Moving w/family to Central America

Submitted by Soulpatch on 24 April, 2008 - 14:50.

I will be eligible to retire in 4 years 3 months and 6 days but who's counting...... I will be 50 and my wife will be 46 and our twins will be 8. My income stream will be about 6k~/month. Some of our biggest concerns are regarding access to quality medical care and since we are homeschooling adequate technology and mail/shipping and ready access to produce and staples. Safety is a concern, too, like anywhere. Hell, I live in San Diego, in ain't nirvana. We currently have a casita in Bahia de Los Angeles in Baja California so we know what it is to be off-grid and are capable of dealing w/that and actually enjoy it in many ways but electricity is GREAT!

We know much can and in all likelihood will change in the intervening time. It appears the world economy may be slowing down in addition to the US economy so this will be interesting. We have never traveled to Central America but will start late this year and go regularly after that. My wife has lived in England and Spain so repatriation isn't a hindrance but rather an adventure for her.

We have looked primarily at NW Panama but have been talking recently w/people about Nicaragua and are wanting to see the gamut of decent opportunities and choices.

Our trips will be 10-14 days at a time around my work schedule so we want to see a region or two at a pop until we narrow down our ultimate destination and then it will be renting w/the hope to buy.....

We would appreciate any and all feedback. Gracias a todo

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Retiring in Central America

Submitted by Taffy on 8 May, 2008 - 02:18.

My wife and I looked all over Central America for a place to retire. The week after next I will be joining my wife, who is already setting up a home in a rented house while we build, in Jinotega...great scenery, a great lake (Apanas), friendly people and a great climate. You can contact me privately if you need to get details.

Retiring in Central America

Submitted by Taffy on 8 May, 2008 - 02:17.

My wife and I looked all over Central America for a place to retire. The week after next I will be joining my wife, who is already setting up a home in a rented house while we build, in Jinotega...great scenery, a great lake (Apanas), friendly people and a great climate. You can contact me privately if you need to get details.

finding the place

Submitted by Ometepe Inn Brewery on 26 April, 2008 - 06:46.

My wife and I did about what you want but with 1/2 the money.. The best thing is to rent a car (cheap) and you can go more places and stay longer or go back to a place you think was it. We did this for each country for over two years and stay about 30 days in each. - Meet the locals - they are very open to help but before anything get a GOOD attorney. We are moving in May 08 so look us up. Steve F Steve@forbesbg.com

That is pretty much our

Submitted by Soulpatch on 26 April, 2008 - 11:31.

That is pretty much our plan...... although the 30 day pops will be a little difficult......probably more like 2 weeks a t a time. We still have our place in baja that we like to get to a few times a year so that is a big time draw for us. We'll use the shotgun approach at first and then narrow it down. We fully plan on renting for awhile. How many times a year did you head down for those 2 years and where did you end up?

Looking forward to retirement in 2012 and raising my family in a better place. IAFF Local 4488

6K a month

Submitted by NicaDean on 25 April, 2008 - 09:54.

It's hard to believe anyone with 6K a month would consider Nicaragua! Dude you can afford to live in Hawaii!

Well, there will be 4 of us

Submitted by Soulpatch on 25 April, 2008 - 13:50.

Well, there will be 4 of us and we want a good jumping off place to explore this hemisphere...... I don't think we want to be "island locked" either. My neighbor is moving to the Big Island to a village of about 1000. Big wave hero Mike Eaton is bailing on the city..... it has kind of inspired me.

Looking forward to retirement in 2012 and raising my family in a better place. IAFF Local 4488

Interesting Position

Submitted by fyl on 25 April, 2008 - 10:21.

When I left the U.S. (for a lot of reasons--many of which can be translated into wanting to improve my health) I picked Costa Rica. I didn't pick it because it was cheap—I picked it because I liked the country.

Two years later I still liked the country but wasn't crazy about the people. I found Nicaragua and loved the people. So, I moved here.

I could have moved to Spain, Hawaii, ... but, well, I found the place that, for me, feels like home.

re: living in Nicaragua

Submitted by lennynica on 24 April, 2008 - 15:19.

You shouldn't have too many problems with 6000--that's about twice what the President of Nicaragua earns! I'm selling a real nice organic farm and house in Miraflor ouside of Esteli--check out my blog for details. Even comes with 2 tame horses for each of your twins! -not to mention 2 great dogs that love kids!

Congratulations!

Submitted by nuestragringa on 24 April, 2008 - 14:55.

6k a month will afford you a very good life in Nicaragua.

I am sure you will get lots of good info just by reading old posts here on this site, and we are ready to chime in on new issues.

Welcome!

Thanks

Submitted by Soulpatch on 24 April, 2008 - 15:06.

I have been delving into many of the posts but I notice that a lot of them I find pertinent are fairly dated. Saludos,

IAFF Local 4488

you have time

Submitted by Billy Bob on 26 April, 2008 - 12:33.

Find where you will be comfortable. Nicaragua is not Spain, england or even Panama. You will either love its "rustic charm' or hate it, or both. Since you have to be happy, chose what you like for starters and let the details fall into place.

Keep most of your 6k in the states and don't let on to locals, including expats, that you have that much.

Quality medical care means Managua, which doesn't mean quality of life. Try the Los robles neighborhood (near Metrocenter) or somewhere on the road to Masaya by Hospital Metropolitano.

I have lived in Esteli for 1 1/2 years, but that is not an endorsement. Quality of life (noise ,dust, poor utilities, crime, traffic, etc.) rule it out.

I chose Nicaragua for various reasons and am staying for a personal relationship, but since I have been here I've had the opportunity to travel and research and have concluded that the best place in C.A. for retireing gringos is Panama, hands down, with Costa Rica a fair second. Although I will fess up to a love for the green pine forests of Honduras. Again, you pays your nickel and you takes yer choice...

Learn the language a/o pay an interpreter to go with you on your trips or you will be largely wasting your time. And get your residency paperwork done before you move down or buy anything or make any long term commitments. Plan on dragging a lawyer with you much of the time to get settled in. And don't forget the other comment: you can afford Hawaii!!!