Retirement Without Borders: How to Retire Abroad in Mexico, France, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, Panama, and Other Sunny, Foreign Places (and the Sec

Barry Golson knows all about retiring abroad — he and his wife, Thia, have lived in six different countries. Now they choose expatriate-friendly locales around the world for their low cost and their high quality of living and explain how to investigate and settle in each country with minimum hassle and maximum pleasure.

Taking you step-by-step through the process of researching, testing, and finally living abroad, the Golsons' practical how-to guide covers all the major issues, including health care, finances, real estate, taxes, and immigration. Each location is profiled by an expatriate writer who has made that country his or her home and who knows how to answer all the questions about living richly and economically in some of the world's most beautiful places.

Journalist and author Golson offers this comprehensive, engaging, and hugely practical guide for retiring abroad for the more than 70 million baby boomers retiring in the next 10 years.

Barry Golson knows all about retiring abroad — he and his wife, Thia, have lived in six different countries. Now they choose expatriate-friendly locales around the world for their low cost and their high quality of living and explain how to investigate and settle in each country with minimum hassle and maximum pleasure.

Taking you step-by-step through the process of researching, testing, and finally living abroad, the Golsons' practical how-to guide covers all the major issues, including health care, finances, real estate, taxes, and immigration. Each location is profiled by an expatriate writer who has made that country his or her home and who knows how to answer all the questions about living richly and economically in some of the world's most beautiful places.

Barry Golson tried to retire, but put it on hold to launch a travel website for Forbes.com. He and his wife Thia are also researching a new book on living abroad to be called Retirement Without Borders. Golson is a former editor of the Playboy interviews, TV Guide, and Yahoo! Internet Life. He has written for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Ski, and Salon. His article for AARP on Mexico won a Lowell Thomas award. He and Thia divide their time between New York and Sayulita, and look forward someday to re-retiring.

Prologue

Chapter 1: Daydreams

Ten Reasons to Consider Moving Abroad

Chapter 2: Reality Check

Uh-oh: Seven Reasons Not to Retire Abroad

Chapter 3: Medical Checkup

Health: The Big One

Chapter 4: Do Your Home Work

At Last: Real Estate! Our Secret Sauce

Chapter 5: Do the Math

Money: OK, Maybe This Is the Big One

Chapter 6: Test Yourself

Checklist: What's Important to You (and Your Spouse)

Chapter 7: Get Your Grades

A Report Card

Chapter 8: Add It Up

How Much Will I Need to Live On?

Country by Country

Prepare to Submerge

Latin America

Wait! Pop Quiz! Should You Retire in Mexico?

Chapter 9: Mexico

The Primary Destination

Chapter 10: Belize

The English-spoken Enclave

Chapter 11: Nicaragua

Coming Up on the Radar

Chapter 12: Costa Rica

The Peaceful One

Chapter 13: Panama

Best Retirement Benefits

Chapter 14: Field Trip

Panama's New Settlers

Europe

Wait! Pop Quiz! Should You Retire in France?

Chapter 15: France

La Grande Dame

Chapter 16: Italy

La Dolce Vita

Chapter 17: Croatia

The New Frontier

Chapter 18: Spain

The Possible Dream

Chapter 19: Portugal

Touch of Old Europe

Chapter 20: Also Consider...

A Sampler of Other Retirement Destinations

Argentina • Australia • The Caribbean • Ecuador • Greece • Honduras • New Zealand • The Philippines • Thailand

Chapter 21: Volunteering Without Borders

Acknowledgments

Appendix 1: The Charts

Appendix 2: Trend Spotting

A Chat with the Professor of Expatology

Resources

Index