If you are a disabled veteran with at least a 60 percent rating...

[MikeMaslowski]

...take that and enjoy your life around the World..well, Central/South America.

Hey guys! I was thinking about how fortunate I am and thought maybe I could put a bug in the ear of someone to cheer them up and see a new path.

I got out of the Army back in 2010 and was awarded with a 60 percent disability rating. My terrible marriage came to an end, I had used the GI bill to graduate from college and started looking around for work. Wow, did that just about make me want spend the afternoon drinking with Ray Rice...that bad.

After 6 months of deliberating I decided to take my 60 percent (which is around a thousand bucks a month) and move to a fully equipped cabin on the beach in Costa Rica. (the light blue Caribbean waters just outside my front door)

With that monthly money I was able to easily live, enjoy internet, cable, endless white sandy beaches and still have money for "extras". (Obviously no car, big screens or hot water but NO WORK either!)

Going into that adventure I thought I would be happy being single living in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen at a cut rate price. However..life took over and my heart went pitter patter over a beautiful, smart, gorgeous, amazing, beautiful, perfect Costa Rican woman.

It has been two years since I stepped on the plane and left South Dakota. My WIFE and I just celebrated our one year wedding anniversary on Sunday. (Thanks for the shitty gift fat Andy..my bride said "Why didn't they just count and see that there were twelve players? That seems pretty simple, right?" Gotta love her.)

Anywho, if you have some adventure in your bones (which you do if you signed up) roll the dice Vets. Or, if you are not a vet but have a thousand dollars a month pension or a big wad of cash, take a look around and decide if living in the US is what you really want.

Take the leap and you may be rewarded more than you could ever imagine!

Cheers and have wonderful day!



P.S. For anyone that actually wants to try this, let me know and I will break down every step for you.


Edit: I forgot to mention that I am 30, a good age for retirement.

[MikeMaslowski]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Sweet! Congrats man!

I am considering a similar move but mine is likely to be more nomadic. I am finally at a point where my work is completely location independent. In theory, so long as I have internet I can work anywhere.

I am leaning heavily towards spending next May-June-July in Tallinn, Estonia but I need a couple non-EU spots that I can rotate through as well. (only allowed 90 day stay per 6 month period as an American in EU)

I was thinking of Thailand or Indonesia but Central or South America certainly is an option. My concerns are in order of importance...

1. Having a reliable internet connection.
2. English speakers to drink with (my Spanish is enough to get by but not to have a solid conversation)
3. Decent rent costs

Any thoughts? It looks like it would have to be Belize, Costa Rica or Panama.

Wow, man. Congrats to you! You are way out of my league as far as cash goes because a single plane ticket over to Thailand can be around 2 grand IIRC. Unless you like little boy looking women, I would come down here to Central America.

I did not research the far east but there are plenty of places just like you described in those three counties you mentioned. Belize has expensive housing on the coasts and too close to the Mexican decapitators for me. Panama, well, the have shitty beaches. Unless you go to the San Blas islands(you can't live there as it's owned by tribes) you will mostly find ugly. Costa Rica ended up perfect for me. Many nomad types here. If you search and ask around, decent internet can be found.

As for Americans, you will find all types here. Plenty of bars on both coasts to enjoy your drinks. Always have your skeevy liar radar on as those types are all over. I would elaborate more, and probably will later but I gotta run!

Cheers and enjoy whatever path you choose!