Where to Retire To ?

Sezzagirl

Really interesting reading through this thread and hearing where people are (and aren't!) friendly

Made me think there's maybe a lot of truth in this old tale I heard

A Man is sitting outside the City Walls

He sees a Traveller approaching. The Traveller asks him "I say my good fellow, what are the people of this City like?"

The Man asks "what were they like where you came from?"

The Traveller replies "Oh they were dreadful people! Rude, unfriendly, unwelcoming, not at all nice":mad:

The Man replied "Well, I think you'll find them much the same here" and the Traveller continued on his way

A Second Traveller approached. "Good Morning Sir", he said, smiling. "Would you mind telling me what the people of this Fair City are like?"

The Man asked again what the people were like where the Second Traveller came from

The Second Traveller smiled. "Oh they were lovely people. Very friendly and kind. Happy to help and always made people welcome:A

The Man smiled back and said "I think you will be very happy here too":beer:

Triumph13

lisyloo wrote: »

I would think of Egypt as a winter alternative.
Relatively cosmopolitan in the tourist areas i.e. shorts and T-shirts are fine.
English widely spoken in the tourist areas and great if you like watersports. I'd imagine being a casual dive guide to replace when others are sick as a way of getting free diving but not having the tiring job of doing it all the time. But as others have said it depends on what you want to do.

It does indeed depend on what you want to do. Even leaving aside the political risk, for me the risk of dying of boredom would be huge if I retired to the Egyptian Red Sea. Yes, some of the diving is good, but apart from that what is there to do? Where is there to go? Apart from the warmth I couldn't find anything to recommend those bits of the 'Red Sea Riviera' above sea level

115K

I don't really like hot weather so I wouldn't want to move abroad for the sun.

Tom2023

I live in Reigate and I think Surrey in summer is fantastic but from October onwards I intend to !!!!!! off abroad.

The thought of spending 6 months trapped in doors by the rain is not my idea of a happy retirement.

I wouldn't buy a property abroad, I'd rent. That way I can go where ever I want without any hassle.

Come back to Surrey in May. Hopefully then the rain might have lessened.

frugal90

Scotland is a fantastic place to live -fantastic base to travel the world from in retirement

Koicarp

A couple of years ago we bought a little stone cottage on a mountain in Corfu, so we're hoping to retire there. Winters are soggy but not cold and when the sun comes out in december you can have a couple of hours of tee shirt weather. It's busy in the summer down on the coast, but only for a couple of months, so will do for me.

Marine_life

115K wrote: »

I don't really like hot weather so I wouldn't want to move abroad for the sun.

This.

I went toTurkey on holiday a few years ago - it was close to 40 deg. hated it.

You can always put on more clothes but there are only so many you can take off!

atush

That is why I spend my hot weather time in a country with a/c lol

as for Scotland as retirement country you have to be kidding. Cold, dark, wet (dont' forget I see you from my kitchen window so I know) add in currency and tax risk with independence.

No thanks. With a barge pole.

mgdavid

atush wrote: »

That is why I spend my hot weather time in a country with a/c lol

as for Scotland as retirement country you have to be kidding. Cold, dark, wet (dont' forget I see you from my kitchen window so I know) add in currency and tax risk with independence.

No thanks. With a barge pole.

:-)
for that, you should immediately be granted English citizenship !

jackyann

Well I live somewhere beautiful, not too expensive and very friendly, decent community services & a good pub.
Not one of you is thinking of retiring here!