choose chiriqui
NEWS FLASH
There is one piece of wonderful news was made known to me this afternoon.
Friends of mine attended the Presidential Inauguration for the new President of Panama and they came home so enthused, excited and thrilled by what they saw and heard.
Sn Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal is now the current President of the Republic of Panama. Ricardo Martinelli was sworn into office as President of Panama on Wednesday, 1st July for a term that runs from this year of 2009 to 2014
The former businessman received the presidential sash from Jose Luis Varela, the president of Panama's legislature, of the National Assembly, in a ceremony at the Atlapa Convention Centre’s Anayansi Auditorium.
Martinelli is the fifth elected president of the country since Panama's military government fell in 1989.
At the ceremony, Martinelli emphasized that his government would be characterized by a new style of administration, combining private sector and public administration experience.
As far as this news is concerned, which directly affects the Chiriquí Province of Panama, this development comes at the most fortuitous time. The world, as we all know it, is suffering a crisis of a Political/Corporate nature and also of personal confidence on a global scale.
The election of Sn. Martinelli is such a bright signal to the world that Panama lives and breathes, she stirs.
Sn. Martinelli, in his speeches to date and of which were confirmed on Wednesday in front of not only the peoples of Panama but of the world and world Leaders, that now is the time for reform.
Chiriquí was singled out as a region of outstanding beauty and natural resources.
Chiriquí was singled out as an area that would be the focus of the new era incorporating agriculture, tourism and especially Eco Tourism.
Sn. Martinelli is to direct major resources to uplift the main airport in David to full International class and standard thereby opening up Chiriquí to the multi-billion dollar industry that has nature and conservancy as its focus. There is going to be an uplifting of the standards of transportation infrastructure, services, training, education and inward investment. Chiriquí is the ‘jewel in the crown’ and Sn. Martinelli is intent on seeing it shine so brightly.
So what does all of this mean to us already here in Panama and specially in Chiriquí? And perhaps also to those looking to arrive?
Investment, investment, investment.
And from this investment there is going to be seen a surge and an uplifting in valuations for land, buildings, homes, houses and all manner of developments. It is going to mean more opportunity for vacationing, sporting and outdoor activities and for Eco Resorts. It will mean the realising of the dream that is Chiriquí.
Make no bones about it; very soon and very quickly we will start to see the sprouting of the seeds that our new President is planting. Sprouting and reaching for the sun.
This is definitely the place to be right now and if you are not here but considering the moves, consider quickly because the race is about to start. Prices are about to rise. Opportunities are about to bud and flower.
Already many eyes are looking towards Chiriquí and her opportunities.
Already the whispers have started about taking advantage of this new era.
Already our websites are feeling the change in mood, in the change in direction of the winds.
Can you feel it too?
written and submitted by Michae Boase
What a mess the world seems to be in?
The world is in a mess isn’t it? Financial news is so depressing as we are told daily [if not hourly] in every which way, that everyone is or should be suffering from this ‘global recession’. There are models of course to differentiate between ‘recession’ and ‘depression’ but at the end of the day, the bottom line is ~ such emotional turmoil for everyone.
Financial problems are surely one of THE biggest issues affecting both individuals and groups [as in businesses] in the world today and even more so with this ‘credit crisis’.
As individuals, the emotional turmoil we feel when under financial pressure is enormous and is really damaging to our personal health, wellbeing, our relationships AND our future.
From a business perspective the problems are compounded because first of all we have to take account of those ‘individuals’ we employ in the business and who rightly rely on the business to provide for them and their families. Business owners then have the turmoil of steering and guiding the business through the shark infested waters which is that diminishing pool we call the ‘marketplace’. With fewer people buying commodities, etc and businesses failing, this can be a horrendous and such a draining task in more ways than one.
Make no bones about it; the world will not recover from this current situation within any short term forecast. The world dug itself in to such a deep pit that it will take time to crawl and build out of it. Greed, avarice, power and envy are such powerful global ‘drivers’ and have been for such a long time. These are traits that need addressing because be in no doubt, the Financial Institutions [Banks, Insurance, etc] and Big Business are responsible for our dilemma not Politians. Politians are puppets ‘dancing on strings’ pulled by finance and power.
So what can be done? What can we as individuals do?
I don’t have any magic wands as many economic commentators seem to ‘wave’, nor do I have any ‘crystal balls’ in which to divine a rosy future……no. But what I do have is experience, your common garden, real life, living, experience.
Long ago I was young and free with my money; I was a young apprentice, then a newly married man complete with loans and mortgages, a new father [phewww, what responsibilities came with that one?], a worker who worked hard and conscientiously but even then lost jobs, made redundant, and yes, have even been fired [for a variety of reasons], served at Her Majesties Pleasure [as a Police Officer], retired from the Police to then change direction and lifestyle and devise, operate and run my own business employing people all over the UK. So, as they say ~ ‘been there, done it and got a wardrobe of Tee Shirts’ so to speak.
So what, I hear you say, has all this got to do with the current global malaise? It has plenty, but only if you dissect the situation and then apply empathy and experience.
I can empathize with so many people as either individuals who are fearful daily about losing their jobs, of meeting the next utility bill, of what the Postman make drop through the letterbox in the door, of being able to buy decent good quality food, expectant parents worrying about their futures and those of their children, sick, ill and infirm people worrying about their healthcare, business people frantic about keeping hold of their businesses and creations.
There are just so many negative aspects which are taking up so much of the ‘psyche of society’ at the moment and yet, turning on the television, seeing the News, we all see the suave neatly dressed Politicians smoothing over the creases which are our emotions and fears. They just don’t comprehend what it’s really like ‘for us’.
So, where am I going with all of this?
Well, for very many I can only empathize because to try to do otherwise would be impossible. However, there are sections of society to whom I can make certain mention and to whom I can offer some guidance, some alternative thinking.
There are sections of people in society no mater in which country who, in the past, have been careful, have been prudent and who have either saved or who have made wise choices in their investments.
There are also sections of society who have retired but have been fiscally wise insomuch as they have no mortgages but liquid assets deposited in the Bank or safe investments waiting to be realized.
There are also those who have been frugal or determined in their future forward planning and who have saved for this very period in their lives; a period where being ‘stress-free’ is ‘key’. Where being ‘debt-free’ is ‘key’. Where having the ability to pursue their ‘dreams’ are ‘key’.
I come from England, a wonderful, wonderful nation filled now with wonderful people but seeing a growing and very diverse and complex society. I come from an environment which is exceedingly expensive just to ‘tread water’, where living is a nightmare for everyone [other than the wealthy and even those people are feeling the painful pinch]. I come from a place whose weather is euphemistically and actually is cold, damp and grey for most of the year. Oh yes, I admit and agree that there are wonderful, spectacular areas in England and the sun does shine but……. I simply could not afford to live there now, could not afford the lifestyle I feel I deserve, wanted and dreamed about and could not follow ‘my dreams’. So where am I now, and what does this have to do with the global malaise we are all floundering ?
At the moment I am in Panama, brave soul that I am. I set out on a new adventure from England bringing my pension with me to a more affordable environment. My wife and I bought a 3 bedroomed Panamanian house with 2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room and studio, a very large garden with exotic fruit and nut trees all on 1 hectare of land [10,000 square meters which is about 2 Rugby/Soccer pitches in size] and the views to die for.
I won’t tell you how much we paid other than to say, it was inexpensive. I know of nowhere in the UK you could do such a thing at such a price for so very much. I have also been all over the US, Canada and many European countries and of which again, I don’t know of anywhere were I could have bought such a place with such a ‘year round warm climate and environment. Yes, Eastern European countries offer some nice inexpensive properties with wonderful outlooks, etc, but year round living? I couldn’t take that cold weather any more. Heating bills really feast on your financial resources so best to do without them I say.
So, having bought this idyll, what now? Our monthly bills [outgoings] are; electricity $25 = GBP14, water $3 = GBP 1.70, gas [cooking] $2 = GBP1 [yes that’s about one pound per month] and NO taxes. My combined monthly outgoings are about $30 = GBP19.
When we got here we bought a large, what they call an SUV, which is a 4 x 4 vehicle which ours is bigger than the Range Rover. Wow, that must be expensive to run ~ I hear you say. No, it isn’t. I called in to a Shell garage the other day and it cost me $38 to fill it from empty [that’s about GBP22]. Car Insurance was around $120 for the year [GBP70 approx] and again, NO tax.
Food wise I have access to everything I want and am used to ~ virtually because they don’t sell Marmite or hard crumbly cheeses here. And the costs are about a quarter of what I would expect to pay back in England. We eat out 2 or 3 times a week [with wine] it’s that inexpensive.
Panama is a very special place. The weather is generally warm to hot [but can be cold/cool at altitude depending on where you live], the countryside is awesome, beaches on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea are to dream about and within easy reach and the wildlife……. well, its just stunning.
There is a good and growing ex-pat community here and we have made some wonderful, wonderful friends. We have money in the Bank and in our pockets, have options AND ….. are debt free. It really is living in a holiday, if you know what I mean.
Living the holiday also provides you with that most precious of commodities….. time. Time is what we all have and spend but can NEVER, ever recoup. Forget gold, forget diamonds, forget all that stuff, what you have to realize and fully appreciate, is that ‘time’ is the most precious thing we will ever have so we have to spend it wisely.
So again, where is this taking us? It’s taking us to ‘frames of mind’, of ‘choices’, of opening our eyes and hearts and soul, of doing………. something……… different.
Often [and it’s a vast majority of oftens] people sit in their chairs in the same place bemoaning their situation and yet fail to see that perhaps, just perhaps, there may be an answer. They may have choices. Whether they choose to exercise them is another matter and theirs is a personal choice/decision. But which ever choice is made you have to accept responsibility for them don’t you?
Choices are those personal engagements that require work however, require effort, determination and fortitude. It may [or may not] require relocation, it may require a totally different outlook with different expectations but usually, it’s for something you have thought about, dreamed about, fantasized about.
Being here in Panama, I left behind my family, friends, and ‘life’ in a fashion; and it really is an enormous step. But I started another adventure with my wife. Another chapter in MY book, MY diary. They say ‘scratch an Englishman and reveal a Pirate’ well…… for me, it’s all about living life as an adventure…… but living life as you should live it because it is yours to live and as far as we know it, we only have one chance to live it. When I told my elderly mother what I was thinking of doing do you know what she said to me bless her? ‘Michael, go and do it because you have to live your own life not pander to someone else’s’. What a wise and loving mother she is and was.
If you have the wherewithal the resources, if you have that inclination, if you have those choices available to you, consider them, seriously. Look to other climates, other environments, where you can ‘live and breathe’ without fear, stress and strain. I believe that life really is for living and not for working, struggling and worrying. I even help some other people now because my wife and I devised, designed and published a site that helps people sell their properties…. Check it out………. It’s called www.choosechiriqui.com
Panama is a wonderful place to live. I live in Chiriquí, a province near the Costa Rica border but there are other parts of the world too. Just don’t be swamped in the delusion that ‘there is no way out’. There is always a way if the will is there.
Written by;
Michael Boase
The Way Forward
Everyone knows that the world is suffering from a huge lack of confidence; of astronomic mismanagement within the Sector Specific Regulatory Bodies (in almost every country) and that the quality of life for ordinary, normal citizens, of every age group, is being severely affected around the world.
Of course, the world will right itself in time, just like a capsized buoy on turbulent waters. But what happens in the meantime?
Retiring men and women, who have worked all their lives are facing severe hardship.
Working men and women are enduring severe stress and strain.
Personal and severe stress related health issues will manifest themselves for years to come.
Businesses are and will continue to suffer both local and overseas
Infrastructures will suffer
Investment will be cut back.
Opportunities will be severely restricted.
In certain areas of the world there are particular proactive people and organisations that have vision and energy enough to strive in finding opportunities for surviving and emerging from these dark times.
If confidence is to be reborn, entrepreneurs, businesses and executives need to formulate pro-active plans, to work in partnership and co-operation with others, to seek out opportunities and to raise awareness (locally, nationally and crucially, Internationally) of the positive aspects in life.
Syndications of working groups of people are pooling resources, ideas and energy for a common good, a common goal.
One such syndicate is “Panama Destinies“
Here in Panama, the Earth is still the Earth, the land still the land, the physical attributes of buildings and infrastructures remain, wildlife remains awesome and exciting, flora remains vibrant and beautiful, the culture still intriguing. We need to appreciate what we have rather than tarnish our outlooks with negativism. The sun still rises majestically in the morning.
“Panama Destinies“ works to raise awareness of Panama responsibly, of its beauty, it’s opportunity for life and living.
“Panama Destinies“ works with individuals and organisations from around the world to bring such opportunity to the ordinary men and women, to raise awareness of what is and what can be.
Join us, together we can, together we will.
What does it take?
Being an expat is not for everyone. You have to be a particular type of person. But there are many avenues open for everyone, very many options and certainly alternatives to living within a stress filled environment.
Being an expat means making a decision, just one; removing oneself from ones comfort zone and environment. Being an expat means having the determination and intent to live life differently within a different culture, outlook and living standards.
Hi, my name is Michael and hopefully by giving you my name you will be able to connect with me as I tell you a story of how I came to be where I am right now. Knowing someone’s name sometimes helps in making the connection and I really do hope it does so here.
I am in my mid 50’s, comparatively recently married to my wife, Diana and have family back in the UK. I still have my mother, whom I love like no other, a sister, brother, nephews, nieces, cousins and a son and step-daughter with whom I have no or little contact unfortunately. I have been married twice, both times only just surviving personally and financially. I am a retired Police Officer from Greater Manchester and have a Police Pension. There, that’s a quick synopsis but one which very many will and should be able to empathize with. Not the fine detail of course, because we are all different, all unique with our own life stories but hopefully, you will connect with me, a normal feller, who has lived a life.
Currently, my wife and I are living in Panama and we have been here for nearly 2 years now. Before relocating we lived in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear in the north east of England. Tyne and Wear is a major part of the wonderful, the awesome county of Northumberland. The region is steeped in rich history which very many envy and with a broad diversity of flora, fauna and wildlife. I can honestly say I miss it, I do, I really do, sometimes. However, missing it and being able to afford to live there are two different things.
The sheer stress and strain of living in the UK became much too much for both of us and so we considered an alternative lifestyle. Being of an open mind is a wonderful thing IF, you have an open mind.
Making the decision to move overseas is not one to be treated lightly. It is however, for those apposite people, a wonderful opportunity to redefine the who and the what they are. To follow what until now has only been a dream. It also means leaving behind a known culture, language and environment. Never take these elements lightly because if you have lived 30, 40 or 50+ years within the same culture and environment, you know the processes and protocols that apply, those in which you are cosseted. You know, or have a very good grasp of what’s right, wrong, allowed, legal or illegal, etc, etc.
When you remove yourself to another culture EVERYTHING is alien. This can either be a daunting prospect or an exciting challenge.
Emotionally, you also need to be intelligent. By this I don’t mean emotionally clever I really mean emotionally aware. Emotional intelligence is that ability to know and be aware of yourself and your emotions. Of being your ‘authentic self’. Having a positive outlook is very beneficial and even more so when amongst strangers.
Having an adventurous spirit, as an expat, you will meet so many like minded individuals with whom you will share and have empathy and so making friends will be and is so easy.
To sum up this first section of this article, I have to say that the ex-pat life can be wonderful, rewarding and health creating for the individual. Stress is one of the civilized world’s biggest killers so being without or living a drastically reduced stressful life is so beneficial and enriching.
However. in making the decision to become an ex-pat, and especially here in Panama, there are issues which “require’ very careful research and planning. Below I touch briefly upon the main issues.
Taxation ~ Personal income tax in Panama is based on a sliding scale, ranging from a minimum of 7% after the first $9,000, to a maximum rate of 27%.
Regardless of your residency status, the tax is only applied to Panamanian-sourced income. Taxable income includes wages and salaries, other business profits, pensions/bonuses, and income from copyrights, royalties, trademarks, stock sales, bonds, and securities. Deductions may be made on all medical expenses incurred in Panama, all donations made to charities, interest paid on home mortgages, education expenses, and loans for home improvements.
Panama is famous for its light tax burden. If you qualify for Panama's Pensionado Visa program (a "retiree" may be as young as 18 years of age), you are entitled to a one-time exemption of duties on the importation of household goods (up to $10,000), and an exemption every two years of duties on the importation or local purchase of a car.
If you buy or build a new house, you won't pay property taxes for up to 20 years, nor will you pay taxes on foreign-earned income. In 1994, Panama passed Law No. 8 the most modern and comprehensive law for the promotion of tourism investment in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since the law was enacted, dozens of the world's largest hotel chains have swept in to Panama to take advantage, including Marriott, Radisson, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, and Intercontinental.
But Panama's attractive tourism investment laws are not just for big business. With a minimum investment of $50,000 anywhere in Panama's interior, you can benefit from:
- A 20-year exemption of any import taxes due on materials, furniture, equipment, and vehicles
- A 20-year exemption on real estate taxes for all assets of the enterprise
- Exemption from any tax levied for the use of airports and piers
- Accelerated depreciation for real estate assets of 10% per year.
- The investment amount does not include the price of the land. And for projects in the metropolitan area, the minimum investment requirement is $300,000
Real estate transfer taxes in Panama are paid by the seller, and are 2% of either the updated registered value of the property or the sale price ~ whichever is higher. The updated value is the registered value, plus 5% per annum of ownership. If the property is bought by a Corporation, it is customary for the shares of the company to be sold (instead of the property), thus eliminating the need to pay transfer tax.
Inheritance Tax
Inheritance taxes in Panama have been completely abolished.
Transfer Tax
Despite this, taxes on gifts of properties located in Panama are still in effect, and the rate depends on the degree of relationship between the donor and the donee. This does not apply to property owned anywhere outside Panama.
Rental Income Tax
If you receive rental return on your property, you will be liable for income tax up to a maximum of 27% (on returns greater than $250,000). However, if you invest in one of the special "tourism zones," you may be exempt from income tax for 15 years.
Property Tax
Properties with a registered value of $30,000 or lower do not pay property tax. For properties of a higher value, they pay as follows: 1.75% from $30,000 to $50,000; 1.95% from $50,000 to $75,000; and 2.1% over any property value above $75,000.
If you buy or build a residential property in Panama, you may be exempt from property tax for up to 20 years if the construction permit is issued by Sept. 1, 2006, and the occupancy permit issued and improvements registered by Sept. 1, 2007. On houses or apartments where the construction permit is issued after Sept. 1, 2006, the following exemptions will apply:
The exemption is transferable during the exemption period to any new buyer. The land itself is not exempted, and would continue to incur property tax if its value is above $30,000.
Capital Gains Tax
Capital gains should be included in the annual tax return, and are taxed at whatever level the individual is being assessed for income tax. Unless you have owned the property for a minimum of two years and are not in the business of selling and buying property, you may choose to pay a flat 10% of the gross profit.
Finances ~ Panama is the focus of this article and therefore I am only commenting on the Panama situation. Since bank services offered by local banks in Panama (Visa card transactions, ATM withdrawals, transfers) are as good as any in the US and Europe, there are no expat-focused banks. What I could say is, do not bank with an entity that is not referred to you by reliable, financially aware people, and do your homework by reviewing its licenses and financial statements. Otherwise, stick to branches of banks known to you at home. Do not think however that they are the same as back home, they are not.
Do you complete and file your own tax returns or use a recommended local firm? It’s not difficult to get recommendations and a lot of the Forums now are full of contributors who will give you free advice.
Cost of living ~ the cost of living in Panama is very, very affordable compared to other countries who are able to offer similar quality of life. After coming from the UK, I am still amazed at how affordable Panama is in comparative terms.
I can find bottles of beer for $0.50c, have a great sandwich for $2.50, buy electronics at Hong Kong prices and get just about any product you can think of that comes through the Panama Canal. If you're a consumer, you won't be disappointed in Panama.
Taxi rides around the city are incredibly affordable. For $2.00 you can get just about anywhere. Now I don't think Panama is really cheap, but the quality of life per dollar (because the US dollar is the currency here so do the math and the conversions) is about as good as any mid-size town in the U.S., probably better, and a quarter at least, of what it would be back in the UK.
Real estate prices are indeed climbing (but very slowly), but everyday life in Panama is, I have to say, very, very reasonable. Outside the city prices get even lower although access to the same goods and services is obviously more difficult. Medical costs are a fraction of those in the U.S. Retirees enjoy numerous discounts on cars, medical services, insurance and simple things like movies and restaurants.
So, let me give you some examples of MY costs of living here in Panama. Right now, this month (May 2009), my outgoings consist only of $25 per month for our electricity, $4.50 for cooking gas (and this lasts us about 2 to 3 months), and our water is $3 per month. We have wireless internet, our connection with the outside world and our chance to earn an extra groat or two, is $75 per month but this is only because we live out in the countryside and miles from the nearest city. Our friends typically pay around $25 to $30 per month for their internet. Food bills are very low and petrol very cheap as well at around $2.35 per gallon. So, our monthly outgoings are around $105 without the foodstuffs etc. We have no taxes whatsoever. So, at today’s exchange rate it costs us about £75 (pounds) for the MONTH.
As for foodstuffs our typical weekly shop for groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables and wine is about $80. Eating out here typically costs around $15 for the two of us and that’s with a bottle of wine.
We are “Debt Free” and you know something, it’s a wonderful thing to say. “We are Debt Free” The low price of real estate here meant that what little we had in capital we were able to buy everything outright ~ even the car. We have “zero” loans, zero credit cards and zero mortgages. We owe nothing to anyone. How many can say that?
Property ~ prices vary like anywhere else in the world and it all depends on what you want. House and land prices range from anything between $30,000 for a small beach house up to $300,000 for a very nice palatial house with manicured gardens. It all depends on what you want and where you want to live.
There are so many websites around but check out some of the “For Sale By Owner” sites like www.choosechiriqui.com You’ll save on the commissions at least. Importantly though, house purchase is a very easy process here.
The only thing I would advise is to buy your real estate through a Corporation which is like a “shell owner” but it protects you the Owner
Law and culture ~ Typically Spanish with indigenous Indian thrown in. This is what we found when we arrived. Panama was part of Columbia years ago so there is a mixed race here. I have to admit though that it takes some getting used to but, on the whole, the people are friendly and very, very rarely will you feel uncomfortable, if at all.
There is a growing ex-pat community here from the US, Canada, the UK as well as a few of the other nations in Europe, etc. Tourism is growing rapidly and we see more and more Europeans, backpackers and eco-tourists each year. Crime is comparatively low though there have been a few problems in the wealthier ex-pat regions. Where we live we haven’t experienced ANY crime whatsoever.
We have a cleaning lady twice a week for the mornings work which costs us $5 per morning and her husband is our gardener 2 days per week during the wet season when all the plants are growing fastest and the grass fairly shoots out of the ground. We pay him $10 per day (for a full days work).
Lifestyle ~ what can I say. Even temperatures of around 80 degrees all year round means that our aches and pains have diminished tremendously. Medical facilities here are as good as back home and if you want to see a Specialist, it’s almost the same day appointment. I had to have a consultation recently with a Specialist and it cost me $30 for about an hour. With the Pensionado discount of 20% I only paid $24. What’s more, he was excellent.
Our vehicle is a very comfortable big thirsty American V8 Dodge SUV and was something I had always wanted but could never, ever have afforded back home. Petrol, or gas as it’s called here, was at a level of $1.80 per gallon and with the exchange rate being $1.90+ at the time, driving around was very, very inexpensive.
There is no road tax here, no MOT requirement (that’s a Test Certificate for you non-Brits) and our insurance was also very, very inexpensive in comparative terms.
Where we live we are 40 minutes pleasant drive from the Pacific Ocean beaches or 3 hours drive from the wonderful Caribbean Sea over at the world famous Bocas del Toro. The nature and wildlife here is just stunning, just wonderful.
Recently, we found ourselves walking along Pacific Ocean beach watching wild Red Backed Squirrel Monkeys playing in the Coconut Palms. We saw Howler Monkeys, White Faced Capuchins and Tamarins (they look like little gremlin faced monkeys). We even stroked wild cats like Ocelot, Oncilla and Margay. We photographed snakes and birds and wonderful insects like the Golden Beetle (which really do look like a gold ornament). Life is just so different now.
Again recently, we went on a fishing trip with some good friends we have here. We went on a speed boat out on the blue, blue Pacific Ocean where we saw dolphins swimming underneath OUR boat which was spectacular; they were almost close enough to reach out and touch them. We snorkelled on pristine coral reefs and all of these things we only dreamed of or watched on the BBC back home and now, of which are right on our doorstep
Obviously there is a drastic change of environments and some things you have to learn to live without, like the corner fish and chip shop, a meat pie with good pastry, Branston Pickle or Marmite but all of things you can live without if you really, really try hard enough.
It is certainly, and dramatically, less stressful and far more affordable than anything we experienced back home.
So, what should be your to-do list ~ Today in North America, there are hundreds of thousands (perhaps as many as over a million) Americans and Canadians contemplating and planning the most life changing, exciting, yet nerve-racking journey they have ever considered in their lives!
In the UK it has been reported that perhaps as many as 42% of mature adults with and without families are considering moving/relocating overseas. This is a tremendous figure.
These brave, adventurous, and somewhat unconventional people are considering a move that will change their lives, alter their views and experiences, and shape their future.
These individuals, couples and even entire families with children, have decided that they want to live or would like to try to live permanently in a foreign country, outside of their homeland. This major overseas move isn’t always met with support and encouragement from friends, neighbours and relatives. Moving to any country beyond our home shores takes fortitude, insight, and a strong sense of determination.
So why would so many people consider this type of change? The answers are as varied as the people considering the move and their backgrounds.
Some are looking to retire to a location that will cost 40%, 60%, and in some cases 80% less than their current living environment. Others are looking for a simpler, more relaxed way of life. Still others want to escape or flee high taxes, through-the-roof real estate costs, fewer personal freedoms, and ever-rising costs of health care, transportation and fuel, as well as all the attendant stresses and strains of life in the main.
All of these people have one common belief or vision ~ that they believe they can live better, for less, travel farther, and maybe make some money when they expand their world beyond their own shores.
Most realise and firmly believe that a life outside their homeland is the right choice for them, but need to take that first step forward. Some others are unsure about which country or region is right for them.
Most realise and firmly believe that a life outside their homeland is the right choice for them, but need to take that first step forward. Some others are unsure about which country or region is right for them. Still others need some verification that the choices and options are real, viable, and as affordable as they have heard.
There are those looking to live overseas and who are looking to invest in property overseas and for an appreciation of that investment. Still others will invest in property to retire to later in life, or to purchase a property to visit several times a year. There are myriad of reasons but, most certainly, you still need to do your research, your due diligence.
You need to communicate with your family, your friends. You need to research on the internet, join forums, read articles such as this one. Enter specific blogs on the subject. Communication is ‘key’ here and not only with your ‘outside world’. You also need to communicate with yourself. Understand yourself, your wants and needs and desires. Examine your own emotions, your inner determination and then, if you are still sure, go slowly (but surely) towards your goal.
My recommendation is, think about it, consider it, try it. We did and we wouldn’t change our life direction at all.
If you would like more information please, get in touch. I would be happy to help anyone. ~ michael@lambda-mi.com
The Application of EQ in Retirement
Part One
It’s the time of life we all face at some time or another, retirement. It’s this or redundancy or unemployment. These days the global and national economics don’t offer security like it used to do. So what happens when we suddenly (or not so suddenly) find ourselves with time on our hands contemplating our futures?
Focusing on retirement, many are daunted by the prospect and fear for their futures. Others think that everything will be okay and this can prove to be so…… for a short while at least. But eventually though, the drastic change in lifestyle requires us to be pragmatic and to consider moves which are outside our normal thought processes. For me, retirement proved unexpectedly problematic as the high cost of living back in the UK proved far to restricting. I needed to ‘break out’, to change, to pass through and to grow within this transition phase in my life. Knowing and accepting the situation are big steps.
As we live life we all practice our own way of doing things, our own way of handling situations and our own way of conducting relationships.
For much of our lives, we have been who we have naturally grown to be and it is only when things go wrong that we seek to identify what has gone wrong; be it with a doctor, a counsellor, a close family member or even a close friend. But have you ever stopped to consider that our emotions are our primary drivers and our physical bodies can either thrive or suffer through our emotions? Think about it, stress and strain brought on by anxiety or depression is damaging to our health and alternatively, joy, and happiness and contentedness bring us a much more stress free life and improved health. Until comparatively recently, there has not been much study in to the what and who we are and focussing on these issues. This study and practice is called EQ emotional intelligence.
In this article, I will try to illustrate (briefly) the practices and theories which could and should be of benefit to you, the reader. For many, the mention of “life skills” may come as a new concept but to others, it will come as a confirmation of skills, practices and techniques which have been discussed for some years now.
Each time a ‘new idea’ like EQ or emotional intelligence comes along, it’s tempting to write it off a just another fad, another ‘new age’ philosophy. Although it is often a truism that all we get in the domain of personal development is ‘re-packaging’ or sometimes a ‘regurgitation’ of studies and theories, emotional intelligence really can and does provide answers and hits many nails on the head in providing some real and identifiable solutions.
"Emotional Intelligence is the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in both ourselves and others." - Daniel Goleman, best selling author of “Emotional Intelligence”.
Life changes or transitions need to be addressed in a special way and I believe that emotional intelligence can help and to be benefit to a great many people who are now facing changes in lifestyles and expectations.
So, why do you think we should need emotional intelligence? If you’re going to read on, you may need some motivation so how about these points for starters:
1. The rate of depression in our society has skyrocketed over the last few decades. Depression is a horrible, life-destroying condition (at least temporarily). With the right sort of emotional intelligence you may be able to inoculate yourself against it.
2. Unemployment has risen sharply around the world causing so much hardship for individuals and families.
3. Stress is fast becoming “the” major killer in our society. Especially stress brought on by financial strain, from the high expense of the cost of ordinary living and the growing amount of debt across every age group.
4. Retirement no longer holds the attraction it once did because of a lack of financial support and resources to live life unfettered and in comfort.
5. In business, there is overwhelming, incontrovertible and undeniable evidence that good emotional intelligence is a positive marker for success in today’s work and marketplaces.
The incidence of emotional difficulties is climbing almost exponentially. Anxiety problems, panic attacks, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorders, anger…angst….
With the right emotional intelligence skills, you can control your emotions, not the other way round.
Life is so much more enjoyable with better standards of emotional intelligence and practice. Aside from avoiding the emotional nastiness listed in some of the above points, you really can enjoy your work more, get more from your personal and professional relationships, progress further at work and so improve your earnings potential, have more control over yourself and will be better placed to help others. These things are also a huge plus, for those retiring where new lives beckon, but where only a few seem to have the emotional capability of taking advantage of it.
If all of these things don’t persuade you that emotional intelligence is a good idea, maybe you need some additional emotional ‘food for thought’.
Let me give you a scenario: Ron has just retired and he and his wife Betty are wondering what they are going to do with their lives and how they are going to manage financially. They both feel very nervous and apprehensive.
Ron’s response (low ’EQ’) is: “I don’t know if we can manage here in this house because we have so many bills to meet”. Ron’s’ thoughts make him nervous, irritable and on edge all the time.
The month end arrives and the utility bills come through the door. Ron hides the telephone bill because he feels he can only afford the gas and the electricity.
Ron’s sleep patterns are being disrupted and his eating habits change.
Betty is worried. She becomes stressed and fretful watching her husband Ron who has never been like this before, not having his work to occupy him and being around the house all the time. There is little humour in their household and irritation levels rise.
This may seem a little ‘played up’ for effect, but I think this is so typical in so very many homes right now and not just for the retired or the retiring but, in ordinary homes as well in very many countries in the world. Although there are many factors involved, the initial interpretation of emotions, feelings, of anxiety, of worry and irritation all are key points here. But this is where good and effective emotional intelligence teaches us skills to identify and manage our emotions appropriately.
Let’s take a look at another way of dealing with this:
Bob’s response, (high 'EQ') is: Similarly, Bob has just retired and he notices that he feels nervous when he thinks about the future. He says to himself that this must be normal as he hasn’t considered everything properly as yet and allows for the fact that he might also be a little excited about it too. He also acknowledges that he needs a certain level of adrenaline to function at his best in a performance demanding situation. These interpretations have the following results:
Bob starts to deal with his nervous feelings by reading up on a variety of ideas that he has read about recently notably, relocation, house sales, retiring overseas where there is a lower cost of living, etc.
He discusses his ideas with his wife Alice and between them they decide to explore their options in a rational manner rather than dreaming or even panicking.
Whenever he finds himself thinking about their future, he puts his emotional intelligence skills to good use, allowing himself breathing space with the thought, “I can’t know what it will be like yet, and neither do I know what I’m going to do, but there are alternatives I can consider here”.
Bob and Alice then give themselves some loose timescales in which both will research and explore some of the ideas that they both have. The first decision is that they decide, jointly, that all ideas are valid. They are co-operating and communicating effectively which supports both of them reducing their stress levels.
Bob also uses relaxation techniques to quell his anxieties whilst Alice discusses with the rest of the family and some of her close friends what they are considering.
Relaxation is good for the mind and body for Bob and Alice gets so much support from her socializing with the family and her friends.
Due to his relaxed state, Bob’s mind is working really well, and he begins to get a real feel for the flow of his intuition, his wants and needs, without getting too bogged down in detail. Bob’s innate emotional intelligence skills also enable him to tolerate uncertainty – which is essential as he doesn’t really know what will happen to them in the near future.
Eventually, both Bob and Alice decide that there is a possibility of living overseas where the cost of living is greatly reduced and in which they will be able to manage much better on their pension payments. Also, both Bob’s and Alice’s interests in nature and photography would be best served in an area that is warm and full of wildlife. They both discuss and identify their own wish lists of what they would like to do. Working co-operatively, they support each other and have empathy with each others feelings and concerns. Good old Bob and Alice!
Being able to consider issues outside the box and outside of their comfort zones means they have such a big advantage which they can use for their own benefits and longevity
But seriously, the subtle yet effective skills employed by Bob and Alice are emotional intelligence skills that can be learned and practiced. So too are the many other skills that they have at their disposal which will enable them to:
* Deal with problems more effectively as they arise because arise they surely will. This is ‘real life’ after all
* Communicate effectively on every level
* Listen to each other and family members so they get the real wider message
* Take setbacks without feeling distraught or anxious
* Stop anger and stress from ruining their health, relationships and future prospects
* Enjoy extremely satisfying and productive new relationships and friendships
* Protect themselves, their family and their friends from their emotional problems.
* Be more comfortable with uncertainty
Life needs living and the joy of living comes from being as stress free as possible.
See you in my next instalment.
Written by;
Michael Boase
EQ Consultant
michael@lambda-mi.com
Part Two
In Part One I described emotional intelligence and gave you some simple examples. I hope that it provided you with some food for thought. For those of you who didn’t see the previous article, please visit the Articles Page on www.choosechiriqui.com to read it.
I hope I made a convincing case that increasing and improving your emotional intelligence is a great thing to do. It really is, as so very many have witnessed and confirmed. Medical practitioners all regard stress as a major debilitating factor in today’s society (and especially so during this global crisis we all face today) and confirm that emotional intelligence can provide a door opener to more stress free living thereby providing a more congruent and happy lifestyle and consequentially, longer lives.
Let’s look now in a little more detail at retirement or relocation. Retirement or relocation for whatever reason, is a transition, from one life style to another
Some of our transitions, as we have said, are planned for or are chosen, such as retirement. Others are involuntary transitions such as losing a job or being forced in to career changes, longer term illness or for whatever other reason.
We all have different ways or methods to handle lifes’ transitions. Much of what and who we are lies in our conditioned responses, our experiential imprints and some has to do with our natural temperaments and the way that change was handled when we were young. More than anything else, transitions involve change (naturally) and for many, change is a problem because change forces us out of our ‘comfort zones’ and throws us in to the unknown.
We never know for sure what lies ahead in our lives, and this is the way of life, that exciting but yet daunting uncertainty. Every transition involves saying “good bye” to something and then saying “hello” to something else, something new.
Not knowing what lies ahead, and not being sure how we can handle the ‘not knowing’ can lead to fear, anxiety and stress and we all know about stress don’t we? It generally causes us to shut down, slow down, being more careful, hesitant, and even to hide away and refuse to face the reality.
Let’s just think for a moment of an extreme example ~ you are walking in the woods and are suddenly confronted by a bear. This is a serious transition ~ from sublime safety to life threatening danger.
Did you know that our brains are naturally designed to help preserve our safety and so in situations like this can instantaneously, flood our bodies with chemicals such as adrenaline through part of our brain which is called the ‘amygdala’ positioned in our Limbic System. This chemical flooding can put us into a high state of conditioned alertness ~ the “fight of flight” condition.
This conditioned action is designed to stop us from thinking. It’s designed to enable us to act without thought, because when confronted with actual physical danger, like confronting a bear, there isn’t much we need to “know” except to get away, and if we stop to think, we won’t move fast enough.
This is just one way in which our brains act and react.
When we face change in our environment, for whatever reason, our emotions change and during these emotional ‘transitions’ our bodies face reactions of one kind or another. It’s during these situations that our own personal “emotional intelligence” comes in to play.
Let me try to explain and enlighten you as to what emotional intelligence actually means in practice. Emotional intelligence is a set of tools that we learn and develop during our lives but, like anything else, some of us are good at practising them and some not so.
These are the generally accepted parameters of EQ emotional intelligence;
* Self-Awareness ~ the knowing and understanding of your own emotions and feelings which are essential for knowing what you really want and understanding the impact that you have on other people every day.
* Self-Regulation ~ being able to control your own emotional state which is essential for taking responsibility for your own actions, and which can save you and others from hasty re/actions that you might later regret.
* Motivation ~ knowing what and how you are feeling (positive or negative), being able to control your emotions, being able to persist in the face of discouragement, resistance or negativity.
* Empathy ~ being able to accurately feel and read emotions in others and to react appropriately.
* Social skills ~ influencing and handling other people's emotions.
These then are the parameters by which emotional intelligence can be assessed and measured. These are the issues that affect everyone in our everyday lives and it is a direct consequence as to how we deal with life by way of these skills.
With these tools, we live with our emotions not against them, which also serve to smooth the roads ahead. Living ‘with the flow’ is an easier way of living rather than trying to paddle against it.
There are very many individuals, couples and families who are suffering emotionally these days. They are suffering in a ‘silent’ way. Suffering with their anxieties, their day to day worries, and within their relationships. Suffering with the stresses and strains that this moment in time is putting everyone under.
But we do have choices. We always have options. Granted of some of these choices many would disagree with and say “those aren’t choices nor are they acceptable alternatives”, but there is the rub. Those that say these things are not really looking outside the box, not exploring other avenues for alternatives (possible low EI). They remain within their comfort zones irrespective of how it affects them.
We all know that retirement is a life changing life style, a transition. No longer being provided with physical activity and certain responsibilities, no longer socialising in the same way and definitely not being paid, are all serious issues that need to be dealt with. Many will have planned for the future. Many will tolerate their diminished expectations and then again, some will want and look to a different future.
Emotional intelligence provides the qualities needed to stand people in good stead when considering stepping outside of their comfort zone and especially so when considering relocating and retiring (especially overseas). There are just so many issues to consider.
For myself personally, I cannot and will not deny that retiring overseas hasn’t provided me with new impetuous, a fresh outlook, with new interests, new friends and has far more exciting opportunities with each new day.
One thing I do notice with people in transition is that they lose the center of themselves, their inner awareness. The turmoil of the unknown throws them out of touch with their inner wisdom and they start thrashing around seeking advice or guidance but often not hearing. Often they are unaware that they are behaving irrationally, or that they are locked in to that debilitating analysis-paralysis mode, unable to act, react or escape.
There are certain things common to every transition, and this ‘retirement’ issue will not be your first one or your last. If you can GROW through this transition, instead of just GOING through it, you will have increased your life skills tremendously and be much better prepared for when the next one comes along. You will also find that you will also come out with more self-confidence instead of feeling helpless.
At this time in your life, facing these transitions, it’s also a good time to work on your emotional intelligence competencies – your flexibility, resilience, social support network, your intuition. The more relaxed and flexible you can become, the better you will be able to generate options and solutions and thus avoid the “shut down” mode.
Some situations require immediate action. Others will work themselves out with time where you really don’t need to do anything. You should develop your ability to sense these experiences as part of your intuition. Feeling and sensing through your intuition is all part and parcel of emotional intelligence because you will be able to identify what you are feeling, when and why.
The irony is that the more stable and well managed your life has been, the more a major transition can throw you out of kilter. If you’ve been organised, or simply lucky, it may well have been years since you felt the world shift beneath your feet. Retirement or unemployment is such earth moving issues.
For some people, retirement can be an extremely stressful time. I think of my friend Stephen, who was a Police Officer for about 30 years and who is now retired. He now says, “I don’t know how to do anything.” He means he hasn’t figured out yet how to live without going to the Station every day. For 30 years his life was organized in a certain way.
He looked forward to the day he could retire and to get away from the drudgery, the downside, but now that it’s here, he finds himself lost without the imposed structure he knew and understood so well. He feels like he’s at a dead end, when actually he’s in a transition between “that” which he knew and now, whatever lies ahead, which is now his to create. Because of the former stability in his life, he hasn’t had any experience in crafting his life in 30 years. It now brings on emotions that he hasn’t felt in years.
In actual fact, these situations can provide fresh impetus, new horizons but, they need facing with all the emotional intelligence we can muster. Some say bravery, some say recklessness but whatever or however it is viewed, we need to make informed choices on and for our new life paths.
Retirement or relocation, either as an individual, couple or family, requires communication, empathy, motivation and conviction. Decisions need to be made having regard to all the factors and even then there should be an element of ‘change possibility’.
Planning for the future in retirement should be a fluid exercise but undertaken in a positive light.
In my final article (Part Three) I will deal with retirement overseas, what to expect, what to do, how to be prepared and how to plan for your new life.
Written by;
Michael Boase
EQ Consultant
michael@lambda-mi.com
Part Three
As we have seen in Parts One and Two, emotional intelligence is important, nay crucial, if we are going to live as stress free a life as possible.
As we approach that magical yet unavoidable day of retirement, some may have planned for it though few will have actually considered it very closely. The planning usually and ordinarily consists of either fantasy ~ “I’m going to enjoy myself doing nothing or perhaps going fishing”, to ~ “I’ll get a part-time job and tinker about a bit”.
Few, and I include myself here, actually realise what an enormous change in life style and living practice occurs when we retire.
I was a Police Officer with the Greater Manchester Police in the UK and had some wonderful friends. Being a member of the Police Service, the same as most Uniformed and Armed Services, is like being a member of a large family. There is comfort there, support, guidance and always that sense of belonging. All of this changes when you retire. On retirement, you are no longer a member of ‘the family’ per se. You are a civilian, a retired person (as though you have contracted a disease or something) and in a relatively short space of time you are almost forgotten. Personnel changes, dynamic and changing working conditions all bring about an ever evolving culture in which you no longer fit. I was shocked by the change, truly.
Ageism then comes in to play. Ageism is something legislated against in many countries but…… as a retired person you are and will be viewed differently.
On retirement, you make a transit from a position of respect (as a legitimate worker) to someone who is either taken advantage of (minimum pay wise) or to someone to be tolerated. It’s not that “wow” factor it’s more that “awwww” factor.
Anyway, much of this, to a lesser or greater degree, is what happens to us all eventually. We work with, live with, share with and associate with our fellow workers and of who become our firm friends. Leaving these ‘comfort environs’ can be, and usually is, traumatic. Some cope better than others and some feel the effects at different stages of their lives. By this I mean that it ‘hits’ some people later than others and for some it’s stronger than others.
Retirement however, does not mean the end of our existence as some jokers intimate. It does not mean being “thrown on to the scrap-heap”. And it certainly does not mean we are useless.
Retirement needs to be seen in the light of our lives along a time-line and as such should be appreciated as a substantial part of our whole lives. Consider this.
I left school at 15 years of age and started work. The first 5 years of my life after school were taken up with being in College and studying and practising during my apprenticeship.
So, normal working life is generally accepted as being from around 19/20yrs old when we start to work in earnest. Some 35 years later, some lucky ones are able to retire early or 45 years for others. At ages between 55 and 65 we retire (or many do). If we live until the average age for dying these days we will have another glorious 20 to 30 years of retirement, almost as much as our working lives.
Think about it. When we retire we should be expecting to live for a very long time yet. These years should be our fruitful years, our enjoyment years, our years of freedom and exploration, of living and a ‘joyous life’.
As individuals/adults we have provided the world with our sons and daughters, cared for and raised them hopefully for the benefit of society.
We have worked hard to produce a better life for our families, our extended families and others and now, in ‘this time’, we should be focussing on ‘our time’, for ourselves. Not from a selfish point of view but from a self focussed point of view ~ the former being negative and the latter being positive.
So why is it then that when we have the opportunity to ‘break free’ of the shackles of our working lives and responsibilities to our Employers, we seem to shrink, hide or fade?
Don’t you think that by the time we hit our fifties and sixties it would be nice to think we have earned the right to retire at a time of ‘our’ choosing and on ‘our’ own terms?
An AXA Insurance poll recently found at least three out of five UK retirees retired before the minimum legal age of 65. The problem then is that in countries such as the UK, the US, Canada and some other European countries, collective or combined personal savings and pensions coupled with the high cost of living makes it very difficult to cope with living comfortably. So, more than half of those retired workers expected to have to work in some shape or form during their retirement in order to maintain some semblance of comfort.
It’s not surprising to me to also know that seven out of 10 workers aged more than 45 in the U.S and UK are very worried about not having enough money to fund their retirement.
When it comes to retirement planning, many people living in the world's most advanced economies really struggle in preparing for their retirement. There is a tremendous need for education about retirement planning in the UK, the US and other countries, to enable people to take more personal responsibility for ensuring their own financial security. This is where such a lot of anxiety stems from these days, about the sources of our retirement income on which people obviously need to rely.
In the US and Canada, over a third of the ‘baby boomers’ face a penniless retirement. Almost a third of American baby boomers face a poverty-stricken retirement because they have not saved enough money to finance their twilight years. Too many Americans at an age from 50 to 60 are leaving themselves financially short when it comes to their retirement, and very many have left it too late to make up the shortfall.
Your browser may not support display of this image.Your browser may not support display of this image.Your browser may not support display of this image.Your browser may not support display of this image.Your browser may not support display of this image.Far from filling their "golden years" with leisure activities, travel or fresh creative leisure activities, many middle-aged and older adults across the UK, the US , Europe and Asia face a real struggle to make ends meet when they retire.
So where does all this leave us? For me it leaves us all with a two tier situation.
First of all, those who are still working desperately NEED retirement education, financial education and help with financial planning for their retirement years. It is imperative that Governments, Employers and the Educational Institutions play an active part in resolving this sorry state. I say this because EVERYONE, those in Government Offices right now, those who are Managers, Directors, Owners of businesses and all those Teachers et al, will all retire one day.
Secondly, for all those who have already retired, today is not a good day because the world finds itself in a confidence crisis. Confidence comes from knowing and understanding the prevailing situations and for many; this “credit crunch” seems unfathomable. How on earth could this situation have evolved without the Regulating Bodies knowing about it? It’s beyond me and beyond the vast majority of people and especially when we see the amounts that are going to be paid to try to save ourselves. The financial amounts are more than astronomic they are staggeringly bewildering. The saving grace, in my humble opinion, is that we can all escape (to a certain extent) from this global malaise if we can find and have confidence and practice our emotional intelligence.
As I have already said, retirement can be, and should be, another chapter in our “Lifes Book”. When you look at the book as a whole, you should be able to read chapters covering ~ birth and formative years, schooling, training, relationships, interests and activities, marriage and families, working lives, retirement, leisure, activities and exploration. These would be amongst my Chapter headers. What would yours be?
It is at this juncture that I feel that our emotional intelligence should start to come in to play in earnest. If we accept our retirement as inevitable, as it is, many decisions are going to have to be made as to what we are going to do with ourselves. Much thought, soul searching, communication and research needs to be undertaken. Our partners and families need to be included and involved. Empathy needs to be felt and recognised by everyone. Knee jerk reactions need toning down in the light of the bigger picture rather than that of “a personal loss or losing” by some.
For me, as to guidance, I had to clearly identify my wants, needs and dreams. Then I had to try to match these against my depreciated expectations back in the UK and also to match their availability and very quickly I realised that the matching just wasn’t as successful as I needed it to be. I had to start the process of looking outside of the box, to investigate how I would be able to successfully marry my wants and needs with providers and provision. I had to motivate myself in to recognising and accepting that I had alternatives.
My only recourse, I discovered, was to look at the array of environments, cultures and countries outside my ‘home’ lands.
There is a plethora of information on the internet now and so much choice, but it was the initial decision that was difficult to handle. Having made the decision to look overseas the path became a little easier. The world starts to open up and especially in these days with falling travel prices.
Managing my direction and the understanding of my (and others) every concern was crucial in my planning. Our expectations can carry us away in our thoughts and fantasy. Our anxieties about leaving our comfort zones can plunge us in to deep dark areas of negativism which is also not a good place to be.
Our hopes then enable us to fly high for the views of new horizons but then “deserting our families and friends” (or so it can seem) can bring us crashing back to earth. Self regulating our inner-selves, our emotions, is crucial because only when we recognise and understand the reactions in others of our words, deeds and anticipated actions can we hope to smooth those troubling waters.
This roller coaster ride is no different to other roller coasters we have ridden during our lives in the past it’s just that this time, we are going to be immersing ourselves, if we choose, to live and breathe in a new home, within a new culture and with an untested “safety net”.
All this needs to be understand and anticipated before being undertaken and more if this transition of ‘overseas retirement’ is going to be successful.
To end this essay, may I just say that all the above are precursors to the days when you eventually pack up and leave? You may have carefully packed your household goods into a container and seen it safely off at the docks. You may have conducted your preparatory affairs well; contacted a trusted local but foreign Lawyer, consulted a Real Estate Agent, seen a property you like, processed the correct Visas, set up Bank Accounts, etc, etc, etc. All of this will fully occupy your mind.
Making new friends, joining Ex-pat Clubs, buying a car in your new country and driving around in your new environment are all exciting prospects.
Just make sure, that the emotional intelligence you used and rely upon remains with you as a valid and frequent practice.
Remember the 5 points of EQ and always have them to hand because as sure as ‘eggs are eggs’, you will experience a full range of emotions; all the highs, the very highs as well as the lows and the very lows.
The difference is, you will be in unfamiliar surroundings amongst new people. All beneficial and worthwhile but ……. It will be and will feel different. Your safety net will not be there nor your recognised social support group. Home sickness too can creep up on you if you are not careful, again, an emotional response to being away overseas.
Your continuing EQ awareness and practice is essential if you are going to make a success of this transition.
Everything I have said above, every comment or viewpoint, I felt personally before retiring overseas so I do know what I’m talking about.Is it worth it? You bet. It’s as exciting as anything you EVER did during your life. I cannot recommend it highly enough but, it does take a different type of person to do it. You will not be counted as a ‘normal person’ when you do do it. But then again, I have never liked that phrase ~ ‘normal’.
Written by;
Michael Boase
EQ Consultant
michael@lambda-mi.com
www.choosechiriqui.com
