Getting the hell out of dodge (expat country suggestions!)

[Herman Munster]

What are the best expat countries with liberal politics, socialized healthcare and low cost of living compared to the U.S.? A mild climate would just be the icing on the cake.

[NMDemDist2]

1. check out Costa Rica n/t

[lapfog_1]

6. That's where I'm headed... but I need $250K to go forever...

and ever. I figure I have 25 years left to putz... and $10K a year might just do it.

[mcscajun]

2. Don't forget to include liberal immigration policies (lotsa luck there)

that include your age, wealth and skill groups, and a language you can speak, or learn well enough to discuss medical care.

[sweetheart]

3. "british colonies"

will be the closest to your cultural benchmarks, speak english, and appreciate american individualism.

[bdamomma]

4. if anyone is considering jumping ship

some british colonies require a "work permit".

[Herman Munster]

7. I *think* Costa Rica and Panama

just require you to buy and own property in their country and they give you residency.

I've heard a LOT of nice things about Panama. epecially Boca Del Toro.

[babylonsister]

5. I've read lots of expats are flocking to Panama. nt

[Herman Munster]

9. interesting article I found

No crime, no racism, no taxes, no police raids, a full-time, live-in maid costs $120 a month... Life, amigos, is very good!

http://www.escapeartist.com/Isla_Solarte/Isla_Solarte.html

[marmar]

8. The Netherlands...

Dutch is the language, but everyone there speaks English better than most everyone you know. I suspect that in the world of work, Dutch becomes the language used, but it's probably one of the easier languages for an Anglophone to learn. The cost of living is higher than here, but not bad by European standards. As far as liberalism goes, they wrote and rewrote the book. The climate isn't a warm one, but there winters are generally not as bad as those in the northern U.S. because of the proximity to the sea (not very much snow). Summers (except for this one, apparently) are usually very comfy.
But again, I suspect immigration policies are fairly tough.

[Mend]

10. e.s.p. I was thinking about this very thing just now...

if only our house would sell, we would be out of here for good. It has been listed for 10 months without a bite. This country is Hitler's Germany 1933 and counting. We will put Costa Rica on our list, although we don't speak Spanish. Also thinking of Vancouver, Canada and British Virgins and little Caribbean islands like St. Eustacia.

[hughee99]

11. Cuba has all of those things, or so I hear. n/t

[longship]

12. Belize.

Formerly British Guiana.

They speak English. They have rain forest. On the Carribean. They're enviro-friendly. What's not to like about it?

www.4windstravel.com/shows/belize/belize.html

[Reciprocity]

13. New Zealand or Australia

Work and live permanently in New Zealand
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/Migrant/Stream/Work/WorkAndLivePermanently
http://move2nz.com/
Australian immigration
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/index.htm#migrating

[BooScout]

14. I'm partial to the UK

Wales is nice. Nice scenery, nice liberal people. Nice beer.