Posted on Sep 25, 2023
CW4 Attache Technician
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I won't retire for a quite a while, but I have started research on retiring over seas. I intend on sailing for 5-6 years and then settling down in southeast Asia or or south pacific area. Have any of you done something like this?
know anyone that did?
What kind of issues came up early on?
Posted in these groups: Retirement logo Retirement
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Responses: 4
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
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Edited 7 mo ago
I LIVED Overseas, Not In The Military, But As A Civilian.
I Lived With My Brother For 3 Years..As A 14 -16 2/2 Year Teenager.
Attended School, Worked At One Of His Business & Lived ONLY In Panamanian Areas.
My Suggestion Is Living In Costa Rica... "San Jose" Area, Specifically;~ As In That Area, 2,500 Feet Above Sea Level, The Humidity Is Much Lower, The Temperature Ranges ~ ALL Year, Between 70 - 80 Degrees ONLY ..The MOST Stable Government In Central And South America;, Relatively Great Costs Of Living, Gringo Friendly, Etc.
And One MORE Suggestion...Learn To Speak Spanish.
(Same Applies To Any Other Country You May Select).. Even If NOT Necessary, The Locals WILL Appreciate It, And Your Life Will Be Made Better For It, And You May Command Even More Respect...
"Command... NOT "Demand".... One Of The STUPIDEST Things To Say Is; "You Can't Do That To Me; I'm An American & I Know My Rights"......OOPS~ You're SCREWED. ~ That'll Get Ya 30 Days, Just for Being THAT Stupid.
You HAVE NO Rights In THEIR Country...And Our Rights Do NOT Apply Anywhere Else!
Muchchimas Gracias Y Hasta Luego. Ahora Vayences A Costa Rica Para Ver; Buenas Suertes a Ustedes
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MAJ Byron Oyler
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I have seen healthcare and living in Germany (LRMC), Korea, and the Philippines and the only place I would consider growing old is Manila. Germany did not seem to care about our old retired vets and I would see them towards the end just dumped at LRMC. So much in healthcare depends on you being able to communicate well with you care providers and that is just not happening in Asia. Even in Korea if the staff spoke English that does not mean what you are thinking is going to be understood by them. My wife is pinay and while she is fluent in English (zero accent) we still communicate at times differently with how we think. My Father in law had a GI bleed in a good hospital in Manila (family there has $$$) and he died because they felt he was to unstable for a colonoscopy. I was on a video conference call with a resident in Manila, his sister who is a US physician and I can almost guarantee he would have survived in the US. Long story short when you think your body is needing more and more assistance to stay healthy come back to the US. Half of my decision to retire to San Antonio is the almost free healthcare I receive and the quality of it as I am not getting younger. The other reason is I am a retired Army Nurse and the job market here is great. I am not here to bash on Asians as I went from Hawaii to Manila to meet my wife for a reason. I love Asia and have had some great times on that side of the world however you did not ask how I feel about that part of the world, you asked about retirement there and I have seen it. If you were to find a wife 20-30 years younger than you from the country you retire there is a decent chance she will ensure you are taken care of when old and not forgotten about. My wife is only four years younger so that is not a good plan for me but if not married could be a great life for you.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
7 mo
LOVE Your Entire Response....Excellent Explanations, All.
A Word May Mean "X" To Us, But "Y" To Them.
We DO Think Differently, Everything From Religion,To Raising Kid And Morals.
Although I Speak Fairly Good Spanish, I Must Realize "What I SAY, May NOT Be What They HEARD".... The Words Are 100 % Correct, Yet How We Think Of Them May Not
Be The Same. ~~ Communications Differences.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
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I currently live in Denmark. I found having my retirement pay/VA benefits sent to my U.S. bank the best. It is rather expensive living here, but quality of living is good. For VA benefits/ U.S. benefits I have to work through the embassy in Oslo, Norway, not a problem.
I got a VN Vet friend living in Mid Portugal, east of Coimbra in the mountains. Cost of living is about half of what it is in Denmark. He does ok.
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CW4 Attache Technician
CW4 (Join to see)
7 mo
SGM,
did you have any issues with your medical while overseas? Did you have to submit any paperwork explaining that you would live overseas?
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SGM Mikel Dawson
SGM Mikel Dawson
7 mo
CW4 (Join to see) - Never used the VA except for their required exams. Here, I fall under the VA foreign medical program. Kind of different, I have to work through the embassy in Olso, Norway. Pretty good system. Also since I have obtained a resident permit, and started my own business, I fall under the Danish health system (for what it is).
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