Hi there. This is Siggi, a native born dual-citizen (German/American) with apx. 27 years of experience in both Countries, the USA as well as Germany. Since I have never spent more than 3-4 years at a time in either of these two Countries, it was very easy for me to see how all of the changes over the past 4 or so decades took place, bit by bit. Today, as of 2018, if I had a choice with a somewhat low budget (below $2000 for a married couple), I would not recommend living in either of these two Countries ... at least not as a retiree.
I can sum up why the USA is out of the question for retirees in a few short sentences. As a retiree, my current mid-level plan health insurance (not qualified for medicaid) would cost me personally 663 USD every month, without dental or optical. Luckily, my wife and I are not forced to reside there, so we don't. There are more guns than people in the USA, death by gun violence is higher than in most 3rd world Countries, and many US States permit the carrying of hidden weapons. Drug usage is at an all-time high USA wide, Students are paying off their astronomical College Tuitions for decades (literally) and the politicians are about as corrupt as one can imagine, due to the thousands (yes, literally) of self-interest and lobbying groups. Much more to say, but as Trump has put it for other places in the World, as far as me and my American born wife from Ohio are concerned, it's actually the USA that's become a Sh___ole Country these days, compared to what it used to be 30+ years ago. Oh, don't get me wrong, visiting the USA for a 15 or a 30 day vacation can be a wonderful and mind-boggling pleasant experience. But actually living there, especially as a retiree with $2000 or less monthly, is almost impossible ... when considering that health insurance is now required by law.
So, having lived so many years in Germany as well, we decided that perhaps it would be more pleasant to live there instead. Such a rich Country ... Fantastic, unbelievable history with age-old culture, Fine Art & Museums galore, Musical festivals Germany wide all year long, Street fairs, Castles & Palaces with Medieval Festivals, Hiking, Biking, long drives on the Autobahn, and diversity everywhere. On top of that, Germany is a great "central place" to be (if traveling is your thing). No better place than Germany, in order to use that as hub to get to Italy, the UK, Ireland, Holland, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Croatia, and so on. Most Countries can be driven to by car, and most European Countries have open borders which makes travel by car that much more of a pleasant experience. Although most older (45+) Germans would probably disagree with this, Healthcare is so much superior over the USA that it's almost indescribable. Having had all sorts of issues ranging from Nerve damage, to foot operations, and cancer surgery, my wife and I are convinced that the level of care here in Germany is way superior to the level of care that we would have received in the good ol' USA during the past 10+ years. Even dental care and general doctor visits (although often lengthy) are so much more pleasant here ... especially if money is an issue. My wife and I lived her in Germany (Hessen) with our Son from 2005 until 2010. At that time we went back to the USA because of career plans for our son which he could only pursue to his liking in America. Then, in 2015, it was time for my wife and I to leave that ces___l that was once America behind, in order to move back to Germany. It is inconceivable for either one of us to ever live in the USA again, way too many reasons to list here. Sadly, we're also not comfortable in Germany anymore. It's a wonderful Country with so much going on, but for retirees on a fixed income, there are are far better places to be. That's actually why I joind this forum for us, to find out more about a specific place that we already have in mind.
If you have questions about the USA or Germany, feel free to ask. Keep in mind though, most answers would be based on being retired without a job, in other words ... living on your own monthly guaranteed means, which have to get you by for the rest of your life.
Thanks for letting us/me join here.