The Future Expat’s Dilemma

article from February 22, 2011

By Jamie Douglas

We receive inquiries on a regular basis from our readers that would make a list for solving a crime:

Where? When? How? Who? What?

Many of you have an idea of where you might want to end up, what country or what region. What you may not yet know about are very important issues such as the type of government, financial situations, taxes, immigration requirements, retirement income, cost of living and medical care availability and costs.

As I wrote in an earlier article dealing with renting vs. buying, renting is a good idea to start with. In other words, try it on first. For more information and advice that will help you to learn what you need to know, see the list of helpful resources at the Expat News and Info Helpful Expat Resources Page (updated January 2014) as well as the Expat Advice label listing for this blog.

Those of you who are young and adventurous will set out with different goals and ideas in mind. Some are seekers of the unknown with plans to eventually get back to your home countries and families, while others are looking for a place to spend the rest of your days on a little farm or ranch, maybe having family come visit once or twice a year or visiting them occasionally.

If you are wanting to leave your anglophile country because the government sucks, I can assure you that most governments suck. For the moment, Uruguay is exempt from that statement.

If you don’t speak the language and are looking for places where there are a lot of other anglophiles, think twice about leaving your country, because hanging out with the same small group of malcontents who are constantly bitching about where they came from does get old fast, and it is these same people who will soon crawl back to their nesting grounds, eating crow.

Then there is the concentration on “cheap.” There are really no cheap places anymore. Globalization is a fact. In some countries, you will pay as much – or more – for many things as you did at home. There are no megastores competing. Price-fixing is prevalent abroad. Energy costs are ridiculously high. In some countries, stores routinely run out of stuff.

And if you think that when you go to the local colorful market and buy produce from the “Indians,” it is healthier, think again. Many use mass quantities of pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers, as well as genetically modified seeds from the likes of Monsanto. Virtually no one from a government health agency ever visits farms or abattoirs to check on hygiene or the amount of chemicals used on their crops, or sanitary practices used to render their produce. Again, there are exemptions such as Uruguay, as well as a good part of Argentina and Chile. But do you want to live so far away from your grandchildren, to where you have to spend thousands of US dollars to go visit them? Will you miss your friends that you have spent 40 or more years cultivating? Are you ready to immerse yourself in a completely new culture, learn a new language while you are in the boomer age group and face the often quite daunting task of purchasing property in a foreign nation? ...at overinflated prices of course. There is no cheap land to be had anywhere in Latin America, unless it is really out of the way, like the Chaco in northern Argentina.

Added to the cost is political and social instability that can be in the form of crime, drug war violence, debilitating strikes, political corruption and incompetence, and long-simmering anger over social inequities that are beginning to come to a full boil as food and energy prices continue to soar.

So that brings us to the Future Expat’s Dilemma:

What to do, what to do?

Florida is very attractive at the moment, what with the complete implosion of real estate prices, and it’s cheap. There are Wal-Marts and Targets and Home Depots, 7-11s and corporate food joints on every corner. And bulk land is available sometimes at very good prices. Look for the “For Sale by Owner” signs. Many of them are trying to beat foreclosure and you might get a great deal. Then there is Las Vegas, with the total collapse of the housing market, as well as some regions in south Texas, Arizona, and California. All these offer you the conveniences of home, and you will still have plenty of opportunities to learn Spanish with your new neighbors. And nothing is stopping you from ignoring the government, like you would have to do as an expat anywhere in the world, anyway, as it is a bad practice to get involved in your host countries internal politics (Ask Che Guevara). Your friends and family are just a phone call away, and you can drive up to visit them for special occasions.

No worries about political instabilities because, despite the atmosphere, the USA is really nowhere near as explosive as are countries where real oppression and long-institutionalized poverty exist. Plus, all the countries south of the border are much more socialistically inclined than the USA will ever be (i.e. affordable health care), and forget about your cherished right to own assault weapons. In virtually every country, a foreigner caught with a firearm will spend a considerable amount of years in prison.

So, consider the options I mentioned above. They are real. If, however, you are truly looking for new horizons and challenges, there is a whole new world to be discovered south of the US border. There, you will find many fine people, incredible food, amazing culture, and adventures galore. So, as they used to say in the old National Airline commercials, “Fly me, I’m Gladys!” Oh, sorry no, that’s the wrong National Airlines slogan, it should be: “Come on down!”

Jamie Douglas

Patagonia

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure