So you are considering retiring abroad. Many find the experience wonderful but there are some who become dissatisfied with the decision.
It is OK to try and return to your home country if you don’t like it. You won’t have to wonder the “what if” scenario because you tried.
Many people experience a sense of “What have I done?” at about three months after a move. This mini-setback is typically gone by the sixth month.
These are the three biggest reasons your overseas retirement might not work out.
You moved for the wrong reason
Changing locations alone will rarely make you happy if you’re unhappy in your current environment. Sometimes people feel animosity toward a place (or relationship) when they are “done”. I urge you to try gratitude instead. Plan to be happy and grateful exactly where you are right now.
It is better to not be running away from something as much as running toward something else: a simpler and more joy-filled life.
Instead of seeking external factors for a “perfect retirement location,” figure out who you are and what you really want in your life. Know exactly what’s most important and nonnegotiable.
You had unrealistic expectations
Many people retire without a well-thought-out plan. They neglect to define what their new daily life will look like. Being retired with an income stream is not a plan. It defines your situation, but not how you’ll spend your days.
Without structure or purpose, people can drift. Not knowing what else to do, some may head to the bar every day or just sit in a new place and wonder why they moved at all. The place you love on vacation may not bring the same joy when living there.
Naming what is important to you at the beginning of your search will help you find places that fit your vision of paradise and help you craft a plan for your new life. Do you need to learn a new language? Are you willing to do that?
Don’t be afraid of trying out several locations to find the best fit. Some good options include taking a sabbatical, house sitting or otherwise temporarily living like a local. All of these options let you learn what daily life is really like.
You didn’t integrate into a community
If you want everything to be exactly the way it is “back home,” then you should stay home. It is prudent to leave baggage (literal and metaphorical) behind when you move to a new country.
Being in a foreign environment is an adventure. Think back about going to your first state fair, your first exotic vacation or another life experience that left a big impression on you. Recall the sense of wonder, the sense of joy exploring new places, of having experiences you never had before. Imagine feeling that again, feeling young and totally alive once again. What is that worth?
