Walt, thanks very much for writing this post. It was as informative as it was enjoyable.
Like many, I grapple with the "bug-out .vs. stay-and-fix-it" dilemma, and I'm undecided. But for those that have selected the "bug-out" option, this is just super information. I hope others will comment on it, and tell some stories about how you managed your finances. What kind of bank, or investment accounts did you set up, did you buy property, what was it like to convince your mate to come with you, or did you find a new mate in your new home, and how did you manage the language and culture differences, and how much fun are you having in your new home?
How long did it take from "making the decision" to being more or less settled into your new home?
And what about Russia? Vladivostok and surrounds seem like a very interesting place to be, but I certainly can't tell from a distance. Does anyone have stories to tell about Russia? I've seen a few vids on the subject - well-done vids, that clearly had significant state (Russia) support to produce, and more certainly had significant Russian state help to smooth the way for the people in the vid that made the move.
I think it's very worthwhile to explore the options, and get people thinking about alternatives to tolerating the disconnect between our (U.S. in this case) government actions and the interests of the average citizen.
I'll close with a "how does your new host nation perceive you as a newcomer?" I think that might be the most important question of all.
Well I had been going to China on business for 13 years, getting used to it, picking up a bit of the language, I can make myself understood but not understand the replies! Met the love of my life in 2009, in 2020 decided to stay, never went back, divorced my English wife, retired, married my Chinese girl last year and swapped my work visa for a family visa. We have bought an apartment, it’s in her name. Many friends, foreigners and Chinese and a huge extended family. I always had more of a life here than in the U.K., it really makes for a great living experience and I am pleased to be out of my former home country which is really going to the dogs. I doubt that I shall ever return.
I have a few things to add to this: note it is quite subjective.
I lived and worked in Hong Kong for a year before the handover. I will spare you the long, rambling anecdotes, but I had a lovely time there. I made some Chinese friends, and did talk politics a bit, (even though their families, essentially lost the Civil War and fled, so they weren't particularly pro The Mainland, although interestingly they felt they all "were Chinese" including Taiwan.)
HK is great, with good public transport and the one time I needed to see a doctor I received prompt treatment in English. Everyone spoke passable or excellent English back then.
However I found the population density hard to cope with. A Canadian journo and academic I met was restoring a sailing boat: with the understanding that anyone who helped him would enjoy the fruits of their labour. So after a lot of hard weekends in a boatyard we went sailing to the outlying islands, which was great.
Fast forward to today. I have had the feeling for quite some time the Britain is deteriorating. I'm getting older, and I quite loathe the harsh place my homeland has become. More homeless people, degraded services; the NHS is only semi-functioning, and a deranged political class.
I've been exploring places to "bug out" to. Obviously China is on my list: that's what brought me to this substack. Two years ago I spent three months in Thailand during the UK winter. Bangkok is a crazed, bloated metropolis, but the southern islands are lovely. Over 50 and a Retirement Visa is quite easy to get, and they have just instituted a Digital Nomad visa which means you can stay a year at a time, and quite frankly, the requirements are a doddle to pass, even if you are relatively poor by UK standards. Thai healthcare is rated some of the best in S.E. Asia, though essentially private for Westerners.
I have developed an idea that small islands have more of a community and resilience to resist the traumatic events ahead. They are also often "Blue Zones" of longevity: I think the two are connected.
Last winter I stayed in Malta: easy to retire to for EU citizens, less so for UK, but possible. English speaking, but rather overcrowded. Don't know about the healthcare. Lots of history. Roads a bit chokka. (sorry = gridlocked). Seemed v safe compared to London.
My bottom line is nice people, warm weather and a good internet connection. I find fewer and fewer reasons to live in the UK, as nowhere will be spared from the burgeoning craziness.
At 81 years of age and poor at foreign languages, I will wait it out in the good old USA.
We worked jobs with retirement income and put some 401K in the stock market so we are well set for the rest of our life. Extra income to help out the kids and grandkids.
Live in a small town near Columbus OH which is very livable and Columbus has improved culturally in the last 45 years that we have been in the area. The state politics are horrible.
I posted on one of your substacks a substack by an American who had lived many places around the world and is now overjoyed to live in Russia.
As many have pointed out, especially Michael Hudson, the basic living costs in the US are now too high for US to be competitive in the global market. Putin has pointed this out also. This cannot end well. The Ottoman empire spent 300 years going up and 300 years going down. I suspect that the US will go down for sure within a hundred years. Maybe 50. Maybe 20. In any case I won't be around to verify my hunch.
Walt, thanks very much for writing this post. It was as informative as it was enjoyable.
Like many, I grapple with the "bug-out .vs. stay-and-fix-it" dilemma, and I'm undecided. But for those that have selected the "bug-out" option, this is just super information. I hope others will comment on it, and tell some stories about how you managed your finances. What kind of bank, or investment accounts did you set up, did you buy property, what was it like to convince your mate to come with you, or did you find a new mate in your new home, and how did you manage the language and culture differences, and how much fun are you having in your new home?
How long did it take from "making the decision" to being more or less settled into your new home?
And what about Russia? Vladivostok and surrounds seem like a very interesting place to be, but I certainly can't tell from a distance. Does anyone have stories to tell about Russia? I've seen a few vids on the subject - well-done vids, that clearly had significant state (Russia) support to produce, and more certainly had significant Russian state help to smooth the way for the people in the vid that made the move.
I think it's very worthwhile to explore the options, and get people thinking about alternatives to tolerating the disconnect between our (U.S. in this case) government actions and the interests of the average citizen.
I'll close with a "how does your new host nation perceive you as a newcomer?" I think that might be the most important question of all.
Well I had been going to China on business for 13 years, getting used to it, picking up a bit of the language, I can make myself understood but not understand the replies! Met the love of my life in 2009, in 2020 decided to stay, never went back, divorced my English wife, retired, married my Chinese girl last year and swapped my work visa for a family visa. We have bought an apartment, it’s in her name. Many friends, foreigners and Chinese and a huge extended family. I always had more of a life here than in the U.K., it really makes for a great living experience and I am pleased to be out of my former home country which is really going to the dogs. I doubt that I shall ever return.
Thanks Walt!
I have a few things to add to this: note it is quite subjective.
I lived and worked in Hong Kong for a year before the handover. I will spare you the long, rambling anecdotes, but I had a lovely time there. I made some Chinese friends, and did talk politics a bit, (even though their families, essentially lost the Civil War and fled, so they weren't particularly pro The Mainland, although interestingly they felt they all "were Chinese" including Taiwan.)
HK is great, with good public transport and the one time I needed to see a doctor I received prompt treatment in English. Everyone spoke passable or excellent English back then.
However I found the population density hard to cope with. A Canadian journo and academic I met was restoring a sailing boat: with the understanding that anyone who helped him would enjoy the fruits of their labour. So after a lot of hard weekends in a boatyard we went sailing to the outlying islands, which was great.
Fast forward to today. I have had the feeling for quite some time the Britain is deteriorating. I'm getting older, and I quite loathe the harsh place my homeland has become. More homeless people, degraded services; the NHS is only semi-functioning, and a deranged political class.
I've been exploring places to "bug out" to. Obviously China is on my list: that's what brought me to this substack. Two years ago I spent three months in Thailand during the UK winter. Bangkok is a crazed, bloated metropolis, but the southern islands are lovely. Over 50 and a Retirement Visa is quite easy to get, and they have just instituted a Digital Nomad visa which means you can stay a year at a time, and quite frankly, the requirements are a doddle to pass, even if you are relatively poor by UK standards. Thai healthcare is rated some of the best in S.E. Asia, though essentially private for Westerners.
I have developed an idea that small islands have more of a community and resilience to resist the traumatic events ahead. They are also often "Blue Zones" of longevity: I think the two are connected.
Last winter I stayed in Malta: easy to retire to for EU citizens, less so for UK, but possible. English speaking, but rather overcrowded. Don't know about the healthcare. Lots of history. Roads a bit chokka. (sorry = gridlocked). Seemed v safe compared to London.
My bottom line is nice people, warm weather and a good internet connection. I find fewer and fewer reasons to live in the UK, as nowhere will be spared from the burgeoning craziness.
Thanks for that, I was hoping for a few such responses to broaden the picture. Hopefully a few more will surface.
At 81 years of age and poor at foreign languages, I will wait it out in the good old USA.
We worked jobs with retirement income and put some 401K in the stock market so we are well set for the rest of our life. Extra income to help out the kids and grandkids.
Live in a small town near Columbus OH which is very livable and Columbus has improved culturally in the last 45 years that we have been in the area. The state politics are horrible.
I posted on one of your substacks a substack by an American who had lived many places around the world and is now overjoyed to live in Russia.
As many have pointed out, especially Michael Hudson, the basic living costs in the US are now too high for US to be competitive in the global market. Putin has pointed this out also. This cannot end well. The Ottoman empire spent 300 years going up and 300 years going down. I suspect that the US will go down for sure within a hundred years. Maybe 50. Maybe 20. In any case I won't be around to verify my hunch.
Thanks for writing. Wish you well.
Ok, good addition.
They are on the right side of the fence anyway.