Costa Rica, Panama, Thailand and the Philippines are also viable options. A couple can easily get by, a single person as well, with the poor retirement payout due them/him/her.
I've looked at them all since the mid-90's, can give positives and negatives for each. There's no one size fits all, enough variety to please most people. The main thing is most countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia have at least one city or town that's very liveable and affordable. Often many places. And yes it's a shame we have to even consider leaving the country but this is the hand we've been dealt. But if people want to work into their 70's because they think there's no choice that's their business. Our management may think they have me over a barrel, that I have no choice but to keep working because they've put me in that position. They're wrong.
I watched an episode of "Inside Man" and the topic was overseas medical care. Americans are flying to India to have major surgery that could have them filing for bankruptcy had they had it done in the states. The show mostly focused on a Bangkok hospital. This hospital looked like the four seasons hotel. The prices quoted for different procedures seemed like the patient could just write a check. IMHO, the care abroad seems better than in many parts of this country. The point is, there are options. And moving to Chiang Mai, paying 250 a month for a nice Condo, cheap food and plenty of things to do isn't the worst retirement option.
They sent out nice glossy info every year saying what we'd get if we stuck with them. Right up until they announced they were terminating the plan. Along with telling us we'd top out in 7-8 years. Our DM told us they just couldn't afford the traditional pension anymore. If I knew in '98 what I know now I'd have never gotten rehired. But what did I know, as you said it used to be a decent deal. I have a feeling they'll keep raising starting pay as a way to get new suckers in. So if I stay until I'm 60, I'm 53, I'll be making what newhires make. Screw it, I'm going to Nicaragua.
That sounds just like a segment "60 Minutes" did about 10 years ago. Had like 6 registered nurses waiting on each patient at that nice Thai hospital.
I think I may have seen that episode as well. If there was a scene where 6 nurses came into a male patients room and all stood over him and prayed just before his surgery, then I saw it too.
Sorry for the late response. I've been busy working my other job. Which apparently is the theme at my station as secondary employment is mandatory to survive. My turning point was this past summer when the FedEx Nascar was being shown in our parking lot and simultaneously our Regional director sent out a letter explaining why limiting overtime for hourlies was "good for our health." And the light bulbs in our bathrooms were dead. And we had to go 2 months before receiving paper towels because "it was not in the budget." So the company is making millions every quarter, but for the month of July and August employees will be forced to defecate in the dark and not have towels to dry their hands after they wash them.
That's when you start making anonymous phone calls to OSHA. It really pissed management off. Which is a plus.
I think they live next door to each other. Lakes for back yards.
