Edd:  Our latest article for MarketWatch about reasons you probably shouldn’t retire abroad was just published. That may seem like a curious subject for us to be writing about, but we know expat life is not for everyone.

Cynthia:  Let’s clarify up front that “expat” isn’t a shortened version of “ex-patriot.” Sure, some leave the country and go so far as renouncing their citizenship. I think most expats, like us, love their home country and have moved abroad for other reasons, quite often financial. We wrote an in-depth special report about this subject for anyone interested in knowing more.

E:  After 14+ years in Cuenca, it’s easy to take for granted all the reasons we’re so glad we did leave the country. Climate is always at the top of the list. While the Arctic blast swept across the U.S. last month sending temperatures into single digits along with tons of snow, we were sitting on the terrace enjoying a warm sunny day.

C:  Friends in Atlanta and Charleston, places where we used t...

Cynthia:  First conversation we’ve done in a while and it’s called “Lappy Labor Life?” I can’t believe I’m okay with such a silly title.

Edd:  Well, we said we’d be focusing on fun and the alliteration seemed kind of catchy. Anyway, Labor Day weekend. The last hoorah for summer. It’s an odd holiday, right? To celebrate work by—not working.

C:  Hah! And just another day in Casa Staton. Ecuador has more than its share of holidays, but Labor Day isn’t one of them. Wow, talking about this subject makes me realize neither of us has had a real J-O-B in over a decade! How do you feel about that?

E:  Is that a trick question? I feel absolutely great about it! Yeah, we consulted with a tour company here. I wrote for International Living for 5 years and we spoke at their conferences. And now we’re doing our thing with Retirement Reimagined! But since retiring abroad it’s all been on our terms.

C:  I think that’s probably a hard concept for most people to grasp who are still caught up in havi...

“My goal is to work as long as I possibly can. At least until 70. In fact, I hope I work so long that when I finally do retire I’ll be too old, too tired, and too sick to enjoy the few years I have left.”

Said no one, EVER!

If you listen to the experts...

Yet to believe what most financial writers say, that’s the hand you’ve been dealt. You haven’t saved enough so you’ve gotta work, work, work. And slash your current budget immediately because you’ve gotta save, save, save. Even Suze Orman proclaims that 70 is the new 65.

Oh, and after all that working and saving, downsize those retirement dreams of yours too because, well, by then you’ll probably be a candidate for long-term care so there goes the old nest egg.

Wait a minute...

Isn’t retirement supposed to be fun?

Didn’t you enter the workforce way back when with a vision of your future that included relaxation, the freedom to travel, maybe spending quality time with grandkids if they came along? 

Whatever your definition of f...