Dumpvalve

I stand corrected a friend of mine whose a doctor is in Dubai for a couple of years and he said it's very civilized.

Thanks for the info...... SG1990

No problem Skygirl, I don't think I would be able to live in Saudi either, but having said that, I have met a couple of lady ex-pats who have enjoyed living on the compounds there.

It was almost 20 years ago my husband went for the interview and I suppose in that amount of time it's changed for the better.:ok:

I don't know about Saudi but a good friend of mines been flying in Dubai for quite a few years and he and his wife love it. They may retire there.

I voted for "other" as southern Africa wasnt an option. I'll buy a nice piece of bush and will then sit on the porch and watch the wildlife with a cold beer in hand. I just hope that Africa will have sorted its problems out by then. I still have a few years to go, and will hopefully have enough Euros together by then.

Southern California.
La Jolla would be perfect, but virtually anywhere on the coast North of San Diego would do.

Living in Spain
 

I have lived in Spain for a good 3 years now. I would not consider retiring here. Waaaay too many complications. It is also getting too busy here. August by far the worst month with over 2 million Spaniards arriving to Costa del Sol for vacation. You cant find a peaceful spot to save your life nor a parking spot. Traffic is horrendous.
But the climate. Now that is something else... Mountains and 65 open slopes just about an hours drive away from the cost where it is +18´C and this in January.
Still I loved Southern Pacific and all the small islands there. I am still about 34 some years to go to age 65 so I have some time to make up my mind. South America especially Southern Argentina and Chile are nice as well.

Cheers
JJ

Corrected for typo´s (probably some left):p

Bagdad !

No question.

Good weather. Cheap petrol. Plenty of international visitors to converse with. Lots of vintage motor cars to take an interest in. Most importantly lots of aviation. Plenty of military aircraft flying around all the time and lots of great airshows. In fact there is one on as I write.
Yes, I can see myself laying back in an easy chair, can of ... coke in hand and watching the jets fly by. Lots of good fireworks displays too.
Must hurry, missus says we must be in some underground bunkers by dark so to avoid the 'boogy men'. Can't understand what she is flapping on about.

Yes, Bagdad certainly is an exciting to retire to !

Geez If you like Baghdad you may want to seriously consider a vacation residence in North Korea or Syria.;) ;)

JJflyer
 

I'm with you I've often considered returning to the South Pacific to retire possibly the tax free environment of Vanuatu.

Good food and a relaxed lifestyle relatively close to Oz or NZ.

I guess an awful lot has to do with attitude, it could be possible to be miserable in Paradise. I have had many friends ahead of me in the retirement stakes and have followed with interest what follows. It appears to be important to have friends around. One had dreamed of nothing else but a house built to his specs on a lake full of fish with a boat and a small seaplane. He achieved all this and it lasted two years before he got lonely and ended up moving from Florida to Spain because a bunch of airline chums had all got together in a small village there.
Another bases himself in his home village in Switzerland and he and his wife roam around renting places. I have built a place on the beach in Kenya but mindful of the security, medical etc have kept my place in London, rented it out and retain use of a room/study so can hopefully spend time in each place spending winters out in the sun and the rainy season back in the UK. In the meantime enjoy the sunshine out in Saudi. Not a bad place, it's what one chooses to make it, although we are all braced for loud noises at the moment. Dubai is lovely and has changed immensely from the one or two smart hotels on the creek to the ultra modern metropolis it is now, but saving money was always harder there than here. Less temptation here, besides one had to learn to make it or do without. One becomes a dab hand at imrovision in the arts of dabbling with liquid and yeast it can be quite a stimulating hobby.
I enjoyed places like Hawaii and Brazil Argentina Aus but they were all so far away from where I had established roots and friends, I have opted like the 'Cheers ' motto to go somewhere where somebody knows my name, and have a few people around who might just notice if I stop to say hello, I guess I have decided it might make a difference.

An excellent and thought provoking post Paterbrat. Thanks from SKGL1990

I've done a 180 and am now actively considering Spain again. :ok:

I'm interested as to your motivation for the change?

Somewhere along the Pacific Ocean coast of Mexico preferably between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.

Lots of sun, beautiful warm water and an inexpensive cost of living :ok:

Some interesting comments and sentiments are being expressed here.

As I am rapidly approaching the date at which I will no longer be able to fly for a living, I have also been doing quite a bit of contemplating about the second half of my Life.

Here are some of my thoughts; I definetely cannot stop "working", its what I have done since I was a Teenager, if I do stop, I'll probably kick the bucket in a year or two. Therefore I'll have to live somewhere where I can do that. I don't mind volunteer work but my finances could always do with a little supplement. next, I like to be able to express an opinion on matters of state etc. the more time I have the more (dissenting) opinions I have. I also like to enjoy a reasonable level of personal security, so living in Kingston or Nigeria is out. Then I still love to travel, so I need access to good connections and of course as one gets older there is always the possibility of needing good medical services.

Like many of you, I have seen many beautiful spots on this Planet and i have come to the conclusion that there are many more to be seen, which I will endeavor to do. But as far as my primary residence is concerned, I'll choose something that doesn't have to onerous a tax system, respects human rights, with a climate that isn't too hard on aging bones and is relatively close to everything one might need in goods and services without suffering from too much pollution. That narrows the field considerably and where I am at right now may not stack up too badly.

Is that 5-cents worth?

Hi Fluf........well said, you've got a tremendous domicile to launch your post flying activities.

I know lots of people who would love to have all the financial & lifestyle benefits inherent in your place of residence........ myself included.

I'm also approaching the back side of the power curve with regards to career and am looking forward to establishing a lifestyle similar to yours and am actually excited about retiring from flying and getting involved in new ventures and challenges.

You look at what a group (whether pilots or not) with diverse talents & backgrounds can do when they channel their talents towards a common goal.

As you said it keeps you sharp, that sitting in the rocking chair is not for me either........ I'd probably be gone in a year.

Cheers 74

Best place to retire to:

32 Acacia Terrace
Colchester
Essex
UK

Home of Mrs Betty Snodgrass, recently single, rich, attractive woman in her mid-40s, loves lacey underwear, desperate for lots of it........

(just a joke for those lacking pathos)

Hi,

South Pacific - Australia for me :ok:

Hey Pete Betty says to say Hi but don't bother, she has someone in presently. Remembers you with affection, says you were a typical pilot and something about your watch.:)