Let Me Introduce Myself

Hi JadeRiver!

Welcome to Expat.com!

Armand

Jade, I also am in transition to retirement (although a lot closer than you) and am finding the biggest challenge is deciding what to do in retirement. Assuming you retire at 62, you have probably at least twenty years of productive life to fill yet. Comments from expats and Ecuadorians I have received on this topic are:
1. Defer retirement until you are confident you know what you want to do. It is difficult to adjust to having dramatically fewer responsibilities especially for professional executives as our job tends to define us. If possible transition into retirement spending 2-3 years working part time and trying out retirement activities with the now free time. This will also permit you to defer SSI which benefits grows 8% per year not taken.
2. Virtually every one I have encountered that retired early (55 and under) ended up going back to work as they got bored.
3. There is little assistance in helping you decide what to do in retirement. Most webites on retirement focus on the financial issues.
4. After you think you have some idea of how you want to fill your time, use that to decide where you should live. I would recommend Ecuador for those that want the following activities in retirement: golf (although add $5-10K to your budget), physical activities such as hiking etc., volunteer work (there are many needs here), teaching (if you have necessary degrees), a sense of adventure, birds (not sure technical name), and interest in learning a foreign language and probably many others that I have never considered.

Lastly, many Ecuadorians plan to work until they die. Most, even professionals, have not saved for retirement and social security is inadequate to maintain their lifestyle.

Best of luck in your transition.

Thanks.  I am looking forward to striking up some meaningful relationships.

Thank you for your thoughtful response.
I will not be retiring for about three more years, so I am beginning my planning with time for thought of all you have noted.
No 1 is not an issue.  I am on my second career and embarked upon it with retirement at age 62 in mind.  I will have more than a sufficient pension and will probably defer SSI until 65 which will just be frosting on the cake - so to speak. I love my job but I am definitely not defined by it.
No 2 not an issue.  I am retiring at age 62, and I do not expect to be bored learning a new country and establishing new relationships.  And even then, I have not been bored in decades and wouldn't mind a little boredom. And if that becomes too much,I have had extremely eventful life experiences and have often thought of and have been advised by many to write a book
No 3 I know what I want to do.  It has been my dream to move to either Central or South America since I was 40.

Jade, apparently you have sufficient financial resources to live anywhere you want and a desire to write a book and experience new cultures and relationships.Couldn't you accomplish this by remaining in Austin and vacationing in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Belize, Chile, France, etc? What do you believe living in Ecuador is going to provide as a positive to your retirement plans?

JR,
Well, what ever you decide for location, you won't be alone. As you travel these boards, you will note there are a TON of Texans in the mix. Many from Austin. So, that's some encouraging news.
You might want to refine your question to include some of what you are looking for. I can tell you right off the bat, that I think you will find Cuenca to be much akin to Austin. It has a lot of the arts, especially music. Also, rivers! In fact, Cuenca has 4 rivers. The population is at half a million. I hate to use the word " Cosmopolitan " in describing anyplace in Ecuador, but I think with the arts, crafts, food venues, and overall community activites, Cuenca might most closly fit that discription.
But, also know that Cuenca will not be the climate that you are used to. It's much more temperate, with highs in the 70's for the most part, and the evenings dipping into the 50's, and be prepared for some rain.
If you like hot and humid, you have to move up the coast, which also has a lot to offer. You will find golf more readily available there also, and of course, the Big Water. The Pacific is desired by many.
So, if you would define your wants and needs lists a bit, I'm sure you'll get a lot more feed back and suggestions.
Best of Luck in your Journey!
Neil

Hello > just to inform you that some off topic posts have been moved. Thank you.

Neil/Mug:
Apparently the "Thought Police" have deemed our postings unworthy of inclusion on this forum. Time to move on to better use of my life.

Count me in. I am done here.