Best Places In The World To Retire

I haven’t heard of anything recently about any American being attacked or robbed in Placencia. To put it straight, if something bad would happen, it would happen regardless of where you are and regardless of who you are; American or not. There are about 4,000 people in Placencia during the high season for tourism, divided roughly evenly between 2,000 locals and 2,000 foreigners. Criminals do not discriminate based on nationality.

I haven’t heard of anything recently about any American being attacked or robbed in Placencia. To put it straight, if something bad would happen, it would happen regardless of where you are and regardless of who you are; American or not. There are about 4,000 people in Placencia during the high season for tourism, divided roughly evenly between 2,000 locals and 2,000 foreigners. Criminals do not discriminate based on nationality.

The electricity in Panama is reliable. I’ve been in Panama my whole life, and typically we only get blackouts in Panama City once a month lasting for about 10 minutes, or none at all. If the power is out for an hour, you’ll know that there is a major problem and it will probably take longer before they can fix it.

 

Here in Boquete, where I’ve been for three years, we get about two blackouts in a month on average that also typically last 10...

The electricity in Panama is reliable. I’ve been in Panama my whole life, and typically we only get blackouts in Panama City once a month lasting for about 10 minutes, or none at all. If the power is out for an hour, you’ll know that there is a major problem and it will probably take longer before they can fix it.

 

Here in Boquete, where I’ve been for three years, we get about two blackouts in a month on average that also typically last 10 minutes. 

 

When I was in Panama City, I didn’t have a backup generator in my house because we didn’t need it. I don’t have one here in Boquete, either. Most of the time, the condominiums or buildings have individual generators because of elevators and other services that should not be interrupted. Most of the houses in Panama don’t use back-up generators because it’s just not that big a deal. 

 

Most of the time during the windy season here in Panama, which is between January and March, we get most of the blackouts. Because of the strong winds during these months, we would sometimes lose power twice a month. In those cases you may consider having surge suppressors to protect your appliances.  

 

(Top of the line appliances at Alto Boquete Condominios, Boquete, Panama, pictured.)

Most of the firemen here in Portugal are volunteers. There are also a lot of volunteers in the health services in Portugal, especially for the elderly. There are also charities that collect for food banks and similar projects. The charities here in Portugal are all pretty good and effective.  

 

(Volunteer fire department Valença do Minho, Portugal, pictured.)

Most of the firemen here in Portugal are volunteers. There are also a lot of volunteers in the health services in Portugal, especially for the elderly. There are also charities that collect for food banks and similar projects. The charities here in Portugal are all pretty good and effective.  

 

(Volunteer fire department Valença do Minho, Portugal, pictured.)

Yes, as a US citizen or Greencard holder, you must file a US return every year and report your worldwide earnings, which includes earnings from Nicaragua.

As such, not only must you report any US based income, you must also report any money earned in Nicaragua. Now, just because you have to report it, does not mean you have to pay tax on it. Depending on your circumstances, you may owe nothing at all to the US. It is best to speak with your accountant to know for sure if tax...

Yes, as a US citizen or Greencard holder, you must file a US return every year and report your worldwide earnings, which includes earnings from Nicaragua.

As such, not only must you report any US based income, you must also report any money earned in Nicaragua. Now, just because you have to report it, does not mean you have to pay tax on it. Depending on your circumstances, you may owe nothing at all to the US. It is best to speak with your accountant to know for sure if tax will be owed.

What you will be most surprised about after moving abroad will depend on how open-minded you are, and of course as mentioned above, where you will be moving. But if you are open-minded and flexible, and don't put yourself into an expat bubble, you will be surprised how many of your basic assumptions will be called into question.

 

For example, many people tell me that they can't travel for a long time because they cannot imagine life without (then they name...

What you will be most surprised about after moving abroad will depend on how open-minded you are, and of course as mentioned above, where you will be moving. But if you are open-minded and flexible, and don't put yourself into an expat bubble, you will be surprised how many of your basic assumptions will be called into question.

 

For example, many people tell me that they can't travel for a long time because they cannot imagine life without (then they name certain possessions, habits, conveniences, their present friends and family, their native language, etc., etc.) You will be amazed how many of these things are either there when you thought they wouldn't be, or that you can, indeed, do without, or replace by others. True, many expats never let go, so if all you are moving for is to have the same things but maybe cheaper, then you will be missing out on the greatest rewards of moving.

 

(Jet Metier of Best Places in the World to Retire, talking to a woman from Oaxaca, Mexico, pictured.)