If not the UK then where?

[lespaul]

I've really enjoyed following the "Working in the UK" thread and wanted to post an addendum....If I did want to move from the US and work elsewhere, where would you suggest? What are the benefits to working in that country? What about a country to retire to instead of work in?

I'm interested because I've always wanted to live outside the US. I have traveled to Europe twice with my parents and once as an adult and really enjoyed my experiences. I currently work for a state government and have a great retirement plan and I'm not planning to come "over the pond" until after I get that retirement but I'd like to see the discussion that comes from the question.

Leslie

 

[SantaMufasa]

I have a colleague that worked with me at Oracle Corporation. She and her husband bought an absolutely idyllic beach-front property in Costa Rica. Their place is a three-bedroom American-style resort home with all of the ammenities (including broad-band) in an American-style gated community. They bought the home for less than 1/3 the price of a comparable beach-side resort in the U.S.

Their taxes are far less than in the U.S. and the Costa Rican government apparently makes it very much worthwhile for Yanks to relocate there. Costa Rica has the most stable, business-friendly, American-friendly government and culture outside the U.S. (Conventional wisdom says that Costa Rica represents the location with the least life-style adjustment for Americans in a non-English-speaking country.)

I've never been there, myself, but my colleague raves about her satisfaction at being there...She's been there now for nearly 7 years and wouldn't move from there.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[rosieb]

The critical factor would be broadband - my employers don't really need me on-site most of the time. I could do 95% of my work from home.

I've always had a hankering for Turkey or, being more practical, Southwest France. Good food, lower cost of living, great environment, easy & cheap access to UK by plane.



Rosie
"Don't try to improve one thing by 100%, try to improve 100 things by 1%

 

[SantaMufasa]

Southwest France...lower cost of living

I presume you mean Cannes or Monaco or the like.<grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[rosieb]

Dave, Oh no.

No, No, No - there's a little village not too far from Carcassonne... right in the middle of Cathar country. I could have olive trees, vines and chickens...

Rosie
"Don't try to improve one thing by 100%, try to improve 100 things by 1%

 

[Thargy]

Rosieb,

keep heading south from Carcassonne, and when you get to the Pyrenees Orientale, start admiring the view. How about a coastal village on the cote vermeille?

They too have vines and produce great Banyuls!

T

Grinding away at things Oracular