Recent content by Rob

I really enjoy reading the comments of those of you now living overseas, whether it be in Hungary,France, Mexico, or Thailand. It does seem to be the trend that you did this after you retired in the States, or Canada. I don't see any participants here that spent their whole adult life...

My original comments concerned about my returning to the States for retirement after spending 40+ years overseas. I returned at the age of 67, and now almost 74. I did not want this to get too political, but references to the recent disturbances caused the comments to veer off what was...

Getting health insurance was the one aspect of retiring overseas when you are in your 70's or 80's that made me hesitate. I know you can do it, but it's expensive and probably won't cover any pre-exisiting conditions. When I lived in Singapore until the age of 67, I was teaching part-time, and...

I enjoyed reading the interesting comments and perspectives. To the gentleman that questioned the safety of El Paso- I did also, and then I looked at the top ten safest large cities in the US, and El Paso was ranked first. In other surveys, it's always in the top tier. I suppose I could...

Hi all- I received a private message from a contributor to this forum asking whether I had stayed in Singapore or returned the States. As a background, I lived in Singapore for 25 years, but only worked there for 19 years. The rest of the time I kept my residence in Singapore, but experienced...

Thank you very much for your responses. I am a little more secure in not paying off the house now, selling it within 2 years, downsizing to a smaller house, and then using the money on the sale of this house to buy another house. Thanks again.

Hi All, I am going back and forth over whether I should pay off my mortgage. Here are the factors that are involved. First, I am 71 years of age and live Washington state. I have about $68,000 remaining on my home loan at 4.5% interest. The house sold for $247,000 5 years ago, and I put 75%...

When I am in my 80's (I'm 70 now), I'm not really sure if I want to deal with my finances. So for me, a TIAA annuity made perfect sense. I still have some investments and a good bank account as a back up, but I trust this insurance company. I've been with them as an investor since 1973, as...

Your suggestion of renting is what I will certainly do, also. I will look into that. Rob

Hi- I just returned with a friend of mine from Arizona. I have a nice home near Bellingham, Wa at the moment. Aside from seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time, I visited Phoeniz/Mesa, Sun City, Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff, Bisbee, and Tucson. I want to buy a very small second home, or...

I hope you can go to a forum for TIAA-CREF participants. The forum members have given me some of the best advice financially, and they can further comment on financial consultants. I've been communicating with this forum for close to 15 years, and the same members are on it. I'm retired now...

I worked until I was 66 as a high school teacher, but what kept me going was the feeling that I'm contributing, and I could retire anytime I wanted if I wished to. That feeling is liberating in itself. Also, frankly, I have always felt that I needed to be contributing in some way, but as a...

NY Expat, I admire you for calling Peru your home, and wish you the best. I'd like to attempt to do that simply because it would certainly be a challenge and an adventure. However, I'm unsure whether it would be best for me now. I mentioned earlier on this thread that my whole working life...

I was in Singapore for 25 years and retired there, and worked part-time as a retiree. That was all part of my itinerant existence since 1970. I fully expected to call Singapore home until I died, but I moved back to the States at the age of 66, bought a home (maybe to quickly), and miss to some...

I "thought" I enjoyed my 42 years of teaching until I retired at 66, but I dream about unruly students ignoring my teaching and being totally uncontrollable at least once a week. Perhaps this is my "subconscious" telling me it's great to be retired!!!!