Looking to relocate. But to where?

The kids are growing up and I'm seeing less and less reason to live where I live (outside of Boston, in one of the most expensive zip codes on earth.) So I'm looking to relocate to someplace that imposes less of an overhead.

Factors to consider...

1) low cost of living
2) high quality of life
3) reliable internet infrastructure
4) time zone no "worse" than central time, USA (rules out anything west of GMT -5:00)
5) not hot (I'm a New Englander)

I'm intrigued by Latin America (highlands, obviously, for temperature's sake) and Eastern Europe (culture, time zone).

Any thoughts? Anyone?

We live in Waltham with one more to finish up school in a year and considering renting the house and relocating. My work for Oracle has taken my around the world.

Considering:
Santiago #1 by far
Budapest
Munich
Lisbon
 
We live in Waltham with one more to finish up school in a year and considering renting the house and relocating. My work for Oracle has taken my around the world.

Considering:
Santiago #1 by far
Budapest
Munich
Lisbon
I hear a lot of great things about Chile. Budapest, as well, although I just can’t see learning Hungarian.

What is it about Lisbon that you find so appealing?

And why do you rate Santiago so highly?
 
If you like smaller city colonial style..cool weather...decent cable internet...coffee shops...etc then check out San Cristobal De Las Casas in the highlands of southern Mexico. I lived there for years. Just never could adapt well to the altitude. And the cold. But you would probally like its weather. It has Sams Club..medium size mall..theaters...and of course Mcdonalds..Burger King etc along with many local food restaurants. If you need bigger city style then Tuxtla Gutierrez is just about 30 minutes away. But it is a warmer climate. Both places have great coffee shops and in the evenings the central park is usually full of people meandering around ...relaxing..drinking coffee...and at times performers entertaining. Cost of living isn't too bad. In San Cristobal one can rent a decent house in a decent gated neighborhood for 500 to 800 dollars a month. I think i paid about 200 or 300 in a gated community but that was a few years back. I have friends who live there. Lots of tourists come there ....mostly Europeans. Biggest downside is nothing to do much after you check out all the historical sites. You can travel about 1 hour away to the lagos de montebello or find things to do in Tuxtla Guitierrez but if you just wanna go relax..trade the markets...sit around.. drink coffee...wind down...well this might work for you. Tuxtla has an airport to travel to USA via Mexico City.

Lots of Taxis and little buses running aroubd San Cristobal so you actually don't even need a car. However, you can take a car down and get 6 months permit. Then you drive a couple hours to Guatemala ..leave Mexico stay a couple nights in Guatemala and come back in to Mexico for another 6 months.

Google and check it out:

San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico
Great info. Thanks.
 
I hear a lot of great things about Chile. Budapest, as well, although I just can’t see learning Hungarian.

What is it about Lisbon that you find so appealing?

And why do you rate Santiago so highly?

There are a lot of English speakers in Budapest so it was easy.
Santiago has a very modern European feel with the relaxed Latin lifestyle. Loved it. We didn't talk deals at lunch, afternoon coffee or dinner, but rather life, family and kids. The mountain views are awesome with the ocean just a couple hours away.
Same in Lisbon, but a bit more rustic and right on the ocean.
 
I lived in manila and played poker years ago. Didn't trade. How much is fiber optics in Manila / Cebu?

Philippines is safe for Americans I heard, bc of the US / Philippines foreign aid. They don't kidnap Americans in general. There's also lotsa women that'll probably love you. The place is cheap, Rent is more than 400 USD in manila more like 600-800 in safe areas. It's a good place I lived there for like 6 months. Bars and food and culture is very american. The locals like foreigners.

Fiber is 1500 and up if you can get it, not all areas are covered.

Foreign aid wise Japan gives more as well as ADB and World Bank. Americans have been kidnapped more than once, you think Islamic terrorists will leave Americans alone? Why would they?
$400 for rent is plenty for a 2br condo in nice area.
 
The kids are growing up and I'm seeing less and less reason to live where I live (outside of Boston, in one of the most expensive zip codes on earth.) So I'm looking to relocate to someplace that imposes less of an overhead.

Factors to consider...

1) low cost of living
2) high quality of life
3) reliable internet infrastructure
4) time zone no "worse" than central time, USA (rules out anything west of GMT -5:00)
5) not hot (I'm a New Englander)

I'm intrigued by Latin America (highlands, obviously, for temperature's sake) and Eastern Europe (culture, time zone).

Any thoughts? Anyone?
Bocete, Panama. Stable dollar based economy and SanDiego like climate year round.
 
Great info. Thanks.
Thanks..you can always fly down stay a month or so and just see if it meets what you are looking for....it is much cheaper to go the b&b route for a month as good hotels are quite expensive. Plus you get kitchen..furnished place..privacy...etc as opposed to hotel stay.

I've lived in Mexico, Honduras, Belize, Panama..been to Argentina..Chile..Guatemala..El Salvador..etc.

However, i am a warm climate type person and don't care for mountains neither. I like flat land ...warm weather..beaches...etc so i could never get used to all the mountains in Honduras Highlands..Mexico Highlands...Guatemala Highlands. Plus i do not do well at high altitudes. I was mostly miserable but on warm sunny days i could sit in the sun and thaw out. I have friends in Canada. The wife and myself loaded up the Goldwing hooked up our combi camper and raced to Mexico to San Cristobal de Las Casas (two hours or so from Central America ...camping as we went.) Then returned back and raced up to Alberta Canada ...camping as we went. It was a dream i had had for years ...to travel on a motorcycle camping. Just decided i had better do it before I got too old to hold the moto up. Glad we did. We saw many sites in Mexico, Dakotas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Canada...etc.

We are from the south so it was quite the journey..back to back long trips on a moto pulling a big Combi Camp.

I like fishing..flat land...warm weather. I don't care for mountains of Tn that everyone raves about. Been there and camped there (this time in the motorhome.) Have friends that live in Gatlinburg. They love it.

So, in trying to decide where to settle down at..I'd take the time to visit as many as money would allow..travel around ...sightsee...find a place that "fits" you and of course your wife if married.

We gotton too old now but still may be good for one more long moto trip. Or may go in the motorhome and pull the moto behind on a trailer. I've gotton used to the comforts of a 40 ft motor home. Back when younger the moto/combi camper journey was VERY appealing.
 
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PS it was cold in Canada in August. Did not like that. But again it was cold in San Francisco in June while locals were swimming in bay with wet suits on. Too much wind in San Francisco, for me. The locals were kinda of strange too. A group of old naked farts were riding bicycles around in the cold right down town around a park. I guess it was some sort of expression of some sort of BS to ride around publically naked in the cold. I figured they might get pneumonia. My comments on the trolley didn't seems to bother other locals riding the trolley nor did they seem concerned for the naked bike riders nor even interested. Some strange people over there. I don't suppose they are all strange but i surely did encounter some who were. IMO
 
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What is your opinion of Cebu? Where are the safe places in the Philippines?
Cebu is a large city, has everything and is safe and great internet with many expats. Bacolod is growing and has fiber, Cubic, Iolo Iolo, anywhere but western to central Mindinao like Mawari to many extremist groups there. The NPA is in the mountains but are not a big threat in the cities.
I was an advisor here in the late 80s early 90s and have lived here for 6 years now. I have a child in private school, live on the water and have never had an issue.
RRY16's comment about even a cheapskate can get trim is true.
All in all its not a bad place if you like the tropics and a cheap place to trade.
 
but even a cheap skate like you can find Some trim
Why? Is your mom still there?
It looks like the admins are giving you a pass on your trolling activity in this thread. You add zero value as usual to any discussion, look at everyone of his responses in this thread as proof. Why he isn't banned is beyond me.

Put some sunscreen on pajama boy, I don't want you getting burned.
 
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