Exploring Puerto Rico for retirement

Congratulations on almost being freer. I'm here for personal reasons (I'm half Puerto Rican and I'm trying to help promote small-scale, agriculture) so I'm planning to die here. My heart is here. I'm not part of the tax shelter or gated community crowd. Not knocking them, just providing context. I moved from Texas where I was a Reading Specialist in a public school.

However, in my opinion, moving here to save money is not a good idea. Many things are more expensive and health care is gamble. It is truly like living in another country. Everything from grocery shopping to medical appointments takes longer than in the states. Most places are understaffed and don't have enough parking spots. Dealing with anything governmental requires a personality that I've clearly not been blessed with jaja.

And before anyone tells me to go home, I am home. La isla y la gente son partes de mi corazon.

If you can learn to live with poco a poco, you can be happy here. If you can see the glass as half full and look to see where you can be part of solutions instead of the problems, you can be happy here.

There are a lot of very beautiful natural areas to explore.  Most people are welcoming especially if you attempt to learn some Spanish.  I had been visiting regularly for 12 years before moving to Culebra at the end of 2019. Being there for a few years before moving to Humacao really helped because it put me in a mindset of comparing Humacao to Culebra instead of the states. I went from living on a very tiny island with ferry service to being able to get curbside grocery pickup and a Home Depot, not to mention many delicious local restaurants. Also, I don't like shopping and don't like accumulating unnecessary stuff, so that makes life easier and cheaper.  I live in a regular Puerto Rican neighborhood, too. I have a very modest house that I was a HUD repo. I drive a 1983 GMC square body that I bought here. I really like Humacao. I also bought a finca nearby and my grown daughter is farming with me and attending online university.

I would strongly advise to spend a few months here to see what you like and don't like. Like anyplace, there are pros and cons. You need to see if there are any deal breakers.

Buena suerte

Hello everyone and welcome on board @Drew !

Please note that i have created a new thread from your post on the Puerto Rico forum so that you may better discuss with members.

Feel free to have a look at the Living in Puerto Rico guide for expats for first-hand infos.

All the best

Bhavna