Curiosity about relocating to different nations persists in growing for numerous causes.
The rise of remote work due to the pandemic has created opportunities for people to reside anywhere worldwide, provided they have access to stable internet.
The polarization of politics in the U.S. has reached such levels that queries on Google regarding moving abroad have gone up. 1,514% following the recent presidential election.
A new Prudential study shows that an average 55-year-old American, just a decade away from retiring, typically has under $50,000 in median savings.
However, what's popular today becomes yesterday's news in our rapidly changing environment. Federal government return-to-office policies and those implemented by numerous large companies are currently reducing the availability of remote work options.
Intense feelings following each of the past elections often lead to impulsive notions of leaving the country, though these seldom materialize into actual plans.
The economic challenges faced by senior citizens in America continue unabated, and numerous individuals are seriously contemplating moving abroad as a potential answer to their retirement issues.
We surely understand. During the 2008 Great Reccession, when our jobs were lost and a significant portion of our savings vanished, we moved to Cuenca, Ecuador , and we've had a fantastic life far exceeding our highest hopes ever since. We've also encountered many other contented retired expats here and elsewhere. our international travels .
Not for everyone
Given our experience, one might assume we'd be eagerly urging everybody to fill their suitcases, relocate overseas, and partake in our good luck.
But over the past 14-plus years, we have come to recognize that expat life is definitely not one-size-fits-all. In contrast to success stories like ours, we’ve witnessed a revolving door of newbies excitedly arriving, only to return home — sometimes within the period of a few months.
Maybe you have thought about moving abroad yourself, whether for a lower cost of living or the sheer adventure of trying something new. Before you start poring over those “ best places to retire ” lists, we want to point out several deal breakers you must not ignore, and areas of poor planning that can derail your expat dreams.
We run a website that provides assistance to those seeking help with international relocation. Yet there are specific situations and reasons when we counsel subscribers to stay right where they are, in some cases at least temporarily.
Family matters
A lot of people approaching retirement age often find themselves caring for their still-living parents at different stages of health. Meanwhile, others might be helping out with siblings or children who require hands-on support.
Although we're aware of some expatriate retirees who have relocated their parents, this might not always be the best option. Family members with health or financial problems that necessitate your attention could prevent you from considering a move to a distant location.
An important point that bears emphasizing relates to being attached to grandchildren. Should you already spend considerable time traveling just to see them, residing in a different country doesn't pose an unsolvable challenge.
This insight comes directly from our own experiences. Before relocating to Ecuador from Las Vegas, we had become accustomed to setting aside travel days for visits to our relatives on the East Coast. Nowadays, multiple times annually, we just head north and south rather than making the eastern journey.
If you reside near these grandchildren and they play a significant role in your daily life, beware of allowing logic to overshadow emotion. Despite the potential for another country’s lower cost of living to bolster your retirement savings, the sorrow stemming from being apart from beloved youngsters frequently becomes unbearable.
Health concerns
You may be surprised to learn that the quality and affordability of healthcare abroad, especially in major cities, often surpasses what is available in the United States. In recent global studies , the U.S. consistently ranks well behind other nations.
While this can be a feature well worth considering when contemplating a move abroad, it is even more important to be honest with yourself about your own physical limitations.
Are you facing mobility challenges? In numerous Latin American nations, the condition of the pavements, absence of lifts, and limited facilities might fall short compared to your accustomed standards. Suffering from respiratory difficulties? Although our city of Cuenca offers various benefits, its altitude surpassing 8,400 feet could be rather daunting.
Consider essential prescription medicines. Avoid the error of relocating to another nation assuming that all necessary medications are accessible worldwide. That’s not always true.
Poor planning
You decide that you wish to move overseas. You dedicate numerous hours to searching online to find the perfect location for yourself. Once you've handled every detail—selling your home, sorting through your possessions, assembling all necessary paperwork for your residence permit, and securing housing—you step onto the airplane embarking on an exciting new journey.
However, once the initial "honeymoon phase" ends, you start feeling more and more discontented, and to your immense shock and dismay, you find yourself returning home. What on earth occurred?
Inadequate research
We've noticed that objectivity often takes a backseat when selecting potential spots for retiring abroad. Some acquaintances of ours relocated to a beachside condominium along Ecuador’s Pacific coastline. They were amazed by the opportunity to live near the sea at a cost far below what they could afford in the U.S.
Only after a friend of theirs dropped dead riding his bike did it occur to them that, with the husband’s heart condition, maybe being hours from the closest hospital was not such a good idea. They moved immediately.
When choosing a location, resist the temptation to ignore important aspects of daily life because you’ve fallen in love with “the view.” And avoid what we call vacation mentality — focusing on places that remind you of your favorite vacation spot. Spending an enjoyable week or so somewhere is totally different from living there full time.
No scouting trip
We've been surprised by how many individuals arrived in Cuenca exclusively through online research. Out of these, only a small fraction has stayed, and unfortunately, some of them continue to reside there due to financial constraints preventing alternative choices.
Nothing beats physically being there to truly see if a new location resonates with you. Invest both time and resources into this visit—we suggest at least two weeks—and take the opportunity to consult with an immigration lawyer as well as fellow expatriates. Investigate various districts, wander through supermarkets, and keep an eye out for warning signs that previous studies might have missed.
Perhaps by the conclusion of your journey, you might alter your decision. It’s wiser to discover this now rather than after going through the effort and cost of relocating.
Impractical expectations or a rigid mindset
One of the primary reasons individuals move away from their home country is due to having unreasonably high expectations. Even though certain places may closely mimic an average North American way of life, many find it difficult to adapt when faced with significant cultural disparities.
Certainly, dealing with red tape in an unfamiliar land can be incredibly frustrating at times. Missing or delayed appointments can be particularly irritating. However, as a visitor, you're expected to adapt to local customs. Typically, residents are content with how things operate. Yelling out of anger like "Why does this have to happen?" doesn't help much here. wrong "Seeing those people?" clearly shows you're heading back home.
Not only are you a guest, you are also now a minority. Feeling like an outsider that will never truly fit in bothers some more than they could have ever anticipated.
These examples are all reflections of an inflexible attitude. As with other elements we have mentioned that require your honest introspection, this one is the root cause of most failures. Going with the flow of your new environment is essential. If you are set in your ways, intolerant of others and stubbornly need to be right, your expat life will most likely end badly.
Sometimes, unexpected situations outside of our control—such as health issues or family problems—can disrupt plans for moving overseas or lead even content expatriates to come back home. However, maintaining a pragmatic approach towards the challenges involved in taking this step and considering what aspects genuinely count when selecting your new location can significantly impact long-term achievement.
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Edd and Cynthia Staton are experts on expat life in retirement. They have appeared on network television and are regularly featured in the media. They have written three books about their adventures and created a program to educate others on retiring abroad .
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