Hi, my name is Tom and I have become very interested in visiting and possibly retiring to Nicaragua. My reasons? My wife and I like to travel, enjoy other cultures, and it may offer us a better retirement life when the time comes.
I'm 56 and work as an Electrical Engineer in Tucson, AZ. My wife is 57 and runs her own vacation rental business here as well. No, we're not wealthy, but we have a decent 401k, own some properties outright, and have equity in others.
During a short term medical leave from work I started reading about "the best retirement places in the world". Nicaragua kept coming up. So, I read blogs, got newsletter and starting really getting better at my Spanish. Of course my wife was like "are you kidding - Nicaragua - Ortega - the Contras?"
Now I'm not the type to just liquidate everything and run to Nicaragua. We'd really have to see it on vacation, and get a feel for it. We've been to the Caribbean a great many times, Belize, Honduras, and Mexico. So we have seen some really abject poverty. No, it doesn't make us happy or feel superior to see it - it's just a fact of life. But the people in Nicaragua sound friendly, so why not see it?
I think the statements I have read here about what to do after you retire are very pertinent. My wife likes the business she runs, so maybe renting out property or rooms could continue. Before I became an Engineer, I went to art school and have always thought I would return to that in retirement. Or donate my time to help people using my technical skills. There doesn't look to be good money to be made in Nicaragua for a gringo, so I don't expect it.
I like reading all the posts, and I enjoy everyone's suggestions. Thanks for reading!
I'm 56 and work as an Electrical Engineer in Tucson, AZ. My wife is 57 and runs her own vacation rental business here as well. No, we're not wealthy, but we have a decent 401k, own some properties outright, and have equity in others.
During a short term medical leave from work I started reading about "the best retirement places in the world". Nicaragua kept coming up. So, I read blogs, got newsletter and starting really getting better at my Spanish. Of course my wife was like "are you kidding - Nicaragua - Ortega - the Contras?"
Now I'm not the type to just liquidate everything and run to Nicaragua. We'd really have to see it on vacation, and get a feel for it. We've been to the Caribbean a great many times, Belize, Honduras, and Mexico. So we have seen some really abject poverty. No, it doesn't make us happy or feel superior to see it - it's just a fact of life. But the people in Nicaragua sound friendly, so why not see it?
I think the statements I have read here about what to do after you retire are very pertinent. My wife likes the business she runs, so maybe renting out property or rooms could continue. Before I became an Engineer, I went to art school and have always thought I would return to that in retirement. Or donate my time to help people using my technical skills. There doesn't look to be good money to be made in Nicaragua for a gringo, so I don't expect it.
I like reading all the posts, and I enjoy everyone's suggestions. Thanks for reading!
