Pretty much made up my mind to leave the USA

Exactly.

That's why half the planet is coming (or wants to come) here.

Exactly.

That's why half the planet is coming (or wants to come) here.

Somewhere in South America overlooking the ocean. I can still make money as long as I have an internet connection.

There are some good expat youtube channels

OP, Went on a blind date, long before the pandemic, with an ex-pat who'd left Vegas for Costa Rica.

Yes he still returned annually to Vegas to briefly visit with his family and old friends.

So I asked him his very honest opinion of life abroad. Keep in mind he retired in his early 40's and is child-free, single, loves the beach & mountains. Yes he learned Spanish.

1) Locals view Westerners as rich, petty theft is rampant and local LE are lackadaisical.

2) If you're not Catholic & didn't grow up in Costa Rica you will always be viewed as an outsider. You can't own a business unless you marry a local. Not being Catholic he spent Sundays at the local Italian restaurant with the other ex-pats. (Owner married a young local girl.)

3) Bugs are a HORRIFIC problem and are EVERYWHERE especially during the rainy season. Think HUGE bugs in the toilet, in the bathroom, in the kitchen. NOTHING gets rid of them.

4) Anything that's not locally grown/made is very expensive. He arranged for family members to buy products from Amazon and then to ship it to him to save money. Took forever to get simple needed goods.


Yes he still loved living in Costa Rica and got used to all of the downfalls. Still be forewarned.

Everybody is going to get health issues. You are going to want to be close to a decent hospital/dentist and check local insurance, payment plans.

Better have a solid money making model and plan b and c.

All I can think about is selling all my shit while I can still get something for it and getting the f**K outta here. I don't owe it anything. reeCMHBjUlY[/youtube]

I have a friend who lived there for over twenty years and finally left because of the culture of theft which is as normal there as it is in American inner cities. All windows have to have bars on them.

Most of my ancestors left Europe hundreds of years
ago, when it too became an unendurable shithole
for them.

You only get one life.

I would NOT judge you harshly.

Instead of leaving the USA, just reposition yourself to another PART of the USA. Figure out the best area that matches YOU.

Lots of luck -- whatever country you may pick, it's likely more complicated than it looks to get set up there unless you're quite wealthy, a Nobel prize winner or something.

Note that Andrew quotes a Uruguayan official "we are not contemplating the raising of taxes at this time" -- heh heh heh.

I have a number of friends who've left Dixie for Latin America. Of course none of them thought they would end up among the majority of expats who moved back where they came from, but most of these folks now have.

Honestly Uruguay tempts me. I frequently research it, but I know I couldn't take the massive changes in lifestyle.

I'm not - unless in a box, forever.

/

yup.

that's what i decided to do.

Yes, Costa Rica is not on my list. Thanks for the info

I am of the same mind.

My plan is Central America. Lots of family there who know the ropes, and it is dirt cheap.

Plus, I speak Spanish.

One of my classmates has a restaurant in South America. I think he is back to being single, so the attraction is obvious. Some fabulous women there.

To renounce u s citizenship costs about 4 grand

Ha, ha, go to Russia. Now NWO there. No inner city clowns.
They have all the resources you could ever need and are self sufficient. They're a bread basket. They have a military to protect you. Get busy learning Russki and find a nice Russian woman to snuggle up to at night!

There are places near the ocean that few people know about.

Nuff said.

everyone wants to leave america but dont realize that the whole world is going to get f*cked! America may be sh*t but its better than the rest. You just have to endure like the rest.

There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

Meant to say "No" nwo there.