the talented people leaving the NASCAR bubbas, gun-totin' inbreeders, neanderthals and racist types behind... 
