Retirement.....is there reaally such a thing?

[karlrichter]

Hi,
I'm 62, and going on 25 years of being HIV+.  I never thought I would live this long, or at least that's what my doc told me a couple of decades ago.

Anyway, I am still working...not much in the way of retirement, etc. And I'm at the point to just get off the merry go round.   I was wondering if anyone has retired outside the US?  or perhaps moved some place outside the US?

I've asked my social worker, and all I get is that some people have retired elsewhere, and she'll check on it...she's still checking I guess.  I was hoping someone had already retired.  I was wondering where....how do you handle meds? local community stuff, etc?  I started meds last July and my current healthcare provided will only give me what they call a vacation supply...6 mos.

Any ideas? Thoughts?

Thanks,
Karl

[Theyer]

Hello and welcome to our world. Have no info to give you about retirement but have no fear there are many members living around the world. You might expand the number off replies if you posted the request in Living with HIV as that would increase the pool off contributors.

As to is there really such a thing its too early for me to grapple with such philosophical questions I never intend to use the word things may change yes but I guess for me death will be my retirement and there is most certainly that. Unless off course the reincarnation thing is your thing .

Hope to read more off your Posts Karlrichter , where would you like to live?

[deibster]

Welcome Karl,
You have not given us much info to go on. I qualified for social security disability, SSDI, at 53 yrs old. With that comes Medicare & you can buy Part D, drug coverage. As I see it, you can retire to a place with socialized medicine & decent health care, Britain, Canada - Victoria is kind of warm, or maybe Israel, OR you can qualify for Medicare.

If you maintained a 'paper' residence in the USA, Part D would ship your meds anywhere in the world. You'd still need a good hospital community; a major city like in Panama, South Africa, Europe, Thailand - heard it's inexpensive. Hong Kong is great but it's not inexpensive.
Hugs from Provincetown, Deibster

[aztecan]

Hey Karl,

Welcome! Glad you're here.

If you are thinking about retiring abroad, as they used to say, the first thing you should probably check is which country will let you become a perment resident.

Many countries will let you visit, but not move there permanently if you are a pozzie.

I have thought about this from time to time.

Let us know if you what you find out.

HUGS,

Mark

[bear60]

Well, I've retired but did not move outside the USA.  If thats what you want, I'm sure you can do it.  But you need to do some footwork.  on your own.  Dont just rely on a social worker who has no clue re this type thing.
There is a member of this forum who moved from Florida to Canada.  Dont know if that was called retirement.
I think retirement is one thing, moving out of the country is another. I mean, do you want to collect social security and get Medicare?  Can you do that in another country?
Let me tell you, god bless Medicare.  My health care costs have plummeted since I reitred.  And Social Security is like collecting from a retirement fund. Love it.