WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022 PLACES - PART II

 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022 PLACES - PART II

WANDERLUST

Yesterday I was musing about moving.  Yes, I’m in central Texas and its okay - but I’m almost ten years here.  At age 75, there aren’t many moves left.  Do I want to move?  (Not really) 

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I made a list of possible places yesterday (and that isn’t conclusive!!)  Let’s look at two of my items first - Hawaii and Mexico.

Hawaii is awesome.  I could hike every day, go to the ocean, see mountains, surf (okay, maybe not), and maybe even see active volcanoes!!

I had two academic friends in Hawaii - and both couldn’t get back to “the mainland” quick enough.  Yes, there are fruits and vegetables  in season year round.  Do you want a steak or something that isn’t local?  Well, that is expensive.  Did a relative die or get married back on the mainland?  That is an expensive trip.  

It is also about five hours difference between Hawaii and New York (or four hours to Texas).  So, if you wanted (needed?) to fly “home”, it is a long flight to get anywhere.  

I have been to Oahu (the most populous island with Honolulu), and Mahi.  I thought Oahu had too much of an urban feel.  I hear the Big Island is nice.  

My opinion, it is nice to visit, but just too expensive to live there on a permanent basis.

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MEXICO

I have a cousin (and spouse) who live in Mexico.  For them it was a fairly easy choice.  They have a tight budget but can afford to live there when most locations in the United States are more expensive.

One site said this:

“Mexico has a very laid-back culture, and Mexicans are genuinely friendly. Many people report making positive lifestyle changes like walking more, eating healthier, socializing more, and learning to slow down since moving to Mexico.

“If you’re interested in living the expat life, settling in Mexico is a great way to go. You’re most likely already familiar with the food and aspects of the lifestyle, so there won’t be an extreme culture shock.

“The Mexican government allows Americans to stay for six months on a visa, which will give you a good start to get familiar with the country. This six-month visa is reset every time you cross a border and return to Mexico. If you won’t be leaving the country every six months, you’ll need to find a long-term solution. To show you’re financially stable, you’ll have to show the government that you earn at least US$1,300 every month. (Hmmm - that is definitely affordable).

One of the drawbacks to Mexico is that you will need to be reasonably fluent in Spanish.  

My cousin is in a neighborhood that is primarily ex-Americans and she needs less Spanish knowledge.   

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How about other countries? 

Costa Rica

“Costa Rica is known as the Switzerland of Latin America. This stable, democratic country located between Nicaragua and Panama invests a lot in social development and nature preservation and has a tax system favorable to expats.

Costa Rica doesn’t have an army and consequently doesn’t need to foot huge military bills. It has more than enough money to invest in social development and nature preservation programs.

As a result, out of all Latin American countries, Costa Rica can boast the best standard of living.

Expats who derive their income from foreign sources (foreign pensions and investments, for example) do not have to pay income tax while living in Costa Rica.

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There are many other options.  I have friends who moved to Germany four years ago.  The man is a technology expert and they enjoy a good standard of living and do return to the United States frequently.  

Language is of course an issue in any non-English speaking country.  Learning a new language, new culture, new shopping, and gaining new experiences are part of the wanderlust experience.

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Are you adventurous? Are you willing to move away from family and friends?  Are you willing to start anew?

My ancestors left Europe (primarily) for the United States looking for a good life.  Are you willing to leave your location to move to Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, Germany or other locations?  It will definitely be easier than it was then.  Six to ten weeks on a ship sailing from Europe is reduced to a few hours in an airplane if and when you want to get back to the states.

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So, is wanderlust hitting you?  Are you willing to start over in a new location?

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © NOVEMBER 16, 2022