So a lot of people think/assume I've left the states coz of IT (Krasnov). And while I'd love to ride that noble high horse, I actually put this current adventure/plan into motion some months BEFORE the election - and when I actually was dumb enough to think Americans would make the right choice.
As most of you know, I ended my Peace Corps service early to come back to the states and adopt my little monster. But I made sure he knew that as soon as that was official, we'd be taking off for me to explore where I want to retire. In fact, the main reason I had selected Montenegro for my PC service was to explore it/the Balkans as a possible retirement option. Decision: No. While I enjoyed Montenegro, and it's a VERY beautiful country, well located, etc., it gets too hot in the summer AND any of the cities I'd consider retiring in - specifically coastal cities like Bar or Kotor - are already getting too expensive.
I did make a sojoun around the Balkans the month before I left, seeing Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia - and while I MAY go back to further "analyze" some, I have at least so far dismissed them all: Slovenia - specifically Ljubljana (which I still can't spell) - was my favorite. Charming town center closed off to autos, interesting history, great architecture, people seemed cool, etc. But, alas, others are getting the same idea and the city will be priced out of my retirement savings/reliance on SSI. I would consider living with someone, but even then I'm worried it's too hot for me in the summer.
Croatia has plusses, but too toursity and expensive and hot. I did like Belgrade, but personally find the Serbians off-putting/arrogant/uber-nationalistitc. Bosnia has some VERY cool towns, and is quite affordable, but again the heat in the summer and much of th country still bears very large/depressing scars from the war.
So after finalizing DJ's adoption, I've whisked him away to be a nomad online learner while helping me evalutae a landing place for retirement. I don't think Mexico will be it, but I feel compelled to at least check it out due to proximity to the states, same time zones, inexpensive, etc. But I'm guessing the summer weather will nix it (if you haven't guessed yet, weather is my #1 consideration in choosing - followed closely by cost of living).
We're spending 3 months in Chapala and then 3 in Oaxaca (U.S. citizens can stay 6 months in Mexico on your passport), before heading to Ecuador for three months. From there, we're headed to Europe where we'll spend about 4 years bouncing around the different countries I'm considering there. 3 months in each place, due mostly to visa restrictions. But I did learn in Peace Corps that 3 months is a good amount of time to really get to know a place.
Finally, I know a lot of folks seem to think I'm rich for being able to do this and/or that I'm reitring early. I wish! To both! I am still working - TRYING to get more work as a travel agent, and also doing online remote work (and looking for more). I am the opposite of rich and another reason I am doing this is because it's CHEAPER to live overseas. From a quick analyses, it looks like our living expenses will be around HALF of what they were in Oklahoma (a notoriously cheap place to live coz you get what you pay for) - so I actually can't afford to NOT live abroad. And thanks to miles/points I've saved up and travel agent perks, the travel side is free or very cheap (e.g., free repositioning cruise on Princess of 25 days will get us from S. America to Europe).
I've posted my itinerary in multiple places on Facebook, but if you're interested in checking it out - and/or meeting up someplace along the way (that'd be awesome) - here it is. Set in stone pretty much until we land in Europe, and can be fleixible then if folks are interested in meeting in a particular country during a particular time:
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