Living in Europe

[HarrisburgDave]

I have been giving it some serious thought about moving to Europe to spend the last few years of my life. My wife would do it, but she is concerned about leaving our son and daughter behind. My daughter is 100 percent supportive, my son has misgivings.

So, if given the chance where would you move to in Europe? Please consider that this has to be done on a limited budget.

 

[LionJim]

I have been giving it some serious thought about moving to Europe to spend the last few years of my life. My wife would do it, but she is concerned about leaving our son and daughter behind. My daughter is 100 percent supportive, my son has misgivings.

So, if given the chance where would you move to in Europe? Please consider that this has to be done on a limited budget.

I deleted my original response. We couldn’t leave our kids. (I’m a worrier.)

 

[TheBigUglies]

I want to do this, however, my better half is hesitant because we would be far away from family. Aging parents especially. As for our kids, one lives in Europe, other 2 are currently in the states. No grandkids yet but the kids(now adults and in the working world) are pretty independent. Language barrier is also an issue. I am more of the spontaneous and lets jump but better half is more conservative and cautious. We are in our late 50s and still grinding at work but once retirement hits I am expecting to at least spend longer amount of time in Europe(other then just a week or two) but still have a home base here in the US.(plus I have no idea how we are going to unload all the crap in our house we accumulated over the past 35 years of marriage and raising kids).

Where would I move? Ireland, Scotland, or Wales. It would have to be a country side village with not a lot of people and off the touristy routes. I would also consider Italy or Austria. Italy I could get by with the language barrier, Austria would be really hard, but it would have to be in the countryside as I hate city life. These are places I have visited many times, but also visited Germany, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Hungary and would not want to live in those countries. The other thing to consider is the cost of living and visa requirements, I think Ireland is challenging because you need something like $1Mill in assets to live there as a retiree and they are in a housing crisis because the gov't fills hotels with refugees from Ukraine, UK not so sure of the requirements. Italy seems less challenging and more affordable then Ireland and the UK. Austria is expensive.

 

[Bwifan]

I have been giving it some serious thought about moving to Europe to spend the last few years of my life. My wife would do it, but she is concerned about leaving our son and daughter behind. My daughter is 100 percent supportive, my son has misgivings.

So, if given the chance where would you move to in Europe? Please consider that this has to be done on a limited budget.

I have thought about this as well. I have a lifelong friend that I grew up with in Doylestown that did a semester abroad in college and never came back. He lives in south France in Aix en Provence and loves it. I have been there several times and love it there as well. I could easily do the french country side. Portugal is another place that is really nice. There are several place that americans are living over there that also have good healthcare with american doctors. Italy would be another place I could live. I love Florence. Lastly Austria or Switzerland up in the alps has always been a dream of mine to live. So many place so little time. I personally would look at where you can get good healthcare as well as blend into the local enviroment. They move at a much slower pace and enjoy life. Why I love vacationing in europe, it forces me to slow down and enjoy life.

 

[ApexLion]

Go for it!

 

[Midnighter]

I have been giving it some serious thought about moving to Europe to spend the last few years of my life. My wife would do it, but she is concerned about leaving our son and daughter behind. My daughter is 100 percent supportive, my son has misgivings.

So, if given the chance where would you move to in Europe? Please consider that this has to be done on a limited budget.

We talk about getting a place in Paris all the time; maybe the French countryside. But, not as a permanent home - at least not yet. If cost is a factor I think Italy, Portugal, and maybe Spain could work. Big issue for me would be access to good medical facilities and/or any kind of American presence (think military bases in Germany). My kids are still little, so not sure how I'd feel about moving away depending on where they end up (daughter has mentioned going to college abroad though), but if I can still travel and move, I don't see how it would be too different from living across the country from each other. Good article from Forbes here....

Where To Retire In Europe For As Little As $1,865 Per Month

Top 5 dreamy havens to lower your cost of living in Europe—up to 61% cheaper to retire in Europe than in the U.S.

www.forbes.com

 

[NittPicker]

I have been giving it some serious thought about moving to Europe to spend the last few years of my life. My wife would do it, but she is concerned about leaving our son and daughter behind. My daughter is 100 percent supportive, my son has misgivings.

So, if given the chance where would you move to in Europe? Please consider that this has to be done on a limited budget.

If your budget is limited, take into consideration the USD is down 10% to the Euro over the past six months. The last time it was this low was three and a half years ago. On the bright side, if you make the move and the current exchange rate is baked into your budget, if/when the dollar gets stronger you'll be getting a pay raise.

 

[WVilleLion23]

Belgium

 

[HarrisburgDave]

Western Europe is too pricey for me. Some of the Eastern European nations are rather attractive price wise. Health care, beyond basic stuff, does not concern me. Poland, Macedonian, etc are great places, English is widely spoken, and the food is terrific I am told.

 

[SkiLion2]

So, this is a topic that I have looked into a lot. First off, married, both 52 (will both turn 53 in the next two months), no kids, and our respective parents are all still alive which is the main reason we still live in the US. We don't want to be 24 hours away when something inevitably happens to one of our parents. All that said, our primary choice is Slovenia. The reason are the following:
1) We are both skiers and access to mountains and skiing is a priority, Slovenia shares the Alps with Austria but at a fraction of the cost.
2) It is close to all things in Central Europe and easy to hop on a plane or train to larger more cosmopolitan cities is always an option.
3) Access to beaches in Italy or Croatia - really almost all of the Adriatic coast is accessible.

 

[bdgan]

I have been giving it some serious thought about moving to Europe to spend the last few years of my life. My wife would do it, but she is concerned about leaving our son and daughter behind. My daughter is 100 percent supportive, my son has misgivings.

So, if given the chance where would you move to in Europe? Please consider that this has to be done on a limited budget.

We would never leave our kids even though they live a few hours away.

 

[Hotshoe]

Croatia is safe and may be the biggest bang for your buck.

 

[Nits74]

No way I'm leaving and missing Pirates baseball.

 

[NittPicker]

No way I'm leaving and missing Pirates baseball.

My man. There's always mlb.tv. Would there be anything better than staying up well past midnight in Europe to watch Bucco baseball??

 

[Midnighter]

Western Europe is too pricey for me. Some of the Eastern European nations are rather attractive price wise. Health care, beyond basic stuff, does not concern me. Poland, Macedonian, etc are great places, English is widely spoken, and the food is terrific I am told.

Can confirm Croatia, Poland, Bosnia - all excellent food and if you were younger and single, gorgeous women.

 

[SleepyLion]

Can confirm Croatia, Poland, Bosnia - all excellent food and if you were younger and single, gorgeous women.

yeah. now that we are older, the women are ugly.

 

[kgilbert78]

You can get houses in parts of Italy for a Euro. My wife's great aunt's house is abandoned, for one (cousins still live there) But I'd want to be fluent in the language. I could handle Germany.

 

[BeerLion]

I have been giving it some serious thought about moving to Europe to spend the last few years of my life. My wife would do it, but she is concerned about leaving our son and daughter behind. My daughter is 100 percent supportive, my son has misgivings.

So, if given the chance where would you move to in Europe? Please consider that this has to be done on a limited budget.

My Grandparents left europe for a reason. The way things have been going over there lately only reenforces this. Plus I enjoy my family too much, not only my children, my brothers , cousins, nieces, nephews and all aunts and uncles that are still around. Would definitely not want to live out the rest of my life without them. I think the joy of living would be lost. That's me.

 

[JohnJumba]

Who would want to move to Europe? What is the advantage?

 

[kgilbert78]

Who would want to move to Europe? What is the advantage?

Food. Lots to see and do. Real beer (in some parts). Real football .

 

[bbrown]

I have been giving it some serious thought about moving to Europe to spend the last few years of my life. My wife would do it, but she is concerned about leaving our son and daughter behind. My daughter is 100 percent supportive, my son has misgivings.

So, if given the chance where would you move to in Europe? Please consider that this has to be done on a limited budget.

Interesting convo. Lots to consider. Age, health, family...
Where in Europe because some places will tax your retirement, France and Spain do, Germany doesn't. Not sure about Great Britain.

 

[bbrown]

We talk about getting a place in Paris all the time; maybe the French countryside. But, not as a permanent home - at least not yet. If cost is a factor I think Italy, Portugal, and maybe Spain could work. Big issue for me would be access to good medical facilities and/or any kind of American presence (think military bases in Germany). My kids are still little, so not sure how I'd feel about moving away depending on where they end up (daughter has mentioned going to college abroad though), but if I can still travel and move, I don't see how it would be too different from living across the country from each other. Good article from Forbes here....

Where To Retire In Europe For As Little As $1,865 Per Month

Top 5 dreamy havens to lower your cost of living in Europe—up to 61% cheaper to retire in Europe than in the U.S.

www.forbes.com

I have been watching Stanley Tucci Searching for Italy and really liking it. Tuscany would be my pick LOL. Southern France as well.

 

[bbrown]

Tgar knows several people that have or are in the process of moving to those two countries to live out their dreams. All of them are liberal.

A buddy of mine that was a French, German, Spanish teacher in Bmore retired and finally got his Permanent Residency approved in Germany. It took almost a year and half and that was with testimonials from his German Family and friends.

 

[manatree]

Real football .

Spain has over twenty.

 

[HarrisburgDave]

all excellent food and if you were younger and single, gorgeous women.

I am not dead, yet.

Then there is this -

A 93 year old man goes to his doctor.

He asks for a Viagra prescription after telling the doctor his situation with an impending new young bride.

His doctor warns him: “ Given the length of time that you have abstained from sex, I’ve got to warn you- sex could prove to be fatal.”

“Doc”, says the old man, “if she dies, she dies.”

 

[HarrisburgDave]

We would never leave our kids even though they live a few hours away.

I understand. I have been a good father. They are good people, doing well for themselves. There is not much more that I can do for them, but they do more for me every day. I do not want to be spending the last days of my life dependent upon them.

 

[manatree]

Not that I’ll ever be able to afford it, I would love to live in and travel around Europe. Given my preferred climate, I would be looking at Ireland, UK, or the northern coasts of Portugal, Spain, or France.

 

[TheBigUglies]

Who would want to move to Europe? What is the advantage?

Slower lifestyle, friendlier people(depending where). I like the smaller villages where you can live on the outskirts and walk into town for groceries, drug store, pub, restaurant etc(this is sometimes how we vacation, rent a place for 2 weeks and take day trips or stay local). Public transportation is a lot better and more convenient. Airfare to other parts of Europe is really cheap(flight from Dublin to Milan is like 40 euro) so taking long weekends in European locations is a lot easier. Sure, European countries have their problems to but some things just seem nicer and I like discovering the historical places. To each their own.

 

[bbrown]

Slower lifestyle, friendlier people(depending where). I like the smaller villages where you can live on the outskirts and walk into town for groceries, drug store, pub, restaurant etc(this is sometimes how we vacation, rent a place for 2 weeks and take day trips or stay local). Public transportation is a lot better and more convenient. Airfare to other parts of Europe is really cheap(flight from Dublin to Milan is like 40 euro) so taking long weekends in European locations is a lot easier. Sure, European countries have their problems to but some things just seem nicer and I like discovering the historical places. To each their own.

+1. Let me add....The food...the food.

 

[DaytonRickster]

We talk about getting a place in Paris all the time; maybe the French countryside. But, not as a permanent home - at least not yet. If cost is a factor I think Italy, Portugal, and maybe Spain could work. Big issue for me would be access to good medical facilities and/or any kind of American presence (think military bases in Germany). My kids are still little, so not sure how I'd feel about moving away depending on where they end up (daughter has mentioned going to college abroad though), but if I can still travel and move, I don't see how it would be too different from living across the country from each other. Good article from Forbes here....

Where To Retire In Europe For As Little As $1,865 Per Month

Top 5 dreamy havens to lower your cost of living in Europe—up to 61% cheaper to retire in Europe than in the U.S.

www.forbes.com

The # of military bases in Europe has been greatly reduced, primarily in Germany. Spain has the U.S.Naval base @ Rota; Italy has a U.S. Naval & Air Force Base; and in Portugal, the U.S. base is in the Azore Islands.
Not Europe but alot of Americans have moved to Panama.. Affordable housing near Panama City, reasonably priced, excellent healthare for retirees.

 

[bbrown]

The # of military bases in Europe has been greatly reduced, primarily in Germany. Spain has the U.S.Naval base @ Rota; Italy has a U.S. Naval & Air Force Base; and in Portugal, the U.S. base is in the Azore Islands.
Not Europe but alot of Americans have moved to Panama.. Affordable housing near Panama City, reasonably priced, excellent healthare for retirees.

I know a few that moved or are planning to move to Puerto Rico. From the pics I've seen and their descriptions of the people and life style it looks and sounds very nice.

 

[kgilbert78]

+1. Let me add....The food...the food.

Rabbit with saffron at I Quattro Gatti in San Gimingano, Tuscany

Rabbit with saffron at I Quattro Gatti in San Gimingano, Tuscany

 

[NittPicker]

Who would want to move to Europe? What is the advantage?

Every individual has their own idea of experiences which would make them happy. For some it's going to Europe. For others it may be going to Asia. For others it might be Latin America. I've known people who thought retirement in Florida would be the ultimate. They got there, hated it, and moved back. Europe doesn't have any inherent advantage or disadvantage - it all depends on what an individual is looking for. Just because you don't get it doesn't mean it's wrong.

 

[psuro]

I have been giving it some serious thought about moving to Europe to spend the last few years of my life. My wife would do it, but she is concerned about leaving our son and daughter behind. My daughter is 100 percent supportive, my son has misgivings.

So, if given the chance where would you move to in Europe? Please consider that this has to be done on a limited budget.

Move to the South of France. Near Nice Cannes and Monaco but not so close you are impacted with their high cost of living.

Este Italy is a great little village. My cousin got married there

Anywhere Near Barcelona.

Greece

 

[Therealm.knox]

Nice place to visit. All the Americans I know that moved there going back 20+ years have enjoyed the stay, but it's really hard unless you speak their language.

In my experience, we are much more accepting than they are.

 

[Bones80]

A suggestion. When my wife retired two years ago, we decided to live a month a year in a foreign country. In the summer of 23, we lived in County Galway, Ireland. Last summer, we spent a month in Austria (Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna). This summer, we will be living in the Abruzzo region of Italy (staying in Sulmona). We usually get a VRBO or a B&B. This way we get the international living experience, try a different country each year, and still are connected to the US for the rest of the time.

 

[DaytonRickster]

I know a few that moved or are planning to move to Puerto Rico. From the pics I've seen and their descriptions of the people and life style it looks and sounds very nice.

I only people that have visited the island and they enjoyed their trip. No knowledge of how being a resident works out.

 

[Omar81]

We bought a place in southern Italy in a little town where my grandfather was born in the late 1800s. No living relatives there, but we love the people, the food, the wine, the cost of living, the beaches, etc. The town is at about 1,250 feet above sea level, but we can be at the beach in 20 minutes. The terrain is reminiscent of the San Diego area. One of our friends has a two bedroom house that is fully furnished and completely modernized and he’s asking 70,000 euros. We have met and become close friends with not only the locals, but also couples from England, Ireland, Wales, Sweden.

Based on our experience, I would highly recommend small towns throughout Italy where costs are low. I would consider similar locations in the French, Spanish, or Portuguese countryside. Good luck!

 

[HarrisburgDave]

Move to the South of France. Near Nice Cannes and Monaco but not so close you are impacted with their high cost of living.

Este Italy is a great little village. My cousin got married there

Anywhere Near Barcelona.

Greece

Greece would be great, except for the Greeks.

 

[bohucon]

I have been giving it some serious thought about moving to Europe to spend the last few years of my life. My wife would do it, but she is concerned about leaving our son and daughter behind. My daughter is 100 percent supportive, my son has misgivings.

So, if given the chance where would you move to in Europe? Please consider that this has to be done on a limited budget.

Sweden...my brother in law, nieces and nephew have lived there for 22 years , have been over to visit a number of times and it is very peaceful,safe and friendly. Just wish they had more golf courses.....lol