Hi All

I need help on shortlisting countries to consider moving to.
There are so many countries on this spinny-round-thing (that we all live on) that I really need help narrowing the list.


Here are our criteria:
I want to spend my time writing, and my wife wants to home-school our three kids.

My investments are bringing in $2500 USD a month. And we want to be able to live on that - so employment in our destination country is not required, but a low cost of living is. We are happy to live without modern luxuries.

Having said that, we would require at least satellite internet - land-line broadband would be better.

We would be very happy to "go native" if need be; and would certainly want to learn the language of our new country.

We have the standard dream of living next to the sea. My wife has visions of a white house on the Med, as do I, but stronger for me are thoughts of the Caribbean. But we are realistic enough to know that being merely near the sea is the best we might be able to afford.

We want a warm clime, not cold. Would want to rent first and then perhaps buy a property.

The areas that seem realistic at the moment are: India, Thailand, Mexico to Venezuela and onwards up the Caribbean chain (Cuba would be very appealing if it wasn't for their restrictions on internet use). I have not come across any countries bordering the Med yet that would meet our cost of living requirement.


So given all that, which countries would suit us? I do hope there will be some.
We are very open to ideas, and are very thankful for any advice you can give.

Firstly welcome to the forum. You certainly know how to get people thinking.

How about the Argentine Atlantic ocean - we love it here. Cost of living is low and I know that people here do home school without any problem, although my children go to school. Getting a visa to live here would be no problem. You have to show a regular income of 2000 pesos (US$ 700) per month to get a visa.

All mod cons are available including broadband.

For us, the climate is far better than Great Britain, but not sure whether it is better than NZ. We love the beaches here, but they can't be compared to the Caribbean. The Atlantic ocean is much colder than the Med. sea.

Learning Spanish has been no problem for my children and myself.

Hope this helps and good luck with your search.

Michelle

__________________
www.mar-del-plata-argentina.net

A wonderful place to live

Thanks Michelle, we will add it to our research list.

New Zealand has a warm(ish), if somewhat changeable climate.

But living here on the income from my investments is not really possible; not to mention that the sheep are getting restless.

I take it that you and your wife both have US nationality. That's unfortunate, in that having any EU nationality would open up lots of possibilities. It's getting that visa that is the problem for most folks.

Still, an American writer friend of mine moved to a little island somewhere off the coast of Greece with her partner, a German. I suspect the move was made somewhat easier thanks to one member of the couple having EU nationality and the right to settle in Greece. But, from her accounts, it's certainly worth looking into. And AFAIK, they live off their writing (though she did buy the little house they are in with a small inheritance she came into shortly before the move).
Cheers,
Bev

I´m on another forum with someone who went to Goa to spend the winter with the idea of running an existing internet visit from there. After about a month of struggling to get access, the service wasn´t adequate for the volume of data. That may not be your situation, but if you do try India, apparently it´s best to deal directly with the telecom company, not with any of the people who offer to set up the service for you. In India, you get great internet access in places like Bangalore, where they live and die by and for the computer.

Hi Mr.Kiwi man..

Shah here, i have a suggestion for you, why not you consider Melaka or Penang in Malaysia. These two coastal area state is just next to the Straits of Malacca, one of the busiest sea that ships travel through.

Moreover the cost of living is very low. 1USD equals to MYR3.40 (Malaysian Ringgit) with a dollar you can buy yourslef a good chicken rice meal here in Malaysia. (just to compare)

Why i recommend Melaka and Penang is because both this two state has a very strong historical background in the early 15th century, where colonial powers including Portuguese, Dutch and English were attracted to the beauty and thriving economic in this entire region during the Malay Sultanate Era.

There is always an international school for your children to go and study to. The local are friendly and gentle. We have around 4.5million visitors to Melaka last year, but i'm not sure about the numbers in Penang.

With its tropical climate, you can get the tranquility and warmth that you seek for to rest and just do whatever you like.

Definitely you can find a nice old bungalows (which were own by the older tycoons in those early days) or apartment to rent with vista facing the breeze of the Straits of Malacca.

Both city has exiciting nite life, rich in the mixes of cullture from the Malays, Chinese and Indians Customs, well versed in English and also light hearted and very helpful.

I'm telling you this because i've been living in Melaka and was born in Penang. My job tooks me all over malaysia which i learn a lot of interesting tradition, cultures and people.

International Airports is just within 30 minutes in Penang and about 30minutes to Melaka Local airport, and from Melaka to KLIA - Kuala Lumpur International Airports (1 hour 30 minutes)

Shopping and entertainment for kids is there, melaka and penang is also known for its best medical facility. Patients from Indonesia normally comes here to seek best medical treatment. These places that i have in mind is just about 10 to 15 minutes from the city.

Hmm..Kiwiman, i think i have explain quite a lot, ohh.. and its is also the state gov. policy to encourage Malaysia as second home.!

anyway, good luck in your search.. drop me aline if you need any more information ok.

regards,

Shah

p.s : internet broadband is available at the speed of 1MB and upto 3.4MB with 3G wireless connection

Thank you so much Shah, I definitely will look into Melaka and Penang.

Also thank you Bev and Michelle and Synthia for your posts.

I'll wait a while longer to see if any other suggestions are made, and then I'll post those results and the results of my own research.

Thanks again!

Your welcome Mr.Kiwiman... Good Luck! May you find what you seek for..

I'm discovering that adequate internet access is becoming more and more common. I'm now at a hotel in a reserve on Lake Nicaragua, and if I hadn't gotten a lift, I would have had to hike one kilometer in from the road to get here. But I have broadband wifi in my room.

Hi,

Have you consider Panama?, if you haven't, you should. In a nutshell, Panama is a beautiful, modern city, with oceans on both sides (Atlantic and Pacific) and white sand beaches all over the country. The real Estate boom is on the go right now, but I'm pretty sure you wot find it hard to find a place you like that suits your budget.

Life is not expensive here, with 2500 you should be able to live a nice life with all the necessary things: ADSL or cable modem internet connection included.

Google it up... you might be surprise ;-)

L.