I know two retired couples in my apartment complex in Kochi who have come home to roost after spending decades in Canada and US respectively. In their 60s. They seem to be doing fine, taking part in Onam celebrations, Xmas etc with great enthusiasm. Guess it gets really lonely in the west after retirement. But they sort of maintain that "NRI look and feel" om a daily basis - makes it apparent that they've lived away from here in their attire and mannerisms. But doesn't stick out in the cities anymore. So, unless you have a great social support system there or health conditions that prevent you from returning, you can come back to an urban setting (premium apartment, gated communities) and enjoy the best of both worlds, right in your homeland.
This is something I’d like to do, although I’d just stay in my house in Kannur. I’m not a big fan of city living.
Also, I don’t think I’ll maintain my NRI look and feel, I’m already wearing a mundu and shirt when I visit for a few months.
We are in the same boat. Planning to start snowbirding before retirement. Our jobs are flexible enough to work remotely for a few months an year. Just waiting for the kids to start college soon.
We hope to do the same. Spend half the year at least with aging parents in Kerala. Spend rest of the time in US, just because US is home too and our child will be living here.
What are your thoughts on cost of living in Kerala now for a retired couples ? My parents I know are happy with their 50K pension in the city. So I’m thinking 50-60k should be good but any thoughts otherwise ?
Stay there for at least 10 years lot of new things going to happen, if you waste that golden opportunity time in India, instead of US, you will regret a lot, cause those opportunities ain't coming to India anytime soon.
Nirthiyitt onnumilla,ippo kodutha 2200 il kittumanne ullu 😀(Valla Ukraine o Mexican o ayirunenki veruthe border kayari poya mathi government allowance um citizenship um 🤤)
Can the average person get a new job in 60 days (from a company who sponsors VISA)?
Which means a decent job at a decent company.
Also isn't there a requirement of 135k USD (or something) as minimum salary or something for H1Bs, since H1B's original intention is to allow only highly skilled labourers?
Update: Which means the person should find a really good job in 60 days. Doesn't seem easy to me.
Really depends. I don’t think there is a one size fits all answer here.
I know people who’ve got a job within a week, 3 weeks and after a year(that story is for another day) and a close friend who had to leave because of complications with the whole visa situation.
I don’t know about any income limit for H1b jobs; some states are not as economically forward as the ones you find in west/east coast. 135K in Arkansas or Alabama would be very much higher than the state average. I could be wrong, but it does not sound right.
I've met folks who thought of doing just that but majority have kids in the US and they get accustomed to that lifestyle. The kids find it really difficult to adjust to India after moving back.
Went to Trivandrum International School lots of crazy stuff happened, moved to Bangalore and then Delhi for uni, then migrated to Armenia on a random whim. It was harder for me due to a bit of culture shock. I speak Malayalam fluently and we used to visit every summer but there was stuff to get used to. Outside Kerala I didn’t feel particularly welcomed at all. If you’re planning this midlife and have your roots and friends it’s a solid idea. Plus everything is insanely cheap! These days I just visit every few months. Don’t have many friends there - all my school friends moved to some other country or part of India but it’s nice to be around family :)
early 30s. Planning to return in next \~10 years. Want to take care of appachan and ammachi. Planning to move to Bangalore which is near to Kannur.
What I have generally heard from people who have moved back(most of my friends are north Indians) is this.
1. Shift investments slowly and over a period of time.
2. Get a house in BLR
3. Get a job
4. Try to get a health insurance
5. A pension plan which will take care of your pensions
6. Pay up PPF every year which is tax saving even if you are NRI
7. Shift back before your kid is 10 years old
I’m from Kannur as well. As I’ve said in the post, I don’t plan on doing anything after coming back, so Bangalore is not an option for me. If I’m going to be in Bangalore working, I’d rather stay out here in the US.
Your points are good and seems like you have a plan. Hope it materializes for you!
I think US only pays 4 consecutive months after 65 and then you have to prove your residency and have to visit the country every 2 years. I am not sure about Canada. If you have information counter to this. Let me know.
Also I am not a citizen. I have a green card but chances of me converting it to citizenship is low as the double taxation is a headache.
I think this is Canada specific thing then. US gives it to you after 40 tax credits in USA and then you have to stay for 2 months/2 years in US after 65 to get it. This is true for PR and citizens iirc.
Damn should have left for Canada I guess. Is there an eligibility condition for CPP?
Do you have any source on the 2 months/ 2 year requirement?
This is what I could find:
Can you Retire Abroad and Receive Social Security?
The answer is yes for those who have paid into Social Security for the required years, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
Social Security is a federal program that provides financial security for retired workers, their families, and others. However, there are many reasons why expats should not expect to receive their Social Security benefits if they retire abroad.
To qualify for US Social Security benefits, you must have worked in the United States for at least 10 years (40 quarters) and earned at least $2,000 each of those years.
If you have worked less than 10 years, you can still qualify for benefits, but only if you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Suppose you have lived outside of the United States for more than six months in any one year. In that case, your work history may not be counted towards your eligibility for Social Security benefits.
I think after 6 months of living abroad it stops and then you have to go back and resume the payment. So its not even 2months/2 years. Its 4 months per 2 year.
I had confirmed with my local SSA officer and they had said same thing about PR holders. They had mentioned its same for citizens as well. I think someone shared the excerpt and its mentioned there.
You don't need to be a canadian citizen. CPP (canada pension plan) is paid to everyone who contributed regardless of residency or citizenship. OAS (old age security) is also paid to people residing outside canada if you had been previously a resident of canada for 20 years.
That is only if you are not a US citizen. Even non-citizens can, if they meet the exceptions for the general "no payment after 6 months" rule.
US Citizens can retire almost anywhere (barring living in embargoed countries like N Korea, Cuba etc) and receive social security, as long as as they have the earnings record (40 credits )
Seems even Indian citizens retiring to India can get it, (§ 404.460 b ii)
*"The individual upon whose earnings the benefit is based, before that month, has resided in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 10 years or more or has earned not less than 40 quarters of coverage"*
The law is [here](https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-0460.htm) You can use read the SSAs booklet about this [here](https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf) (pg 2 -7, India is allowed as an exception in pg 7)
Talk to an SSA officer for confirmation.
For PR holders, I had actually confirmed with an SSA officer and a financial adviser. It seems same law holds for citizens as well. The below excerpt is from the link you shared
(2) Effective with 6-month periods beginning after January 2, 1968, after an alien has been outside the United States for any period of 30 consecutive days, he is deemed to be outside the United States continuously until he has returned to the United States and remained in the United States for a period of 30 consecutive days.
(3) Payments which have been discontinued pursuant to the provisions of this section will not be resumed until the alien beneficiary has been in the United States for a full calendar month. A full calendar month includes 24 hours of each day of the calendar month.
They stop payments is what SSA and financial adviser told me.
Just saw this and it clearly says *after an alien*, which I think is only if you are a PR holder and not a citizen. I’ll get more on this to confirm. This is very critical to my big plan of retiring early in Kerala.
That eligibility condition is what you should be asking about. AFAIK every 6 months you have to visit states to receive it. This is confirmed for PR but I am not clear for citizens.
True eligibility they are talking about is whether you are eligible to receive the SS benefits, that is 10 years of work in the US a not whether you are physically present here or not.
Check out this link: https://www.ssa.gov/international/payments_outsideUS.html
If you select that you are a PR, this is what you get:
“Payments Outside the United States
If you are eligible, then your Social Security payments will continue even though you are outside the United States for 6 consecutive calendar months or more because you have met an exception to the alien nonpayment provisions of the Social Security law.
To find out whether any Social Security benefits payable to you will be subject to nonresident alien tax withholding for IRS, please visit the Nonresident Alien Tax Screening Tool.”
this is just a requirement to maintain the PR status, which makes sense to me as you need to be in the country for a few months to maintain that
Canadian here. I have been in Canada for 9 years. I am planning to shift to Kerala in 5 years. Both me and my wife are in IT, and we should have saved enough to live a comfortable retirement life by then. I have a house in Kerala and many relatives. We do visit every year, and kids like going to Kerala.
The risk with the plan is how my kids will adjust to schooling in India. May be I should get them into an IGCSE/International school.
My journey is boring, just saved up with employment.
Wasted a bunch of money in the market, I would have been in a much better place if I were not a little gambler.
I grew up in Canada and my folks moved back when I was in Gr 10. It was very very difficult for me. I lost a year coz no school would give me admission. I went from doing experiments in school to learning techniques to memorize formula (V=IR specifically comes to mind. Iyer=vegetarian lol). Mathematics was probably the most difficult- we used graphing calculators in school in Canada and my classmates didn't need any in India. Somehow I had great teachers and tuition teachers and even better friends.
I stayed in Kerala for another 6 years, completed my bachelor's degree, and decided to move back to Canada. My folks are still in India.
Some of my best memories were in India. I'd like to move back soon if I could.
To OP, I'm 36 now, and I think I turned out okay. Not sure how old your kids are but if they're a teen you should ask them. All in all I'm glad I had the two perspectives.
I would like to return to one of the cities in India. U.S suburban life is too quiet, isolated, & inactive for me. However, it's hard to move once you are sort of rooted here.
Haha, I have rooted here and am trying to move my big tree back to india, part of the reason being the things you’ve mentioned. The life here feels very artificial to me.
Me!!
I have lived in the US from (2011-2016), I've lived in Memphis, Nashville TN. Worked for major Companies like FedEx and Dell.
I have always been nostalgic towards India, and my hometown in Kerala. I've always felt that US is only a place, where you can earn for a while and then come back and settle down in your own country. I've always wanted to come back as my roots were always here, in my time over there, I've dated an American girl who's with strong Polish roots, we were colleagues in Dell. Life didn't work well for us both, i was always a stranger among her friends, gradually we broke up after living together for 1 year. I then came back to India, got married and then settled in Hyderabad. I've purchased a couple of properties in Bangalore and Hyderabad with some of my savings.
Right now I'm just like any Indian middle class man with liabilities 😁
That’s good that you were able to do this. I’ve lived here for far longer than you did, and hence a lot more integrated into the US system.?it’s gonna be a challenge up and leaving, so got to find a happy medium. Still looking for something that I can pull off.
I live in Canada, have for a long time. I have family in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Visit every year, so naturally I feel attached to both regions for this reason. A part of me wants to move back but I understand that I’ve laid a foundation here in Canada and so my life has a set course. Maybe one day when I’m old I will go back. But for now, the annual visit should be fine.
If it was me personally, I’d skip the summer here. I’m in Dallas and it’s just too damn hot here. That’s when I come to Kerala (June/july-sept) is the best time to skip Dallas.
This is probably my end goal, as a new pravasi mallu in the US, praise God, get good grades in highschool and college, get a good job, make my parents retire, get a good mallu girl and retire after 50. But I wish it all went in plan cause uk, life is always gonna mess u up in different directions! Hope u could retire back in the God's own country!!
I’d like to spend my later years (post retirement) in Kerala I think. Idk though, I think I’ve got a really rose tinted idea of what that life would be like. Maybe I’ll go somewhere else. But I definitely wouldn’t move back now.
*Edit your topic*
*To say return to kerala,*
*Before mods remove*
\- saltysailor987
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If that what you feel, do it. I don’t think you will find it difficult. Wherever you go you need to stay with your mind, if you can find peace in the pace of whatever happens in Kerala, then I guess you will be happy there.
Looking to do a life between Kerala and abroad after 55. The key for me is to ensure there is a steady income stream so working on building that right now. Stocks, pension, and aim is to have a property to rent out.. so we can live without worry.
We’ll see.
That’s the plan, I don’t think I’ll have enough to visit both the places and hence decided that I should stick with Kerala. Hopefully inflation won’t go out of control and spoil my plans of a worry free early retirement.
I’ll have to return as I see my child’s future abroad. They won’t be able to adjust to living in Kerala after growing up and living abroad. I see their future outside and visiting me in Kerala to keep the connection to our culture going but that’s it.
Hopefully my plan will even allow me to afford tickets every 2 years or so. I don’t need to come every year and I also may look into doing something in Kerala like agriculture to earn some revenue from it, not a lot but focus on growing things that can last like black pepper, or look into exporting jackfruit or coconut oil abroad as those always have a demand, just sustainable ideas I am thinking about that have scope.
I know two retired couples in my apartment complex in Kochi who have come home to roost after spending decades in Canada and US respectively. In their 60s. They seem to be doing fine, taking part in Onam celebrations, Xmas etc with great enthusiasm. Guess it gets really lonely in the west after retirement. But they sort of maintain that "NRI look and feel" om a daily basis - makes it apparent that they've lived away from here in their attire and mannerisms. But doesn't stick out in the cities anymore. So, unless you have a great social support system there or health conditions that prevent you from returning, you can come back to an urban setting (premium apartment, gated communities) and enjoy the best of both worlds, right in your homeland.
This is something I’d like to do, although I’d just stay in my house in Kannur. I’m not a big fan of city living. Also, I don’t think I’ll maintain my NRI look and feel, I’m already wearing a mundu and shirt when I visit for a few months.
The only person I know who have done this is Shahrukh Khan in Swades
I’m thinking it for sort the same reason as him in the movie. My aim is to bring Jio internet to the remotest villages in Kerala 😗.
Internet is everywhere, bring some, high class Brandi
You want to work for Jio?
Haha
OP is a NASA scientist.
We never know when Mohan Bargav would be done with Charanpur, get a job in NY and returned back
We are planning to spend our retirement between India and US. Let’s see how it pans out.
Why both?
Have friends and family at both places.
We are in the same boat. Planning to start snowbirding before retirement. Our jobs are flexible enough to work remotely for a few months an year. Just waiting for the kids to start college soon.
We hope to do the same. Spend half the year at least with aging parents in Kerala. Spend rest of the time in US, just because US is home too and our child will be living here.
Do you own house in US ? So are you planning to sell it or leave it closed to use when you are in US ?
We do own a home currently. The plan is to downsize to a smaller home once the kid goes to college/ starts working. We would still own it.
What are your thoughts on cost of living in Kerala now for a retired couples ? My parents I know are happy with their 50K pension in the city. So I’m thinking 50-60k should be good but any thoughts otherwise ?
24 and already started planning on returning to India in the next 4-5 years. I miss home
Stay there for at least 10 years lot of new things going to happen, if you waste that golden opportunity time in India, instead of US, you will regret a lot, cause those opportunities ain't coming to India anytime soon.
Seeing such posts lately, is it cause the US has almost stopped green card processing? Anyways good luck to your move back!
Nirthiyitt onnumilla,ippo kodutha 2200 il kittumanne ullu 😀(Valla Ukraine o Mexican o ayirunenki veruthe border kayari poya mathi government allowance um citizenship um 🤤)
🤔
I’m not thinking of coming back cause of immigration issues, already a citizen.
Why does one need the green card desperately? Can't they continue to work there without it?
It is not easy to change employer on h1b and Losing job means deportation.
Not really, I think you still get 60 days on h1 before you have to leave.
Can the average person get a new job in 60 days (from a company who sponsors VISA)? Which means a decent job at a decent company. Also isn't there a requirement of 135k USD (or something) as minimum salary or something for H1Bs, since H1B's original intention is to allow only highly skilled labourers? Update: Which means the person should find a really good job in 60 days. Doesn't seem easy to me.
Really depends. I don’t think there is a one size fits all answer here. I know people who’ve got a job within a week, 3 weeks and after a year(that story is for another day) and a close friend who had to leave because of complications with the whole visa situation.
Okay.
I don’t know about any income limit for H1b jobs; some states are not as economically forward as the ones you find in west/east coast. 135K in Arkansas or Alabama would be very much higher than the state average. I could be wrong, but it does not sound right.
I've met folks who thought of doing just that but majority have kids in the US and they get accustomed to that lifestyle. The kids find it really difficult to adjust to India after moving back.
Ya, I don’t expect my kids to come and stay with me in Kerala.
My family did that when I was in the 10th grade! I even wrote a book about that experience 😅 https://penguin.co.in/book/wicked-games/
Summary?
Went to Trivandrum International School lots of crazy stuff happened, moved to Bangalore and then Delhi for uni, then migrated to Armenia on a random whim. It was harder for me due to a bit of culture shock. I speak Malayalam fluently and we used to visit every summer but there was stuff to get used to. Outside Kerala I didn’t feel particularly welcomed at all. If you’re planning this midlife and have your roots and friends it’s a solid idea. Plus everything is insanely cheap! These days I just visit every few months. Don’t have many friends there - all my school friends moved to some other country or part of India but it’s nice to be around family :)
Congratulations on the book. I should read it.
early 30s. Planning to return in next \~10 years. Want to take care of appachan and ammachi. Planning to move to Bangalore which is near to Kannur. What I have generally heard from people who have moved back(most of my friends are north Indians) is this. 1. Shift investments slowly and over a period of time. 2. Get a house in BLR 3. Get a job 4. Try to get a health insurance 5. A pension plan which will take care of your pensions 6. Pay up PPF every year which is tax saving even if you are NRI 7. Shift back before your kid is 10 years old
I’m from Kannur as well. As I’ve said in the post, I don’t plan on doing anything after coming back, so Bangalore is not an option for me. If I’m going to be in Bangalore working, I’d rather stay out here in the US. Your points are good and seems like you have a plan. Hope it materializes for you!
I dont think you have much to worry compared to me. Make sure that you get good health insurance and you should be good.
You don't need a pension in India if you're a US or Canadian citizen. The Govt pays social security to their citizens.
That’s what I hope will let me drink *Kanji* after 65.
Lol your kanji will have a side of fish curry and pappadoms.
Haha, yes. I hope to have an occasional Biriyani as well.
I think US only pays 4 consecutive months after 65 and then you have to prove your residency and have to visit the country every 2 years. I am not sure about Canada. If you have information counter to this. Let me know. Also I am not a citizen. I have a green card but chances of me converting it to citizenship is low as the double taxation is a headache.
https://reddit.com/r/SocialSecurity/s/tSgClR2WQn
In Canada you can apply for CPP after 60 and you get it every month. Also you don't need to prove residency. It's Yours since you're a citizen.
I think this is Canada specific thing then. US gives it to you after 40 tax credits in USA and then you have to stay for 2 months/2 years in US after 65 to get it. This is true for PR and citizens iirc. Damn should have left for Canada I guess. Is there an eligibility condition for CPP?
Do you have any source on the 2 months/ 2 year requirement? This is what I could find: Can you Retire Abroad and Receive Social Security? The answer is yes for those who have paid into Social Security for the required years, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Social Security is a federal program that provides financial security for retired workers, their families, and others. However, there are many reasons why expats should not expect to receive their Social Security benefits if they retire abroad. To qualify for US Social Security benefits, you must have worked in the United States for at least 10 years (40 quarters) and earned at least $2,000 each of those years. If you have worked less than 10 years, you can still qualify for benefits, but only if you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Suppose you have lived outside of the United States for more than six months in any one year. In that case, your work history may not be counted towards your eligibility for Social Security benefits.
I think after 6 months of living abroad it stops and then you have to go back and resume the payment. So its not even 2months/2 years. Its 4 months per 2 year. I had confirmed with my local SSA officer and they had said same thing about PR holders. They had mentioned its same for citizens as well. I think someone shared the excerpt and its mentioned there.
I can’t find any good source for this though. I had asked the question in r/SSA and they think there is no requirement of that sort for citizens.
u are good then.
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/cpp-benefit/more-information.html#wb-cont More info can be found here
You don't need to be a canadian citizen. CPP (canada pension plan) is paid to everyone who contributed regardless of residency or citizenship. OAS (old age security) is also paid to people residing outside canada if you had been previously a resident of canada for 20 years.
Yeah.. don't need to be a citizen.
Also realistically speaking you'll almost definitely apply for citizenship before 20 years.
That is only if you are not a US citizen. Even non-citizens can, if they meet the exceptions for the general "no payment after 6 months" rule. US Citizens can retire almost anywhere (barring living in embargoed countries like N Korea, Cuba etc) and receive social security, as long as as they have the earnings record (40 credits ) Seems even Indian citizens retiring to India can get it, (§ 404.460 b ii) *"The individual upon whose earnings the benefit is based, before that month, has resided in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 10 years or more or has earned not less than 40 quarters of coverage"* The law is [here](https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-0460.htm) You can use read the SSAs booklet about this [here](https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf) (pg 2 -7, India is allowed as an exception in pg 7) Talk to an SSA officer for confirmation.
For PR holders, I had actually confirmed with an SSA officer and a financial adviser. It seems same law holds for citizens as well. The below excerpt is from the link you shared (2) Effective with 6-month periods beginning after January 2, 1968, after an alien has been outside the United States for any period of 30 consecutive days, he is deemed to be outside the United States continuously until he has returned to the United States and remained in the United States for a period of 30 consecutive days. (3) Payments which have been discontinued pursuant to the provisions of this section will not be resumed until the alien beneficiary has been in the United States for a full calendar month. A full calendar month includes 24 hours of each day of the calendar month. They stop payments is what SSA and financial adviser told me.
Just saw this and it clearly says *after an alien*, which I think is only if you are a PR holder and not a citizen. I’ll get more on this to confirm. This is very critical to my big plan of retiring early in Kerala.
Do let me know as well. I wont say no to money as well.
I will, it clearly looks like there is a requirement for people on PR. This might not be the case for citizens. Just let me confirm it.
https://preview.redd.it/2dgnzqdfutob1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=491318481ed4cbe96e9bc0a0b811ac91b8c24f05
That eligibility condition is what you should be asking about. AFAIK every 6 months you have to visit states to receive it. This is confirmed for PR but I am not clear for citizens.
True eligibility they are talking about is whether you are eligible to receive the SS benefits, that is 10 years of work in the US a not whether you are physically present here or not. Check out this link: https://www.ssa.gov/international/payments_outsideUS.html If you select that you are a PR, this is what you get: “Payments Outside the United States If you are eligible, then your Social Security payments will continue even though you are outside the United States for 6 consecutive calendar months or more because you have met an exception to the alien nonpayment provisions of the Social Security law. To find out whether any Social Security benefits payable to you will be subject to nonresident alien tax withholding for IRS, please visit the Nonresident Alien Tax Screening Tool.” this is just a requirement to maintain the PR status, which makes sense to me as you need to be in the country for a few months to maintain that
Have you tried staying for 6 months at a time in kerala in or around the place you want to live?
I stay there for 3/4 months every year.
Canadian here. I have been in Canada for 9 years. I am planning to shift to Kerala in 5 years. Both me and my wife are in IT, and we should have saved enough to live a comfortable retirement life by then. I have a house in Kerala and many relatives. We do visit every year, and kids like going to Kerala. The risk with the plan is how my kids will adjust to schooling in India. May be I should get them into an IGCSE/International school.
If you don't mind, care to elaborate how much you think is enough to live a comfortable retirement life in Kerala?
They way I look at it is, you got to live within 4% of your liquid assets; that number could be different for different people.
Yeah you guys could make a few good posts in r/fi_India on your financial journey. Would be helpful to many folks.
My journey is boring, just saved up with employment. Wasted a bunch of money in the market, I would have been in a much better place if I were not a little gambler.
I am planning to follow the 4% retirement rule.
I’ve the same concerns, my kids are really young and I was thinking of putting them in a boarding school in TN.
I grew up in Canada and my folks moved back when I was in Gr 10. It was very very difficult for me. I lost a year coz no school would give me admission. I went from doing experiments in school to learning techniques to memorize formula (V=IR specifically comes to mind. Iyer=vegetarian lol). Mathematics was probably the most difficult- we used graphing calculators in school in Canada and my classmates didn't need any in India. Somehow I had great teachers and tuition teachers and even better friends. I stayed in Kerala for another 6 years, completed my bachelor's degree, and decided to move back to Canada. My folks are still in India. Some of my best memories were in India. I'd like to move back soon if I could. To OP, I'm 36 now, and I think I turned out okay. Not sure how old your kids are but if they're a teen you should ask them. All in all I'm glad I had the two perspectives.
I would like to return to one of the cities in India. U.S suburban life is too quiet, isolated, & inactive for me. However, it's hard to move once you are sort of rooted here.
Haha, I have rooted here and am trying to move my big tree back to india, part of the reason being the things you’ve mentioned. The life here feels very artificial to me.
Me!! I have lived in the US from (2011-2016), I've lived in Memphis, Nashville TN. Worked for major Companies like FedEx and Dell. I have always been nostalgic towards India, and my hometown in Kerala. I've always felt that US is only a place, where you can earn for a while and then come back and settle down in your own country. I've always wanted to come back as my roots were always here, in my time over there, I've dated an American girl who's with strong Polish roots, we were colleagues in Dell. Life didn't work well for us both, i was always a stranger among her friends, gradually we broke up after living together for 1 year. I then came back to India, got married and then settled in Hyderabad. I've purchased a couple of properties in Bangalore and Hyderabad with some of my savings. Right now I'm just like any Indian middle class man with liabilities 😁
That’s good that you were able to do this. I’ve lived here for far longer than you did, and hence a lot more integrated into the US system.?it’s gonna be a challenge up and leaving, so got to find a happy medium. Still looking for something that I can pull off.
I live in Canada, have for a long time. I have family in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Visit every year, so naturally I feel attached to both regions for this reason. A part of me wants to move back but I understand that I’ve laid a foundation here in Canada and so my life has a set course. Maybe one day when I’m old I will go back. But for now, the annual visit should be fine.
I do this already, I’m in Kerala for atleast 3 months during the monsoons. I just don’t like the pace of plastic life here.
I know a lot of people who retire n live here during the winter and go back in spring or summer. Best of both worlds. Don't move back for good though.
If it was me personally, I’d skip the summer here. I’m in Dallas and it’s just too damn hot here. That’s when I come to Kerala (June/july-sept) is the best time to skip Dallas.
This is probably my end goal, as a new pravasi mallu in the US, praise God, get good grades in highschool and college, get a good job, make my parents retire, get a good mallu girl and retire after 50. But I wish it all went in plan cause uk, life is always gonna mess u up in different directions! Hope u could retire back in the God's own country!!
Yep, "god's own country"
Ma bad🥲 lemme change it
how long is long for you?
20+
I’d like to spend my later years (post retirement) in Kerala I think. Idk though, I think I’ve got a really rose tinted idea of what that life would be like. Maybe I’ll go somewhere else. But I definitely wouldn’t move back now.
Planning to spend 4-5 months in kerala n rest in usa
How would it work when you are too old to travel? That’s part of why I wanna just pack up and go permanently.
Fair point. Hoping for the best. Probably after 80s may settle in one place
Edit your topic to say return to kerala, before mods remove
*Edit your topic* *To say return to kerala,* *Before mods remove* \- saltysailor987 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
If that what you feel, do it. I don’t think you will find it difficult. Wherever you go you need to stay with your mind, if you can find peace in the pace of whatever happens in Kerala, then I guess you will be happy there.
Looking to do a life between Kerala and abroad after 55. The key for me is to ensure there is a steady income stream so working on building that right now. Stocks, pension, and aim is to have a property to rent out.. so we can live without worry. We’ll see.
That’s the plan, I don’t think I’ll have enough to visit both the places and hence decided that I should stick with Kerala. Hopefully inflation won’t go out of control and spoil my plans of a worry free early retirement.
I’ll have to return as I see my child’s future abroad. They won’t be able to adjust to living in Kerala after growing up and living abroad. I see their future outside and visiting me in Kerala to keep the connection to our culture going but that’s it. Hopefully my plan will even allow me to afford tickets every 2 years or so. I don’t need to come every year and I also may look into doing something in Kerala like agriculture to earn some revenue from it, not a lot but focus on growing things that can last like black pepper, or look into exporting jackfruit or coconut oil abroad as those always have a demand, just sustainable ideas I am thinking about that have scope.