Retire - Brasil or Colombia?

[Catameran]

I have decided to retire early this year, and want to move to either Colombia or Brasil. I was married to a Colombian woman for three years and brought her to the US. I have since permanently moved out of the US (currently living in Europe). I want to eventually marry again but this time will actually live in the woman’s country and not take her out of her environment. I speak Spanish and am learning Portuguese. I would like to settle in a community and meet legitimate women naturally outside of agencies and the Internet. I am interested in experiences from guys who have actually lived in these countries. Particularly, in Brazil, were you able to meet normal Brazilian women? I am interested in your experiences.

[HarryL69]

I am retired and I had planned to live in Brazil until I researched the tax issue. Anyone who lives in Brazil for more than 180 days becomes a resident for tax purposes. The U.S. does not require its citizens to pay double tax thus taxes paid in Brazil can be credited against U.S. taxes. The problem is that Brazil’s tax rate is much higher than the U.S. tax rate. Many people say they live in Brazil when in fact they only live there for five months and three week each year.
I worked in Bogota, Colombia from 2001 until mid- 2004 so I know a little about Colombia. Medellin is the new hot spot but there are many places to live in Colombia. The tax situation in Colombia is not a problem. A foreigner can live in Colombia for five year before he is subject to taxes on income not earned in the country. Then, Colombia will tax worldwide income but up to $10k per month is exempt.
I am considering moving back to Bogota but leaning more toward Lima. I also worked in Spain and Germany so I traveled to Amsterdam a lot. I love the city. I used to go to the North Sea Jazz Festival every year (between 1986 and 1991). I would love to live in or near Amsterdam but the dollar/euro exchange rate would make it too expensive. Is that why you are not going to live there when you retire?
Regards

[Jim]

I lived in Costa Rica for seven months in 2003 and retired in the Philippines almost 11 months ago. I've made five trips to Colombia and never been in Brasil. I also spent a glorious ten days in Amsterdam two years ago.

The major attraction of any country for retirement is the plethora of attractive women who want to date us and low prices. Amsterdam is not attractive for either of these reasons. I love the Van Gogh museum, the Anne Frank house, brown cafes and the canals but I would never want to retire there.

I was unaware of the Brasil tax situation which would be a deal killer for me. My first suggestion would be to live in both places for several months and see how you feel. Meeting women should be easy in each country but there are so many intangibles which may or may not be important to you.

Congratulations, Catameran and welcome to the POWER YEARS. I enjoy every day with my new family. I run, study Tagalog, read, play Sudoku, watch an occasional movie on cable and make kicking back my new life's work. Find some activities and hobbies you enjoy. I know in CR, many retirees are bored and they spend too much time in bars and they lose their health.

[John Wayne]

I agree Jim, you just can't drink and chase the women all the time.......

Though it is fun when you catch one once in a while.....

A man goes to sitting on the porch in a rocker....He gone die soon....

[HarryL69]

Catameran one suggestion you may wish to consider is to retire (after spending some time there) in Uruguay. The country has one of, if not the lowest cost of living in South America. It has a special retirement program; not as good as Panama’s package but it is retiree friendly. In addition to its location on the ocean, the capital (Montevideo) is only about 450 miles from Porto Alegre, Brazil. Additionally, there are small towns much closer to Brazil’s border and you could spend half a year in Brazil and half in Uruguay.
Jim you are right about Costa Rica. I spent a few short vacations there and it was fun for a weekend but a bit boring. However, many people like it and continue to move there. Were you at some point in the Navy? Other than Navy and Marine vets, few have heard of Subic Bay. If not a vet that was stationed at Subic, why did you choose it over such places as Angeles City?

[Sailover]

Interesting thread. While I am in Colombia at this moment, the pull of another place is strong. Don't know where it is yet, which is why I am still here. I miss stupid things. Cheerios, Ben and Jerry's, TV without subtitles, investing in a business and actually planning to see some of that money again. Oh, and quiet. I am a reasonable man, but the effing noise is driving me crazy.
We spent some of last week on Isla Baru off of Cartagena. No power, no water, no nothing but the sound of the waves and the stars at night. Am I ready to check out and be a beach bum? Not (quite) yet. But it is coming.

were you able to meet normal Brazilian women?

"Normal" Hmmmm please explain.

[John Wayne]

Where the hell you been Man? we all been worried about you....Welcome back and don't make yourself so scarce......

[Jim]

Harry,

Uruguay sounds like a good idea too. I’d personally not be too attracted to somewhere which was inundated by gringos. Costa Rica does have nice malls (in the San Jose metro area only) and some fantastic and accessible natural beauty. But that gets old unless you want to hike three days a week and you do need activities to occupy your mind wherever you go. Costa Rica attracts gringios because it’s like a 51st state.

I was not in the military. In December 2005, I met two gringos in CR and we became fast friends. I went to the Philippines with him in March 2006 and our first two stops were AC and then Subic. I met a girl and saw her on seven trips in the next eighteen months visiting most parts of the Phils.

In fall 2007 I made two trips to Colombia and two to the Phils. I LOVE COLOMBIA and it would be a great place to live but Philippines women are so much sweeter an unselfish. Their goal in life is to magpalayaw (pamper) their man.

My decision in March 2008 indeed came down to Angeles or Subic. AC has an SM Mall which means better shopping but Subic has the ocean and the ocean won.

[Jim]

Sailover,

The Phils is equally frustrating as Colombia. Remember that we come here for two reasons, prices and women (I refer to these as trhe two Ps except women doesn’t start with a P). And there are lots of nice people who don’t try an overcharge me because you’re a foreigner. I live in a very quite street and pay $250 a month for a private house. It’s in a gated subdivision.