Recently, I posed the question What Kind of Expat Are You? I attempted to categorize expats into various categories.
Here’s what I said before about a type of expat I categorized as an Economic Escapist:
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Based on a recent exchange of ideas with James Carenza, owner/developer of an active-adult master-planned community, in the LinkedIn group “Retiring Baby Boomers Latin America,” I thought I should add to the discussion on Economic Escapists. James pointed out that a lack of sophisticated active adult communities such as The Villages in Florida and those built by Del Webb throughout the US, is a hindrance to American baby boomers retiring in Latin American countries. (I should note here that my in-laws live in a Del Webb community and seem very happy there.) I suggested he shouldn’t assume most of us are looking to move from one gated community to another, and he responded with some valid points.
- Most baby boomers are looking to move into well thought out active adult communities. This is supported by comprehensive studies on the wants and needs of boomers, and the fact that the planned active adult communities which offer the most social amenities like clubs are far outselling others, gated or not.
- He also called me out – and rightly so, I have to admit – on my personal bias against gated communities. After noting that I negatively described a situation that doesn’t work for me, using language like “shut themselves up inside,” “lock myself away” and “US-style” used as a negative, he stated:
“I don’t think the people buying in these communities have this view. I think they are buying in these types of communities, not to get away from something, but to go towards something they desire (i.e. relationships with new friends that share the same interests). And I think it is safe to assume that people that purposely elect this lifestyle in another country do want to experience the culture and meet and develop relationships with people from other cultures, otherwise, why go? However, in addition, these people want the social clubs, events, planned activities, amenities, perceived security, etc.. Let me give you one example. A friend of mine has purchase a lot to build a home and an existing home in Panama on two different golf courses in gated communities. Obviously, his wife and him enjoy golf. At the same time, he has explored the whole country, the islands, Costa Rica, spent days in the jungle with the indigenous people, performed volunteer work in the community, and developed a plethora of relationships with people in his communities and outside his communities, learned to surf, etc.”
I have to admit, I have a prejudice concerning those who choose to live somewhere while forming their own little enclave in the middle of it. Probably a holdover from all my reading about the heyday of the British Raj in India and the attitude of British expats for years that they were “superior” to those of other ethnicities.
It’s an attitude not exclusive to the Brits. The oldest American cities, Boston and New York for example, were well known for their ethnic neighborhoods inhabited almost exclusively by Italians, Irish, Jews, Portuguese or some other ethnic group. Plenty of American religious missionaries and others have attempted to recreate their little slice of the USA in the middle of the jungles, the tropical islands, or in China in the early 20th century, with disastrous consequences (see Boxer Rebellion). Several European countries today are experiencing problems because large numbers of immigrants from certain areas are forming their own exclusive culture within the country while shutting themselves off from the people and society they live among.
So if you’re retired in another country, or planning to, I’d love to hear from you. What are the pros and cons for you about the type of community in which you live in your new country? Condo? Apartment? House? In a local neighborhood? In a mostly expat development? Please weigh in by clicking the comment link below.
I have to admit, I am biased against planned, gated communities, but I grew up and have spent most of my life in NYC with lots of different types of people living right next door. I’ve lived in an extremely integrated city most of my life, except for a seven year stint in Los Angeles, which was for all intents and purposed extremely segregated. I found myself yearning for interaction with all types of people and did move back home.
In recent years, I’ve begun to wonder about the desire to be with so many different kinds of people and the need to be integrated. Life has changed significantly and I think about seeking out people who are closer in age and belief systems. Is that age or the desire for a much simpler life, I wonder?
Having said that, I love meeting new people. I enjoy speaking to people in my less than perfect French and Spanish and I often go out on the streets of NYC and chat with foreigners. Does that mean I’d like to live among those people? I don’t know anymore. I only know I want to feel safer than I currently feel. I know I want to spend less money for necessities like health care and care for my elderly mother. I want to be able to go out to dinner and lunches with friends, but I don’t want it to be at the expense of our health care and necessities.
I have gone to Panama three times, the last time for five weeks, so I did get to meet and chat with lots of American and other expats. I also talked to lots of Panamanians who lived in places like Boquete where there are a number of gated communities. The people I spoke to and heard about didn’t care for those Americans who lived in those communities and felt looked down upon. They resented them and their need to live away from Panamanians. I’m wondering where that resentment might lead.
Ellen, thanks for commenting. I totally agree with you on concerns about safety and health care. And your point about the attitude of the Panamians you spoke with is very valid. One wonders whether the whole gated expat community scenario is perceived by the locals as Ugly American-ism.
My husband and I will be moving to Panama as soon as we can complete all the arrangements here (Florida). We chose Caldera, which is between Boquete and David – warmer than Boquete and cooler than David. We were not interested in gated communities – we bought 5 acres riverfront in an area where Panamanians live and expats are starting to move as well.
Why Panama? Well I traveled for several years all over Latin America and spent quite a bit of time in Panama. We chose Panama due to the weather, incentives for retirees (we already have our penionado visas), low cost of living, medical care, US dollar as the currency, to name a few.
We have already made some good Panamanian friends and we’re looking forward to meeting more. So far I see us having a good social network of expats and Panamanians.
Ellen – I’m very glad you shared your experience because it did cross my mind. I’d like to think that any American who choses to live outside the US is more open and receptive to new cultures but this may not always be the case – hence the term Ugly American. We do have a reputation.
I hope that’s a small number and most feel like we do – fortunate to be able to live in such a beautiful place with the warmth and friendliness of the Panamanians.
Regards,
Valerie
Hi Valerie,
I found the Panamanian people to be quite warm and open. I spoke with quite a few during my total of eight weeks in Panama while exploring it as a potential place to live. However, I was a bit put off by the numerous American and Canadian expats who didn’t speak Spanish and were proud of it. They told me over and over that I didn’t need to speak Spanish to live there. It’s probably true, but why move to a foreign county and not learn to communicate more directly and clearly with the people who live there. I often wondered what the Panamanian people thought about them.
I genuinely like Panama City and I suspect if I had explored more outside of the city I would like it too. It’s a nice country with nice weather (mostly), nice people and it’s not as foreign feeling as other countries I’ve been to. That and the use of the American dollar makes it an excellent choice for many people who want it to be an easier transition for themselves.
The downside to Panama for me is that I’ve only lived in big cities and I love them. The whole country of Panama has approximately the same population as Brooklyn, NY, one of our five boroughs. I think I prefer a larger big city to live in.
The only other big issue with Panama for me is that the cost of medications is high. Many expats I spoke with order their meds online. Some suggested that flying to Colombia once every few months to buy meds is cheaper than buying it in Panama. Very few of the expat ezines and magazines address this issue although once when I posted on a forum numerous people confirmed they’d found it to be the case. I only know about the cost because I took my parents for a checkup by an internist in PC, a wonderful experience. The internist wrote a prescription for my mother’s medication and I went to numerous pharmacies to try to have it filled. I was shocked to find the cost of her medicine was higher than the cost in NYC without insurance. Since she wouldn’t be eligible for insurance in Panama, the cost of her prescriptions would be prohibitive. I’m thinking many expats will face this issue as they age and need more medications. I’m not sure their health insurance programs cover the elderly although they may if bought in earlier ages. I don’t know, but it didn’t work for us and was a very big reason we didn’t move there.
I wish you and your husband luck in your new home. I’m sure it’ll be a wonderful experience for you.
Warm regards,
Ellen
I’m Dutch, married to an American and I’ve been an expat most of my adult life living in various countries in Asia and Africa. Where to settle? We have friends the world over but not many in any one place, not many in the US. We’re not interested in a gated community south of the US border because they appear to us not varied enough internationally and often stand too much apart from the local community and culture. We prefer living in perhaps the south of Italy among the locals in a place where there are some other expats as well. (Let me know if you happen to know such an area or community south of Naples!)
Not the cheapest place, but close to the rest of Europe and its many attractions, and not too far from Africa either. Lots of attractions there as well.
Problem for us is, we’re at home anywhere, but we don’t really “belong” anywhere anymore.
Miss Footloose
Miss Footloose, with the rapid changes in the USA now, I’m not sure any of us feel we really “belong” any more, even if we’ve been here all along. . .
I seem to fit exactly into your economic escapist category. I am still of working age (54) but decided two years ago that I did not want to continue with the lifestyle to which one seems to be compelled in the USA.
I moved to Costa Rica,taught ESL and did mural painting. I am a professional artist. These things did not prove to create a reliable enough income. During the two years I lived in Costa Rica I kept an online travel journal and due to the enthusiastic response of my readers I have decided to embark on a new career – writing, to finance my life in Costa Rica.
Now I am back in the States living with my mother and working on creating some income from writing. I have recently turned my travel journals into an audio book which I am marketing on my web site. It is very good.
Last January my 20 year old daughter came to visit me in and is still there – even more reason for me to get back there. I’d like to do it before I become a grandmother!
People love my travel journals and I think they will feel the same about the audio book. Wish me luck!
You can find the journals and the book here:http://www.travelexperiencecostarica.com/