We’ve vacated our house in Florida. Even as I type this, the estate sales company is in there pulling everything out of cupboards and drawers, tagging it and getting ready to sell it all off on Saturday.

And, frighteningly, even though we feel as though we’re selling off everything we own, we moved a lot of stuff into the home of the friend we’re staying with temporarily while we wrap up here.

Some things are going into storage — several boxes of favorite books that are out of print and unlikely to become available in a Kindle or other e-book version, important tax and other documents we need to keep for a period of time, a handsome teak desk I’ve had since 1971, and a few other odds and ends.

We’ve also set up some very short-term storage, items we expect to retrieve when we return in a few months for a family wedding. We’ll fly back with big, nearly empty suitcases and fill them up for the return trip to Panama.

Our dogs have been busy exploring their new, temporary home. I discovered, when I let them out into the fenced back yard, that there’s a hole in the back corner. Naturally it’s in the hardest spot for humans to get to, behind the canoe and the shed. How did they know to zero right in on that spot?

As I type this the pups have finally settled down at my feet, tired from all the morning’s excitement.

We’ll hang out here for a few days while we get a few more things organized, then we’re off to Atlanta to visit my husband’s family. I’ll be on a flight to Panama shortly thereafter.

“Do you have an address there?” friends ask.

No, we have no idea where we’ll live. My task when I arrive will be to find a short-term (3-6 months) furnished rental. Once I’ve got that lined up, my husband will start the paperwork for bringing the dogs into the country, then he’ll fly down with las mascotas.

I’m exhausted just thinking about it. I think I need a nap.

There’s an old saying — “a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.” If you’re intrigued with the idea of creating a new, untethered life for yourself overseas, there’s an excellent tool for breaking the process down into single steps. Here’s my review.

Oh, I don’t mean their house was like some of those horrible places you see on TV shows — you didn’t have to weave your way through towering piles of old newspapers or anything like that. But they held onto stuff.

After my mother died last summer, we found bins full of the little boxes that fancy teas come in. . . Christmas cards from 20 years ago. . . checkbook stubs from accounts that were closed decades previously. . .

It inspired me to come home and be even more ruthless about getting rid of my excess stuff in preparation for our move to Panama.

Now that the move is imminent, my husband is starting to let go of things he’s been holding onto. Old report cards from elementary school. . . syllabuses (syllabi?) from some of his Master’s degree courses. . . cards, photos, books. . .

We’ve moved before. Back in 1989, we packed up our (then) four kids and a house full of stuff and moved from upstate New York to Florida. Before the move we had a huge sale and sold off a ton of stuff. After arriving in Florida, we realized we had kept way too much.

When we moved from one house to another in the Orlando area, we got rid of a ton of stuff before the move. We still kept too much.

This time, though, we can’t just put things on the truck, so keeping what we don’t need is simply not an option.

How Do You Live with a Light Footprint?

We’ll be living with a light footprint, for a while at least. We plan to rent someplace furnished for 3-6 months initially. In the meantime, my husband’s brother has offered to let us store a few things in his basement.

So we have a few boxes of books — and only those which are out of print and unlikely to become available digitally. We have one piece of furniture, a lovely teak desk which I’ve had since 1971. My guitar and my husband’s trumpet. Some (but not all, thank goodness!) of his tools.

We’ll ship them down once we’ve been somewhat settled in Panama a few months.

I know a couple who consider themselves perpetual travelers. They spend most of their time in Asia, going from Thailand to China to India to other Asian countries every few months.

They don’t have to worry about residency as they don’t stay long enough in one place for it to be an issue.

Their personal belongings are limited to clothing, a small netbook computer each, and a favorite coffee mug. Wherever the mug is, that’s home.

I don’t know if I could live a life pared down to that extent. Certainly not now, anyway, although I can see the appeal.

In the meantime, I’m looking around and thinking, “I haven’t gotten rid of nearly enough.”

photo by Orin Zebest on flickr

No, not uncertainty about whether we should go, uncertainty about the timing.

Until we have a signed lease agreement for our house, we’re not buying tickets or going anywhere.

Our rental agent had been very sanguine about finding tenants in the allotted time, but showings have been sparse and we’re getting nervous. it’s difficult to forge ahead when you’re not confident . . . tempers have flared, harsh words have been spoken. . . it hasn’t been pretty.

Week of January 9

This week has been a bit of a hodgepodge of activity. Dealing with a lot of paperwork — taxes, bills and such, and a lot of miscellaneous small details. It’s rather boring to write about, actually, so this update will be short.

Packing and Organizing

We sent more boxes of stuff to various family members. Packed up more boxes to move into our “these are the things we’ll store” area in the garage. My husband still hasn’t begun sorting through his papers and books, which is making me very nervous.

Maintaining Our Lives

Spent the week pulling together information for taxes, and I did start our tax return this week. It’s more complicated than what you file if you’re working for someone else and get a W-2 form at the end of the year. Thank goodness for Turbo Tax.

I also realized there were some bills we only pay twice a year (life insurance!) that I hadn’t switched over to electronic payments, so I dealt with that. One of them was easy. I could go online and switch it over on the website, and set it up to draft our account automatically.

The other required me to download, fill out and mail a paper form. In this day and age, why is that necessary? Anyway, it’s done.

Now, back to those pesky tax returns. . .

It seems just last week When I started this weekly recount of all the preparation steps we’d taken toward our upcoming Panama move. But actually, it was two months ago!

Now we’re within 30 days of our projected move date, and stress levels are rising.

Hopefully, by seeing what we’re doing, you’ll be able to avoid some of the pitfalls that seem to be an inherent part of a big move like this.

Weeks of December 26 and January 2

Quite honestly, I didn’t do anything about our upcoming move during the week between Christmas and New Year. We were visiting our children in the northeast, and I took some time to chill — literally and figuratively. We saw temperatures in the single digits more than once during our stay. (Actually down to zero one night, and a couple hours after we flew out the temperature dropped into the minus numbers.)

Since returning home on the 3rd, though, it’s been pretty busy.

House Repair

We thought we were done with this category, but a couple things came up this week. We had to replace a ceiling fan that conked out unexpectedly — better now than after we’re in Panama with tenants in the house! We also had to call the Roto Rooter folks to clear out a clog in the line from the washing machine. Both pretty small compared to some of our earlier projects, thank goodness.

There were also several big tree limbs that needed to come down, so my husband’s spent some time this past week working on that.

Packing and Organizing

We’re clearing out more stuff. I’m shipping a couple of boxes to my sister in Virginia and another to my son in LA. Now that I’m home from the frozen north, I’ve packed up my heaviest winter clothes to dispose of. I’ll keep a couple of sweaters, but all the other sweaters, sweatshirts, etc., are going. I’m trying to get my clothes, shoes and personal items whittled down so they’ll fit into two suitcases. . . I’ll let you know how that plays out.

We’ve also designated an area in the garage for boxes that will go into storage. We’re gradually getting more out of the house and into that storage area.

My husband, the avid cyclist, has been researching bicycle options. He currently has two road bikes. He’ll sell one and ship the other to Panama. He’s decided a mountain bike would be a good choice for riding in Panama, so he’s researching to see whether it’s better to buy one here and ship it down, or buy one there.

Selling Stuff

We had another estate sales agent come to the house last week. She was much more encouraging than the first one, and was pleased that she’d be able to work us into her busy schedule because the house is small and clean. I liked her attitude — instead of seeing obstacles she saw opportunities. She understands that we can’t set a date until we have a signed lease in our hot little hands, and she’s willing to work with us practically any time as long as we give her a week’s notice.

I think we’ll be able to deal with her.

At this point the tentative plan — and again, it’s contingent on having a signed lease — is to set up the sale for just before the tenants’ move-in date. While the estate company is here setting up and conducting the sale, we’ll head up to my in-laws’ place for a visit with them before we take off.

Renting the House

Still nothing definite, but more activity. If you know anyone who might be interested in a charming 3-bedroom, 2-bath home in lovely Winter Park, FL, let me know!

Remember those stress levels I mentioned? We don’t have a definite move date yet, and won’t until we’ve found tenants for the house and signed a lease. I’m confident we’ll have someone in here by February 1, but the extra uncertainty isn’t helping.

Moving the Pets

Nothing particular to report in this category. The dogs are healthy, they’ve adjusted to their new kennels, and there’s nothing else we can do until it’s time to take them to the vet for their final checkup and the start of the paperwork race.

Maintaining Our Lives

So far the auto bill pay I set up through the credit union is working without a hitch.

Last week my husband finished collating all his paperwork that I’ll need to do tax returns. So this week I’ll be starting the tax returns and the financial aid paperwork for our daughter.

The Panama End

I found another Panama forum last week, on Reddit. Got some new leads on places to rent. . .

Somehow, when I write it down, it doesn’t look like much. But I assure you, we’ve been very busy this past week preparing for our Panama adventure.

You’ve heard the siren song of that soft Caribbean breeze, or the bustling Asian street scene with the bright colors and temple bells. Or maybe your overseas dream runs more toward soaking up the culture of the City of Lights. The only problem is, the US economy has eaten your retirement nest egg and you don’t know how you can afford to make any changes.

The solution? Create a portable career for yourself. Ideally it will be something you can develop in your spare time that will generate enough of a passive income to cover your expenses in your chosen country.

Not sure what skills you have that can translate to a profitable online venture? Read on. . .

When discussing portable careers, I write often about developing a website or blog to support you overseas. In the past couple of years, the distinction between website and blog has become blurred. So what’s the difference, really?

What’s a Website?

Basically, a website is a piece of online real estate that you can do anything you want with. It’s what pops up when you type a URL into your browser. It can be a blog, a forum, a discussion group, or a corporate information site.

YouTube is a website. So is Future Expats Forum.

Merriam-Website defines a website as

“a group of World Wide Web pages usually containing hyperlinks to each other and made available online by an individual, company, educational institution, government, or organization.”

What’s a Blog?

A blog is simply one type of website. Originally, blog was short for weblog. A blog was a type of website that was updated regularly. Articles or posts appear chronologically with the most recent first. Special blogging software was developed to make the process easier for those not technically inclined.

Blogs were often used as public journals, places where their authors could express their personal views, experiences and thoughts.

Businesses gradually entered the “blogosphere,” and blog software became more robust.

When I talk about blogs, I’m referring to websites that are built using the WordPress platform.

Blog Software

Today you can use WordPress, the most popular blog software platform in the world, to create sites that don’t look anything like yesterday’s blogs. It’s become a robust CMS (content management system) that allows you to create online magazines, portfolios, newspapers, corporate sites, freelance sites, virtually any kind of website you can think of.

WordPress is available in two flavors: self-hosted (the type I recommend) and hosted by WordPress itself. Google also offers a blog platform which they host for you, called Blogger.

If you’re just starting out and feel as though you need some technical hand-holding, Blogger or WordPress hosting is a good way to ease in. But if you want to develop an online business where you make money, both these options are too limiting. (They also don’t give you the same professional aura that a self-hosted WordPress site does.)

If you’re comfortable with technology, you can jump right in with a self-hosted WordPress site. (And I walk you through it with the Blogging for Expats tutorial series.)

It’s not all technology, though — there’s another part of the equation which is even more important.

How the Heck Do You Make Money with a Website or Blog?

If you already provide a service or a product (especially a digital product), your site becomes your marketing and sales platform. Writers, consultants, photographers, life coaches and programmers, we have it pretty easy.

But what if you’re creating a business from scratch and you don’t already have a skill that’s easy to transport, or an ability that lends itself to online delivery?

There are thousands of books, hundreds of videos, dozens of online courses you can buy to help you create an e-business. (“E-business” just means that you generate your income online.)

Or, you can look at another online option altogether.

SiteSell

SiteSell combines the best of two worlds: it provides you with the technical help and tools to make your site creation easier, and it also walks you step by step through the entire process of developing a workable business idea and executing it through a website.

You get the technical hand-holding for putting your information online. You also get tools for attracting traffic, and even more importantly for making money from that traffic.

Their system works. I know people who are earning pretty well ($60,000/year and up) using SiteSell. They tell me it provides a full-time income with part-time effort. I personally have no experience with it, but I’m impressed enough with the results I’ve seen that I’ll be starting a new site with them in the new year, once I’m settled in Panama.

Once I do, I’ll share that process and my progress with you as well.

Now, I have to admit, I’m biased. I like WordPress and I’ve not yet used SiteSell. (In other words, expect to hear lots more about WordPress from me.) For their take on the “blog vs. SiteSell” issue, here is SiteSell’s slightly biased viewpoint.

If you’d like to earn your overseas income online, check out SiteSell. And if you choose that route, let me know how you’re doing with it!

At this point, I’m wondering seriously why we thought moving a month after Christmas was a good idea. . .

Weeks of December 11 and 18

House Repair

Fortunately, we’re pretty well done with this category. We don’t have any more repair projects, although we do have a few things left on the list. They include items like spackling and touch-up painting over holes in walls where we’ve pulled out picture hooks and such.

Of course there’s always more cleaning. . .

Packing and Organizing

My husband has finally started organizing his stuff. I’m relieved, because I can’t do all of it for him. He’s going through work-related papers, books and — most importantly for him — his tools.

The tools are proving to be a big stumbling block. He can’t imagine a life where he won’t need them, so he wants to bring them with us somehow. I don’t see it happening, at least during our initial move. Maybe later when we ship the few things that we want to keep.

Another issue is his bicycle. He’s an avid cyclist, and wants to take his good road bike with him. I think he’d do better to just replace it down there. I’ll let you know how that plays out.

Selling Stuff

I called a half dozen estate sales agents last week. One of them came to the house, and told us our house was too small for a worthwhile sale. I got the impression if we’d had it stuffed to the rafters with antiques or original art she wouldn’t have found the size a problem. Nevertheless, she did put us in touch with someone who will buy the entire contents outright, then transport it to his warehouse and sell it at auction.

If we don’t find a better solution, it’s a reasonable fallback.

Renting the House

People are starting to come look. According to the rental agent, we can expect activity to increase after the first week in January.

Moving the Pets

Last week the dogs went to the vet for their regular checkups and dental cleaning. We wanted to get it done well in advance of the move. Unless one of them gets sick between now and February, we should be able to take them in for their health certificates and not have to worry about any other pet health issues.

And they seem to be adapting quite contentedly to their new kennel arrangements. They’re all going into the right kennel each evening, and we’re not hearing any more complaining.

Maintaining Our Lives

Now that Christmas is over, one of the larger hurdles I’m facing is our taxes and the financial aid forms for our college student daughter. I need to have them all done before we move, so I’m starting the preliminary organizing now.

My plan is to get everything done early in January, even before we have all the proper IRS forms (1099s in our case, since we’re both technically self employed). As soon as we have the official forms everything should be ready to go.

I’ve also switched all the house-related bills (mortgage, electric, water, etc.) to an auto bill pay offered through our credit union. I still need to set up electronic billing for a couple of them so we don’t need to rely on postal mail for any house-related bills once we’ve moved.

Just before the holidays we had a nice visit with a friend from out of state. We hadn’t seen him in several years, but he was visiting family in North Florida and drove down to spend a few days.

We’re currently in the northeast with three of our five children. I figure it’s the last Christmas we’ll spend in the cold for quite a while, and it has been cold, for sure. Zero degrees when I went to bed the other night. . . Right now we’ve got big, fluffy flakes drifting lazily down and accumulating on the roads.

We have plans to visit the in-laws next month and during January we’ll also spend as much time as possible with local friends.

The Panama End

Last week I made contact with someone who can help us find a furnished house or apartment in Panama. Next week I plan to get back in touch with some of the people we met last year, and ask them to start keeping their eyes and ears open for furnished rentals in the area.

I feel like the juggling act is going to get much more challenging once we get home from this Christmas break. . .

When we got within the 90-day window for our move to Panama, I started this weekly recount of all the preparation steps we’d taken during the week. Any move is a big undertaking, but the first overseas move is ginormous, so I thought it might be helpful to future expats see what someone else is doing, step by tottering step.

You can find the previous Countdown! posts here.

Week of December 4

House Repair

Last week I announced happily that our last big repair project was finished. That was the bathroom retiling, and what a relief it was to be done. Now there’s just a lot of smallish stuff. We have a ceiling fan to replace (not a big job for my electrician husband), some painting touch-up, spackling and touching up holes where picture hooks used to be, and so on.

We did list our house with the rental agent this week, and there’s now a sign in our front yard. It doesn’t sound like much, but it was really a very significant step since we won’t leave until we have tenants in the house.

Packing and Organizing

I took another bag of clothes to Goodwill. I think it’s multiplying on its own. . . I don’t know where it’s all coming from.

Frenzy of cleaning in the leadup to listing the house. . .

I’ve been de-cluttering the house for showing. Taking the family pictures off the walls, packing away the handful of items from my grandparents’ home that I plan to keep and that sort of thing.

I’ve also been going through files, disposing of reams of old ones we don’t need to keep. I’ve started making copies of the most important documents so we can bring originals with us (for things like the pensionado visa application) while storing copies with a relative in case someone here needs access to that information.

Selling Stuff

I meant to contact estate sales agents this week, but didn’t get to it. Will do it next week. Really.

Moving the Pets

I’m happy to report that the kennel rearrangement worked. We’ve put the oldest dog in the smaller kennel by himself, and the whiner together with the youngest. Since then, we’ve been able to enjoy a quiet night’s sleep every night. And the dogs are getting used to the arrangement. They now trot happily into their appropriate kennels each night.

This week they go to the vet for their regular 6-month checkups and routine shots. Hopefully, when we take them for their pre-departure physicals they’ll be good to go without anything additional.

Maintaining Our Lives

I knew this would get more complicated. . .

We had a dinner on Friday with friends and former coworkers. Had a lovely time, but it felt like the first of many “goodbye” parties. We have another party this evening, the annual Christmas do for an organization of avid bicyclists that my husband belongs to. I’m not sure I’m really ready for this.

Spent a long time on the phone yesterday with a friend I don’t see often enough. They’ve known for a long time we were planning on moving out of the country, but when I shared our plans with her yesterday the shock coming through the phone lines was almost palpable. We planned a time to get together after Christmas, as both our calendars are too full to do it before.

And, finally, my husband spent a long time on Skype last night with his parents. He shared our timetable for the first time, and they were very unhappy but seemed to accept it. Considering how strongly his mother has attacked the idea in the past, she took it well. (Although I don’t think for a minute we’ve heard the end of it.)

Do you have any funny moving stories to share? I could use some laughs right about now. . .

The end of our fourth countdown week saw us taking away our dogs’ big wire crate where they’ve happily slept at night for several years, and putting them in their spacious travel kennels to sleep. It wasn’t a happy experience, for them or for us.

To put it mildly.

Week of November 27th

House Repair

Hallelujah, the bathroom tile job is done! The final tiles are in place, grouted, cleaned, and looking great. Just a little touch-up paint needed around the edges and we’re in business. That was a project that — as with many such — took on a life of its own and became far more time- and labor-intensive than we ever anticipated.

We have an appointment with the rental agent this week to come and actually list the house. Now we just need to keep it clean, clean, clean for showing while we continue the packing and sorting.

Packing and Organizing

My husband has started going through his clothes, books and other personal items, sorting, discarding and making decisions.

We have another bag of clothing at the door ready to take to Goodwill. Where is it all coming from? I didn’t think we had that much. . .

I also spent some time at our credit union, arranging for automatic bill payment and discussing the recommendation letter we’ll need from them in order to open a local bank account in Panama.

My big task this week has been sorting through files. I’ve pulled out the documents we need to take with us, and have another stack of documents to photocopy or scan. For example, our life insurance policies can stay in storage, but I want to have the information for paying the premium or making a claim.

Selling Stuff

The items I listed on eBay didn’t sell, so now I have to figure out another way to dispose of them. I’ve decided not to attempt to sell any more individual items. Instead, we’ll save it all for the big sale at the end.

Moving the Pets

I thought the whole sleeping-in-the-new-kennels thing would go smoothly. The dogs have had a couple of weeks to get used to having them around, they’ve been happily going in and out for treats and toys, they’ve spent brief periods inside when I’ve had errands to do during the day.

So yesterday we took out their familiar wire crate and moved the kennels into its old spot. (Well, its old spot plus quite a lot more floor area.) At bedtime, the dogs cheerfully entered, got their treats, and I headed off down the hall for bed.

Then one of them started whining. Then crying. Then yipping. Then barking. He kept it up, with short breaks for water, all night long. Of course, the one who was carrying on was the one in the kennel by himself. Remember, the airlines absolutely won’t let us crate three of them together, which is what they’re used to. . .

So today my husband and I are stumbling around like zombies. Remember that newborn baby in the house feeling?

The oldest of the three dogs seems to like the smaller kennel (he’s gone into it several times on his own), so maybe tonight we’ll try him by himself and put the whiner together with the youngest in the larger kennel. . . I’ll let you know how that goes.

Maintaining Our Lives

This is getting trickier.

Now that the end is in sight, my husband’s getting much more impatient with his job. And I’m finding it harder to focus on my writing when I have all this cleaning, sorting, packing and organizing screaming out to be done.

We’ve also got all the extra social engagements that go with Christmas. Coupled with the fact that we’re trying to see a lot of our friends while we still can, and we’re pretty busy.

It sure will be easier to handle if the dogs don’t keep us awake all night again!

In any big move, there are always one or two tasks that seem the most daunting. For us, obviously, it’s the whole business if putting our pets on an airplane. What’s the toughest part of a big move for you, and how did you handle it? Leave a comment!

We’ve just completed the third week in our countdown toward our Panama move, and the week was a pretty mixed bag of getting stuff done, relaxing, and frustration. You can see previous Countdown! posts here. I hope that sharing what we’re doing will help you as you prepare for your own overseas adventure.

Week of November 20

House Repair

Bathroom tile still not done. As with many construction projects, it’s taken on a life of its own. We had planned to have it completed by the end of the weekend. (This was after we had to revise our initial estimate because of conditions we discovered when we removed the old tile.)

On Saturday, my husband was working away when the power tool he needs to complete the job just up and died. One minute it was working, the next minute it wasn’t. So there was a delay while he checked it over, cleaned it, fussed and cursed. Then a trip to Home Depot to replace it. . .

He was able to get some of the new tile installed before he went to work this morning, so it should go pretty quickly now. I hope.

Packing and Organizing

This was the spinning in circles I mentioned earlier. To get that minimalist look for showing the house to prospective tenants, I need to pack up the art that’s on the walls and other decorative items. At the same time, I need to keep it all accessible for the final sale just before we move. I haven’t quite figured out how to do that.

I did receive the title on the car we’ll be selling, so I can check that off my list now. Also researched its value on BlueBook.com.

Found another stash of clothes lurking in under-bed storage containers, which I sorted through and disposed of.

Selling Stuff

Listed a couple of items on eBay, but at this point I’m refocusing my efforts into finding a good estate sales agent to sell all the contents of the house at the end of January. I’ve got a list of five agents to start calling.

Moving the Pets

We’re starting to get the dogs used to the new kennels they’ll be traveling in. After a few days of just having them in the house, we’ve started placing treats and toys in them a few times a day and letting the dogs go in and out at will. In a few more days, we’ll take out the wire crate they’re used to sharing and have them start sleeping in their new digs.

Maintaining our Lives

This was our first Thanksgiving ever without any of our kids, but we had a lovely day with friends. On Friday we had dinner with another couple we’ve not seen much of recently, and learned their exciting news — she’s just accepted a new job in another state, so they’ll be moving in January!

My husband is starting to get that “I’m ready to get out of here” feeling about his work. Originally he planned to stick it out until mid-January. We’ll see. . .

We have a lot of friends to catch up with before we go, as well as a lot to get done. I have the feeling that things are going to start happening fast now.

During busy, stressful times, getting enough sleep is very important. That’s a problem I struggle with. My mind gets to racing, and I either don’t fall asleep or wake up earlier than I want to. I’m working on staying relaxed and rested, because I know this will all work much better if I can do that. Do you have some relaxation strategies that work for you during busy times?

I’ve been inundated recently with e-mails from readers asking, “Why not?”

“Why not Honduras?”

“Why not Costa Rica?”

“Why not Spain?”

“Why not the Bahamas?”

Etc.

Why do I focus in these dispatches on the countries I do…and give less (or no) virtual ink to others?

I have a Top 10 list. On it are my picks for the best places in the world right now to think about spending your time and your money. This list has been created based on more than 25 years experience traveling the globe and covering this live, retire, invest overseas beat…and it has been compiled with the help of dozens of correspondents and friends who keep in touch with me in real time from all corners of this earth.

I can’t be everywhere at once or know, firsthand, the situation on the ground in every country in the world at any given time. But I can stay well-informed, with the help of smart, savvy people I trust to provide me not only with information (information alone is a glut on the market…often not worth the virtual paper it’s printed on), but, much more important, with perspective and judgment born of real-world experience.

In that context, here are my Top 10 picks right now:
#1: Panama
#2: Belize
#3: France
#4: Malaysia
#5: Ecuador
#6: Argentina
#7: Uruguay
#8: Croatia
#9: Dominican Republic
#10: Chile

The trouble with a Top 10 list is that it’s limited to 10. If I were to expand this list a bit, I’d add:

#11: Nicaragua
#12: Guatemala
#13: Mexico
#14: China
#15: Malta

Some of these countries make sense as full-time overseas retirement havens; some are more interesting for part-time living (because of the challenges and costs associated with establishing permanent legal residency).

All, though, offer particular advantages to the would-be retiree, adventurer, or investor.

That is not to say, however, they are the only places in the world that could make sense for you. You have your own agendas and circumstances, your personal experiences and priorities.

If you’ve been traveling to the Bay Islands of Honduras for years, for example, as has one reader who wrote the other day…have made friends in this part of the world…have begun shopping for a beach home on Roatan…don’t think you must adjust your plan and refocus your attention on Belize because I recommend that country over Honduras.

It’s true. Belize is generally more advantaged than Honduras. The whole of the country is English-speaking (while, in Honduras, it’s the folks out on the Bay Islands, only, who use English as their primary language of communication).

Belize is more stable politically than Honduras. Its currency is tied to the U.S. dollar (a plus for those with Greenbacks in their pockets). Its foreign residency program is one of the most user-friendly in the world right now. And Belize qualifies as one of the few remaining banking havens on the planet.

All of that is true, but it doesn’t mean that Roatan, Honduras, couldn’t make sense for you.

This is such a personal decision. I offer my Top 10 list as a guide, as some stars to steer by. Based on my long experience and with the help of real-time intelligence from friends on the ground in each place, I recommend these places as worth a close look. But, again, I understand, and you should, too, that they are not the only places to consider considering.

The other important thing to understand about any Top Picks list, including mine, is that, if it’s based on real-world experience and real-time intelligence, you can count on it to change.

Tax laws, visa requirements, real estate values, the cost of living, and the availability of quality health care…as well as the political situation, the value of the local currency, and the ease of coming and going from other parts of the world…all these things change all the time.

Just as some U.S. states are more appealing today as places to live or retire than they were a decade ago, some countries are more interesting to the would-be overseas retiree right now than they were two or three years ago. And we can expect that others will become more interesting in the future than they are today.

Any list of the World’s Top Retirement Havens, including mine, is a moving target. One thing you come to understand when you begin considering the idea of spending time and money overseas is that you must be flexible and open-minded.

Just as circumstances are changing dramatically in the United States right now, so, too, can they and do they elsewhere.

One way to hedge the potential risks that this truth implies is to diversify…not only your investments, but also your life.

Just as it’s smart to invest in different markets and to hold assets of different types in different currencies, so, too, are there advantages to spreading your life among different jurisdictions.

Do your banking in one country (where you can feel reasonably secure your deposits are safe), reside in another (where you pay no tax), run your business in a third (where entrepreneurs are respected and incentivized) and hold a passport in another. If possible, hold a second passport.

I didn’t invent this strategy, of course, It’s written of often, as the Five Flags approach. It’s about organizing both your time and your money (that is, planting your “flags”) to your greatest advantage.

Plant your flags based on your current circumstances and agendas. But don’t plant them in concrete. You might want to be able to move them around from time to time.

If you like what Kathleen has to say here, you’ll also like her Overseas Retirement Letter.