Yes, that's right. I used to help out on a dairy farm in Kettlewell, at the bottom of Park Rash. Lovely part of the world. But, having taken a Californian to live in the tropics for over 25 years (with a little gap back to London in the middle) I don't think I have the selling skills for Yorkshire rural winters!

I understand your sensitivity to language and in fact have been a proponent of the individual rather than the disability labeling for many years. However, I was using the term in the context of the era in which it was common. And, back in the day that's exactly what it was called. The word itself is accepted language and does not solely refer to people. You may have heard of timing in an engine being ********? FWIW, I am also not a proponent of editing the "N word" out of Mark Twain's works. It's about context.

I agree - and it will not be too long before the term - "He is DD" in place of "He is MR" becomes derogative. Ahh - language.

I look forward to the day when the labels are irrelevant because we actually treat each other with respect. I have a feeling I won't be around to see that day though.

Well written Bruce, I'd wish for this day to come sooner rather than later. Hate is everywhere and it just brings us all down.

Bill

<<Those folks in this forum who have, as family members, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities severe enough to require lifetime support and/or care have a huge other factor in when, where or whether or not they can retire. A complicating factor is that Medicaid Home and Community Based Services do not transfer from state-to-state, so, if I was to want to retire in Florida (and have my child near me), for example, I would face a waiting list of 21,000 folks of about 15-20 years (I would be 92) for services.>>

Ah, the joys of the US health care system! And some have the gall to criticize the UK NHS. I had a Down syndrome brother living England, who passed away 6 years ago. My parents and then one of my brothers, who took care of him after the passing of our parents, were assisted by the NHS from cradle to grave and at no cost other than SS payments, which everyone pays.

However, those here who think they can simply take up residence in another country might want to think again. Residency is not a given in most countries for those, e.g. outside the EU and they would certainly not be entitled to free healthcare. Medicare does not work overseas, although your supplemental insurance might cover some costs. Furthermore, Uncle Sam requires you to file a tax return every year, even if you live overseas. And.. if you decide to relinquish US citizenship, they require tax returns for the following 10 years. How they would enforce that is another question.

Thats a coincidence. I'm on a cycle tour at the moment and plan to stop a night in Kettlewell on my way home.
The Dales look great after a snowfall. Work on the picturesque angle. And if you're in a village with a decent pub, you don't have to go far from home in bad weather...

Having moved from England to Atlanta, GA on a 3-year assignment 25 years ago, and then on retiring moving to Florida, I could not go back to live through English winters. We visit for three months each year, and love to do that, but when the weather turns grey, back we come to FL where we have year-round biking. Yes, it gets hot, but we bike early or late and only feel really hot when we stop.

There is no state income tax and sales tax is 7%, but property taxes are quite high. Well, they have to get revenues from somewhere.

Roads are good (not much frost, here!) and there are plenty of bike lanes, but drivers are a bit dozy and turn signals are a rarity.

It's good to get out to some hills now and again, so last weekend's GA Tandem rally was a challenging change.

If an American is serious about retiring abroad, the citizenship issue becomes issue #1 with culture shock and language becoming issue #2 & 3 depending on the location and individual.

I'm gathering the documents for my application and should be provided Italian citizenship by the end of the year. My approval is automatic through marriage.

However, gaining citizenship and arranging healthcare coverage should be done more than a year before relocating in most cases.

If I wanted, I wonder if I could get UK citizenship since I was born over there. My father was in the military. Both my parents are/were US citizens(mom died in '94). I actually have Naturalization papers. I'd likely not do this, but it does have me curious.

If you can get UK citizenship, you can settle on a permanent basis anywhere in the Commonwealth. Australia, New Zealand, Canada, to name the most desirable ones. Even Gibraltar, North Ireland, ir Scotland. I hear there's great cycling around Christchurch and the climate in Perth is very similar to San Diego. How much more perfect can that be? Except for distance from family, that is.

The USA is one of the few, possibly the only, country which confers citizenship on people born there. Most countries confer the father's citizenship on the child. One of our sons was born in Switzerland, but there is no hope of his gaining that citizenship even if he wanted to.

Our son is British, his wife a US citizen and their children were born in the US. However, there is a time limit, long passed, during which they could have applied for UK citizenship for their kids. We didn't realize this until too late.

I would think it highly unlikely that you have any claim on UK citizenship as a consequence of being born there. You would also have a problem acquiring residency as a non-EU citizen.

The US is pretty tough on getting US citizenship: first you have to hold a Green Card for five years before you can apply and getting the Green Card is not easy unless you are sponsored by an employer. The citizenship application and test etc is pretty straightforward, but it may take over a year to complete the process. It is OK to hold dual citizenship for US and UK, but some countries, e.g. Germany require permission form their government to apply for US citizenship.

Probably more info than you needed, but it's raining here

If you marry an American, the wait is only three years. Even then, you can apply early... 60 or 90 days...don't recall that exact number.

My wife and I were married in Brazil a few months after 9/11. She had her permission to enter the US almost exactly 60 days later. She applied for her citizenship in Dec of 04 and took the oath the following May.

Quite the easy straightforward process if you follow the process to the letter.

Wow. I've never seen a non political thread where so much dissatisfaction with being an American citizen has been expressed. Sign of the time I suppose.

Not quite true. I am a Brit living in Canada, and needed to jump through all sorts of hoops to get residency here.

It certainly used to be the case that Britain gave citizenship with birth. Don't know if that has changed.

It's not so much dissatisfaction as knowing your options.

I'm very glad that my family was raised in the United States, but I'm also glad that we all have traveled, and that we all are multilingual and multinational.

We have contributed and will continue to contribute to the United States. My oldest daughter is a teacher in one of the poorest corners of the Bronx in NYC. She also has lived in Europe for long stretches.

As I mature, I've become more concerned about the health and well being of my family. I'm less attached to Corporate America than during those years when my career influenced our decisions.

The United States is still the global beacon for freedom and provides a model for the rest of the world.

No dissatisfaction here, just always wanted to live in England. It is just my ideal retirement location. That said it probably will never happen.

Bill

I admit to being dissatisfied but only because I want us to go forward and not backwards. We were founded on the belief that together we could make things better for all of us. That's what I want. I don't want to return to the 1800's.

Panama and Ecuador have fairly easy expat regulations. At the moment I am favoring Ecuador but my research is not over. Both countries have low crime rates and very friendly people.

I'm also (echoing Boudicca) not sure this is true any longer, at least not universally-- though it used to be. Certainly not true for citizens of Commonwealth countries other than the UK. UK citizens do have right of residence anywhere in the EU I believe, but I think would have difficulties with countries like New Zealand, Australia, or Canada for that matter.

Back squarely on-topic: if ever I could afford it, I would return to my birthplace -- the Cowichan Valley region of Vancouver Island, preferably by the sea. Spent my first four decades growing up, living, working there (latterly based in Victoria) before a career move brought me out to Southwestern Ontario. Been here (SW ON) twenty+ years, but it ain't home. The southeast coast of the Island has, to my mind, everything (with one exception) going for it: mountains, ocean, rural areas, a decent-sized city, and some of the best year-round cycling (mountain, road, and touring) I could imagine. Oh, and a lot less rain than Vancouver (hee hee!). Another plus: my mother, sister, niece and her brats all still live in the area.
The one exception? Bloody cost of living, especially housing.

Oh well; maybe I'll find a way.

My brother just came back from a month in Quito Ecuador and among the Americans her talked to, he was the only one lucky enough not to have suffered from a robbery or theft.

Thank you both for correcting my incorrect information. Not that it was an option for me anyway. Used to be easy for us Yanks to get into Canada.

Since we had the extra day this past weekend, I took the opportunity to go on a road trip with my lady friend. We traveled up U.S. 395 through the Owens Valley, spending a night in Tahoe, and visiting Carson City/Minden/Gardnerville on the way back. Had fun too, spending time at the Mono tufa towers, Bodie, and Mammoth.

Tahoe is really nice! Lots of cyclists on the roads with "share the road" signs everywhere. It seems to be a bicycle friendly environment. South Lake Tahoe city is just a city, but with pine trees. Nothing special about the place. The Nevada side of Lake Tahoe looks like a very desirable place to live. Other than the casinos right on the edge of CA, the Nevada shore was not commercialized at all. I could like living there, but wonder about living my retired years (70's and 80's) at altitude. It's something like 7,000 to 8,000 feet. Kind of expensive too.

I'm intrigued with Minden and Gardnerville. It's in a valley at the foot of the Sierra Nevada below Lake Tahoe. There are low hills to the east. Decent medical in Carson City, the capital of Nevada. Nearest Costco is up the road a bit in Reno. It's arid, which is fine with me. Great cross country skiing with mile after mile of groomed trails in Tahoe and lots of cycling hill climbing miles all around. The area has moved up my list of possible retirement places. Will try to visit again in the mid-summer to check out just how hot and miserable the summer weather can be.

" ... Used to be easy for us Yanks to get into Canada" ... and a lot easier for us Canucks to go south!
My 'dream' retirement (well, one of 'em) would be permanent residence Vancouver Island; two months mid-winter Naples FLA.
Hmmm ... maybe not so much a 'dream' as an idle fantasy.

Their forums are also excellent for asking questions about a place.

Jobs.

I can afford to live here now, but I doubt I can afford to retire here.