I understand to a point.
But I have no issue, with non English speakers in the US.
I might even learn something new?
But I would work to that end regardless.
Funchal, seems a likely landing spot.
The Prime Minister does have an open international arrest warrant.
So seemly jumping from the pot to the fire
I wish you all the best and hope your decision will offer you a happy life in your new country!
Appreciate that.
But it is not fully decided yet, we are spending this summer in Antwerp to test the waters.
But it is more likely than not.
Antwerp, quite a difference! There you get along well with English, Dutch would be very easy to learn. Don’t speak French, they will not listen! Have a nice time with mussles and Belgian beer, the most liked dish there. The weather is not what you will find in Portugal though. Enjoy!
I’m looking into Tasmania or Malta, but My Beloved is partial to Barbados.
I can do bits of Dutch, and almost read it.
Agreed great beer, art, and architecture; but nasty winters.
We have this, and one more summer (I am retired, wife still a couple more years teaching) to scout a bit.
Maybe Thailand next year, but the heat can be overwhelming.
I do understand, we are very privileged to have these options.
You are privileged indeed, make the best of it!
I have not been in Thailand yet. What I have heard is that it is difficult to integrate, most foreigners live in the expat bubble. Can be nice but it is not for everyone. Learning Thai is a bit more difficult. Depending on your age it might be worthwhile to consider the health care situation. As far as I know your visa depends on how much money you bring to the country. But this might not be a problem for you. Good luck!
Even if I wanted to I don’t think I’d be able to leave.
Via my father’s family I have some claim to Eastern European ancestry - they identified as “Russian Jew” but given how borders have moved around I might be connected to Poland or some other former soviet satellite… except all the records on that side of the Pond were destroyed in WWII.
So… OK, being Jewish I could go to Israel… except I have zero desire to go there, don’t speak the language, and if certain elements in the current government there have their way I won’t be allowed in as they want to restrict right of return to only Jews born of Jewish women who meet their definition of Jew… which I wouldn’t as it’s my father who was born Jewish and those folks think Reform Judaism is a “fake religion” and wouldn’t recognize my mother’s conversion.
I don’t have either wealth or high-demand skills to offer a new country.
I think the only way I could possibly emigrate anywhere would be as a “only the clothes on my back” oppressed refugee. Which sucks at any age but even more so as a middle-aged lady.
Also keep in mind the possibility that DOGE could do something like cut off social security and/or other benefit payments to ex-pat US citizens as part of “cost cutting”. Or otherwise screw around with US-source income for ex-pats. If you were cut off from US funds could you survive in your new place?
Been there. Done that.
Spent most of my adult professional life in Europe (Germany; Military, and then as a DoD civilian).
Would be nice to go back for a third tour.
Japan would be awesome too.
As vindictive and retaliatory the current Administration is revealing itself to be, I wouldn’t trust them to protect any ex pats from crippling taxes a host country might impose because of tariffs and changes to the IRS. In addition there is support in the circus tent for creating an ERS to additionally tax American companies operating overseas.
Also a big sacrifice that may be too tough for some armchair wanderers to accept- Forget about transferring your Amazon Prime account overseas.
The rest of those who have an adventurous spirit, embrace new languages and culture who don’t seek out the creature comforts of a bland American style suburban existence in an exciting new city- good luck to you may you prosper and and develop lasting relationships in your new domicile.
I don’t speak Modern Israeli Hebrew, although, with the training that Israel offers to new arrivals, and the fact that I know Torah/siddur Hebrew very well, I think I could learn it pretty quickly.
Pretty much everyone in Israel speaks English, and when I go there, I mostly rely on English. Occasionally, I come across someone who doesn’t, and so I use what Hebrew I can patch together from phase books, and prayer books. I can’t imagine how it sounds. I probably said to that cab driver something like, “Good sir, prithee, wouldst thou dryfe me to the Kotel?”
We got there just fine, though.
I would leave tomorrow, if I had the resources for my disabled vet brother & myself.
I must stay.
And I am looking for a job.
My overriding concern would be that the U.S. is reluctant to let you go free and clear. I don’t think I can pack up my stuff and leave, certainly not my money, which is basically Social Security and my pension. I’m pretty sure the U.S. will make me pay taxes on it, and find ways to punish me financially. Friends who’ve gone ex-pat have described the tax situation as a Pain In The Ass at best—they need to hire accountants in other countries to make sure they’re compliant with U.S. laws and their ex-pat country’s laws and not get destroyed in the process, which is at the very least expensive as hell.
I’d be much more eager to leave if I knew for sure why exactly I was leaving. I think it would mostly be a “protest” against the immorality of living in a fascist country, but I’d still be paying taxes to that fascist country in perpetuity and I don’t see any way around that.
Many countries around the world do allow retirees to move there and get residency permits. After a certain time you can apply for citizenship. Most require you prove you have the resources not to be a burden on the state. They may require you to have health insurance so you aren’t costing them there either.
As for what would make me leave? I guess when I got to the point that I outright disliked what the US has become. I’m hopeful that this is going to be a bad experiment, the results of which ensure it doesn’t happen for another 250 years. I didn’t say I was sure of it.
Well, you can renounce your citizenship. I haven’t taken that step (the tax thing is a pain in the ass, but not much worse than it was when living in the US), but I’ve thought seriously about it.
We’re already there. If I were a younger man, I’d be looking at getting out of the country. I believe it won’t be too long before we start seeing political opposition to MAGA arrested on trumped up charges and tried in kangaroo courts. The economy is going to get much worse and either MAGA supporters will realize they’ve been duped and do something about it or they’re going to violently turn against whatever scapegoat is convenient. I believe they lack the insight to admit to themselves they chose poorly.
If you can get out of the United States, I’d get out now.
I’ve been told my opinions on this are not relevant and maybe I should just , well, shut up!
Nah. Can’t do it.
@GailForce , this is what I’d be worried about too. Where would you rather be when your retirement and SS are held back or impounded? In a foreign country with no resourses or in your home town in the US, close to some family and friends?
I’m thinking, home. But that’s just my opinion.
Trump is essentially making Americans the enemy of the world.
And these oh-so-welcoming places are gonna slam the door shut, in, I predict weeks.
No country wants a giant influx of needy refugees. They want the ones toting a wad of cash, they don’t mind spending. There’s no America to immigrate to, for Americans.
Anyway the fascism is spreading worldwide.
I can’t understand how to combat it. As one person.
Running and hiding certainly will not fix it.
My Daddy always said, “clean up you own backyard, having a garden party at your neighbors yard might be unwise” and surely unwelcome.
I still say fight from your own territory, hunker down, be prepared. And good luck.
If you do go to another country I hope you’re very successful.
I hope you are not stating that people who leave are “running and hiding.”
Well, isn’t that the way of it?
You wanna get away from an awful regime. Or situation.
Yes, I’d describe it as running away.
Hiding, well that’s more subjective.
If its a zebra, don’t call it a horse.
(People are not discussing this as an enjoyable retirement to a pleasant country for a lifestyle improvement, they are talking about getting away from trumpism.)