going back to beneficiary's country

[no name 1]

In London, correct?

You never answered Robin, how did you get your NYC flat?

Correct.

I paid $3,500 in brokers fees.

I'm telling YOU that I paid twice as much money for a tiny LES studio (in 2003) vs. an apt with a garden in London, in Battersea, in 2005 for HALF that.

Why can't you get it?

I get it. London is so much better.

I never said that. I said your facts are not based in reality. I'm done arguing with a brick wall, thanks.

[Cassandra+Yuibi 0]

Unless a lot of things change- we don't intend on going back to Japan. I love going there to visit- but being a woman (and not Japanese) in Japan is really difficult. It's a male dominated society, and not only that, but independence is not accepted at all. Being a head-strong woman who doesn't like to be underestimated or treated differently because of being a woman- I know I'd have a lot of trouble living there without going crazy. I get enough of being underestimated because of my sex where I work (the Gaming industry) because it's male dominated (not by co-workers, but by customers)- and it seriously hacks me off when it happens even there.

[jundp 191]

Why all the fighting about rent in London? Just curious....

Something I wonder when people say they will retire in another country(either the SO's or a 3rd random country), how do kids factor into it? Or is it mostly couples who don't want to have kids? Because when I am old I think I will want to be near my children and future grandchildren, or at least in the same country, not on the other side of the world from them on purpose. I don't get that part. Life is short.

Well, I for one want my children to grow and move on and experience their own lives. I'm one of 7 living siblings, and none of us live in the same areas. But we all stay connected. My son wants to go to college in Germany, and has dear friends there already, so it's not as though it's abandoning them. It's not a matter of moving to the other side of the world from them on purpose, but rather of wanting to spend time in my SO's country, which I happen to love. Besides, if he and I have kids together, then it's only fair for them to know their "other" country.

Going back to Germany at some point mighyt be an option as well - if folks outside the metro areas ever get used to seeing an interracial couple.

The southern part of Germany, Stuttgart, Munich, Ulm seem to be pretty open to interracial couples, according to my friends there. I know that my SO's aunt is married to a man from Africa and they have 2 children, and they haven't discussed any type of harrassment at all. Unfortunaely there are people all over the world who will have problems with interracial...hell, some of them have problems with two caucasians from different cultures marrying (aka...why would you want to marry a German?!) (Yes, I've heard that!)

No plans to move back to Europe. Though we do want to move back west - not necessarily to CA, perhaps OR or WA.

I'm from NOLA originally, but I must say that after 6 years in Washington, I consider it one of the best places I've ever lived.

I just love the political showdowns!! I love and feed off USA haters. Why come here, then? Haahahah. Too funny. Maybe this is why so many people wish to return to their fiance(e)'s homeland. Bein chased away by little 'ol GWB. Just breaks my heart, really.

Hate to break it to ya Jason, but not everyone's reasons for leaving and going to their spouse's country are political. BTW, I'm the USC here and our reasons for going back to Canada one day do not have anything whatsoever to do with politics...or money...or whatever the heck you people want to argue about.

This has seriously gone off topic. Sheesh!

Exactly, not everyone makes their major life decisions on George W Bush. Besides, by the time we want to move back to Germany he'll be long gone. And it's not all about finances. He and I both happen to have the kinds of jobs that will allow us to work anywhere (practically) in the world. I want the chance to move and explore his country, and it may end up being financially beneficial to us, or not. I think the cost of living is probably about the same, and the taxes are far greater in Germany, though there are pros and cons to living in both places.

[mawilson 2,133]

I never said that. I said your facts are not based in reality. I'm done arguing with a brick wall, thanks.

Not based in reality? The reality of the matter is, here I'm paying one quarter of what

I used to pay in London for my flat and other things. My monthly Metrocard costs $76

pre-tax (about $40 after tax) instead of £40 per week. My car in the UK costs the same

in pounds as it does here in dollars. I can go on and on.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I never said that. I said your facts are not based in reality. I'm done arguing with a brick wall, thanks.

Not based in reality? The reality of the matter is, here I'm paying one quarter of what

I used to pay in London for my flat and other things. My monthly Metrocard costs $76

pre-tax (about $40 after tax) instead of £40 per week. My car in the UK costs the same

in pounds as it does here in dollars. I can go on and on.

Your not comparing like with like though - 400 pw (if that's what you paid) is not the norm, neither is paing $200 a week for a rent-controlled apartment in NYC.

It doesn't really matter. I just don't subscribe to the Dickensian picture people like to paint of the place - like people say, the decision is not jsut about money, but not everyone who "moves back to the beneficiaries country" is making a bad decision based only on the financial aspect of it. I bet a guy who retires to Thailand or the Phillippines is going to be doing better than most people in NYC, if he has invested wisely.

[mawilson 2,133]

I bet a guy who retires to Thailand or the Phillippines is going to be doing better than most people in NYC, if he has invested wisely.

You're right - it's not just about the money. I wouldn't retire in Thailand or the Philippines even if someone paid me

a million dollars. Jason-Sasha summarised it quite nicely.

[no name 1]

Your not comparing like with like though - 400 pw (if that's what you paid) is not the norm, neither is paing $200 a week for a rent-controlled apartment in NYC.

[mawilson 2,133]

Your not comparing like with like though - 400 pw (if that's what you paid) is not the norm, neither is paing $200 a week for a rent-controlled apartment in NYC.

Cal Naughton, Jr.: What does Devilette mean?

Ricky Bobby: It's like Spanish for like a fighting chicken.

[no name 1]

Your not comparing like with like though - 400 pw (if that's what you paid) is not the norm, neither is paing $200 a week for a rent-controlled apartment in NYC.

$200 a week in NYC for anything other than a Red Hook flatshare is unheard of. And you know it. So stop harping on.

Edited August 8, 2007 by devilette

[Imua 0]

We hope to retire to Nepal someday... our measly retirement checks should go a lot further over there!

I'm wondering how we will handle things like health insurance (I'd be worrying about that here, too, though!), and long-term visas. I don't think giving up American citizenship in our golden years would be wise... But we'll figure it out!

I LOVE NEPAL!

maya

Keep singing to the choir, Maya didi!!! My body may be here, but my heart is always in Nepal...

Our dream is to return to 'hamro sundar desh' eventually too - I have been socking money away in my TIAA-CREF account and hopefully G will be able to save so who knows... My biggest concern is health care too - I saw a horrible report on Kantipur when I was there where the hospital in Patan was so crowded there were not enough beds for the patients... I have heard expats with enough money fly to India or Thailand for serious elective treatments. I may get Nepali citizenship next year(easy if you have a court marriage in Nepal) but don't know if the United States recognizes dual Nepali/American citizenship - it would be good if we and you could have both...

JAYA NEPAL!!!

[Imua 0]

mawilson: even if I made a fortune, I'd still want to spend a lot more time in Nepal than I do now. The value of the dollar there just makes it all the more attractive.

krikit: thanks for that article... very interesting food for thought!

Yep, even with the sinking dollar (in 2001 on my first trip it was 75 NRs and just now it is 63) it's still one of the few places where you can have an amazing time on a budget. Think you can spend a night at the 5-star Yak & Yeti Hotel for what it would cost for a tiny shoebox room in a no-star hotel in Manhattan -about $200. We spent our wedding night at the Hotel Vajra - a much more romantic place I think - and got a special deal since it was off-season - about $75 for a deluxe room. I think you can stay at the Motel 6 for that price here.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Who knows if we will move back. Maybe. I think both of us would end up in a third country before that.

[Imua 0]

mawilson: even if I made a fortune, I'd still want to spend a lot more time in Nepal than I do now. The value of the dollar there just makes it all the more attractive.

"I have to go to Nepal, because I'm the Chosen One? Why can't anybody choose me to go to the Bahamas?"

I love that movie - I was so proud when I could actually understand the Nepali being spoken in the bazaar scene...

[mawilson 2,133]

mawilson: even if I made a fortune, I'd still want to spend a lot more time in Nepal than I do now. The value of the dollar there just makes it all the more attractive.

"I have to go to Nepal, because I'm the Chosen One? Why can't anybody choose me to go to the Bahamas?"

I love that movie - I was so proud when I could actually understand the Nepali being spoken in the bazaar scene...

VIVA NEPAL!!! VIVA NEPAL!!! VIVA NEPAL!!!

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Your not comparing like with like though - 400 pw (if that's what you paid) is not the norm, neither is paing $200 a week for a rent-controlled apartment in NYC.

Cal Naughton, Jr.: What does Devilette mean?

Ricky Bobby: It's like Spanish for like a fighting chicken.

I think i just wet myself!!! Hahaha :lol: