Best Places In The World To Retire

The Portuguese Constitution assures the principle of private ownership of assets regardless of the nationality of the owner. Thus there is no risk of confiscation by the Government authorities. Please note that the Constitution prevails over any law that exists in the country and can only be changed with a qualified majority in the Parliament which is hard to obtain and will (based on the last 40 years of democracy) always require the two main parties (which are both moderate parties) to...

The Portuguese Constitution assures the principle of private ownership of assets regardless of the nationality of the owner. Thus there is no risk of confiscation by the Government authorities. Please note that the Constitution prevails over any law that exists in the country and can only be changed with a qualified majority in the Parliament which is hard to obtain and will (based on the last 40 years of democracy) always require the two main parties (which are both moderate parties) to approve it.
 
Besides the protection afforded by the Portuguese Constitution, there is also the European Union rules and the European Union Courts that would also stop this from occurring, as it violates all rules and principles that are in place.
 
This is not a risk in Portugal as it would mean a complete revolution in the political scenario and in the population’s mentality as there is a tradition of private ownership in Portugal since the day of its foundation back in the year of 1143.
 
The only legal and possible reason for the Government to assume the ownership of private assets in Portugal is in cases of expropriation for public interest (for example, private land that is required to be transferred to the government for the construction of a highway) in which case the expropriation law would be applied which will allow the owner to receive a fair compensation for its assets calculated on market value prices and supervised by a court judge.
 
Regarding banks, there were banks that failed during this crisis as in most of other European countries.  Nevertheless, the process of bailout made by the Portuguese Government and the European Union did not affect the deposits that existed in those banks.

 

(The Couros River near Guimarães, a town that precedes the settlement of  Portugal, pictured.) 

The restaurants in Boquete are great.

 

There are so many to choose from,ranging from typical Panamanian food, Mexican, Peruvian, Italian, organic (Mango Restaurant ), to a very nice bakery / sandwich shop called Sugar & Spice.  (I love the Hot Volcano chicken sandwich at Sugar & Spice and I also had a very good creamy chicken and veggie soup there.)

 

I truly recommend pretty much all the restaurants in Boquete!

The restaurants in Boquete are great.

 

There are so many to choose from,ranging from typical Panamanian food, Mexican, Peruvian, Italian, organic (Mango Restaurant ), to a very nice bakery / sandwich shop called Sugar & Spice.  (I love the Hot Volcano chicken sandwich at Sugar & Spice and I also had a very good creamy chicken and veggie soup there.)

 

I truly recommend pretty much all the restaurants in Boquete!

The most important things to know when living or retiring overseas is that you have to be adaptable and flexible. It’s the same for everybody.  You will be in a new and very nice environment. In many respects, it might be warmer and you might be outside more often. But there are things that will be different and aren’t done quite the same way as it did back in your country, so you just have to adapt.
 
If you’re inflexible, if you have to have things...

The most important things to know when living or retiring overseas is that you have to be adaptable and flexible. It’s the same for everybody.  You will be in a new and very nice environment. In many respects, it might be warmer and you might be outside more often. But there are things that will be different and aren’t done quite the same way as it did back in your country, so you just have to adapt.
 
If you’re inflexible, if you have to have things exactly one way or no other way, you’re going to have trouble anywhere you go.
 
So put adaptability and flexibility at the top of the list of things you need to pack when you come.

Your neighbors in San Juan del Sur would most likely be local Nicaraguans, providing were you would choose to live.  In most of the gated communities you would most likely have expats as neighbors.  Whatever the case you will find your neighbors to be friendly and helpful.  We, as neighbors, have a tendency to look after each other when we are away from our property as well as when we are on the property.  That is not to say that your neighbors would be spying on you,...

Your neighbors in San Juan del Sur would most likely be local Nicaraguans, providing were you would choose to live.  In most of the gated communities you would most likely have expats as neighbors.  Whatever the case you will find your neighbors to be friendly and helpful.  We, as neighbors, have a tendency to look after each other when we are away from our property as well as when we are on the property.  That is not to say that your neighbors would be spying on you, just that they are ready to help if needed.  Your neighbors will become some of your best friends while living in San Juan del Sur helping you at a "drop of a dime".