Retirement as a serial expat

MrsOrange · 2023-02-13T08:42:43+00:00

Just pondering really. We've been expats for about 15 years, 3 different countries. With kids heading off to Uni soon, we've started talking about retirement plans. Our kids will likely go to Uni's in different countries, and of course having grown up abroad, there's no guarantee they'd stay in the same country once working - so they are a factor but I don't think its fair on them to just assume we will retire to where they are. If you've been abroad for a long time what are your thoughts? Back 'home' or stay where you are, possibly a third country option? To be honest I don't really feel any one country is 'home'. Having travelled and moved about a lot I realise that I can't really get my head round living in one place for decades 😁 Just interested in what others are planning/thinking?

tilestoclean · 13/02/2023 11:32

We talk about this a lot! Our next move is likely to be a long one as we hope for it to see kids through high school. That being said I don't really want the kids to go to university in that country and would rather they spread their wings in Europe. For us all we know about retirement is that we desperately don't want it to be in the U.K. I'm prepared to get flamed for that but I firmly stand by it. It just can't offer the standard of living we have seen around the rest of the world.

MrsBunnyEars · 13/02/2023 11:37

That was my DParents’ situation a few years ago.

They’ve ended up somewhere sunny, which the whole family likes visiting and which is accessible from wherever we are. In their case it’s southern Portugal.

They also have a flat in London which is as near to ‘home’ as anywhere, to use as a base here. Works well but obviously not cheap.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 13/02/2023 11:41

Depends on your budget. I’ve always liked the idea of 6 months split between two countries (home country and another) but that is highly unlikely to happen.

I think that healthcare is increasingly important in old age and it is better to be sick in your own language so, for me, at least one of those two countries I dream of must be English speaking.

WednesdaysPlaits · 13/02/2023 11:42

I am way too tired and need to concentrate more. I read your thread title as "retirement as a serial killer"

FoxtrotOscarFoxtrotOscar · 13/02/2023 11:52

I live and work in a European capital city.
I'd like to keep on my rented flat after retirement, at least initially and then spend 3 or 4 winter months in Spain, southern France, Portugal. At some point I may well decide to move permanently (and buy) in one of those places. The winter breaks will give me time to have a good look around first before committing. It'll be pricey having two rentals on the go, but I don't want to make an expensive mistake by buying before I'm pretty sure.

Original poster

MrsOrange · 13/02/2023 12:00

WednesdaysPlaits · 13/02/2023 11:42

I am way too tired and need to concentrate more. I read your thread title as "retirement as a serial killer"

there have been times during our various moves that could have been an option...

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Original poster

MrsOrange · 13/02/2023 12:06

We're considering the two country plan but then need to decide which country is our tax home and what those requirements are. And healthcare as a PP mentioned.

We lived for 12 years and have residency in one of the countries, we'll likely do 5 years in the current one - all be it neither are particularly options. And although we both grew up in the UK, both of us hold alternative passports. So it's almost like there's too much choice (and yes I do get that's a ridiculous privilege !)

As we get older so do our parents so whilst my sister lives near my mum I do feel that once we're not working I should also help there.

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helpfulperson · 13/02/2023 13:38

But surely brexit has changed us being able to just say 'I want to live in....'?

Original poster

MrsOrange · 13/02/2023 22:27

I guess that depends on the citizenship options of the family and of course there's more places to retire than just Europe.

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SingaporeSting · 14/02/2023 21:10

tilestoclean · 13/02/2023 11:32

We talk about this a lot! Our next move is likely to be a long one as we hope for it to see kids through high school. That being said I don't really want the kids to go to university in that country and would rather they spread their wings in Europe. For us all we know about retirement is that we desperately don't want it to be in the U.K. I'm prepared to get flamed for that but I firmly stand by it. It just can't offer the standard of living we have seen around the rest of the world.

i could’ve written this, kids are late primary though.

The longer we’re away from the UK, the less likely we are to go back. As you say, quality of living elsewhere, as we’ve experienced in a couple of other places, is higher.

Where the kids settle may play a part later I guess. Aging parents are becoming a consideration now.

Living abroad is amazing, but gets complicated….

Sandgroper · 16/02/2023 12:24

Can seriously relate to your dilemma OP! And I totally agree with you not wanting to “be old in the cold” and retirement in the UK.. Our plans were to keep a flat in UK and buy a house in France but Brexit has buggered that one…. Luckily I come from a hot country and am now firm on spending our retirement over there keeping a flat in the UK for short trips, despite the 17hr flight.

However DC will likely stay in UK or Europe as they don’t want to live in our country of origin despite having dual nationality! Well that’s what they are saying at the moment and you never know what the future holds.

marlowrose · 16/02/2023 15:00

For me the choice is driven by the architecture (living in a beautiful building) and security (knife crime, drug dealing and violence attacks are a problem in London and increasing).

Versailles2023 · 16/02/2023 15:42

We will move back to Europe (moved back to UK in 2015) and keep a small house here in the UK. My priority is anywhere I can get to Digitalis easily without flying because I believe in Euthanasia and I will happily take a lethal injection while I am still able to consent. Morbid I know but I’m trying to be as prepared as I can be.

Versailles2023 · 16/02/2023 15:44

Sandgroper · 16/02/2023 12:24

Can seriously relate to your dilemma OP! And I totally agree with you not wanting to “be old in the cold” and retirement in the UK.. Our plans were to keep a flat in UK and buy a house in France but Brexit has buggered that one…. Luckily I come from a hot country and am now firm on spending our retirement over there keeping a flat in the UK for short trips, despite the 17hr flight.

However DC will likely stay in UK or Europe as they don’t want to live in our country of origin despite having dual nationality! Well that’s what they are saying at the moment and you never know what the future holds.

You can still retire to France you just need to go down the visa route.

ShanghaiDiva · 16/02/2023 16:47

Dh and I were expats for 25 years and retired in uk in 2020. Clearly options were limited at the time due to the pandemic. Dd is still at school and being back in the uk feels like another expat posting and we will probably move later to a completely new area (for us) of the uk. We could live in the US as I have citizenship, but hell no!

Original poster

MrsOrange · 17/02/2023 09:18

Thanks for everyone's comments. Talking amongst friends the main consensus is we all have to retire somewhere that the others want to visit then set up a private house swap arrangement where we catch up for a few days then bugger off leaving our friends to look after our house while we go stay at theirs. The joy of expat life is with friends from every corner of the global that should keep us all busy for a good few years!

Although seriously I think this is one discussion in our house that will run and run. Its a tough one. Funny how all those years ago when we upped and moved out of the UK we didn't even consider where we'd end up further down the line!

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