If someone asked where you would like to live in retirement, probably a large part of us would answer briefly: Florida. Why is Florida a paradise for retirees? Or maybe there are other places where it would be worth spending the last years of your life?
The myth of this American state as a place where old age is beautiful, colorful and luxurious resides in us very much. Anyway, it is not only our imagination. In fact, many people, especially from the United States, choose to spend the fall of their lives there. Florida really is the state of the elderly.
Why Florida?
When we think about the perfect place for retirement, we usually consider four factors: safety, level of medical care, weather, and prices. These are the main determinants of whether a given country is an attractive place for potential retirees.
When we say "a paradise for retirees" we usually mean wide, seaside promenades with cafes and restaurants, shops, parking lots, offices with facilities for the elderly and the disabled, luxurious nursing homes where the resident feels at home or even like in a family home.
Florida seems to be perfectly meeting most expectations. It is the warmest and sunniest part of the USA, with beautiful beaches and infrastructure geared towards the reception of elderly people.
Seniors from the north can warm their old bones here, and at the same time, within a few kilometers, they will always find air-conditioned malls, i.e. shopping centers with benches designed especially for tired elderly people.
Air conditioning is of course also used in homes that are built in Florida. We althy seniors can buy great mansions with a swimming pool here, the less affluent - an apartment in a housing estate intended for people 55 plus. This means that they can count on peace and quiet here, bp the neighbors do not have screaming babies or are not fans of loud parties until dawn.
Florida is also safe, and the standard of living it provides, as elsewhere, depends on the thickness of the residents' wallets. It is not the cheapest place in the world, but it is also not unattainable for the average pensioner. The very fact that so many people choose to come and settle here indicates its availability.
No wonder that the seaside promenades and shaded avenues are full of active seniors who do sports or simply enjoy their lives walking on the beach with their peers. And there is a lot to choose from, because the estimated data say that out of the 21-million population of Florida, over 4 million people are over 65.
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If not Florida, then what?
We dream of a perfect place. Of course, we always have to put the word "perfect" in quotation marks. Even the infamous Florida has its hurricanes and tropical summer temperatures that make life difficult for its inhabitants. It will be difficult to find something that will be a place without defects for each of us.
Let's write - we dream of a place close to the ideal. The impending moment of retirement raises questions about the plans related to it. If the above-mentioned Florida seems unrealistic for some reason, let's try to observe the opinions of others.
There are regular rankings of countries that can be friendly to older people and favor the settling of seniors there. We will find three basic directions in these statements.
- Southern Europe.These are mainly Spain, Portugal and Italy. More recently, Balkan countries such as Montenegro have joined. These are places with a warm, pleasant climate. The level of civilization ensures a comfortable life, medical care is also appropriate here. Real estate prices are similar to Polish ones, prices in stores will not come as a shock to us either. If we have anything to complain about, it is probably about extensive and complicated bureaucracy. Getting anything done in an office, for example in Italy (and the removal of such official matters, unfortunately, requires) may seem like a torment to us. So let's get ready for some real battles.
- Asia.The rankings mainly recommend Thailand and Malaysia. It is a beautiful piece of the world with kind people and great culture. Due to the fact that the prices here are lower than in Poland, it will be relatively easy for us to make a living, even from our rather modest pensions. If we were to mention any cons, it would probably be the atmosphere. For a European, it can be difficult to live with, or at least requiring some getting used to. It's just very hot and very humid there.
- Central and South America.The rankings often mention the Caribbean and countries such as Ecuador and Colombia. We don't even have to recommend the Caribbean.Everyone would like to spend time on the beach in Nicaragua or Jamaica. The sun, beaches, exotic fruit, happy people. Low prices! A very tempting prospect. Remember, however, that it will be difficult for us to find a European standard of he althcare, and our sense of security will not be as high as in Poland. The crime rate is unfortunately higher here. It is interesting that South America is gaining high positions in this type of rankings. We associate Colombia and Mexico with drug cartels and gang wars. It turns out, however, that it is not that bad there, and retirees praise the beautiful landscapes and affordable prices.
Retirement abroad is not an idea for everyone. However, we live in happy times when this may be a possible idea. So let's try to close our eyes for a moment and dream about a retirement paradise, and then … let's just enter this paradise.
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