This update dives into a recent conversation with Sandra about our ideal retirement destinations, expat bubbles, population density and setting a target launch date for our full-time retirement travel adventure

While a beachfront paradise sounds tempting, Sandra wants a bit more. She’s drawn to the idea of being near, but not within, American expat communities.

We both understand the appeal of expat bubbles – a sense of familiarity and support. But we also agree it can hinder feeling connected to the locals and their community.

When surrounded primarily by other Americans, we risk missing out on experiencing the local way of life – the vibrant festivals, the delicious (and sometimes unfamiliar!) cuisine, and the enriching interactions with people from different backgrounds.

Living in an expat bubble can also discourage us from picking up the local language, a key to unlocking deeper connections and navigating daily life confidently. 

Ultimately, we want our retirement to be a journey of continuous learning and growth, and that means embracing the unique culture of each place we call home, not just recreating a piece of America abroad. 

It reminds me of when we were stationed in England. We purposely rented a house far from the American base to truly experience life in a new country. I vividly remember telling the military housing office, “Sorry, I didn’t travel 5,000 miles across an ocean to a foreign country to spend the next 4 years surrounded by Americans.”

Sandra also emphasizes avoiding overwhelming crowds. k. I’m completely on board with that.

Neither of us has much interest in spending significant time in Asia or the middle-East (preconceived notion of high population density) so we’ll stick to Central America and Europe as we research destinations

I’d really like to golf more in retirement but most of the places we’re looking at have a dearth of courses. There’s like 9 in the whole country of Panama, same with Puerto Rico. England should be good, I feel like there’s probably a lot of muni’s.