Retire Abroad.

A Checklist for Retiring Abroad.

• How much money will you need? What disposable income will you have from your pension, social security and investments? How does the cost of living compare to your Home COuntry, and what are the likely future trends? You will have to consider currency fluctuations if you live outside the Euro zone or the US Dollar area.



• Healthcare: What are your entitlements to healthcare abroad? Does your Country have reciprocal arrangements with your new retirement location? What is your current state of health, and potential future needs? How would you cope with the dependence of yourself or your partner on home help or a nursing home? What are the health standards?



• Family and friends: Do you wish to be close enough to “home” to visit, or receive visits from - children, grandchildren, siblings other family members and friends? Is your social style (personality) gregarious or reserved? A decline in sociability and reduced interest in making new contacts is a common feature of the retirement life stage.



• What are you passionate about, what do you love to do, what is a must for you? Knowing the order of priority you place on your Values will enable you to evaluate the locations you are considering. Here is an example of a list a client shared with me during a retirement coaching conversation:
  • Health
  • Family Happiness
  • Security
  • Fun
  • Adventure
  • Friendship
  • Continuing Personal Development
  • Spirituality
  • Community Service.



• Country of choice: Prepare a list of the 10 best places to retire. If you already have a preferred retirement location in mind, what is it that attracts you to it? Is it the climate, or the cost of living, the low crime rate, the presence of communities and clubs from your homeland? How reliable is your information, have you visited for prolonged periods and at different times of the year - how appealing is it in winter/summer, peak/low season. “I couldn’t live there July/August, a client commented.” Have you talked to other expatriate residents? Do you plan to live there permanently, or just part of the year?

• I would miss sport, both national and local events, especially Irish Football.
• I would miss the local community and the network of people and services that support me - the Postman, the Parish Priest, the taxi and bus service (they know me), the checkout girl at the local supermarket, who always has a smile and a greeting for me, my neighbours, my best friends, my golf club membership, Patrick's Street on Christmas eve ...

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