Well i thought it would be cool to retire in colombia

[vallenatoman]

You know even with alot of danger... i think you could squeak by mostly unnoticed if you didnt flaunt and kept a low profile.

Buy a modest house, keep "as nice" freinds/neighbors as you can etc.

Obviously if you hang out with narcos or people who are into less than quiet occupations, or such this is probably impossible but an average guy could probably do it.

Thats what im thinking when im like 60-65 just buy a nice house on the coast or something.

What do you think?

[mudd]

their are better places than colombia and a lot more stable, chile, argentina, ecuador just to name a few.

[raycjs]

i think it is a place i would consider retiring there during the winter months since my girl and her family are from BAQ. i would like to leave the winter behind and live somewhere hot during the winter months. so as of right now BAQ is on my list


ray

[whitey]

My wife and I are planning to retire (me first!!!) in Barranquilla hopefully in 7-10 years.  It will be interesting to see if she still wants to do that after living in Canada.  None of my Colombian friends from Canada want to return to Colombia other than to visit due to the security problems.  But, a lot can change in 10 or 20 years ... or maybe not.

If I had my choice of where to live, it would probably be not be Barranquilla, although it has many good qualities.  I would probably live in one of the municipalities that form metropolitan Medellin, like Sabaneta or Envigado.  Manizales also sounds good, but I haven't been there yet.

I've heard good things about Peru, but it doesn't sound much safer as far as petty crime goes.  But, since my wife is Colombian, it's unlikely we'd chose a different latin american country in which to retire.
 

[fathertime]

You know even with alot of danger... i think you could squeak by mostly unnoticed if you didnt flaunt and kept a low profile.

Buy a modest house, keep "as nice" freinds/neighbors as you can etc.

Obviously if you hang out with narcos or people who are into less than quiet occupations, or such this is probably impossible but an average guy could probably do it.

Thats what im thinking when im like 60-65 just buy a nice house on the coast or something.

What do you think?

if i were to do a cost benefit analysis of retiring in colombia, i'm pretty sure the costs would outweigh the benefits...UNLESS i were single...bottom line-without the ability to carouse with the women (guilt free), i don't think i'd want to retire in colombia.

Fathertime! 

[z_k_g]

if i were to do a cost benefit analysis of retiring in colombia, i'm pretty sure the costs would outweigh the benefits...UNLESS i were single...bottom line-without the ability to carouse with the women (guilt free), i don't think i'd want to retire in colombia.

Fathertime! 

FT,

Honest answer from a red blooded American! 

I can respect that!! 

Zulu

[vallenatoman]

Well one thing that got me started thinking was I saw Shakira on tv doing some songs.

Now I listened to her (not understanding evertthing but hey college levle spanish) cds in the 1990s.

Now she always says she helps her people and she might ... but i find it funnt she lives outside colombia....like in the carribean somewhere.

Youd think shed at least live in BAQ or the coast....but no she lives outside her own country even tho she talks like she loves it to death.

If i am not mistaken...Carlos Vives does the exact same... i dont doubt he loves colombia but he LIVES outside i think in carribean too.

Wierd ... in a way.

[vallenatoman]

But i guess a question is:

Would it be worth it then to buy a house in colombia for say some months of teh year 3-5 then live elsewhere for other monhts. I guess youd need your ladies family or well paid pros to take care of your house so it doesnt get destroyed.

[Pivery]

If you have enough $ socked away and your lady would like to live in the old country then I say why not?

My lady is from Barranquilla and one day she would like a finca near the beach, but only after she has lived here in the states for quite a while. Never being out of the country, my lady is eager to see other parts of the world, but having 10 brothers and sisters would make it hard for her to never return.

Me personally I love it there, and spent over 6 months living there this year, so I could definitely see myself living there after a while. 

[raycjs]

if and when i make my move to buy a place in or around BAQ, i would live there during the winter and when i am not there i would have her family or one of the many trust worthy agencies take care of the home and property while i was away. there are many people that do that all the time. i do not think i could handle living there more then a few months at a time but that could change.... i have a very good friend that is living there for the past 4.5 years and he is very happy and has no real problems... so we shall see.


ray

[El Escéptico]

Well one thing that got me started thinking was I saw Shakira on tv doing some songs.

Now I listened to her (not understanding evertthing but hey college levle spanish) cds in the 1990s.

Now she always says she helps her people and she might ... but i find it funnt she lives outside colombia....like in the carribean somewhere.

Youd think shed at least live in BAQ or the coast....but no she lives outside her own country even tho she talks like she loves it to death.

If i am not mistaken...Carlos Vives does the exact same... i dont doubt he loves colombia but he LIVES outside i think in carribean too.

Wierd ... in a way.

I think the truth is my they know very well that Colombia is simply to dangerous for them, that they would become targets. They just won't say it because of their respect and love for their homeland

[mudd]

most rich and famous Colombians live in Miami or in the Caribbean most of the time and only travel to Colombia for short trips  due to security and its just too dangerous for them.

 i thought it was a joke when   Shakira chimed in about the Arizona immigration law being passed, she said it "was unfair and unjust",  funny..... coming form rich Colombian who travels to Miami any time  of the year.

[Zon]

It is very deeply ingrained. When the earliest pioneers found gold and other riches, the goal was to GO BACK TO EUROPE.  In the USA, the goal was to build a new home ( GENERALLY SPEAKING ).   

Anyway, that is what we got.  A country undergoing improvement and culture shock.  Violence goes with the territory.

It is difficult to be totally happy exclusively in the USA, or Colombia for most people.  The key may be a retirement (or life) that combines the two in a safe and constructive manner. 

[JimD]

Vallenatoman not clear on this. Have you been to Colombia and liked what you saw or have you not visted yet? If the latter then you really should make a trip to see if Colombia is for you. Hearsay on boards like this and boards about Colombia won´t give you a very complete picture.

[Alabamaboy!]

I will finally make my first trip to Medellin soon to check out the area as to whether or not it would be a good place to retire (part time). I really like the beach, but that Coastal weather will wear you down. Or if you want to use AC all the time, it will be very expensive.

If you live in Medellin area, no heating or cooling needed and if you ever want to hit the beach for awhile, they have super promo prices frequently on Aires Airline.

On paper it looks like Medellin has it all. And when you want to get away from it all, it is just a short drive away for some awesome looking scenery.

[JimD]

AB lots of paisas make weekend trips to the beaches of Nuquí, Bahia Solano and Capuganá all only thirty minutes from the city by air. I think you would really like Capurganá. It´s the most upscale. Check out www.almar.com.co. If you want a more exotic experience try http://www.piedrapiedra.com/index.php?locale=es. 45 minutes in lancha from the landing strip at Nuquí. These three plus Isla Providencia are my all out favorite beach destinations in Colombia. If you have the money and the compañera just rotate amongst these every few months. All are popular tourist destinations and safe from the FARC by the way.

[Alabamaboy!]

Wow Jim, those look like some really cool places. There are so many things to do and see in Colombia! Since my girl is Costena, we have been hitting the beaches a lot during my visits. So I am wanting to explore the higher elevation areas now outside of Medellin.  But I will definitely put those places on my "wish list" for the future. Thanks.

[okiemike]

That is the northwest coast of Colombia. I thought that was full of FARC? Wasnt there some people kidnapped around that area a few years back? Maybe it was the southwest coast?

[no comment]

Vallenatoman,
How close are you to retirement age?  So much can happen in a few short years.  Consider the economic difference in this country between 2005 or 2006 and late 2008.

[JimD]

okiemike you´re quite right. That occured in El Valle close to Bahia Solano in August of 2002. 26 or 27 Colombian tourists from Cali and Medellin, mostly retirees who went there to fish were kidnapped by the ELN (not the FARC). I visited twice a couple of years before that and again in 2007. The bummer was that after that kidnapping direct charter flights from Cali to Bahia Solano were cancelled and these days you can only get there by flying forst to Medellin. There was a second kidnapping that occured right while I was on my visit in 2007 (I wasn´t sure I´d get back to Medellin on my day of departure because the landing strip was occupied all day by Army helicopters loading up soldiers and supplies to go look for them). It occured about half way between Bahia Solano and Nuquí at a point that would be three hours in lancha by sea from either of those destinations. However things really are well under control militarily and I wouldn´t hesitate a New York minute to return to either of those destinations now. I was in Quibdó (capital of Chocó department) a few months ago. It was supposed to be the worst of the worst where all the bad guys (Farc, ELN, paramiltaries and narcos) hold court but everything was completely mellow during my visit. I say if you want a Negril or Cancun experience by all means go to San Andres but if you´ve got the least bit of adventure in you go see the rest of Colombia. It´s incredible!

[vallenatoman]

Vallenatoman,
How close are you to retirement age?  So much can happen in a few short years.  Consider the economic difference in this country between 2005 or 2006 and late 2008.

Not close at all but i am still thinking about where i want to live in say 20 30 years.

I still havent found my colombiana!

i have to keep looking

[flash]

I've read that if your thinking about the expat route, it's best to live in the country for at least six months. It's probably best to go a step further and become as familiar as you possibly can before taking the plunge. Depending on the specifics of your situation, time may be on your side. From what I've been reading on the board, the beaches and the lovely ladies aren't going anywhere, so the odds are in your favor.

One thing a lot of people don't mention is health care. Sure you can always make it back to the home country, but what if you can't. It may not be a concern at thirty-two, but it may be somewhat more significant at sixty-two. As for me, I want to create a few memories at ninety-two.

You want to choose a place where your extended stay on earth doesn't get shortened by such issues. Nevertheless, you've started a serious conversation that's we've probably all mulled over.

As far as I'm concerned, I want to split my time. I havent decided on the country yet, but I'm going to start looking for the lady in Baq. 

[Alabamaboy!]

I have some friends who have been living in Colombia for a few years, these guys are in their 50's and they tell me the healthcare system is as good or better than ours, and costs a lot less, even if you go for their "Cadillac Health Insurance" plans.