What's the crime rate against Americans and other expats in San Miguel de Allende?
Maria Mazarro - Kika's Botique
The crime rate in San Miguel de Allende is very low. This is a small town. Of course there are also neighborhoods that are ghettos so you need to be careful there but overall, I feel safe here.
The dangers that are here in San Miguel de Allende are different from the dangers that exist in the States. For example, I would worry that someone would kidnap me here but I would not worry about that in the States. In the States, if I run into a ghetto, I would...
The crime rate in San Miguel de Allende is very low. This is a small town. Of course there are also neighborhoods that are ghettos so you need to be careful there but overall, I feel safe here.
The dangers that are here in San Miguel de Allende are different from the dangers that exist in the States. For example, I would worry that someone would kidnap me here but I would not worry about that in the States. In the States, if I run into a ghetto, I would worry about getting robbed but I wouldn’t worry about getting kidnapped there. Other than that, San Miguel de Allende is a pretty safe town.
We do have bars on the windows but I don’t have an alarm system because I live in the countryside so I am in the middle of nowhere. I feel pretty safe in my place and San Miguel de Allende is a pretty safe town. A lot of expats live here as well so the government here makes sure that the crime rate is low.
(Hacienda lodgings outside of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
What are the best opportunities to do volunteer and charity work in Portugal?
Duncan MacGregor - Duncan MacGregor Accounting
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.)
How many Americans, Canadians and other expats live in Granada, Nicaragua?
John-Marc Gallagher - GPS Real Estate
It is hard to determine how many expat Americans, Canadians and Europeans are actually living in Granada, Nicaragua. But I can tell you there are about 10 times as many as there were 10 years ago, and growing.
There are those who live in Granada, Nicaragua full time, I would guess around 250-300. Then there are those who bought second homes and are still traveling back and forth from Granada to their home countries, so we see them...
It is hard to determine how many expat Americans, Canadians and Europeans are actually living in Granada, Nicaragua. But I can tell you there are about 10 times as many as there were 10 years ago, and growing.
There are those who live in Granada, Nicaragua full time, I would guess around 250-300. Then there are those who bought second homes and are still traveling back and forth from Granada to their home countries, so we see them for a few months or weeks, they leave and when they return, it is a whole new party all over again.
There seems to be a growing population of younger expats, the "thirty somethings," who are coming down not to retire, but to live a more gentle, rural and more natural life. Some have children. Many are starting businesses. Some are working out of their homes on line for companies up north. This group shows us old folks that we should have started our exit strategy much earlier and shouldn't have waited until we were sixty to get the Heck out Dodge!
It is good to see this migration of younger faces and youthful exuberance for life and adventure.
What's retirement in Cayo, Belize, including San Ignacio and Belmopan like?
John M. Burgos - Belize Tourism Industry Association
San Ignacio is a good location for a retired person. It has very nice weather; a bit warm in the day but it’s cool at night. You’re surrounded by a lot of beautiful nature; a lot of ponds, trees, birds, flora and fauna. And of course you’re going to have access to a lot of activities. You have waterfalls, rivers, caves, and tours available. If you’re into farming, flowers, and having a nice yard, Cayo would be a very good environment for you to grow...
San Ignacio is a good location for a retired person. It has very nice weather; a bit warm in the day but it’s cool at night. You’re surrounded by a lot of beautiful nature; a lot of ponds, trees, birds, flora and fauna. And of course you’re going to have access to a lot of activities. You have waterfalls, rivers, caves, and tours available. If you’re into farming, flowers, and having a nice yard, Cayo would be a very good environment for you to grow some plants you would like, maybe some fruit trees.
You have the Guatemalan border close by if you want to experience something new. In terms of the location, nature and things to do, San Ignacio, provides a very good environment for someone to retire.
You may want to render some service to the community, which is one of the things I see a lot of expats do in Belize. They offer a lot of their expertise, perhaps a couple of days in a week. They might volunteer at the Rotary club, they might be a member of the Belize Tourism Industry Association and contribute some of their efforts like event planning and helping with the festivals that take place.
(Destination Belize 2014 promotional piece by the Belize Tourism Association with a picture of a Cayodistrict waterfall, pictured.)
John Derry - Serenity Vista Alcohol & Drug Addiction Rehab Retreat
The short answer to the question of whether Panama has hurricanes is 'no'. Thank God. As a sailor, that was a huge attraction to this area. We can safely go sailing in the beautiful Pacific waters around Panama any time of year, and feel safe. Of course we always carefully check marine forecasts in various ways prior to going out, but in 21/2 years of being here, we've never had to postpone a sailing trip because of weather.
Just another amazing aspect...
The short answer to the question of whether Panama has hurricanes is 'no'. Thank God. As a sailor, that was a huge attraction to this area. We can safely go sailing in the beautiful Pacific waters around Panama any time of year, and feel safe. Of course we always carefully check marine forecasts in various ways prior to going out, but in 21/2 years of being here, we've never had to postpone a sailing trip because of weather.
Just another amazing aspect of Panama that makes it so safe and inviting!
What should I be most concerned about regarding retiring abroad?
Lourdes Townshend
Most of the time when people consider moving abroad to retire, they have a desire for a new and happy life, and probably an adjustment to their budget. These desires bring about all kinds of changes for which you should be prepared, and do your homework, before you move.
You should ask yourself these questions: "Is that what I really want to do?" and "Am I ready for that challenge and change in my life"? Then, visit the country you are...
Most of the time when people consider moving abroad to retire, they have a desire for a new and happy life, and probably an adjustment to their budget. These desires bring about all kinds of changes for which you should be prepared, and do your homework, before you move.
You should ask yourself these questions: "Is that what I really want to do?" and "Am I ready for that challenge and change in my life"? Then, visit the country you are considering moving to several times, study their culture, and talk to people, expats as well as locals. And then, not only after you are absolutely sure those changes will make you happy, then, make your decision. See if the reason you are considering moving meets your expectations.
General things to be concerned about in a new country would be: Am I ready to learn a new language, adapt to local customary life, enjoy new things and people, place myself and accommodate to different weather? If the answer is YES... GO FOR IT, and enjoy your retirement abroad, without any concerns.
I have lived in four countries, Spain, Ireland, United States and Panama. My advice when moving abroad is to make sure you can adjust your self to the new culture and traditions of the country you are going to live in. Do some research, learn about the customs and traditions. Be open minded, be prepared to learn new things. Be positive, I strongly recommend you to mingle with the locals.
Presented with permission from Bob Adams, of Retirement Wave
People often ask me why did I choose to live in Panama. Well, there’s a whole series of reasons. I want to pull one out and give special mention to it.
That is the willingness of people to look forward into the future with a very positive attitude. And that’s one thing I look for in any country where I’m going to live. It’s the local people and how they...
One can look at a map of Panama and see it as would an early engineer, as an earth moving project. There, where the raised land is as narrow as a sandbar on the globe, and the two giant fraternal land masses balance on either side of the equator, Panama is like the stretched middle of a twisted water balloon, and anyone with an imagination tuned to navigation, would place an inland waterway there to connect the oceans, dug to accommodate the cargo of deep-hulled ships. But when one...
The crime rate in San Miguel de Allende is very low. This is a small town. Of course there are also neighborhoods that are ghettos so you need to be careful there but overall, I feel safe here. 
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. 
San Ignacio is a good location for a retired person. It has very nice weather; a bit warm in the day but it’s cool at night. You’re surrounded by a lot of beautiful nature; a lot of ponds, trees, birds, flora and fauna. And of course you’re going to have access to a lot of activities. You have waterfalls, rivers, caves, and tours available. If you’re into farming, flowers, and having a nice yard, Cayo would be a very good environment for you to grow...
That is the willingness of people to look forward into the future with a very positive attitude. And that’s one thing I look for in any country where I’m going to live. It’s the local people and how they...
