[quote=temeculaguy][quote=briansd1]
There’s something special about an American living abroad. As an expat, you’re cool and special. [/quote]
But I am already cool and special without having to go somewhere else.
Seriously brian, listen to earlyretirement, he is the first person I’ve seen post about the realities of living abroad, not just as a tourist, but as a grown up. You are young, your experiences abroad are probably mostly about going to a cafe, nightclubs, museums and theaters with other young people. Early retirement tells of the reality of doing big boy things like raising a family, buying and owning property, paying bills, paying taxes, dealing with the government, having employees, etc. Argentina is one of those seductive places, Buenos Aries in particular is one of the places that seems perfect to a young person and as you age it will make you nuts. I have a close personal friend, not just an aquiantance, who has lived there for 25 years and also owns a summer home in Punta Del Este and tells the same stories as earlyretirement, only far worse. She’s has been more than a tourist, she has lived more of her life aborad than she has where her citizenship is. Guess what place she wishes she could live? San Diego. In fact she is even envious of my little suburb.
I could detail a hundred things about the reality of living abroad, none of it will sink in until you either see it in person or find someone close to you who has. Being the cool American guy has it’s benefits, just make friends, get the girls and move on. The grown up stuff sucks. I consider it alot like living on a boat, it looks like such a cool idea, then reality sets in and it’s probably better to just rent a boat once in a while.[/quote]
Temeculaguy,
You make GREAT and excellent points about living abroad. I haven’t read enough of the posts to know everyone’s personality and situation. But what Temeculaguy is saying is spot on target.
Living or traveling as a tourist and living as a “local” are two different things. Over the course of the past decade living abroad and traveling around the world on an almost non-stop basis, I’ve seen a lot of American ex-pats try to live abroad. And to be honest, many of them are the “ugly American” types. It’s sad but true.
Most don’t take the time to learn the local language, any desire to understand the country or the people or understand the history of the country.
Like Temeculaguy mentioned, they think they are cool and special because they are outside of their country and “living large”. The problem is most of them don’t have any game plan and are quickly back in the USA fairly quickly.
There is NOTHING cool about moving abroad because you think it’s cool and then blowing through your savings with no game plan. I met lots of ex-pats that THOUGHT they were cool but I just thought they were losers because they didn’t take the time to improve themselves.
Hey, at least it would have been great if they got fluent in Spanish when they moved back to the USA. But more times than not…that never happened.
To make things worse, they are still unemployed, they have blown what little savings they had, they didn’t learn the local language. They party every night.
Of course it’s not everyone but a very large majority of people that I’ve seen have been in that situation. That’s why I never had any desire to hang out with them.
And in the majority of the cases it’s Americans living illegally just renewing tourist visas over and over. They don’t have any desire or won’t take the time to do things legally. They don’t get legal residency, they don’t pay taxes in those countries or really contribute to society.
I know places like Argentina very well. And as mentioned, places like that can seem really sexy, fun, exciting. Which generally they are. However, as mentioned, most people going have no game plan there and no chance to get a job. Plus, it used to be cheap but it’s not anymore. I don’t care how cheap a place is but when you have 25% to 30% inflation each year it gets expensive fast. In fact, when I go to Argentina the cost of dinner is more expensive than the USA.
It can be deceptive. Countries like Argentina for example. It looks perfect…. You could mistake it for Europe. 75% of the original inhabitants were from Spain or Italy. Open up a phone book and you’ll see tons of Italian names.
The architecture is very European in many neighborhoods and there was tremendous wealth there at the turn of the century. But living there you figure out quickly that although the locals are friendly, they wouldn’t hesitate to stab you in the back. Cheating or conning people are a part of society there. Very normal. It can take a while to get used to if you are from the USA where there are agencies to help protect you like the Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, etc. Such things don’t exist in many countries.
I’ve seen family members cheating other family members. It’s really ugly and that part of society is difficult to get accustomed to.
You really have to have a solid game plan if you want to live abroad permanently. In my experience, it’s best suited for people that are retired, have pensions or regular fixed income in dollars/euros/Sterling, etc. and living on the cheaper local currency. It’s often times IMPOSSIBLE for an ex-pat to earn income in the foreign country.
Another excellent group that living abroad will work for is people that have the ability to work from home or can work via phone/internet/emails. The cost of living in many countries is less than in the USA so if you can earn dollars and spend in pesos, etc. then it can work out.
But again, you still have the headaches and inefficiencies of the foreign country. It’s one thing to go on vacation for a few weeks/months to a foreign country and living day in and day out for years.
Some things that you are used to in the USA will be much different abroad. I’m not saying you can’t get accustomed because you can and many do. I did and had a great life. But many can’t because they drive themselves crazy comparing life in the USA to life abroad.
There are many things that sound good on paper or that you read on various blogs or internet sites. But until you live there day in and day out and experience life there and understand the history of the country….a pleasant retirement can turn into a nightmare quickly.
I’m not saying it’s all bad. Because it’s not. In some countries or locations if you have a steady stream of income/pension/cash flow, you can live like a king! Just depending on the location. I had a full time maid, a full time chef that came in every day. Things like that you will NOT have in the USA unless you are mega wealthy.
But there are many things about the USA that I really love. I could go on and on and on. Someone mentioned the food sucking in some places. So true. Or the food might be great but there is NO variety and you’re eating only one type of food or a few types but no large variety. Plus some places the fruit/vegetables suck or you can go into a grocery store and see many selling expired meats, cheeses, etc.
So much variety of food, produce and it’s all fresh. Plus with all the consumer protection agencies you are almost assured the food will be fresh and you won’t get sick or food poisoning buying stuff from the store.
Also, everyday stuff like buying things in the store here. If something doesn’t work or you just change your mind and don’t want it… places give you plenty of time to return it. In other countries, even if it’s defective, it’s like pulling teeth trying to get it fixed or exchanged. Tons of everyday examples like that.
People complain about the US government, the problems here, the unemployment, etc. But after traveling around the world and living abroad, I can honestly say that NO COUNTRY can match the overall quality of life of the USA. Not even close.
Also, something important is that for the most part the USA has a working judicial system. And there is a system of checks and balances. Such is not the case in many places around the world.
Sorry if this thread has gone off topic…
Some interesting points on this thread. I also don’t think if you’re making $200,000 + you need to act or live like you’re making $20,000, etc. I’ve known people that died extremely wealthy but didn’t really “live” life. They never went anywhere, they only worked. They died with a vast fortune. Some didn’t even have any family to pass it on to.
I don’t think that is necessary. You can’t spend money when you’re dead. I don’t think you really even need to pass on large sums of wealth to your kids. I think it’s important to live within your means but also you should enjoy life. Drive the car you really enjoy, eat the food you want to eat, see the places you’ve always wanted to see, live in a nice house. As long as you can afford it, there isn’t any reason not to do those things or not have those things IF YOU CAN AFFORD THEM.
