Would you rather: live in the UK or live in a developing country and retire early wt large savings and a cushion for the DC

[emilyinpanic]

Namechanged for this as I do not want to be outed.

Given the collapse of global economies, would you rather:

(1) live in the UK and not save v much, work till 60 or later, small house, but have the green spaces, safety for women, museums/culture, travel to Europe and so on..

(2)move back to your v cheap home developing country in Asia, retire early ( at 55) with considerable savings, a large house and a cushion for DC in case they can't find jobs in the future. But few green spaces, few museums/ theatre, awful public transport and so on... Possibly a trip to the UK every year to 'decompress'.

Thanks everyone for the comments. I think I had better not answer all the questions, as it might be outing. But it has clarified my thinking. Covid has me in something of a muddle.

BIL lives in London, took us for a walk on Hampstead Heath and kept telling how wonderful the fresh air was and how wild it was. DH and I looked at the litter (including condoms and discarded syringes ) and the lack of lichen on the trees and gave each other a look and said nothing.

Would you be willing to move to another part of the UK? There are lovely parts of the great northern cities that will give you the culture you need and better WLB than you have now.

I'd like a best of both worlds option.

3 months a year in "home" country so you don't lose your senselconnection, and are helping support developing economy. Say Dec-Feb when the UK weather is grey and day length too short.

The rest of year in UK.

Thats my dream.

Unfortunately all cancelled this year with Covid.

I know some people who've done option 2, cashed out of their home in Australia and bought in Asia.

Originally went back to help ailing parent but managed to pick up lots of work consulting and training so semi-retired.

Bought a couple of beachfront condos, part of a lively & lovely semi-expat community and have cash to travel abroad several times a year (pre-Covid).

They looked at moving to Europe several years ago (the DH is European) but decided against it once they looked into healthcare options in Europe including the NHS.

Good health insurance and good private hospitals in some countries in Asia.

Even if your DH needs to be in London, could you not move a bit further out and commute? Or nit further out but cheaper area? Or plan to move further out on retirement? There seem to be more options that you haven’t considered rather than just London vs developing country

2 doesn't appeal since I don't have the Connections to make it even tempting but I don't live in London.

Nope and I say that as someone who has relatives in a developing country due to my Father being an immigrant from that place.