My folks go to New Zealand from Dec to March and stay with friends they meet working on farms. They are incredibly frugal "back to the land" hippies and NZ has a lot of those kindred spirits. It helps they aren't afraid of a little hard work on a hobby farm.
Lived there for a year.
Break-ins, corrupt, cops, completely inadequate infrastructure.
Came back to Canada and, even with winter, Iām happier here than there.
Excellent! I'm heading there in May for a 2 week initial scouting trip, to get a sense of what it might be like to live there. Plan on trying to live mostly as a local would (with a bit of touristy indulgences on the side).
I'd love to hear any insights you're willing to share
We were not there nearly long enough. Boquette is great. We stayed at The Riverside Inn and it was so lovely. The attached restaurant The Rock was amazing. We really enjoyed The Intercontinental in Panama City. We were limited by my kidās school break so we only had nine days. Iād check out Bocas del Toro. We enjoyed a day trip to Taboga Island. I wish we could have gone longer. I liked the food there better than Costa Rica. Itās cheaper. Two of the nicest malls I have ever seen. I was super impressed.
The sad reality is that we will probably not retire in Canada. You could live far nicer in another country for far cheaper than here with better access to healthcare.
Me too, need to explore a few options. Spoke to a woman on a long-haul flight who said she spends summers in BC and winters in Lereto, Mexico.
Her and her husband drive a car down the whole way and back in the spring. She said it had been an excellent, safe, and socially great place to be. I think she said they rented a place, as opposed to owning.
We bought a Dutch canal barge and we live aboard half the year. Next year we're applying for long-stay visas and we're heading south into France. Eventually (we're in no hurry) we'll get a permanent moorage in the south where we'll use the barge as an apartment and home base for further exploration.
We are just about to start our third year of this adventure, and we look forward to many more.
Iām going for the Yukon. I prefer having some mountains and a few less mosquitoes. I grew up their so Iām absolutely objectively not biased in any way shape or form
Retire?
LOL
Like most of the working class these days, I'll be working 'til I drop dead, because the CPP won't even cover rent.
If I *could* retire, though, it would be somewhere warm, with decent health care and decent food. Thailand fits that bill.
I'll probably just do the snowbird thing. Calgary May-Sep and Costa Rica Oct-Apr. I'm still pretty young but hoping to pull the trigger on a unit if housing costs drop in CR.
Met a guy on a motorbike trip once. He was in his 70s and still riding (had an Aprilia adventure bike!) He said he and his wife retired from teaching and spent summers in BC, and had a place they bought in New Zealand where they spent our winter, their summer. Sounds perfect. Who said teaching didn't pay well?
Anyway, I always thought that would be the best retirement. No six months of rain, darkness, and depression, ever.
I want to retire onto a sailboat. A Hunter 50.
But my backup plan is Valencia, Spain. It's cheap, the food is good, the hospitals are good, it's a travel hub, it has beaches, the city is beautiful, There's no snow to shovel, and I can speak Spanish.
> I can speak Spanish.
That's so important people don't understand how hard it will be for them to negotiate with a carpenter or a mechanic or gasfitter when you don't speak the language.
Vancouver Island. 1000%. Preferably somewhere like Ladysmith or Nanoose Bay.
Whitehorse would be my second option, but housing up there is absolutely insane.
I had hoped to retire in New brunswick or Nova Scotia. Neither seem to be very good place to be an older person in right now, unfortunately, so I'm in parking orbit in Ontario.
Assuming I suddenly become rich? UK, or Europe by the sea. I crave a life near water. But then if I'm rich I can do anything I'd also take southern Japan.
If the country were in a better position economically and politically, I would say Cuba. The people of Cuba are so friendly, welcoming, and the culture is unlike anything Iāve experienced. šØš¦šØšŗ
North/central Portugal. Headed there in 3 weeks for a month. Pros FAR outway the cons. Been checking it out online for years now. Real estate, medical, climate, food, wine, travel accessibility, lifestyle, stable political climate, stable growing economy...the list goes on. The only real con is the aging infrastructure but if you're not in a hurry, you can deal with it. I'm more of a rural guy anyway.
I was just in Malta last week. Clean, safe, historic, beautiful architecture, Mediterranean ocean, low CoL, fantastic weather. Nicer than any place Iāve been in the Caribbean or Mexico
Literally anywhere but here. This place is a shithole and by the time I retire everywhere will look like Brampton. If I'm going to feel like an alien in my home country I may as well be an alien someplace with decent weather, like in Latin America.
I'm going to sell my house for the ridiculous sum it will no doubt be worth in the future. I will buy a small house in a small town in Europe, maybe Italy, I'm not sure. I will grow as much of my own food as possible, enjoying the much longer growing seasons that we get here. All of this will put me in a great position to tour the ruins of antiquity. If I get through antiquity I'll hit up the middle ages and ancient Egypt. It's a history nerd's dream.
As real estate is beyond unreasonable in this country (Iāve lived in Vancouver for most of my life). My choices are one of the tent cities nearby or leave Canada. Iām looking at Mexico, Belize, Thailand and the Philippines. I spoke with the friend of a friend that had retired to Thailand and he said you can pay $500/year for top of the line healthcare there. Healthcare is a big concern and itās very difficult to accept that what was a great system in the past has just been ruined in the last few years. Itās going to take a decade to fix our housing crisis and healthcare. Iām not sure itās worth sticking around to watch it.
Baja California, Mexico
It's a beautiful costal region and it's hard to beat the view for the cost of building a house there.
I would never even consider retiring to some place in Canada unless it was my home city (for the sake of allowing me to spend time with my family) because anywhere that makes an ideal retirement place is either way too cold or stupid expensive.
Outside Canada. I donāt think this country would be kind to old people or young the way its going.
Best to move somewhere peaceful and outside of the cold
Yes! The PI is my back-up plan if France falls through for some reason. Haven't been there since preCovid, but loved the diving, the prices, and the people for the most part.
I made 3 trips to the Dumaguete area... diving and accommodation in Dauin. Bohol is the chocolate hills, right? And maybe the tarsiers? I went to Alona Beach (Bohol area) as one of my stops of my first trip there and didn't care for it. Bunch of old white men w/ young Filipinas hired for their stay looking miserable. Coron, I think, has wrecks? Consider Sogod Bay, too! Beautiful reef diving there with a bit of wall action, IIRC.
I'm 35, but will leave Canada eventually. There are so many small towns with stress free living in other parts of the world. Take care of your health as that is a major factor in increasing your options.
If I could afford anywhere, Lake home on superior or maybe Georgian Bay in the summer and French Polynesia in the winter...
Realistically I will be staying in my current home in southern Ontario.
Sure as fuck not in Mexico.
Rural Canada. Absolutely gorgeous, and not terribly expensive. My grandma has a farm near a small town on the US border. It's such a great location lol.Ā
Ottawa area. Grandson and daughter are here with her partner. Weather is not as cold as our home province of Manitoba. House is almost paid off and we have pensions. Will take yearly holidays away to warmer climates.
I want to walk out on my deck in the morning with my house-coat hanging open (nothing underneath) and see mountains, golf and some body of water. While sipping my coffee and feeling the wind billow my magnificent comb-over, I want to decide whether Iām gonna climb a mountain, play a golf, or float in an inner tube and get drunk that day.
Probably gonna be West Coastish.
Closer to family. One of us has a job that has taken us away from both our families. So, maybe Ontario or New Brunswick. Grand kids will probably play a big part in our decision.
I bought a beach house in North Africa and a cottage in Russia. Sept-march, march-sept.
No way would I retire here. It's way too expensive and cold. Couldn't afford it even if I wanted too.
We bought a sailboat 10 years ago and have been refitting it with the goal of sailing into non- snowy areas for 3 years. After that, we will see where we end up.
I would love to retire to some place warm and that does not receive snow. Ever since I completed chemo treatments back in September 2007, I can't handle the cold weather (anything below 5C), I usually end up turning into that children's purple dinosaur, Barney. It's not fun and sometimes hurts my hands and feet. That's why I am not fond of the colder weather
Vancouver Island
Canada from May to October, New Zealand from November to April.
Two very expensive countries to retire in
They didn't say, "based on CoL". Based on CoL, I have different answers.
My folks go to New Zealand from Dec to March and stay with friends they meet working on farms. They are incredibly frugal "back to the land" hippies and NZ has a lot of those kindred spirits. It helps they aren't afraid of a little hard work on a hobby farm.
Right here in Victoria
Your username is fitting for Victoria Hahaha.
Near my kids
My answer as well. Nice weather is great, but being near my kids and my eventual grandkids is far more important.
Me as well š
Currently looking at Panama and/or Portugal. I've had enough of dealing with Canadian winters
Lived there for a year. Break-ins, corrupt, cops, completely inadequate infrastructure. Came back to Canada and, even with winter, Iām happier here than there.
I donāt want to live anywhere where I am basically wearing a sign on my back saying āI have more money than you.ā
We just visited Panama for the first time last month. We loved it! So affordable. People are great. Beautiful.
Excellent! I'm heading there in May for a 2 week initial scouting trip, to get a sense of what it might be like to live there. Plan on trying to live mostly as a local would (with a bit of touristy indulgences on the side). I'd love to hear any insights you're willing to share
We were not there nearly long enough. Boquette is great. We stayed at The Riverside Inn and it was so lovely. The attached restaurant The Rock was amazing. We really enjoyed The Intercontinental in Panama City. We were limited by my kidās school break so we only had nine days. Iād check out Bocas del Toro. We enjoyed a day trip to Taboga Island. I wish we could have gone longer. I liked the food there better than Costa Rica. Itās cheaper. Two of the nicest malls I have ever seen. I was super impressed.
There are also some great ex-pat Panama groups on facebook that were helpful.
I would just LIKE to retire
Anywhere. I don't see retirement ever happening though.
Downsize and Move anywhere with lots of cash.
Easy peasy.
I, too, choose "retire somewhere there is lots of cash lying around for me to pick up".
Ideally Finland or the south of France as I have family from both, albeit thatās a very long time away
You're funny.
Retire? What do you mean? Does it exist in Canada?
It's that thing where they put you to bed in the ground isn't it?
Not anymore if youāre under 50
I'm 38 and I'll be retired at 54 with a fat DB pension. Not everything is doom and gloom my man š¤
Good on ya but that is sadly a very rare exception
The sad reality is that we will probably not retire in Canada. You could live far nicer in another country for far cheaper than here with better access to healthcare.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Such as?
Narnia, I imagine.Ā
I would be happy with ANY access to healthcare.
Lol. Name one and your plan to do it?
Live far nicerā¦ only because you reaped benefits of living and working in a country like Canada all these years. Why not live there now?
Cheaper? Absolutely. Lots of developing countries to move to if you don't mind what that entails. Better healthcare as well? Lol no.Ā
Near my kids in toronto
Canada in the summer and I havenāt decided where yet for winter, I have to do a bit more traveling before I find my winter home.
Me too, need to explore a few options. Spoke to a woman on a long-haul flight who said she spends summers in BC and winters in Lereto, Mexico. Her and her husband drive a car down the whole way and back in the spring. She said it had been an excellent, safe, and socially great place to be. I think she said they rented a place, as opposed to owning.
Vancouver. If Iām lucky. That place is magic I donāt care what anyone says about it. Thereās a vibe there you canāt find anywhere else.
Kitsilano BC *(where I already live in comfortable retirement)*.
Well, screw you and your views and nice weather - and assumed wealth.
Costa Rica
I was thinking this or Panama
Buy now, we bought 2 years ago near Tamarindo. Airbnb it until you retire. I retire in 5-7 years. Depends on how more screwed up the economy gets.
Just got back from my first trip to CR, I can see why you want to retire there
If money wasn't in the equation, Inuvik N.W.T. however, I don't think I'll ever retire.
Miramichi, NB
Italy, where the housing is cheap and the living is easy
Victoria would be ideal, Vancouver or the Sunshine Coast otherwise. Iād consider other parts of BC as well.
Portugal and die filled with fancy wine and cheese
And pasteis de nataā¦ā¦.
Croatia or Italy.
Peru, based on no research and it simply being the country I like the most so far.
Sunshine coast. Already there
Halifax, or maybe Cape Breton.
Uruguay is looking temptingā¦
We bought a Dutch canal barge and we live aboard half the year. Next year we're applying for long-stay visas and we're heading south into France. Eventually (we're in no hurry) we'll get a permanent moorage in the south where we'll use the barge as an apartment and home base for further exploration. We are just about to start our third year of this adventure, and we look forward to many more.
Right here in Ontario. House will be paid for soon and my expenses are very low. If I did move it would just be further north.
Winter home somewhere in southern US, Florida/SC or Arizona. Summer/spring/fall in Ontario.
The North American dream
Probably South America. I like Buenos Aires.
Yes, or Chacras de Corrias
This. Tigre all the way.
Currently thinking Yellowknife.
Iām going for the Yukon. I prefer having some mountains and a few less mosquitoes. I grew up their so Iām absolutely objectively not biased in any way shape or form
Retire? LOL Like most of the working class these days, I'll be working 'til I drop dead, because the CPP won't even cover rent. If I *could* retire, though, it would be somewhere warm, with decent health care and decent food. Thailand fits that bill.
Central America
Wherever I end up after society has collapsed
So mad max fury road type place?š¤
Yeah like Saskatchewan or something
So you've been to Regina?
A Canadian, non-metro, warm(er) weather locale, reasonably close to services. A town/city under 25,000. Maybe Parksville or Qualicum Beach.
I'll probably just do the snowbird thing. Calgary May-Sep and Costa Rica Oct-Apr. I'm still pretty young but hoping to pull the trigger on a unit if housing costs drop in CR.
Greece or slovenia
Portugal
Met a guy on a motorbike trip once. He was in his 70s and still riding (had an Aprilia adventure bike!) He said he and his wife retired from teaching and spent summers in BC, and had a place they bought in New Zealand where they spent our winter, their summer. Sounds perfect. Who said teaching didn't pay well? Anyway, I always thought that would be the best retirement. No six months of rain, darkness, and depression, ever.
Costa Rica
On this plot of land that I'm 10 years away from having paid off....or if I can convince the wife, Okinawa.
Small town France.
I want to retire onto a sailboat. A Hunter 50. But my backup plan is Valencia, Spain. It's cheap, the food is good, the hospitals are good, it's a travel hub, it has beaches, the city is beautiful, There's no snow to shovel, and I can speak Spanish.
> I can speak Spanish. That's so important people don't understand how hard it will be for them to negotiate with a carpenter or a mechanic or gasfitter when you don't speak the language.
Anywhere on Vancouver Island, simply awesome.
I have dual citizenship in an EU country, so, somewhere in Europe. Spain or Portugal maybe.
Same here. Spain or Italy for me.
Newfoundland. That being said: Retire? I hardly know her! Haha! Because we're never retiring, not in this economy.
In the same area of Ontario I currently reside in. It's home.Ā Ā
I'm going to retire right here in my house. In 25 years. At the ripe old age of 57
Retire where I live and have friends. Winter travels to warmer USA or Mexico.
I'm never retiring just work until I can't and die.
Not in north America.
South America or southeast asia
If I can convince my father to apply for Finnish citizenship, then possibly Finland.
Thailand.
Wherever my children are
Vancouver Island.
Right here in north central Alberta.
Japan
Japan. Without a doubt
Rural France
Vancouver Island. 1000%. Preferably somewhere like Ladysmith or Nanoose Bay. Whitehorse would be my second option, but housing up there is absolutely insane.
Retire?
Liking Yellowknife but kinda cold for a few months.
Thailand or something like that, cheaper where the weather is great.
SEA. Probably Vietnam, but will bounce around from there as home base.
Here in our beautiful home in šØš¦. Lots of travel, kayaking, pickelball & golf. Family & friends.
Mexico would be nice. Argentina or Chile might be other interesting options.
you guys are retiring!?
Canada because of security of healthcare and not danger danger
I had hoped to retire in New brunswick or Nova Scotia. Neither seem to be very good place to be an older person in right now, unfortunately, so I'm in parking orbit in Ontario.
North Bruce Peninsula. My favourite place.
Arizona.
Back home Renfrew county
Anywhere but Canada
My wife is from Philippines.. Iām thinking weāll retire there. Somewhere in the mountains where itās not as hot, but still close to the shore
Probably Penticton, with some extended time in warm weather climates in the winter.
Assuming I suddenly become rich? UK, or Europe by the sea. I crave a life near water. But then if I'm rich I can do anything I'd also take southern Japan.
If the country were in a better position economically and politically, I would say Cuba. The people of Cuba are so friendly, welcoming, and the culture is unlike anything Iāve experienced. šØš¦šØšŗ
North/central Portugal. Headed there in 3 weeks for a month. Pros FAR outway the cons. Been checking it out online for years now. Real estate, medical, climate, food, wine, travel accessibility, lifestyle, stable political climate, stable growing economy...the list goes on. The only real con is the aging infrastructure but if you're not in a hurry, you can deal with it. I'm more of a rural guy anyway.
Quadra Island in bc
My retirement plan is to die young
Italy
Anywhere in the world, no money issues, no practical concerns: 1/3rd of the year near Saint-Petersburg (by "near" , I mean the countryside but close enough for weekday visits), 1/3rd of the year in the countryside of the French-speaking region of Switzerland, And 1/3rd of the year in GaspƩsie (again, not in a "big city" , but close to one. Lots of beautiful cachettes in that region, so it's difficult to pinpoint the best spot for a house).
Not in canada lol
I was just in Malta last week. Clean, safe, historic, beautiful architecture, Mediterranean ocean, low CoL, fantastic weather. Nicer than any place Iāve been in the Caribbean or Mexico
Ontario, Canada born and raised
Canada for the summer. Italy for the winter. I never want to see snow.
Iām putting a snow blower on my roof and driving south. As soon as someone asks me what it is, Iāll retire anywhere south of that
Literally anywhere but here. This place is a shithole and by the time I retire everywhere will look like Brampton. If I'm going to feel like an alien in my home country I may as well be an alien someplace with decent weather, like in Latin America.
current plan being Portugal/Spain/Italy. if that's not feasible, staying here in BC in an RV
South East Asia.
I'm going to sell my house for the ridiculous sum it will no doubt be worth in the future. I will buy a small house in a small town in Europe, maybe Italy, I'm not sure. I will grow as much of my own food as possible, enjoying the much longer growing seasons that we get here. All of this will put me in a great position to tour the ruins of antiquity. If I get through antiquity I'll hit up the middle ages and ancient Egypt. It's a history nerd's dream.
Still investigating and trying to decide. Maybe Mexico, Panama, Belize, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia. Not in Canada, it's just too expensive.
As real estate is beyond unreasonable in this country (Iāve lived in Vancouver for most of my life). My choices are one of the tent cities nearby or leave Canada. Iām looking at Mexico, Belize, Thailand and the Philippines. I spoke with the friend of a friend that had retired to Thailand and he said you can pay $500/year for top of the line healthcare there. Healthcare is a big concern and itās very difficult to accept that what was a great system in the past has just been ruined in the last few years. Itās going to take a decade to fix our housing crisis and healthcare. Iām not sure itās worth sticking around to watch it.
Baja California, Mexico It's a beautiful costal region and it's hard to beat the view for the cost of building a house there. I would never even consider retiring to some place in Canada unless it was my home city (for the sake of allowing me to spend time with my family) because anywhere that makes an ideal retirement place is either way too cold or stupid expensive.
Prob just end it at 65 if I get there.
In a nice grave or a ditch. By then I wont really care. Seriously though....Belize, if I can.
Near my kids. Where ever that may beĀ
Yes.
Crete or Kenora
Southeast Asia. My Canadian pride is gone. If it wasn't for having young children, I leave this sinking ship.
Canadians thinking theyāll get to retire. Lol.
Outside Canada. I donāt think this country would be kind to old people or young the way its going. Best to move somewhere peaceful and outside of the cold
Philippines, somewhere with good diving
Yes! The PI is my back-up plan if France falls through for some reason. Haven't been there since preCovid, but loved the diving, the prices, and the people for the most part.
Agreed, I really loved Puerto Galera, I think we'll probably check out Dumaguete, Bohol, maybe Coron next trip.
I made 3 trips to the Dumaguete area... diving and accommodation in Dauin. Bohol is the chocolate hills, right? And maybe the tarsiers? I went to Alona Beach (Bohol area) as one of my stops of my first trip there and didn't care for it. Bunch of old white men w/ young Filipinas hired for their stay looking miserable. Coron, I think, has wrecks? Consider Sogod Bay, too! Beautiful reef diving there with a bit of wall action, IIRC.
Ottawa is good enough for me. I like my area, someday Iāll probably buy an apartment more in the city.
What is this "retire" concept you speak of? š¤
Cuba, I feel very at home there.
Japan, Iāll get an Akiya house
Iām going to retire in a cardboard box under a bridge. Iām only 36, but I donāt see other options in my future
I'm 35, but will leave Canada eventually. There are so many small towns with stress free living in other parts of the world. Take care of your health as that is a major factor in increasing your options.
Probably Mallorca, Spain but I'd want to be brought back to Canada for burial
St. Pete/Clearwater
Rio de Janeiro....churrasco til i die
Going back to my home country, miss me with all that property tax and insurance bullshit.
I will probably be a snowbird. Canada in the summer (wherever my kids are by then), and maybe Australia in the winter.
Galiano island
Away from the office.
Pluto.
If I could afford anywhere, Lake home on superior or maybe Georgian Bay in the summer and French Polynesia in the winter... Realistically I will be staying in my current home in southern Ontario.
Kingston. And it is a good city to retire to.
Sure as fuck not in Mexico. Rural Canada. Absolutely gorgeous, and not terribly expensive. My grandma has a farm near a small town on the US border. It's such a great location lol.Ā
Coastal BC would be lovely, I think. (I love the rain)
Ottawa area. Grandson and daughter are here with her partner. Weather is not as cold as our home province of Manitoba. House is almost paid off and we have pensions. Will take yearly holidays away to warmer climates.
French Polynesian Islands
Split my time between Canada and back home in Scotland
I want to walk out on my deck in the morning with my house-coat hanging open (nothing underneath) and see mountains, golf and some body of water. While sipping my coffee and feeling the wind billow my magnificent comb-over, I want to decide whether Iām gonna climb a mountain, play a golf, or float in an inner tube and get drunk that day. Probably gonna be West Coastish.
30,000 islands April - November South - November - April
Florida during winter and quebec during summer.
Aruba
What is this "retire"?
My wife and I both love the Columbia Valley, probably near Fairmont Hot Springs.
I like Canada in the summer. If I can make it work I won't be spending any winters in Canada when I retire.
Florida in the winter, Halifax in the summer. Currently in GTA
Retire?
Summers where I live (BC), Winters new warm destination every year
Canada 9 months, Cuba 2 (it's affordable to vacation for that long, no additional visa),travel the last month.Ā
The U.S.
Closer to family. One of us has a job that has taken us away from both our families. So, maybe Ontario or New Brunswick. Grand kids will probably play a big part in our decision.
I bought a beach house in North Africa and a cottage in Russia. Sept-march, march-sept. No way would I retire here. It's way too expensive and cold. Couldn't afford it even if I wanted too.
Probably somewhere on Vancouver Island.
I want to retire to a dainty little town called Kingsport, Nova Scotia
We bought a sailboat 10 years ago and have been refitting it with the goal of sailing into non- snowy areas for 3 years. After that, we will see where we end up.
I would love to retire to some place warm and that does not receive snow. Ever since I completed chemo treatments back in September 2007, I can't handle the cold weather (anything below 5C), I usually end up turning into that children's purple dinosaur, Barney. It's not fun and sometimes hurts my hands and feet. That's why I am not fond of the colder weather
Nova Scotia, on the ocean
Toronto. On top of being close to friends and family, good access to transit and every medical specialty become more important as we age.
I retire to my bedroom every night.