Community Chat

[shoekitty]

---

@Snowpuppy wrote:

The thing is, your neighbors are native to their homeland. Returning "home" so to speak.

Big difference in Americans traveling abroad. Most people assume the world lives like us in the US. The world does not.

You are not entitled to Miranda rights, stop and frisk or bail if detained or jailed. You may not be allowed to purchase/own land in some nations. If you are allowed to purchase property, in many countries it's an all cash deal. 

Not only is Medicare not accepted, if you have private insurance that's likely worthless, too. You may be taxed in two countries in retirement unless you give up citizenship in one.

I had coworkers who went to China to work. You are restricted to where you live and which schools your children attend. The only other people in your neighborhood are non-Chinese.

Many places in the world are not welcoming to Americans.

---

@Snowpuppy 

 My thoughts exactly.

[Katcat1]

@Annabellethecat66  I know a lot of people are retiring to Central America countries.  However, I wonder how good is the medical/hosptials if you become ill?  I really don't know but it has come across my mind.  Personally, I would never retire to a country in Central America.

[Ms tyrion2]

A former co worker and her husband retired to Ecuador.  They love it. Their money goes much further . The town they chose is charming with lots of American ex pats. 

I haven't heard any complaints about medical care from them yet.

[chrystaltree]

 Well,  glad to hear that they weren't robbed...LOL

[Annabellethecat66]

@Katcat1  My neighbor said things are pretty good there now.  She attributed it to their new President?  I have no idea.

It's always interesting when you hear from people who are actually living in different countries versus what you see on TV.

My late husband, daughters and I traveled (as I said) a lot in Europe, but we didn't go to any South American countries.

I was telling my youngest daughter about what my neighbor had said about El Salvador and she said just that evening (while traveling home from the airport) she took an Uber.  She said the Uber driver was originally from El Salvador.  He told her he had a house there that is probably worth around $500,000.  

He said that people want to buy it but they keep offering way less than the $500,000.  What does that sound like?  Ha!

It sounds exactly like what's happening in the U.S., doesn't it?

He's here making money so he can pay for the house there in El Salvador. 

It's kinda sad though because it sounds like he can't make enough money there to support the house there.  So he's working here to make enough to pay for the house there!  Phew!  I hope someone was able to follow what I just texted because now my brain hurts!  Ha!

But you get the idea.....I hope.  When I talk to people from these countries (El Salvador, Bolovia, etc), they'd like to go back (they call it home).  However, they can't make enough money there to support the way of life they want to sustain THERE.

I told my neighbor she should start looking for a small home there.  She could rent it out while she continues to work here and eventually either sell it or live there UNTIL she finds a bigger house there to live in.

My heart is lifted when I hear about how these countries seem to be changing for the better.  I know it's not like that everywhere in that country, but it does seem to be getting better (at least compared to what I hear and see on TV)!!!!

So, I'm of two minds.  One side of my brain says to not pay attention to what I see on TV (about how everyone is leaving because it's so terrible) and listen to people who have family there and actually go to visit there.

The other side of my brain says the country isn't a lot different from this country.  You can go over to D.C. and walk into a neighborhood where you worry for your life.  It's a matter of where it is, I guess.

OK, so now I'm going to go sit down before flames start coming from my ears.  I already smell smoke, so I don't think it will take much more (thinking).  I really need to shut this brain down NOW!

[Cats3000]

The US doesn't have a "Berlin Wall", or an Iron Curtain.  Want to live elsewhere?  Go ahead.  Long time ago, we visited Australia and New Zealand.  Simply stunning counries with wonderful people.  Wanted to move to either.  Didn't work out.  Stayed in the US.  Happy we did.

[Bridgegal]

My two cents.   There are plusses and minuses for living in any country.   I say weigh the pros and cons and go where you want.

We've lived in two European countries and loved both.  We'd go back to either one, if we could.  But they have immigration laws just like we have so we can't go to either one.  So, here we are , making  the best of it.

[sunala]

---

@Twins Mom wrote:
I was shocked when I heard that so many Europeans vacation to Vietnam. Guess I have had my head in the sand but I had not heard of anyone vacationing there. Guess it stems from envisioning it as war zone and source of sorrow. Pictures of there are enticing and beautiful but not quite ready.

---

@Twins Mom- I understand that Vietnam is a beautiful country, and many people go there for vacations.

My problem is my memory of the Vietnam war. I lived through it and can remember the nightly news, showing the films of fighting and killing...as I said, I know it's beautiful there, but I guess I can't get rid of the memories of the war and what went on there, and especially in our own country when our troops returned to the USA with less than a rousing welcome home. May that never happen again. I'd better stop now before I get into trouble.

I'll stay here in the good old USA. I don't feel like many places are really very safe anymore.

[patbz]

@Carmie :  DH and I went to Vietnam five years ago.  Besides all the bicycles, the most striking aspect is that the average age of population can't be much more than thirty.  Very nice, welcoming people.  I would definitely go back again.