outside Europe and the US/Canada, most better homes in the world have walls or barred windows.
Becoming an Expatriate or Retiring Away
- Thread starter John Picard
- Start date
Since when?
I'm surprised how many people in this thread actively deny the huge violent crime problem South Africa has. That's worse denial than Mbeki's government showed. 
Anyway, South Africa has an extraordinarily high homicide rate, for one. Rape and armed robbery are very high, too. Of course, there are regional differences, with Johannesburg being the front runner, so there are probably places where you're relatively safe, but I don't think it's what John Picard wants.
It's a country with stark contrasts in wealth, where relatively few people are well off while many still live in slums. Countries with similar wealth divides usually aren't very peaceful.
Anyway, South Africa has an extraordinarily high homicide rate, for one. Rape and armed robbery are very high, too. Of course, there are regional differences, with Johannesburg being the front runner, so there are probably places where you're relatively safe, but I don't think it's what John Picard wants.
It's a country with stark contrasts in wealth, where relatively few people are well off while many still live in slums. Countries with similar wealth divides usually aren't very peaceful.
In my travel throughout Central/South America, Asia and Africa (very little of the Africa though) The homes of those with anything of value were almost always secured with barred windows at the very least. High walls with embedded glass or razor wire was not the least uncommon.
I will say that as much as like being overseas (and have already made initial steps for moving out of the USA), the respect for law and order here is refreshing. In typical suburban USA, you can leave the windows open and even the door open and go away with the odds being that nothing is going to happen. That is not the norm in most places.
Another possible idea I've reconsidered is getting a boat (houseboat or the like) and then meander from port to port. This is another option some retirees follow as it frees them from properly owning (land) property and they have a greater sense of freedom.
Comments or insight, as always, are welcome.
Comments or insight, as always, are welcome.
Going from UK experience, you'll probably need a permanent berth somewhere, which will be expensive if it's a marina, less so if it's anchorage (but much less convenient). If you're at work full time, this will be a necessity. Most marinas have a different rate for residents than for leisure boaters. You will have to pay visitor's fees at any owned buoys or marinas you visit although in the UK this isn't expensive for one or two nights. You can always drop a hook at anchorage to avoid fees but you have the problem of power. You can have a wind generator to keep your batteries topped up when you're at anchor but in my experience they don't charge the batteries as well as mains (some converters are much better than others). Also if you choose the anchorage option you have to go ashore by dinghy if you need provisions, so paying a bit more for a pontoon is probably worth it when it's pissing with rain or choppy. You have your fuel on top of that of course. I don't know the system in the US but in the UK you can wangle cheap marine diesel if you sweet talk your fuelling marina(s). Boats tend to be a sinkhole when it comes to money for upkeep, so you'll need a contingency fund for when bits inevitably wear out.
On the whole, once you've paid the main outlay which is the cost of the boat, it works out much cheaper than owning a house, provided you don't mind living in a tiny space and everything smelling of damp.
On the whole, once you've paid the main outlay which is the cost of the boat, it works out much cheaper than owning a house, provided you don't mind living in a tiny space and everything smelling of damp.
Good points, Deckerd. And, you're absolutely correct about boats being sinkholes for finances. Perhaps I'd be better off renting on occasion.
No no, I think you should pursue it. It just so happens I have a Prout Snowgoose for sale; perfect for travelling round the world...
Ah, you *whacky Brits*!