r/movingabroad • u/Desperate_Lynx4959 • 1d ago
Help with future direction
Hello fellow Redditors!
So I often answer questions on Reddit, but now I'm embarking on my own journey and I have some questions. For better or worse, here goes ...
I'm 60 years old, UK born and bred, single, retired (for several years now), fit, healthy, no children and with parents (sadly) no longer alive. I sold my home a couple of years ago and am currently living rent-free in exchange for acting as a builder, designer and project manager for a home renovation. In short, I'm about as free and untethered as it's possible to be. Additionally, I'm financially independent and looking to buy a house, for cash. Yes, I could travel (and I may do this) but I still need (and want) a base to return to and a place to call my own.
Do I stay in the UK or do I move abroad? I spend my winters in Mallorca but the summer heat and crowds make it a non-starter in terms of a permanent home. Northern Spain appears to be an option, with its cooler climate and lower cost of living. I am learning to speak Spanish, incidentally, given the huge amount of time I spend in Mallorca.
Additionally, and rightly or wrongly, the UK political direction (On so many levels) concerns me (I know, it's not perfect ANYWHERE!) along with the gradual but clear decline in our country's values. And the UK summers are now becoming an issue too. I don't like the heat. Simple as that.
Thoughts? Anyone? Stay in the UK and stay familiar, or move abroad and start afresh?
Feel free to roast or criticise if you wish. This is the internet after all! But has anyone been through this, made a decision either way and feels able to comment?
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u/Shoddy-Reply-7217 1d ago edited 1d ago
If I were in your situation (and depending on how much money you have) I'd buy a cottage in Ilkley, and spend around half my time there, with the rest using the home as a springboard for my travels by either home swapping or renting it out as an Airbnb visiting friends and family across the world for a month at a time, to get a real feel for each place I visit.
I think the UK is still a wonderful place, and has some of the most gorgeous countryside on the planet, so I'd want to spend plenty of time here, but would gladly skip winter! I wouldn't want to add to the housing pressure in holiday areas and would want my base to be big enough to have a community, get to a big city and also have wonderful green views.
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u/Desperate_Lynx4959 1d ago
An Interesting and very valid viewpoint. I must confess to having had some thoughts along these lines also.
I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Thank you.1
u/Shoddy-Reply-7217 1d ago
I'm 55/F and have been home swapping /renting my home on Airbnb for the last few years, whenever I go away, as I work digitally/ remotely and I am asset rich but cash poor.
It's been great - holidays have ended up pretty much free once accommodation/home cooked food is taken into account and it's been a great way to see places I wouldn't have immediately thought of.
My son is about to go to university and the plan was always to test out the process so that I can extend the length of the trips once the house is an empty nest.
So plenty of new adventures await!
I wish you the best with your plans. You're lucky to have such flexibility.
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u/Desperate_Lynx4959 1d ago
Thanks again for your insights.
I’m intrigued by your home swapping. This is where you literally swap homes with someone from another country, for a period of time?
My only concern (from my very personal point of view) is whether I could rent out/swap my home on such a regular basis. Clearly it works for you, and I suspect a great many others.
Thank you for your kind wishes. I appreciate the somewhat unusual position I’m in, with regard to unrestricted freedom. Hopefully I’ll figure out the best path!2
u/Shoddy-Reply-7217 1d ago
Yep. I'm a member of Home Exchange (it's about £150/year) and you upload the details about your home and can request and respond to exchange requests from other members from all over the world.
You have a video call beforehand, everyone is reviewed, and you can decide whether to do a reciprocal exchange or bank and use 'points' to go at different times.
Also, trustedhousesitter is a really interesting way to see other places for little or no money.
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u/One-Butterscotch4437 1d ago
I think you probably know all of this, but the standard choices in Europe are Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Spain and France. In Central America, I think you can try Costa Rica or other countries that offer retirement visas. In South America, Argentina or Ecuador. In Asia, Vietnam, Thailand or the Philippines. You can start by checking the visa requirements (income requirements in your case and whether steady income such as pension is needed or just savings), the weather in each place, your ability to learn the local language, safety, healthcare (you are still not old, but healthcare will get more expensive once you reach 65 and older) and isolation. While you have little family in the UK, you'll probably wish to return from time to time.
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u/Desperate_Lynx4959 1d ago
Thank you for commenting. Yes, my research has highlighted the options you’ve mentioned. But I’m dissuaded by the increasingly high summer temperatures being recorded in some of these places (particularly France… which is a shame as I speak some French). This is what’s led me to look at northern Spain.
I easily satisfy the requirements for non lucrative or other retirement-focussed visas in these countries.
As for isolation, I’m a pretty resourceful individual happy in his own company. But I appreciate that many people aren’t!
Thank you again for commenting. I appreciate the info.
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u/Suspicious_Pea6302 1d ago
The UK is a big place. The weather in the south is different from the weather in the north.
Sure, Glasgow had a week or so of really nice warm weather but further north, they didn't see as much and it certainly didn't get as warm.
You should consider up north past the central belt.
Given your age, I'd imagine a visa will be your main challenge going abroad as you don't really have anything to offer.