Your views on retirement during marriage are drastically different after divorce. We had our plans for retirement but now it’s just me and that picture has changed. When I consider what inflation is doing to the retired population, I will be working until I’m 99. People have worked their entire lives just to scrape by. It’s not appealing. All of this has me contemplating some new ideas.

As a kid I watched a show, the Golden Girls. As an adult the idea is not so bad. Four retirement aged women living out their golden years under one roof. It has me wondering if I have three friends that I would consider cohabitating with in the latter part of life. That sounds way more exciting as a funny sitcom than in real life. I know I would lock Rose out of the house. My cousins always joke about us moving to another country and buying a compound. We should really think about that.

Some years back I saw a movie about a hotel in India that had become home to retired foreigners. They discovered that the cost of living was more affordable for them. The guests bonded over this new experience and explored the culture. This concept is becoming more prevalent as people are looking for a lower cost of living that will afford them a better quality of life.

Many days I have given thought to leaving the US at retirement. With the rising cost of basic needs, it just doesn’t match the income of a retiree who typically is bringing in less than their income while working. I belong to several social media groups of expats who relocate. People are moving from the US to Canada, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Costa Rica and Japan. Although it seems difficult to make the transition, most people seem to really enjoy the experience once settled. They site a slower pace of life, safety, lower costs, healthcare and food quality as the drivers for them. There are definitely some good options to think about.

When I have mentioned my plans of relocating, I have been asked if I am worried about my safety. I am becoming more concerned about my safety here in the US. No matter where you live, you always need to be alert and stay away from problem areas. People ask me if I’ll miss my family. That’s why we have air travel. They say what if you have a medical issue. My reply is that many Americans now travel out of the country for good medical care at a more affordable cost. With proper planning the benefits of relocating outweigh any negatives. Last but not least, if you don’t like it you can move again.

There are many things to consider if you decide to retire outside of the US. Keep in mind that you will have to know what the requirements are for residency. You will need healthcare so do your due diligence to find the best affordable insurance plan. If you plan to keep your US citizenship, you will have to file an income tax return. Make sure to contact Social Security to see what the requirements are should you relocate outside of the country.

Since I haven’t found a bag of money on the side of the road or hit the lottery, I’m going to have to figure it out. There are quite a few good options. Retirement is not that far away so I’m going to keep doing my research. I see myself enjoying retirement without the day to day stresses of living.

Regina H