So where is the grass greener to retire to?

[tigersaw]

Following on from a previous 'would you go' thread, I'm wondering where people find to be their Eden.

I personally know of people who have sold up and emigrated to Cyprus and Spain, but both came back. I have a friend who moved to the US of A a fair few years ago, carries a green card, but talks of wanting to come back here.
My parents spent a few months in New Zealand picking their retirement property, but could not bring themselves to sign on the line.

Reading some of the ex-pat websites, its all moans and groans in OZ, Spain, Portugal.

Personally I've always liked the look of France, read a few survival guides and the property is still stunningly cheap despite the relative 80% rise in the last 5 years. However, I only know one couple who have moved there, but not in the 'sell up and burn bridges' way.

I understand money doesn't go half as far as you expect, culture shock, health care issues, (you dont automatically get free health care in the EEC since 2007), climate etc.

So who here knows someone who has uppped sticks, moved abroad and not returned or regretted it, and where to?

I'll be retiring to Malta when I'm ready, but it's very different for me because 3/4 of my family are already there and I'm close to all of them. I've never actually lived over there properly but spent a lot of time and some very long holidays there (3 months at a time) and it's a weird situation being on the island - it just feels right for me, where England never has. As the plane comes in to land at Luqa my brain always tells me I've arrived home and everything is good again.

Although we currently live in Calgary our long term plan is to retire to either the Okanagan (British Columbia) or Victoria Island (if we can put up with the rain, it's worse than England!)

[Nobbylad]

Vancouver Bay

Fancy Alaska but i wanna die in Scotland when my times up.

[Bri w]

Southern Italy.

We've been holidaying over there for years. Why? The weather, the cost of living and the people. Not to mention it's relatively empty compared to the UK.

Up until a couple of weekends ago I'd have said Cornwall. Opinion changed when I had a chance to take a long look at the Pembrokeshire coast from my push-bike. Absolutely stunning. "Little England beyond Wales" is now top of the list

Failing that it would be back home to NE Cheshire/Peak District.

[Biker Biggles]

I would think France is a good place,but you absolutely must learn French to a passable standard.They have good healthcare and a good standard of living,and they also have a healthy disdain for "the authorities" which appeals to me.

[maviczap]

Well I was sitting on the beach the other day watching my girls playing happily and care free. To be quite honest I couldn't wish to be anywhere else really.

But if I had to, then Cornwall would be acceptable, otherwise Germany has its appeals, as property in the former East Germany is dirt cheap and my wifes family are there.

Good health care + cost of living is ok.

I could have bought the house next door to her Auntie's for €5000, it was a big 4 bedroom house in a little village in the hills. There's still loads of places like this there

one day when the time is right i will retire to my mary jane farm in belize