P.3 P.19 P.30 P.

35
From The Desk Overseas Living 101: Overseas Living This Month In
Of Founding 9 Must-Answer Questions For Letter Tops: Global News:
Publisher Kathleen Planning Your Retirement The 5 Easiest Places To
Notre Dame’s First Mass Since
Peddicord: Overseas... Move Overseas...
Tragice Fire; Irish Island Wnats
Americans; Beware Greeks
10 Best Places To Retire
Bearing Food; Sommarøy Wants
In Europe... To Become A Time-Free Zone;
Needed: Expert Gardener For
P.22 Medieval Castle In England; New
Zealand Prioritizes Happiness
Earning Anywhere: Over Economic Growth; No More
P.7 Stretching Your Wellness
Practice To New Frontiers...
Single-Use Plastic By 2021 In
Canada; Power Outage In South
Reader Questions America; and more news from
Answered: around the world…
Budgeting For Medical Care;
Life-Changing Overseas
Recommendations; 11-Year P.25 P.38
Resident In Panama Without Spotlight On Coming Next Month
Citizenship; What Are My From Colonial Splendor To
Retirement Options During Indonesia: White-Sand Beaches, Mazatlán
Algarve’s Off-Season?; and more 6 Island Destinations That Offers A Beaclfront Lifestyle
of your questions answered... Aren’t Bali...
That Has It All...

feature: P.10
How To Make A Living As A
Freelance Writer
2 Overseas Living Letter
 publisher's
note
10 Best Places To Retire In Europe staff
Volume 12 Issue 7
Dear Overseas Living Letter Subscriber, July 2019

Last month, I shared our picks for the 10 best places to live or retire in Latin America. Kathleen Peddicord
Founding Publisher
However, not everyone is cut out for life in the developing world or the tropics.
Harry Kalashian
If your retirement dream is all about Old World living on the Continent, here are your 10 best options Publisher
in 2019…
Kat Kalashian
Algarve, Portugal Editor-in-Chief

Portugal’s Algarve region is a land of superlatives.

Cristian Landero
These 100 miles of coast offer 3,300 hours of Graphic Designer
sunshine each year and more sunny days than
anywhere else in Europe, as well as some of the Sophia Titley
best beaches in Europe and best golf courses in the Edith Cantilo-Paz
world. Portugal is the 17th safest country in the Adriana Valdez
world, and the Algarve region is perhaps the most Elaiza Armas
crime-free in the country. English is widely spoken, Mónica Linares
thanks to a decades-long connection with Britain, Editorial Assistants
and the cost of living in the Algarve is one of the most undervalued in Europe. In 2012, Portugal
introduced its Golden Visa program, one of the best in the EU. Retirees can also establish residency in If you have queries relating to your subscription, get in touch at:
CustomerService@OverseasLivingLetter.com
this country simply by showing a minimum monthly income of just 1,200 euros.
For editorial comments and contributions, reach us at:
Annecy, France Editorial@OverseasLivingLetter.com

The big attraction of lakeside Annecy, the Pearl
of the French Alps, are its ski slopes in winter, but
this is an appealing place to be year-round. In
summer, the lakeshore bustles and not only with
tourists. Unlike other top ski destinations in France,
fairy-tale Annecy is not a tourist town but a living
community that is more cosmopolitan than a
typical haunt of Euro-snow bunnies. Annecy has
been awarded the titles of City of Art and History
© Copyright 2019 by Live and Invest Overseas.
All Rights Reserved.
Protected by copyright laws of the United States and
international treaties. This newsletter may be used only pursuant
to the subscription agreement and any reproduction, copying, or
redistribution (electronic or otherwise, including on the World
Wide Web), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without
the express written permission of the publisher, Live and Invest
Overseas, Calle Dr. Alberto Navarro, Casa No. 45, El Cangrejo,
Panama, Republic of Panama.

and also City in Bloom and can seem like an open-air museum. Every July its streets are given over to Any investments recommended in this letter should be made
Les Noctibules, an annual art festival, and, every August, the much-anticipated Fête du Lac features only after consulting with your investment advisor and only after
the biggest fireworks show in Europe. reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

3 Overseas Living Letter Overseas Living Letter 3

Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia, nestled among
Italy, Austria, Hungary,
and Croatia in the heart
of Central Europe, is a
mountainous country with
30 miles of Mediterranean
coastline. Old World
capital city Ljubljana is
the heart of the country,
literally and figuratively, with easy access to both beaches and ski resorts.
Ljubljana is a modern city with all the amenities of 21st-century living that
manages to retain a small-town charm. Local farmers bring their produce to
market in wooden carts each day. You could embrace this Old World lifestyle
supported by top-notch infrastructure on a budget of as little as 1,400 euros
a month.
Cascais, Portugal
A miles-long stretch
of sheltered coves,
sandy dunes, and rocky
outcroppings, the coast of
Cascais, Portugal, offers
some of the best beaches
in Europe, as well as a
marina, 9 top-tier golf
courses, more than 100
parks and gardens, world-class dining, year-round mild climate, proximity
to capital city Lisbon, and an overall extraordinary quality of life. The
seaside city boasts one of the lowest crime rates in Europe and is home to a
large and welcoming community of expats. Cascais began life as a village of
fishermen and farmers but has transformed itself into a mini-city of about
200,000, complete with a university campus, 13 international and bilingual
schools, 2 hospitals, a shopping mall, and a casino.
Città Sant’Angelo, Italy
Perched on a hilltop,
with views of Gran Sasso
Mountain, the Adriatic,
and vineyards and olive
groves in between, sits
ninth-century Città
Sant’Angelo, in the heart
of Italy’s Abruzzo region,
CC BY-SA 3.0 LUCA ALESS
one of the greenest in
4 Overseas Living Letter
Europe, with more than a dozen ski resorts in one direction and 80 miles
of coastline in the other. Città Sant’Angelo has earned the title “Borgo,”
recognizing it as one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. Sant’Angelo has
also been designated a “Città Slow”—a town committed to preserving
traditional ways of life and resisting development. Not much has changed
in Città Sant’Angelo over the centuries, and that’s the way residents like it.
Kotor, Montenegro
This tiny seaside country
of a half-million people
dispersed over an area
smaller than the state
of Connecticut is nestled
between Croatia and
Albania in Southern
Europe. Bayside Kotor,
surrounded by towering
mountains on one side and the dazzling Adriatic on the other, is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site and perhaps the best-preserved medieval town in the
Mediterranean. The Old Town square is anchored by the 11th-century Saint
Tryphon’s Cathedral, but its cafés and shops are lively and bustling with a
youthful energy. This is a little-known but friendly, safe, and welcoming
corner of Europe comparable to historic stone villages in Italy but more
affordable. Montenegro’s tax climate is favorable, with low capital gains,
property, income, and real estate transfer rates, and its new citizenship
by investment program should be a foot in the door to the EU when the
country becomes a member (expected in 2025).
Carcassonne, France
Walt Disney is said to
have been inspired by
its towers, turrets, and
ramparts, and you can
understand why when
the sun rises up over
the medieval city of
Carcassonne in southeast
France. At the heart of
CC BY-SA 4.0 KRZYSZTOF GOLIK
Cathar country, this was,
for centuries, an important fortification. Today, the city of Carcassonne,
capital of the Aude department in the Occitanie region of France, has much
to offer tourists and residents, including a medieval castle, St. Nazarius
Basilica, boutiques, artists’ workshops, and Michelin-starred restaurants.
Life in the Bastide is centered on the Place Carnot (where a produce market
is held three times a week), with its pretty fountain, street-side cafés, and
restaurants. Just 10 minutes’ drive away is an 18-hole golf course and a
park. Within an hour are the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean, and 90
minutes away is skiing in the Pyrenees.
Paris, France
At home in one of
Paris’ central, historic
neighborhoods, from the
1st arrondissement to
the 8th, the best of city
living—from bookstores,
antique shops, champagne
cellars, parks, and gardens
to museums, theaters,
galleries, five-star restaurants, and luxury shopping—is only a short and
pleasant walk away. Central Paris is an open-air museum where little
changes yet every day offers the chance for discovery. It’s also one of the
world’s best storehouses of wealth. An apartment of charm in a good
location in this city will always find a buyer and a renter, and, as Brexit
approaches, London wealth is finding its way to the City of Light, causing a
spike in Paris property values.
Popoli, Italy
Nestled in the valley
of three Apennine
mountains, Popoli, Italy,
with a population of 5,000,
is a complete escape from
the troubles of the modern
world and a sought-out
healing center. This
medieval town is known as
the Citta dell’Acqua (City of Water), thanks to a long-dormant volcano that
rumbles beneath it, bubbling up thermal spring water famed for its healing
properties since the days of the Romans. The first healing center was built
on the site in 1885 but destroyed during World War II. The modern Terme di
Popoli opened in 1998 and uses the area’s thermal waters as the basis for
the treatment of dozens of ailments. In high season, the facility sees 1,000
or more patients each day.
Valletta, Malta
From its weather and
food to its history and
culture, Malta is not only
the best of Mediterranean
Europe but also one of
the most affordable
options for embracing
this lifestyle. This three-
island, 122-square-mile
nation has been working hard to raise its profile internationally, and
Malta’s capital, Valletta, was named 2018’s European Capital of Culture. The
language is English, crime rates are low, and the health care is excellent.
Malta does not offer a retiree visa, but its Global Residence Program for
non-EU citizens amounts to one of the best residency opportunities in
Europe. You can qualify simply by renting a place to live for as little as 800
euros per month.
Kathleen Peddicord
P.S. Next month: The 10 best places to retire in Asia…
Overseas Living Letter 5
Overseas Living Letter 6
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with our responses...

Budgeting For Medical Care? I trust your gathering will go well. I think your business model is very smart and
service very helpful. Thanks for doing what you do.

I am currently taking your 52 Days To Your New Life Overseas course and I am doing Sincerely,
the calculation for my budget overseas.
Bill C.
The calculations are straightforward, but my biggest concern is costs towards health,
which this budget doesn’t take into consideration. What if I needed to fly somewhere
to get specialized care or had to fly back to Canada—that could be costly. I do not 11-Year Resident Without Citizenship
have private insurance.
I have been a resident of Panama since 2008 and would like to obtain my citizenship.
Your suggestions would be appreciated I have been told that it is not easy to obtain and that I need to spend three months
waiting for meetings, which could happen at any moment.
Cristi F.
Is this the case as you see it? What is your recommendation, considering the fact that I
We don’t include medical costs in this very general move-overseas budget, because have been a resident for the requisite number of years to obtain citizenship?
it will depend greatly on where in the world you’re considering to move. If you have
some idea of where you’re headed, we can help give you some more specific ideas Thank you,
of cost.
Kris J.
If you’re set on not seeking treatment locally in your new home, one thing to
You have to show a connection to Panama to be eligible for citizenship. If you simply
consider is buying a medical evacuation policy to get back to Canada in case of a life- have a residency card in Panama but don’t actually live here or spend much time here,
threatening health issue. then you’re not likely to get approved. Also, remember that you must have five years of
permanent residency—any time spent under a temporary status does not count.
Also, keep in mind that many countries require you to have private health insurance
in order to get residency. European countries are definitely on this list. Even Portugal, If you originally got residency in 2008, that was before the Friendly Nations residency
which allows you to access the public health system just by being a resident, requires a option, which means you originally got temporary residency that required several
health insurance policy to get residency. renewals… unless you’re under the pensionado residency, which is permanent
residency from the first approval. Pensionados were not originally eligible for
naturalization, though that law has changed in the past few years.
These can be affordable, especially if you take a reasonably high deductible, like
US$5,000. You need to speak with an immigration attorney to discuss your specific situation.

Friends who have gone through the process mentioned it took three years from start
Life-Changing Overseas to finish.
Recommendations
And, remember, technically, you’re meant to give up all previous citizenships. While
Panama doesn’t require you to provide them with a sailing permit (renunciation
I have plans to visit Medellín in July to become familiar with the city and country—
certificate) from your current country of citizenship, they have the option to revoke your
largely on the recommendations you have been making about how wonderful it is, naturalization if they find out you didn’t renounce previous citizenships. I haven’t heard of
and I had to book my travel dates to accommodate my girlfriend’s calendar. And… as that happening to anyone, but you need to understand the rules and the risks.
luck would have it, our time there does not coincide with your conference dates.

We are also going to Panama to do the same thing. Having a subscription to your What Are My Retirement Options
Panama Letter has been very helpful. If all goes well, we will also be visiting Portugal During Algarve’s Off-Season?
at the end of the year… again to do some recon and make some decisions about
where we will target our efforts for investing and living. I purchased the conference I have heard that some towns in the Algarve tend to basically shut down during the
materials from your last conference in Portugal and have been listening intently and winter months when the tourist season is over. I want to retire in the Algarve, but I want
reviewing the material in preparation for our trip there. to be sure that the town I choose to retire in stays alive after the tourists go home.

7 Overseas Living Letter

In other words, I want to be sure that there are restaurants, bars, grocery stores,
retail shopping, etc. still open year-round. So I guess I want the best of both worlds:
Someplace that is not completely overrun by tourists in the summer but still alive and
interesting in the winter and close to the coast.
Can you make some suggestions that I can research further on my own?
Thank you
Frank F.
The city of Lagos is probably the best bet. July and August are tourist-heavy (and a bit
in June), but it’s definitely open year-round.
The best thing to do would be to visit the area in November or February and see what
towns have what you’re looking for.
On your visit, take a look at the following (listed from East to West):
• Tavira
• Olhão
• Faro
• Loulé
• Quarteira
• Albufeira
• Portimão
• Lagos
• Luz
Is A Retirement Conference In
Canada Your Future?
I have watched your video about the upcoming retirement conference in Texas and
am very interested but everything talks about the challenges from moving from the
United States.
I live in Canada and am currently 57 years old. I am looking at retiring at 60 or later
depending on financial and family circumstances. I plan to live out of the country for
four to six months of the year—not necessarily always in the same place or same
time... I would also require some form of additional income to make this happen.
Will you be having a conference in Canada with experts and expats from Canada in
the future? I need to know about Canadian laws, taxes, medical, etc. I am not ready
to move yet, so I can wait a couple of years for a conference to be held here that I can
plan to attend.
Yours truly,
Brenda H.
We probably won’t have a conference in Canada any time soon…
All the general expat and country information at our U.S. event is pertinent for
Canadians and any other nationality.
It is the tax side of things that is different for Canadians, but this conference doesn’t
dig too deep into taxes. However, we do have a Canadian expat tax expert we refer
Canadians to.
If you’re really planning on spending only four to six months outside of Canada, your
Canadian tax situation won’t change and you won’t end up with a tax situation in
another country if you’re not there for more than six months in a calendar year.
The idea of serial snowbirding is becoming more common and more easily done, thanks
to Airbnb, which makes it easier to find medium-term furnished rentals in places.
Ecuador’s Inheritance Laws
My father and his second wife (not my mother) have retired in Ecuador. They
purchased a condo as a rental/investment property. I am not sure if the property was
registered in both of their names or just his or just hers at time of purchase.
My father has terminal cancer, and my understanding is that upon his death,
Ecuadorian law would require that half of the property be inherited by his children (if
in fact it is owned jointly).
In the case that they transferred ownership to her name solely after the fact, would
that nullify my rights to the property? My fear is that, in my dad’s weakened state,
his wife has made the necessary arrangements to create a will that states he does
not have any children or living relatives. I have currently reached out to an agency
in Ecuador to provide me with a current/historical title on the property in question. I
would appreciate any advice you have to share with me.
Janelle B.
If the property was transferred to his spouse and she owns 100% of it, then the kids
get nothing from the father.
If the property is held fifity-fifty by father and spouse, then the kids get the father’s
50%. Nothing goes to the spouse.
Even with a will, 75% of the property has to go to the kids. Only 25% can go to
someone else. However, if the wife has told the government there are no children,
that’s where the problem would be. If there aren’t any kids, then the spouse
automatically gets 50% and parents of the deceased get 50%. (If no parents, then the
spouse gets 100%.)
You definitely need to speak with an Ecuadorian attorney.
Using The 52-Day Course To Budget
I have dual U.S. and Irish citizenships. I’m hoping to spend three to five years in
Portugal, two to three years in Jordan, and perhaps a year in Oman before “retiring” in
Ireland for about six months per year and the other six months in the United States.
How do I compile the Day 5-type budget information that’s included in your 52 Day
course for places not on the list?
In Jordan, for example, I would likely live in Amman, Aqaba, and Mazra’ah— I
imagine all three would have different costs and needs for budgets—but I don’t
know how to start researching those. Do you have any insights? Please point me in
the right direction.
Thanks for this, and thanks again for the course!
Anne K.
In places where we don’t have an on-the-ground presence, Numbeo is a decent
resource. It’s a user-generated expat budgeting site. It can be hit-and-miss, however,
as bigger cities (those with more expats)have more data, meaning better averages.
It’s less reliable for less-expated places, and some cities might not be covered at all. In
that case, though, there’s a country-wide average that can at least help give you some
general cost ideas.
Overseas Living Letter 8
 How To Make A Living Overseas
As A Content Writer
By Misael Lizarraga
As many Live and Invest Overseas readers can attest, living abroad is
one of the most enlightening, fascinating, and memorable experiences
you can have in life. A common objection to making the leap abroad is
money. “I can’t afford it,” I often hear from hopeful nomads. “I don’t have
enough saved.”
The good news is that in today’s interconnected world, it’s possible
to work just about anywhere as long as you have a stable internet
connection and a laptop.
Teaching English Online And Its Downsides
Like many Live and Invest Overseas readers and contributors, I went the
teaching-English-online route to support myself abroad. Given the high
demand for English teachers in China, Russia, Japan, and other countries, it’s
relatively easy for a native English speaker to get a job as a teacher online.
While living in Mazatlán, Mexico, I worked for a school in Beijing, China.
And while that job offered more than enough money, the time difference
between the two cities was so great that my working hours were brutal.
I worked from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday to Saturday. Each class was 45
minutes long with a 15-minute break in between. I was 27 at the time and
not quite ready to give up my social life, so in order to have at least some
waking hours in common with my friends, family, and girlfriend, I had two
sleeping cycles: four hours of sleep before my shift and four more hours
after it.
Overseas Living Letter 10
As you may imagine, that lifestyle caught up with me. I was burned
out and depressed and never had any energy. Days were blending
into each other, and I felt like a zombie. What was the point of living
in a beautiful, tropical Mexico if my life only revolved around work? I
needed a change.
Writing To Make A Living
After spending countless hours researching alternate ways to finance
my life abroad, I came across a travel blog from a digital nomad who
writes exclusively about her travel experiences.
Her articles were good. In fact, her entire blog was a labor of love,
and it was obvious she enjoyed every moment of her nomad lifestyle.
But the article that really caught my attention was the one where she
talked about how she financed her life: by writing for her own blog and
contributing to technology blogs.
Her story inspired me. Not only did she and her husband get to fulfill
their lifelong goal of traveling, but she also financed the lifestyle by
writing. Even better? They had human schedules and enough time
to enjoy their travels. It was at that point that I decided to learn
everything I could about content writing and slowly phase myself out
of my English-teaching job.
Today, I’m happy to say that my plan worked. I currently work full-time
as a real estate content writer. And yes, I have a human schedule, too.
I’m not writing this article to diminish online-English-teaching jobs—I
have nothing but gratitude for my former employers. But many
English-teaching jobs require you to teach in high-demand time slots,
which often fall in the wee hours of the morning.
I want my fellow nomads to enjoy their time abroad and show
them they have more options than just teaching English to support
themselves. That’s why I’m sharing the nine steps that will help you get
started as a content writer and overcome the first and most difficult
milestone: making your first US$1,000.
1. Find Your Niche
The most important step to get your content-creation business going is
deciding what to write about. Back in the early days of blogging, it was
possible to have a successful blog that covered a wide variety of subjects.
But in today’s world, where there are an estimated 505 million blogs,
countless content-marketing firms, and a legion of “influencers” on social
media, it’s foolish to try to be a jack-of-all-trades.
But don’t let those statistics scare you. Content creation is a crowded
field, but our collective hunger for online content is insatiable and only
continues to grow. That said, you need to find a niche you want to serve
and specialize in it to become a successful content creator.
The good news is your specialization options are unlimited. There’s
nothing stopping you from creating a blog about the socioeconomic
effects of sea monkeys, if that’s your cup of tea. But if you want to
sustain yourself from your writing niche, I suggest you choose your
topic by answering these three questions:
What Are You Interested In?
As wonderful as it is to make a living writing, you’ll inevitably have days
when you’ll struggle to write. Sometimes your mind will simply draw a
blank, and you won’t feel motivated. It’s easy to explain that mental state
away as writer’s block, but I think that feeling isn’t exclusive to writing.
The truth is that no matter what you do, work is work.
Unlike a soul-draining office job in which you can occasionally coast on
minimal effort and still get paid, as a freelance content writer, you only
make money when you finish a project. There will be times when you
have to force yourself to write, even if you don’t feel like it. In times like
that, it’s less painful to power through an article about a subject you
enjoy than one you simply tolerate.
To begin, make a list of topics you’d to love to write about, even if no
one gave you a penny. Are you interested in cooking, gaming, traveling,
programming, real estate, music, economics, movies, etc.? Make a list
of those topics. The longer the it is, the better.
It isn’t essential that you pick topics you already know lots about, as
a huge part of your writing time will be spent on research anyway.
But don’t discount the old adage about writing what you know. It’s
easier to begin writing about a topic you’re already familiar and
comfortable with.
Which Of Those Topics Have Demand?
Now that you know which topics you want to write about, it’s time to
investigate to see which of them are in demand. Unfortunately, there
isn’t a magical app that can give you an immediate answer. You need to
do due diligence and spend some time researching the writing market.
All-mighty Google is your friend here. Take your list of topics, google
each of them, and see how many blogs you can find that cover that
topic. Your search could look something like “top 100 foodie blogs,” or
“best gardening blogs,” or “recommended tech blogs.”
Go through the results and pay special attention to blogs that have
high reader engagement. You can easily identify them by the number
of comments their articles have. If one of your topics has only a few
blogs dedicated to it and yet its audience is highly engaged, circle that
topic on your list. You may’ve found yourself a gold mine.
Overseas Living Letter 11
 Although this step could take a while, it’s far better to do it at the
beginning than months down the line. Changing your blogging focus
early on is less painful than after you’ve spent thousands of hours
writing and researching.
Which Of Those Topics Will People Pay You
To Write About?
You may’ve found a topic you absolutely love with plenty of demand
and not enough writers creating content about it. But if no one is
willing to pay you to write about it, then you don’t have a business, you
have a hobby.
A good way to find out if there are people willing to pay you is to
visit freelance writing job boards, such as ProBlogger, BloggingPro,
FlexJobs, Mediabistro, and Upwork. Browse the job listings or do
keyword searches to get an idea of which topics are in demand.
Technical topics, such as technology, programming, economics, taxes,
and engineering are always in demand.
As you continue your market research, you should narrow your search
to customers living in affluent countries, such as the States, Canada,
the U.K., Australia, France, Finland, Sweden, etc. It isn’t impossible
to find well-paying jobs elsewhere… but the cold reality is that
professionals in affluent countries are more likely to have larger
marketing budgets and thus the ability to afford your writing fees.
Once you have identified a writing niche that you enjoy, has demand,
and people willing to pay you to write about it, congratulations.
You’ve just completed your first step towards becoming a freelance
content writer.
12 Overseas Living Letter
2. Break Down Your Workload
Now that you know what you’re going to write about, it’s time to create
a plan of action. Your immediate goal is to make your first US$1,000
within a reasonable amount of time… But what’s a reasonable
amount of time? Take out a notebook and write down today’s date.
Now add 12 weeks to it. That’s your deadline.
I’m being quite generous with a three-month deadline… It’s possible
to meet that goal in less than a month if you know what you’re doing.
In fact, as you gain more writing experience, US$1,000 will seem like
child’s play. But just like mastering a new language, there’s a learning
curve involved in becoming a successful content creator.
One thing you can’t avoid is hard work. It takes lots of work and
determination to set up a successful business, and your writing
business is no different. You need to hustle.
But at the same time, there’s no need to drop everything else in
your life and neglect your friends and family to make it happen. It’s
all about finding the balance between working hard and working
smart. Remember that the whole point of becoming a content
creator is to be able to support yourself abroad and still be able the
enjoy your time there.
Freelance content writers typically charge a per-word fee or a per-project
fee. Some clients prefer to pay by the hour, although that isn’t common.
Regardless of the billing method, how much a writer can charge depends
on a multitude of factors, such as experience, writing niche, negotiation
skills, geographical location, and, most importantly, reputation.
Writers living in poor, developing countries can afford to charge less
than writers living in affluent countries, as dollars go further there.
Brand-new writers also tend to charge lower fees, as they don’t have an
established track records and are looking to get a foot in the door.
On the other hand, experienced, specialized, and well-known writers
command higher writing fees. In my time as a writer, I’ve seen writing
fees ranging from 1 cent per word to US$2 dollars per word. For an idea
of how much money you could be making, top-tier freelance writers
make over six figures a year, with some writers earning the equivalent of
US$250 an hour.
For first-time writers living abroad, I suggest charging 5 cents per word,
which is the equivalent of earning US$50 for a 1,000-word article.
This might seem low at first, especially when you consider how much
professionals make. But if you’re willing to hustle and take the time
to polish your writing skills, it won’t be long before you have the track
record and experience needed to justify a higher writing fee.
And the more writing experience you accumulate, the faster you’ll get
at producing content. An experienced writer can finish a 1,000-word
article in less than an hour. So even if it takes you two hours to finish a
1,000-word article, you’d still be making the equivalent of US$25 dollars
an hour.
At 5 cents per word, you’d need to create 20 1,000-word articles in order
to meet your US$1,000 goal. That may seem like a lot, but if you were to
write an article a day, five days a week, you’d meet your goal in a month.
3. Identifying Your Clients
Now that we have a niche, a deadline, and a breakdown of how much
writing you need to do to earn your first US$1,000, let’s identify your
customers. An excellent tool to help you do that is a client persona.
If you’ve ever seen a cop show, a client persona is like an artist’s rendition
of a suspect. In your case, it’s what your perfect client looks like. Just like
a detective builds a sketch of the suspect by asking witnesses, checking
camera footage, and running forensic tests, you’ll build a client persona
by making a list of your client’s identifying features.
Details to add to your client persona include the client’s age, gender,
location, goals, values, job roles, challenges, pain points, and their role
in making hiring and purchasing decisions. HubSpot offers several client-
persona templates you can use, and you can google “client persona
templates” to find additional examples.
For example, as a real estate content writer, one of my client personas
looks like this:
• Name: Content Director Chris
• Age: 30 to 50 years old
• Gender: Male
• Company size: 100 to 500 employees
• Location: Cities with a population over 1 million in the States
and Canada
• Client’s goals: To set themselves up as local real estate experts by
means of inbound marketing
• Challenges: Not enough time nor expertise to consistently create
valuable content weekly
• Job roles: CEO, COO, CFO, content director, editor, marketing
director, social media content manager
• Pain points: My competition is successfully implementing a robust
content marketing strategy, and I’m missing out
Thanks to the effort I put into building my client persona, I know
that my ideal customers live in the States or Canada, work as content
directors in mid-sized companies related to real estate, and live in
cities over 1 million people. I wouldn’t waste my time targeting real
estate agents living in Crystal City Texas, which has a population of
7,138 people, nor Fresno California, even though it has a much larger
population of 500,000.
Remember that a client persona is a just a marketing tool. It’s a fictional
generalization of the kind of customer you want to attract, not a real
person. Don’t worry if your first client persona doesn’t feel 100%
complete. It doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be functional.
It’s too easy to get trapped by perfectionism and refuse to take action
until your client persona is perfect. Avoid that mentality like the plague.
If you make a couple of mistakes, it isn’t the end of the world. You can
always amend your client persona.
4. Build Your Social Proof
The key to your long-term success as a content writer is building up your
reputation. You must establish yourself as a credible, knowledgeable
expert, with the social proof to back your work.
Social proof theory states that people in unfamiliar environments will
adapt their behavior by observing what others are doing. That’s why
when we travel to a new country, we’re more likely to eat at restaurants
with lots of local people standing in line than those with only a few
patrons. The subconscious reasoning is that if so many locals like the
place so much, then it must be good.
There’s a reason why movie trailers include positive comments from
famous reviewers and why companies are willing to pay celebrities millions
of dollars to advertise their products on TV… Social proof works.
Overseas Living Letter 13
 When you first start your writing career, it’s unlikely that you’ll have a
crowd of influential people vouching for your writing skills. And unless
you’re well-connected, you won’t have industry experts raving about your
writing services either. That’s not because you’re bad writer but because
you’re new (just look at the many famous authors whose writing skills
leave much to be desired if you don’t believe me).
The ultimate social proof for a writer is being published by an industry
leader of your niche. For example, if your niche is finance, you’d get a
gigantic boost in credibility if you were to be published by Yahoo Finance,
CNNMoney, or The Motley Fool.
Those brands carry a lot of weight because they’re perceived as leaders
in finance news. If you were to approach a new client and tell them that
you got published by Yahoo Finance, your chances of getting hired would
increase exponentially.
Of course, getting published by industry leaders isn’t easy, but you can
work your way up. Start building your social proof by pitching your
services to smaller players in the industry. Each time you land a writing
gig, use that client as social proof for the next one. And as you accumulate
more and more happy customers willing to vouch for your services, you’ll
increase your chances of being hired by industry leaders.
Once you’re at the top of your niche, being associated with your name will
become social proof in and of itself.
5. Create A Website And Blog
The first step towards building your credibility as a professional writer
is to create a website and a blog. You’ll have get yourself some hosting
space, but don’t worry, hosting space is affordable, and the return on your
investment of building a website will be huge.
Setting Up A Website Or Blog
You don’t need to hire someone to create and set up your website. It’s
easier than ever to build it yourself and surprisingly straightforward,
too. Many hosting companies offer packages to make easy for new
bloggers to create their own WordPress sites, such as HostGator, Wix,
and Bluehost. They also offer getting-started guides you can use.
I won’t go into detail about how to build your own website and blog
here: That merits an article of its own. Check out YouTube tutorials
about the steps needed to create a WordPress site and get you
blogging as soon as possible.
14 Overseas Living Letter
Having your own website is absolutely necessary. First of all, it allows you
to have your own email domain (such as “Max@expertwriter.com”). This
tells your clients that you care about your professional image.
Second, a personal website lets you advertise your services and explain in
detail how they will benefit your clients. Once you start making a name
for yourself as a writer and create a large enough audience, people in
need of your services will start looking for you. If you set up an online
store, clients will be able to hire your services directly from your site.
Third, your website gives you a place to display your social proof in
the form of testimonials from happy customers, names and logos of
companies you have worked for, and links to articles published by
industry leaders.
Finally, you’ll be able to host a personal blog on your website that covers
topics relevant to your writing niche. Your blog serves several purposes:
When you first start your content-writing career, you won’t have any
published articles. Any prospective client you contact will expect you to
provide samples of your work, especially published articles.
You could always write a few articles in Word and use them as samples to
send to prospective client, but it will look much more professional if you
have those articles published somewhere online. If you don’t have any
published articles, why not upload them to your own blog?
Your blog is the perfect place to showcase your writing skills. If you
regularly publish valuable articles about your writing niche in your blog,
your website’s value will increase over time, and it will start to draw more
and more readers.
It takes time to build an audience, and your website and blog articles
won’t do much on their own at first. But you can take proactive steps
towards increasing your blog’s viewership, such as joining discussions
about your niche in forums and social media, doing credited guest writing
for other blogs (more on that later), and purchasing ads from Google or
Facebook.
As you continue to create valuable content for your niche, eventually your
blog will gain more and more traction, and it’ll be easier to get more
writing jobs from other companies.
6. Create A Social Media Presence
Whether you love or hate social media, you can’t deny that it’s ubiquitous
and powerful. In its most basic implementation, social media makes
it easy to engage your audience and stay up to date with the newest
developments in your writing niche.
With over 1 billion users and 890 million daily active users, Facebook
provides you with one of the biggest potential audiences on the internet.
This social media giant gives you the option to you create free business
pages where you can advertise your services, publish blog posts, and
engage followers, customers, and readers.
If you have a budget, you can target potential clients with Facebook
ads. This tool lets you create and direct ads at potential clients via filters
such as age, gender, interests, location, etc. You can go through all your
client persona details and create ads that target them specifically.
LinkedIn is the most serious of social media platforms, as it focuses
on professional marketing. Just like Facebook, LinkedIn offers free
accounts with features to help you reach out to new clients.
Not just that, but a carefully crafted LinkedIn profile makes it easy for
clients looking for your services to find you. It also makes it easy to find
content managers, CEOs, editors, and other decision makers that may
need your services. Because of its focus on business, LinkedIn can help
you stay up to date with the latest industry news.
Other social media platforms to consider include Twitter and
Instagram. If you have the technical knowhow to create and edit
videos, you can even create a YouTube channel.
If you built your website using WordPress, you can use free plugins
that let you synchronize your blog to your social media, so that every
time you create a new blog post on your site, it’ll appear on your social
networks as well.
7. Start Building Your Client List
Now that we have the preliminary stuff out of the way, it’s time to take
your client persona from Step 2 and start finding prospects. There are
countless ways to market your services, and you should spend some
time researching marketing techniques. However, the strategy I show
you here is one that has given me great results, even though it requires
the simplest of all marketing tools: email.
Direct email marketing isn’t as flashy as social media marketing, nor
does it require you to buy targeted ads. It’s as simple as it gets, and
yet, it’s extremely effective. Email marketing works because whether
you’re a high school student, a CEO, or a priest, everyone has an email
account. And the people you’ll be targeting check their emails several
times a day.
Your first step in building your client list is obtaining 30 to 50 high-
quality email addresses, meaning the email addresses of people that
fall under your client persona descriptions and decision makers about
your writing services. A great place to start gathering those emails is
blogs that cater to your niche.
If you remember Step 1, where you searched for writing niches with
high demand and with people able to afford your writing fees, you can
repeat the process here. For example, if your niche is personal finances,
google the “top 100 personal finance blogs.” Some of the search results
will also include handy lists of leading blogs.
Spend some time visiting these pages and familiarize yourself with
their content. Pay special attention to articles that have the most
reader engagement and study their tone, level of formality, and
length. Bookmark any that you actually enjoyed reading and write
down a couple of reasons why you enjoyed them so much. Those
bookmarked articles will serve as inspiration for future articles as well
as a measuring stick of the kind of quality the market expects.
Next, explore the site and see if you can find email addresses belonging
to the blogs’ editors, the CEO, online marketing managers, or other
potential decision makers in charge of content. If you don’t find any,
don’t give up. There are a number of online tools, such as Clearbit
Connect, FindThatLead, and Webdef, that can help you find email
addresses associated with specific web domains. Most of those tools
offer free versions that let you find a certain number for free each
month as well as premium versions with additional features.
Keep up your search until you have 30 to 50 email addresses of blog
content decision makers. As you accumulate more and more, create a
contact spreadsheet where you keep all your prospects’ contact info,
the date in which you contacted them, as well as the status of any
pending jobs you may have.
8. Start Prospecting
Now that you have a good number of decision makers’ email addresses,
it’s time to contact them. Before you draft an email, though, establish
your goals. As a new content writer, you want to achieve at least one of
the following goals:
• To become a regular, credited contributor: The best-case
scenario is that you establish a working relationship with a
client and become a regular, credited contributor. Not only will
you be getting paid for your work, but you’ll receive credit as a
contributor. Credited articles increase your social proof, which
leads to more work and eventually higher writing fees.
• To become a regular ghostwriter: A ghostwriter is a writer
that isn’t credited. Ghostwriters usually charge more for their
articles as they don’t receive any credit for them. Although the
extra money and chance to practice your writing skills from
ghostwriting are great, the lack of credit means you won’t get to
improve your social proof.
• To become a one-time, credited contributor: Under this
arrangement, you still get paid, you get credit, and you also get
much-needed practice. If the quality of your work is high enough,
it could lead to future work.
• To become a credited guest writer: Guest writers don’t get
paid in cash, they get paid in exposure. And before you run away
Overseas Living Letter 15
 in horror from the idea of working for free, think about what the
right kind of exposure can do for you.
If given the opportunity to write a 1,000-word blog for a respected,
well-known industry leader, it can open the door to better-paid
gigs with other industry leaders. Call it an investment.
On the other hand, don’t undervalue your time. Always consider
whether the blog you’re guest writing for has enough readership
and industry respect to justify working for free.
• To become a one-time ghostwriter: The extra money is nice,
and you get much-needed practice, but I wouldn’t recommend
accepting too many one-time ghostwriting jobs. It’s OK to agree
to a few when you’re first starting out and need the cash. But
in an industry where reputation and social proof are incredibly
important, not getting credit for your hard work hurts.
Now that we have our list of desired outcomes from a client interaction,
let’s create your first contact email. I’m not a fan of automated emails
because they always sound impersonal, cold, and fake. We receive
automated emails all the time, and, yet, we rarely read them. So instead
of creating a robotic email that you can send to 3,000 recipients at once,
we’re going to practice the ancient art sending an actual letter to an
actual human being.
This email accomplishes a number of things. First of all, your subject
includes the person’s name, which immediately catches their attention.
Then you get right to the point and explain why you’re contacting them.
Second, it’s a short email. Nobody likes long emails, especially if you
need to get through a backlog of 50 emails on a Friday afternoon. By
keeping the email focused, you’re not taking more of your prospect’s
time than needed.
Third, it sounds like it came from a real human because it did. Though
many marketers swear by auto-mailers and the many people they can
reach with them, let’s be honest… How often do you actually read an
entire automated email?
You’re more likely to get a response if you tailor your email to a specific
client. Notice that my sample email urges you to include an article you
enjoyed and explain why. This lets your prospect know you value their
expertise and appreciate their content. It conveys that you’re in the know
and that you understand what their readers want because you’re one of
them.
Finally, by providing an article proposal, you demonstrate your ability to
come up with valuable content and deliver it as soon as you’re given the
green light.

Drafting Your First Client Email Of course, drafting a personalized email such as this one takes time and
effort. You might feel tempted to create a generic email and send it to all
Your first email can be something like this, but feel free to modify
as needed: your contacts in a single salvo. But you don’t need to have hundreds of
clients when you’re first starting—you only need five or six good ones.
Subject: Hi [person’s name here], do you need a content writer for
[blog name here]? In fact, that’s probably more than you can handle on your own at first.
Body: Hi [person’s name here], how is it going? Start slow and on the right foot. Treat your prospects like the valuable
clients they are instead of numbers in a database. I mean, isn’t that how
My name is [your name here], and I’m a [your niche here] content you’d want to be treated? As you gain more and more experience, you’ll
writer. I wanted to know if you are currently looking for content become more productive and be able to handle larger workloads.
writers for [prospect’s blog name here]. Recently, I’ve contributed as a
writer for [list a few clients you’ve contributed to], and I would love to
write for [prospect’s blog name here].
I’ve recently read [name of article on prospect’s blog you actually
enjoyed] because [reasons why you enjoyed the article].
I would like to propose contributing the following article:
Title: [title of article you propose writing for your potential client]
Concept: [a short summary of what the article will be about]
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
[your name here]

16 Overseas Living Letter


Sending A Follow-Up Email
If you don’t get an immediate response from your prospect, don’t
give up. Wait a couple of days and send a follow-up email. It could be
something like this, but again, feel free to personalize it:
Subject: Hi [prospect’s name here], this is [your name here] again
from [your blog’s name]
Body: Hi [prospect’s name here], hope all is well.
I sent you an email a few days ago asking if you needed a contributing
writer for [prospect’s blog name here]. I’ve previously worked for
[If you have already written articles for other clients, mention some
of them here in order to provide social proof], and I would love to
contribute for [prospect’s blog name here].
I recently read [name of article on blog you actually enjoyed], and I
really liked it because [reasons why you enjoyed the article].
In my last email, I proposed writing the following article:
Title: [title of article you propose writing for your potential client]
Concept: [a short summary of what the article will be about]
Is that an article your readers would enjoy?
I look forward to your reply.
Best regards,
[your name here]
Again, this email is short, sweet, and gets right to the point. Your
prospect may’ve missed your first email, so send a follow up after a few
days. Business owners and blog editors get tons of emails, and yours
could have simply gotten lost in the crowd.
If you don’t get any replies from your second email, again, don’t give
up. Wait a week or two, and try contacting them again. There’s no need
to stick to a template. Be direct, get to the point, and explain how
your services will help your prospect. Don’t make it about you, make it
about them.
9. Repeat Steps 2 To 8
At this point, it’s a just a matter of going back and refining your work
loop. Repeat the previous steps and develop your client personas,
update your personal blog, engage your readers on social media, gauge
your social proof, adjust your workload, find more contacts, and offer
your services.
As the quality of your writing improves and you begin to land more
and better-paying writing jobs, you may need to invest in a Customer
Relationship Management (CRM) program, so that you can keep track
of all you interactions with your clients. You may even need to hire
other writers to keep up with your writing demand and have enough
time to enjoy living abroad.
If you follow these steps and put in the work needed to make it
happen, you’ll not only make your first US$1,000 but also establish the
foundations for a successful content-writing business.
About The Author
Misael Lizarraga is a content writer
specializing in real estate content. He
writes about real estate developments all
across North America and uses his content
writing to finance his life as a nomad.
Overseas Living Letter 17
*Go here to convert at today’s exchange rate. Overseas Living Letter 18
 overseas living 101
Your Monthly Tip For
Tackling The Expat Life
Have an issue you’d like us to tackle? We want to hear from you! Get in touch with us at
editorial@liveandinvestoverseas.com to send in your suggestions, and we’ll add them to
our roster.

9 Must-Answer Questions For

Planning Your Retirement Overseas
By Kathleen Peddicord

Planning a retirement overseas? Last month
I walked you through the six main steps
you’ll need to take to get yourself set up
within new borders. This month, let’s look
at the nine questions you should answer at
this getting-started stage of your grand go-
overseas adventure:
Question #1: Are you
planning to move alone?
With a significant other?
With other family members?
With children?
As I said, if you’re moving with a significant
other or with other family members, you
must work to consider every issue and
to address every question together, and
you must allow all sides a voice. Making
a success of a new life overseas requires
energy, commitment, and a positive
attitude. You don’t want to force someone
into it.
If you’re planning to move with children,
then at least one of your priorities is clear:
The children. You’ll want to take their
comfort, care, security, and education into
account above all else.
Question #2: How concerned
are you with what your
family and friends think?
Your family and friends may surprise
you (and me). They may be nothing but
supportive and enthusiastic about your plan
to launch a new life in a new country.
And probably some of them will be.
Others, though, will think you’ve lost your
mind. They’ll forward you media links and
State Department warnings to show you
how dangerous and ridiculous an idea it is
to think about leaving the safety of home
and heading off to some exotic foreign
land, where you’ll be at the mercy, they’ll
assure you, of non-English-speaking thieves
and scallywags. Plus you’ll be lonely...
homesick...
You need to make up your mind right
now that you won’t be dissuaded by any
of it. Stay the course. You’re on the road

19 Overseas Living Letter Overseas Living Letter 19

 to a future better and brighter than your
naysaying friends could ever imagine.
They don’t get it... but that’s OK. They don’t
have to get it.
Question #3: Do you want to
live among the locals or in a
more private, perhaps gated
setting with fellow expats?
If you choose to relocate to an established
expatriate community, you’ll have no trouble
slipping into the local social scene and finding
English-speakers who share your interests.
On the other hand, going that route, you
might end up with little real experience of
the new culture you’re adopting.
This important early decision may not have
occurred to you. But I encourage you to
consider the question directly, for the answer
sets you on one track or another, and they
lead to very different places.
It can be easier, frankly, to seek out a place
like Ajijic, Mexico, or Boquete, Panama,
where your neighbors would be fellow
North Americans, where you’d hear more
English on the street than Spanish, and
where you’d have like-minded compatriots
to commiserate with over the trials and
tribulations of daily life in a foreign country.
Ajijic, for example, could as easily sit north
of the Rio Grande as south. It can seem like a
transplanted U.S. suburb.
This can make it a terrific first step for
some, a chance to dip your toe in the
live-overseas waters rather than diving in
headfirst. In Ajijic, you’re living overseas
and enjoying many of the benefits (great
weather, affordable cost of living), but the
surroundings and the neighbors are familiar
in many ways. You can shop at Walmart, meet
up with fellow Americanos for bridge on
Thursday evenings, and never have to travel
far to find English-language conversation.
On the other hand, life in Mexico would be a
very different experience residing in a little
fishing village or a small colonial city in the
20 Overseas Living Letter
mountains where you’re the only foreigner in
town. Settling among the locals means you
must learn to live like a local.
Is the thought of that appealing, exciting,
and invigorating? Or terrifying? Be honest
with yourself as you consider your response.
There is no right or wrong reply, and there
are pluses and minuses either way. During
our 20-plus years living outside the States,
Lief and I have gone local, first in Waterford,
Ireland, then in Paris, now in Panama. In
our neighborhood here in Panama City,
English is spoken almost nowhere, and
I still struggle sometimes to manage
effective communication with shopkeepers,
repairmen, and our neighbors.
Living in a gated community, I wouldn’t
face that challenge. And, living in a gated
community, the streets would be kept
cleaner, and the landscaping would be
manicured. We’d have access to a swimming
pool, a clubhouse, maybe riding stables, and
a tennis court. Security at the gate would
keep out anyone without permission to pass,
roving guards would keep watchful eyes over
our property, and our neighbors would likely
all speak English just like we do.
And that could be great, too.
Great, too, but very different.
Question #4: Do you want to
learn a new language?
If the answer is no, your situation is simplified
considerably. You’ll need to learn to speak at
least a little of a new language in most places
you might be thinking about living overseas...
but not all. In a handful of the best places in
our world to call home, English is the official
language, spoken everywhere.
If you don’t want to learn a new language,
these are the places where you should focus
your attention.
Question #5: Do you have a
health concern?
If the answer is yes, again, your job is
simplified, because a number of destinations
that might otherwise appeal to you should
be taken off your list. Like moving with
children and being certain that you don’t
want to learn to speak even a little of a new
language, having a health issue sets your top
priority for you.
Question #6: Are you
disabled in any way?
The reality is that this is perhaps the most
limiting situation of all. If you have a health
concern like diabetes or a heart condition,
you’ll want to be sure that you’re within quick
access of international-standard medical care.
That’s possible many places around the world.
However, if you have a disability, certainly if
you rely on a wheelchair for getting around,
your options can be fewer, depending on
the size of your nest egg. Most of Europe,
for example, is at least as handicapped-
accessible as the United States. If you’re
looking to make this move on a tighter
budget, though, you must understand that
most of the developing world, where your
retirement funds will stretch furthest, is not
disabled-friendly.
Question #7:What are the
things you refuse to scrimp
on?What do you absolutely
not want to give up?
Make a list. Put the most important things,
the things you have to admit to yourself you
would be very unhappy to live without, at
the top.
Then don’t allow yourself to be persuaded
(by yourself, your significant other, or anyone
else) to compromise on the two or three
things at the top of this list.
You’ll have to compromise. No place is
perfect, and no place is going to deliver
everything you want. If you’re moving with
a partner or with family, the challenge is
greater; you’re trying to find a place that
satisfies more than one “What I Want” list.
So, again, you’re going to have to make
concessions. But don’t concede on your top
 priorities, the two or three things you identify
as being most important to you.
If you do, your entire adventure could be doomed.
Question #8: Does currency
risk scare you?
If so, consider countries that use the
same currency as that of your nest egg
or anticipated income. If your funds are
denominated in U.S. dollars, for example,
consider Panama or Ecuador... or perhaps
Belize, which doesn’t use the Greenback but
which pegs its own Belize dollar to it.
Now, you may be thinking... but what if the
U.S. dollar tanks? What good will it do me, you
could wonder, to be living in a country that
uses dollars if the dollar becomes worthless?
You’ll be no worse off than you would be if
you were still living in the States. Prices for
most things will go up, just as they will go
up Stateside.
In fact, you’ll have the same inflationary
issues from a collapse of the U.S. dollar no
matter where you’re living, in a country that
uses the U.S. dollar for its currency or in any
other jurisdiction.
Say you retire to Colombia on your Social
Security check, and, three years later, the
U.S. dollar collapses. What happens? The
cost of things for you in Colombia in dollar
terms will go up... just as it will in dollar-
denominated markets. In Colombia, though
(and elsewhere), you’ll also have currency
exchange ups and downs to consider and
ride out.
They key is diversification. If you have any
assets beyond a Social Security check, diversify
them among more than one currency.
Question #9: Are you ready
to move full-time... or would
you like to take the idea of
retiring overseas for a test
run first by spending part of
a year someplace foreign?
This doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You
could launch a new life overseas and still spend
part or even lots of your time back home.
21 Overseas Living Letter
I make the point in case it hadn’t occurred
to you already. The idea of moving to a
new country, full stop, full-time, can be
intimidating. Selling your current home... off-
loading your car, your furniture, your lawn-
care equipment... flying off to a new country
where you know no one and where everyone
you meet speaks another language? Boiled
down like that, this live-overseas agenda can
seem foolish, even terrifying.
So don’t sell your home. Keep your car if you
like it. Lock the lawn mower in the garage.
Pack a few bags and head off to someplace
that’s got your attention for, say, a month or
two. Don’t even think about buying a house
or anything else. Rent small and modest.
Or arrange an extended stay in a bed-and-
breakfast or guesthouse. Keep it low-key and
low-pressure.
This doesn’t have to be like jumping off a
cliff. You can ease into the idea. Then, if
you find the place you take for a test spin
disappointing in some way, you can return
home (remember, your car’s waiting for you
in the driveway)... and begin planning your
next overseas holiday. Give someplace else
a chance.
You could continue like this for years. You’d
be enjoying some of the benefits of a new
life in a new country (a maybe dramatically
reduced cost of living, better weather,
cheap medical care, new friends, grand
adventures, plus little luxuries you probably
can’t afford now—full-time household
help, for example), but you’d have a safety
net. What you’ll find is that, with each foray
overseas, your confidence will build. And
your plan will evolve.
Next step, maybe extend the length of each
overseas vacation. You could spend three
or even up to six months at a time in each
new place, depending on the jurisdiction’s
tourist visa restrictions, thereby avoiding the
residency permit issue altogether.
You could begin renting out your place back
home when you’re not using it. This income
would help to subsidize the expense of your
retire-overseas wanderings.
You could, eventually, invest in new digs
in a place you decide you like well enough
to want to return to regularly. Again, rent
out this apartment or beach house when
you’re elsewhere to further supplement your
retirement income.
Maybe, eventually, you find you’re ready to
sell your place back home, because, as time
passes, your connection there seems less
and less important. More interesting are
the new places you’re discovering, the new
friends you’re making, the new adventures
you’re having...
Take it one step at a time and let your go-
overseas plan develop organically. Just as there’s
no one-size-fits-all overseas haven, neither is
there a live-overseas plan that suits everyone.
This idea is infinitely customizable.
Don’t Go It Alone...
Easiest, best, and most efficient way
to address all nine of these
critical questions?
Join Kathleen and the entire Live and
Invest Overseas team for this year’s
Retire Overseas Conference taking
place Sept. 7 to 10 in Houston, Texas.
This is the biggest event on our
annual calendar... the only event we
hold Stateside... and the one time
each year when every member of
the far-flung LIOS team is together
in one place at one time (hundreds
of us).
We’ll help you answer every
question I’ve raised above for all 21
of the world’s best places to think
about living or retiring overseas.
More details of the program we’re
planning are here.
 earning anywhere
By Michelle Miller

Stretching Your Wellness Practice To

New Frontiers
You don’t hear much about wellness practitioners living and earning health and wellness movement, and the future seems wide open for
money overseas… Maybe it’s because we’re the free-spirited types, or health-minded entrepreneurs.
maybe we’re just more motivated by the healing aspect of the work rather
than the earning potential (or so we say)…
What Is AWellness Practitioner?
Many of us got into the healing profession—be it in massage, nutrition,
A wellness practitioner is someone who is licensed to offer holistic services
yoga, or fitness—because it’s something we can take with us around the
or specialty skills to help others optimize their health holistically. This
globe. But in certain places, like Costa Rica and Bali, the market is saturated
includes life coaching, nutrition, personal training, counseling, massage
with yoga instructors and massage therapists.
therapy, yoga instruction, and so on.
These countries have been hippie tourist destinations for well over 30
years… While they’re wonderful places to complete training courses or HowToTakeYour Practice Overseas
exchange healing modalities, it’s difficult to make a living in either as a
wellness practitioner. The competition is too steep. One of the easiest ways to take your wellness practice overseas is to seek
employment with an already established business, like a hotel or spa.
Countries like Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama (where I’ve lived and Normally, they charge a commission on your treatments, but, in general,
worked as a wellness practitioner for over 13 years) are fairly new to the you can expect to earn US$25 to US$45 per hour.

22 Overseas Living Letter Overseas Living Letter 22

Many websites advertise overseas postings for wellness-related jobs.
Yogatraveljobs, for example, will help connect you with future employers
for a US$19 annual fee; Yoga Trade will do it for a US$36 annual fee. These
sites offer opportunities for different types of wellness practitioners (not
just yoga instructors), and browsing their job postings is free.
Providing counseling or coaching services via Skype or Zoom is more possible
now than ever before thanks to increased internet connectivity all over the
world. You could charge your clients from back home your normal rates…
but perhaps incorporate a sliding scale for clients in your chosen area. It’s a
nice way to make your services accessible to locals. I generally give a 10% to
15% “community member” discount on my massage treatments.
You can also develop course work and trainings or share your classes
online through services like Insight Timer, which is a free meditation app
with over 4.5 million users. Teachers receive 80% of income from courses,
donations, or subscription memberships and also get lots of exposure.
My favorite business model is the “hang a shingle” technique. This consists
of either renting a space for your practice or visiting existing hotels and
spas to let them know about the freelance services you offer. Fliers and
bulletin boards still go a long way in tourist towns full of curious visitors.
If you offer five-star services in a tourist destination, you can generally
charge the same as you do at home. If you cater to guests at their hotel
(freelance) they may expect to pay slightly more, which helps cover any
commission the business may be charging (generally 15% to 20%).
What About Permission?The Nitty-Gritty Of
Owning A Business Overseas
You’ll need to pursue certain legalities depending on how established
you’d like your business to become. In Panama, the first step is a
business license, followed by a bank account, residency, and work visa.
Then there’s the dreaded Panamanian health card (but that warrants its
own separate article).
Want to go big? I owned La Buena Vida—a hotel, restaurant, and
wellness facility, so I understand the sentiment. Running a bigger
business will bring more financial opportunity but also more
responsibility. A full wellness facility would most likely require staff and
the legal obligations that that entails. Panamanian law states that only
10% of your workforce can be foreigners, so your employees will be
mostly nationals.
If you’re doing more than administering your business, you’ll also need
a Panamanian work visa for yourself. Learning about local tax and labor
laws is important regardless of where you land. A good attorney and
accountant are invaluable when you’re in the beginning stages of creating
your dream job overseas.
FindingYour Niche And Getting Started
Studying already-established companies in an area and creating an
innovative business that sets you apart from the competition can go a
long way. Finding your niche will help build your own distinct brand and
client base as well as acceptance in your new community. The best time to
get started is when your new destination’s tourist season begins.
The good news is there’s still lots of room for yoga studios, retreat centers,
spas, and training facilities overseas. In Panama, I’m happy to see the
wellness community growing and more like-minded people migrating
here all the time. If you have something positive to share with the world,
I encourage you to move in that direction… Maybe our paths will even
cross at some point.
Overseas Living Letter 23
 Spotlight On:
6 Indonesian-Island
Destinations That Aren’t Bali
By Sophia Titley

Bali gets a lot of attention from tourists and The good news is, Bali is just 1 out of 17,000 ago: underdeveloped, tranquil, beachy…
expats, and it’s understandable… it has islands in Indonesia, and much of what it has today, it’s where you escape to when the
some of the most phenomenal beaches in the to offer is available elsewhere. Here’s a list of busyness of Bali gets to be too much.
world, friendly locals and interesting culture, six Indonesian-island destinations worthy of
and stunning natural beauty… all of which your consideration…
have made it an almost mythical destination
among travelers.
Nusa Lembongan
Surfers helped kick Bali’s notoriety off in the
70s back when it was mostly virgin jungle and
beach. It’s seen steady increases in tourism
and development since then… but these have
reached a fever pitch in the past 10 or 20 years.
Getting here involves crossing the Bali Strait
Sadly, many parts of the island today are
and some of the deepest, most unpredictable
overrun with tacky hotels, restaurants, and
waters in the world. To do this, you need
tourists. Overdevelopment and pollution have
to catch a fast boat from Sanur on Bali’s
marred its natural beauty, and it’s on the brink
Nusa Lembongan (NOO-sah lem-BONG-an) southeastern coast. The sometimes-risky
of losing precisely what made it so appealing in
embodies what Bali was 20-something years journey takes about two hours but is worth the
the first place.

25 Overseas Living Letter


trouble: Nothing but relaxation waits on the
other side.
Lembongan is a small island of about 8 square
kms… You could easily spend the rest of your
days sunning yourself on one of the white-
sand, sparsely populated beaches or taking
in some of the most beautiful sunsets in the
world. But there’s plenty of adventure to be
chased here, too…
The surrounding waters are famous for their
vibrant coral, manta rays, and mola-mola,
making the island popular among scuba divers
and snorkelers. Surfing is another pastime here,
with breaks like Playgrounds and Lacerations
indicating the range in difficulty levels.
On-land activities include renting a moped
or bike and tracing the circumference of the
island. Dramatic cave formations, jagged
limestone cliffs with crashing waves and
water plumes, mangrove forests, tidal pools,
temples, and seaweed farms are just a few of
the things you’ll see along the way.
CC BY-SA 3.0 GUNAWAN KARTAPRANATA
Malioboro Street
Yogyakarta, Java
If you’re more interested in history than you
are the beach, then Yogyakarta (JOG-jah
KAR-ta) is where you need to be. Located on
Java, it’s one of the oldest cities in Indonesia
and forms part of the Yogyakarta Special
Region—a semi-autonomous area that’s been
ruled by the Sultanate of Hamengkubuwono
since 1755.
Yogya has a well-established reputation
among domestic tourists, but the rest of the
When Indonesia was struggling for world is largely unaware that it exists. It merits
independence from the Dutch in the 1940s, a visit if only to see UNESCO World Heritage
Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX offered Yogya as Sites like Borobudur, the world’s biggest
the Indonesian government’s revolutionary Buddhist temple, or Prambanan, the biggest
capital. Once the Indonesian government Hindu temple in Indonesia (pictured above).
gained power, they returned the favor to the
sultan by officially recognizing his sultanate. It also has attractions of little-to-no historical
or cultural significance, like Alun Alun
Today, Yogya is a bustling center of education Selatan—the park that’s famous for neon-lit,
and art and home to about half a million music-blasting push cars that you can take for
people. Its neighborhood streets are a spin. Equally inexplicable is Gereja Ayam,
convoluted and don’t follow any discernable a massive prayer house in the middle of the
organizational pattern … the narrow lanes jungle that’s shaped like a chicken.
are graffitied and tuck away tiny cafés that
brew Javanese coffee.
It’s a small city, but the most common way of
getting around is by pedicab, known as becak
(beh-CHAK) to locals. Although the legal
status of these muscle-powered contraptions
is questionable, they provide an entertaining
way to see the city. Just make sure you barter
aggressively before you get on one.
Overseas Living Letter 26
 Labuan Bajo, Flores
Labuan Bajo (la-BUAN BA-joe) is a hot and dusty
fishing village found on the island of Flores, in
southcentral Indonesia. While the town itself is
mostly unappealing, it’s the perfect jumping-
off point to visit some of the most remote and
beautiful islands in the world as well as a handful
of bizarre natural anomalies.
From Labuan Bajo’s harbor, you can arrange day
trips to nearby islands, like Kanawa, Bidadari,
and Seraya (to name a few). These are a beach-
lover’s paradise, with waters so clear that you can
“snorkel” just by looking down over the edge of
your boat. If you tire of white-sand beaches, you
can visit one of the pink-sand beaches found in
this area, tinted by the breakdown of the red coral
that grows here.
Komodo and Rinca—the only places in the
world where you can see Komodo dragons in the
27 Overseas Living Letter
wild—are also a boat trip away form Labuan Lake Toba, Sumatra
Bajo. When you tour these islands, you walk
around as if oblivious to the fact these dragons
weigh up to 150 pounds and take down water
buffalos with their toxic saliva…
Less disconcerting is watching the exodus of
bats that occurs every evening on nearby Kalong
Island. If you position your boat in the right
place, thousands of flying foxes will fly overhead
as they exit the cave and head out to hunt for Although you may not have heard of Sumatra’s
the night. Even if you aren’t a nature lover, the Lake Toba, it enjoys a few claims to fame… it was
spectacle is once in a lifetime. formed by super-volcanic eruption—the biggest
to have occurred in the past 25 million years. It’s
the world’s biggest volcanic lake as a result.
Lake Toba today is known for its tranquility, fresh
air, and sweeping natural vistas. Surrounded
by volcanic peaks, its scenery is dramatic, and
its temperatures are cool (for Indonesia) at an
average of about 80˚F.
Another natural anomaly and reason to visit
Labuan Bajo is Kelimutu, a volcano with three
crater lakes in three strikingly different colors.
Tiwu Ata Bupu is blue, Tiwu Ko’o Fai Nuwa
Muri is green, and Tiwu Ata Polo is reddish…
although the exact colors are subject to change The area is home to the Batak people—a
depending on oxidation levels. largely Christian ethnic minority with a

fascinating culture and friendly demeanor.
Their cultural stronghold is Samosir Island, the
Singapore-sized island in the center of Lake
Toba where you’ll find traditional homes (with
curved roofs that look like the hulls of ships),
cemeteries, and other vestiges of the Batak
way of life.
Lake Toba and Samosir Island may not be known
to mainstream international tourism, but they are
firmly on the Banana Pancake Trail—the route
around Southeast Asia followed mostly by western
travelers and backpackers. Hot springs, freshwater
swimming, waterfalls, lots of hiking, and primary
jungle are a few reasons it’s so popular.
There are a handful of second-hand bookstores
around Lake Toba and restaurants that serve
fresh fish from the lake. Sumatra is well-known
as a coffee-producing region, and here you can
try it at its freshest. You can also peruse Batak
handicrafts at one of the traditional markets
on at Ambarita, Pangururan, and Spiria.
Senggigi, Lombok
Aside from Bali, not many Indonesian islands
have permanent expat populations…
Lombok is an exception, with expats of diverse
backgrounds basing themselves in picturesque
and peaceful Senggigi (sen-GEE-GEE). British,
Senggigi
German, Australian, Korean, French, and
Norwegians—to name a few—live here full-
or part-time and operate business like hotels,
restaurants, dive shops, etc.
Senggigi refers to the general region made up
of the following areas that are connected by
coastal road: Mangsit, Kerandangan, Senggigi,
and Batu Bolong. While each area boasts its
own stretch of beach, they are in different
stages of development. The most laidback
lifestyle is found in Kerandangan, which is
situated in a large bay and has little by way of
shopping or nightlife.
CC BY-SA 2.0 MARCO RAVICINI
Lombok
Senggigi, on the other hand, supports a bigger
expat population thanks to its upscale-housing
complex known as Green Valley. It also has
more tourism infrastructure in place, with
restaurants on the beach, bars with pool tables
and live music, and so on… but even then,
Overseas Living Letter 28
CC BY-SA 4.0 YUSWIMAR MAKKI
entertainment options are limited, and people
like it that way.
Most activities that locals get involved
in here involve water, whether they surf,
snorkel, scuba dive, or spear fish. The
surrounding area is lush and hilly, so
exploring the backroads on your moped or
by hiking are popular pastimes. Lombok,
like every major island in Indonesia, has
its own culture and unique flare. Shopping
for Lombok handicrafts, like intricately
carved woodenware, hand-woven baskets,
tapestries, and local pearls is another activity
you can do here.
About The Author
For Sophia Titley, home is a
subjective concept. She was
born in Singapore but grew
up in Indonesia and Saudi
Arabia… and has since lived
in Canada, Spain, Colombia,
and, most recently, Panama.
She studied political science
and Spanish at the University
of British Columbia, and in
her free time enjoys trying
new recipes, playing soccer,
and salsa dancing.
 The Top 5 Easiest Places To Move Overseas
By Kathleen Peddicord
Isn’t it easier to just stay home?
If that’s how you’ve been talking yourself out of moving overseas, then you’re
not alone. Every would-be expat has, at some point, been haunted by this
very thought.
Of course, it’s no mean feat to insert yourself into a whole new life overseas. You
have plans to make, procedures to follow, and unchartered waters to brave.
But, by giving up and staying home, you’d be denying yourself the chance to:
• Live a richer lifestyle (often for less than the budget you live on at
home)…
• Choose your ideal climate (leave behind snow forever, enjoy warm
temperatures year-round, or experience four distinct seasons)…
• Finally have the time to focus on the things you love to do (even if you’re
not ready to retire, you could fund your new life by working just a few
hours a day… leaving plenty of time to enjoy the good life)…
30 Overseas Living Letter
Moving overseas is also a chance for new adventure. Suddenly before you
is the opportunity to learn a new language and make new friends… to try
unfamiliar cuisine and get used to a new pace of life and new customs…
Often, breaking free from the old familiar is a chance to follow a healthier
lifestyle, too. Free from the nine-to-five grind of U.S. life, you’ll find you
have more opportunity to explore the outdoors, connect with nature, and
experience the beauty of your new country. You may find you can walk
everywhere you need to be—and ditch the car for good. With more fresh,
seasonal produce at hand, your waistline may shrink… simply by default.
If all this isn’t enough to convince you to move forward with your search
today, then consider this:
Right now, due to a strong U.S. dollar, the cost of living (and of acquiring
property)—both in Latin American and European markets—is
considerably lower than it was a decade ago. In other words, your budget
will buy you a lifestyle overseas that is far better than what you could
afford in the United States.
Now, while a move anywhere in the world is doable, with a positive mindset
and the right help at hand, some countries are easier than others…
The five destinations I’ll introduce you to below are the easiest places for U.S.
citizens to start over. These havens are easily accessible from the States (some
you can even drive to)… they offer straightforward residency programs
specifically designed to attract expats... and, in all, you can live a much richer
life on as little as US$1,200 (that’s less than the average Social Security check).
Let’s get started with this hit list of retire-overseas havens…
Belize
Belize has its mainland in Central America and boasts hundreds of tiny islands
in the Caribbean. Mainland Belize has a lush vegetation of rain forest and
jungle as well as mountains and grassy plains. The islands offer white-sand
beaches, a relaxed pace of life, and some of the cheapest property deals in
the Caribbean.
Off the coast of Belize is a barrier reef that’s second in size only to the Great
Barrier Reef in Australia. This reef provides a rich habitat for all kinds of
marine life, including over 500 species of fish.
Belize is also one of the least densely populated countries in the world.
The cost of living here is very low, especially by Caribbean standards. Even
established expat locations—like Ambergris Caye where prices are probably
highest—provide excellent value and are far cheaper than living in most
parts of the United States.
Where Belize falls down is its infrastructure, and though it continues to
improve, not everybody is up for the challenges of life here. On a positive
note, English is the official language of Belize: This goes a long way in making
your move here easier.
How can you spend your time here? Don’t expect fine dining, ballet, or
theater. Belize’s best attractions are all in the outdoors. The stunning coral
reef makes it one of the world’s premier diving locations. The mountains and
rain forest have great walking and climbing routes available with a range of
exotic flora and fauna for you to experience. The pace of life is generally slow
and friendly.
What makes it so easy to move here: If you are 45 years or older, you
can move here via the Qualified Retirement Program (QRP)—one of the
fastest residency deals available. You only need to show a minimum monthly
income of US$2,000 a month to qualify and spend 30 days a year in Belize to
maintain your QRP status.
If you are bringing a pet overseas with you, then Belize is your best choice.
Simply get an application form from the Belizean Agricultural Health Authority
and some certificates from your vet to confirm the animal is rabies-free. On
payment of a US$20 entrance fee, your pet is legally allowed in Belize.
Climate: The climate is subtropical with average temperatures around 27°C.
Although you will get heavy showers during the rainy season, as well as
downpours at night, most days are warm and sunny.
Residency: You can apply for residency easily in Belize. You must pay a fee
of US$1,000 and stay in the country for 50 consecutive weeks. This can be
done by entering the country using a tourist visa, which you can renew every
30 days until you reach 50 weeks. As mentioned above, if you are at least 45
years of age, you can qualify for QRP residency by proving that you can bring
more than US$2,000 a year into the country.
Flight: Flights to Belize are easy to come by and fairly cheap from the United
States. For the adventurous, it is possible to drive down through Mexico. You’ll
need a solid vehicle for this, as roads along the way can be unreliable.
Health care: Public hospitals are free and of a good standard. Private health care
is also available, but it can be expensive if you don’t have an insurance policy.
Colombia
Colombia is a naturally beautiful, unspoiled country. Known for its
“megadiversity,” it harbors a high number of the Earth’s species. Meanwhile,
its landscape boasts mountains, rain forests, grasslands, and beaches. The
climate is, broadly speaking, warm all year. However, due to the scale of the
Overseas Living Letter 31
country, there is a wide variation in temperature. Otherwise, rainy season Dominican Republic
runs from May to November and dry season through the rest of the year.

The cost of living is low, and you have a huge stock of natural produce to eat.
Colombian coffee is among the best in the world.

Though it’s taking the rest of the world some time to catch on to, Colombia
is also much safer now than in the past. Though some rural and ghetto areas
still experience drug-related crime, tourist and expat areas are generally as
safe as major U.S. cities.

Colombia has some excellent museums—many of which are located in

Bogotá. A lot of the country’s history and traditions have been faithfully
preserved and sit comfortably alongside the modern world that has sprung
up around them. Archaeological parks, ancient churches, and national parks
are dotted throughout the country and make for fine excursions—as well as
coffee tours to sample the rich variety of blends available or jungle tours to
experience all the rain forest has to offer.
What makes it so easy to move here: The Colombian people are some
of the most hospitable in the world and will go out of their way to make
you feel at home in your new surroundings. Colombia is keen to get foreign
investors into the country. If you’re looking to buy property here, they will do
everything they can to ensure your application progresses smoothly.
Flights: Flights from Miami take just 3.5 hours and a number of airlines offer
direct routes into Colombia. Fares are cheap enough that you can budget in
regular trips to and from the United States.
Residency: Acquiring residency in Colombia is inexpensive. If you are retired
and receiving a pension, you’ll need to prove a monthly income of US$629 to
apply for a visa. If you want to qualify for residency as an investor, you’ll need
to make an investment that’s 650 times greater than the minimum wage.
This would currently be around US$135,000. Residency through starting a
business is more expensive. Business culture here is completely different from
the United States. It can take a long time, so, going this route, you’ll need to
plan accordingly.
Health care: Colombia has a public health system that offers cheap care to
all citizens. Many expats like to pay for private medical insurance on top of
the national health care. This will provide you with more specialist services
as needed. Medical, dental, and visual care are provided under public health
insurance, but more special treatments must be bought separately.
With a tropical climate and average temperatures of 25° C, the Dominican
Republic makes an attractive destination and excellent place to catch some
winter sun. In the mountainous areas of the Dominican Republic, you can
experience minus temperatures—something most people don’t equate
with the Caribbean. What this does give you is variety. If you’re someone
who doesn’t like the hot temperatures for too long, you can retreat to higher
altitude and cooler climates.
The Dominican Republic is part of an island shared with Haiti—with the
Dominican Republic taking up the larger share. In fact, the Dominican
Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation. It has a rich and fascinating
history. Christopher Columbus arrived on the island in 1492, and the Spanish
followed soon afterward—bringing with them their culture and building
the colonial architecture that survives to this day. Towns like Santo Domingo
are wonderful examples of this style and give the Dominican Republic a feel
unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. François Mackandal, who led the
first slave uprisings on the island, had a particularly interesting life and his
inspiring story is worth investigating.
The Dominican Republic is one of the cheapest locations to live in the
Caribbean. The government is rapidly developing its infrastructure, with new
highways and roads being built. This is also a good place to do business—
tourist-related ventures are particularly encouraged.
As you’d expect from a Caribbean island, you’ll find plenty of white-sand
beaches (unspoiled and often deserted) and excellent fishing here. In the
cool Dominican Alps, strawberries grow on the mountainside and the highest
peak is over 10,000 feet. From up here, you’ll have spectacular views across
the island.
What makes it so easy to move here: Dominican Republic residency is
possibly the easiest in the world. A budget of US$2,000 a month in the DR

32 Overseas Living Letter

would allow you to live like one of the elite. Even living on a Social Security
check can provide an enjoyable lifestyle—one that’s unimaginable in other
Caribbean destinations.
Residency: The Dominican Republic is one of the easiest and quickest
places in the world to acquire residency. If you can prove your income, you
should be able to get a retirement residency within a couple of months.
You will need to have lived in the Dominican Republic for five years on a
temporary residence permit before you can apply for permanent residency.
Flight: The DR is a short—and fairly inexpensive—flight from the United
States. Most major cities have direct flights here, and budget airlines also
operate this route.
Currency: The currency is the Dominican peso. However, because the
Dominican Republic is a tourist hot spot, most places will accept U.S. dollars
and euros.
Health care: The health care in the Dominican Republic is great value—
though not quite at the standard of Panama and Mexico. That said, unless
you require specialist treatment, the DR will be able to meet your needs.
Dental care, however, is excellent, and the country also has great facilities
for laser surgery.
Mexico
“Closer-than-ever” Mexico is the #1 expat destination for Americans, and it’s
easy to see why… The climate is superb with hot summers, mild winters,
and plenty of sunshine. Some parts of Mexico can be fiercely hot, while
others—like Lake Chapala and Cuernavaca—offer a more temperate
climate. Really, Mexico has something to suit everyone.
In recent years, the government has been pushing hard to encourage more
expats with heavy investment in infrastructure. Meanwhile, property prices
have been appreciating nicely.
You may know Mexico for its Corona and Sol beers, but did you know it
also has a budding wine-growing area? Like California in a lot of ways,
but without the price tag, Mexican wines are starting to gain attention
worldwide. Vineyard tours and tastings are attracting more tourists and
boosting property prices.
Mexico has a wide range of attractions from Aztec ruins and ancient
observatories to sleepy towns. Festivals are a huge part of the culture here.
The big ones, like the Day of the Dead, will bring whole cities to a standstill.
What makes it so easy to move here: For a start, you can simply pack
up your belongings and drive to Mexico. Moving from the United States to
Mexico is a well-trodden path, and you’ll find plenty of long-established expat
communities here. Real estate agents in Mexico are experienced in dealing
with U.S. clients and will be able to make sure your move goes smoothly.
Residency: Obtaining residency in Mexico is straightforward. A Temporary
Residence Visa allows you to stay in Mexico for up to four years. During this
time, you can travel in and out the country as often as you need. After four
years, you can apply for permanent residency at your local Mexican embassy.
Flight time: Moving to Mexico could be as simple as jumping into your car
and driving down. But Mexico is also an easy flight from most U.S. cities.
Lifestyle: The lifestyle in Mexico is varied but always relaxed. The cities
have opera, museums, and galleries, in addition to excellent restaurants.
In the countryside, you can find folk parades, fiestas, and other traditional
pastimes. On the coast, Mexico has surfing, fishing, snorkeling, and
diving… as well as miles upon miles of excellent beaches. The cost of living
is lower than the United States, and the lifestyle can also be healthier owing
to fresher meat, fruit, and vegetables.
Currency: The currency is the Mexican peso. In tourist areas, you can pay
for things in U.S. dollars but will get an uncompetitive exchange rate.
Increasingly, businesses are insisting on payment in pesos.
Health care: In general, the health care in Mexico is excellent and far
cheaper than in the United States. Charmingly, doctors still make house
calls, and most speak English. On average, a visit to the doctor or specialist
will cost around US$30.
Overseas Living Letter 33
Panama
Panama is the most popular destination for expats in Central America (we’re
considering Mexico as part of North America). The U.S. presence here dates
back to the building of the Panama Canal—the legacy of which is the
main reason for Panama’s continued economic success. The tropical climate
ensures warm temperatures all year. If the heat and humidity of the city
are too much for you, areas such as Chiriquí provide an attractive, cooler
option. On a mission to become the Singapore of Latin America, Panama
is currently experiencing a rapid expansion—and many of the world’s
biggest multinational companies are now based here. New trade links with
China, and continuing investment in infrastructure, means that Panama’s
future prospects continue to look good. Panama has an abundance of jobs
for native English-speakers—although some require you to be fluent in
Spanish as well as English.
Panama offers something for everyone. The Frank Gehry-designed
Biomuseo in Panama City celebrates the abundance of spectacular animal
and plant life and is one of the most unique museums in the world. Panama
has Caribbean and Pacific beaches and miles of unspoiled countryside.
Meanwhile, Panama City has everything you would expect of a modern
cosmopolitan city.
Overseas Living Letter 34
What makes it so easy to move here: For retirees, Panama rolls out the
red carpet in benefits. If you want to live in Panama City, you’ll find speaking
Spanish is not a requirement (although it is recommended that you learn at
least some). Panama is also well connected to most U.S. cities—as well as
being a hub for onward travel to anywhere in Latin America.
Residency: Residency in Panama is easy to acquire. If you get a written job
offer or can prove that you have funds available for retirement, residency
is yours. Panama’s pensionado program is the best, most-laden-with-
benefits retiree package out there today. If you meet the requirements,
you get discounts on all sorts of services from doctor visits to movie tickets,
to domestic and international flights. And, should any future changes
occur to pensionado law, you are protected. Once a pensionado, always a
pensionado. If you’re planning to invest in a business in Panama, you can
acquire Panamanian residency by that route, too.
Flights: Panama is the central hub for all flights to the South Americas.
Flights here are easy to find from the United States. Panama’s Tocumen
Airport (PTY) is currently expanding with the intention of including more
European routes. Recently, Emirates has resurrected its plans to launch a
non-stop flight from Dubai to Panama that would, if it comes to pass, be the
longest direct flight in the world.
Currency: The Panamanian currency is called the balboa and is pegged to the
U.S. dollar—which is also legal tender here. Aside from the convenience, this
makes it very easy to appreciate just how far your dollars go in Panama.
Health care: Health care in Panama is of a similar standard to the United
States, and prices are far cheaper. Due to the low number of people availing
of the facilities (when compared with the United States), you can expect
a more personalized service. Most of the doctors speak good English, and
prices for prescription drugs are also far cheaper. Dentistry in Panama is
also excellent, and dental tourism is becoming popular. Many Panamanian
dentists are trained in the United States, so the standard of treatment is
equal to—though a fraction the price of—what you find back home.
NEWS Needed: Expert
Gardener For
Medieval Castle
In St. Michael’s Mount, a small island off the
coast of Cornwall, England, a highly skilled
gardener is needed to care for the gardens on
the island’s castle grounds. A particular kind of
horticulturalist is required for the job, as many
are plants that you wouldn’t usually find in
Cornwall, such as puya, agave, and aloe.
Agility is also a must… many of the plants
are growing out of the bedrock of the castle
and even watering them can be a daunting
task. Connecting the gardens is a stairway
with incredibly steep steps, making the job
challenging for those with mobility limitations.
You’d work closely with the current custodians of
the island, Lord and Lady St. Levan, while living
in a Victorian terraced house with breathtaking
castle views. If this doesn’t sound like the ideal
job to you, the island is also seeking an island
manager and a castle steward.
Notre Dame’s First
Mass Since Tragic Fire
On Saturday, June 15, the first mass in Notre Dame
was conducted after the devastating fire that did
significant damage to the historic cathedral two
months prior. It was a small event, with about 30
people attending the celebration in the Chapel of
the Virgin, which was undamaged by the fire. For
safety reasons, all attendees had to wear protective
hard hats, which was “a bit strange,” according to
35 Overseas Living Letter
By the Editors of Live and Invest Overseas
the Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit, who led
the mass.
President Emmanuel Macron set a five-year
target on the cathedral’s restoration, hoping
it will be ready for the 2024 Summer Olympic
Games in Paris—causing much controversy.
France’s Culture Minister Franck Riester would
prioritize quality over speed, saying that if more
time is needed, so be it.
As of June 14, only US$90 million of the
US$955 million required for the reconstruction
has been acquired.
Irish Island Wants
Americans
CC BY-SA 3.0 GEYO JOHN
Down to only 469 inhabitants, the Irish island of
Arranmore is writing open letters to the people
of the United States to come on over. With rich
history, dramatic cliffs, and some of the world’s
best seafood there’s a lot to like here… but
traditional industries (farming and fishing) are on
the decline, and young locals have traded rustic
island life for bigger cities.
Arranmore hopes U.S. citizens might revive their
economy by transforming the island into the first
“offshore digital hub.”
Now boasting high-speed broadband internet
and a co-working space called MODAM that
can be rented out for 20 euros (US$22.58)
per day, offering video conferencing, smart
technology, and telecommunication abilities, the
infrastructure is already in place.
Plus, Arranmore is home to graphic designers,
photographers, app developers, and skilled
craftspeople—and they’re all ready to
collaborate. Residents promise a five-minute
morning commute and real estate starts at
US$56,390.
The open letter has led to “hundreds and hundreds”
of inquiries. Interested parties can find out more
via the island’s website or Facebook page.
However, the difficulty of obtaining residency in
Ireland these days shouldn’t be discounted. The
entrepreneur option for tech-type businesses
must be funded to the tune of 75,000 euros.
Otherwise, you’ve got to invest 1 million euros in
the country or prove an annual income of 50,000
euros to prove self-sufficiency.
Beware Greeks
Bearing Food...
Greece’s finance ministry plans on raiding over
50,000 restaurants in Mykonos for scamming
tourists out of hundreds of dollars through
exorbitant food bills.
After multiple complaints from tourists and
locals, dozens of restaurants were closed down by
undercover Greek police in the past month alone
due to blatant overcharging.
Tourist rip-offs are so obscene at Aegean
restaurants that one couple was charged
US$136 for two glasses of prosecco, a woman
was charged US$93 for eight soft drinks, and
another tourist was billed US$565 for just six
pieces of calamari.
Restaurant employees lure customers into
purchasing small plates with high price tags by
offering a fake deal that includes free sunbeds,
or a “special combo,” only to be billed a ghastly
amount later on.
Although the Greek finance ministry has tried
ending Mykonos scam culture for years, tax
evaders (who deprive the state of approximately
US$16 billion in undeclared revenue each year)
continue to deny customers menus, dance around
giving prices or avoiding answering the question
altogether, and list prices by grams rather than
per portion.
Avoiding these rackets is easy, though. When in
Greece, never eat at a restaurant that won’t give
you a menu or tell you their prices.
The“Summer Island”
Wants To Become A
Time-Free Zone
CC BY-SA 3.0 KJETIL REE
The residents of the island of Sommarøy, within
the Arctic Circle in Norway, want to become the
first time-free zone in the world. In this little cor-
ner of the world locals deal with endless darkness
from November to January and enjoys endless
sunlight from May to late July.
For generations, people here have lived by the
sky instead of the clock, and they want to make
it official.
Islanders signed the petition in a town hall meet-
ing on June 13 and presented the proposal to
parliament so they could discuss the implications
of the initiative.
Prioritizing
Happiness Over
Economic Growth
New Zealand recently launched its “Well-Being
Budget,” prioritizing the well-being of its citizens
over economic success.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wants to measure
economic success not just by the country’s GDP
but by also by bettering its citizens’ lives.
By traditional measures, this country’s economy
is doing well, with about 3% annual growth.
As all countries, though, New Zealand still has
inequality, homelessness, mental health issues,
and domestic violence, which the government
wants to address.
Most say economic growth should still top the
list of national priorities, though, because that’s
where you get the resources to improve people’s
lives. Prime Minister Ardern states, “The economy
exists to serve our people and the environment,
not the other way around.”
No More Single-Use
Plastic By 2021
Following the global trend, Canada expects to
ban many single-use plastic items by 2021. These
include straws, cutlery, and stirring sticks.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is determined
to no longer overlook this “problem we simply
can’t ignore” and join the growing global
plastic-ban movement.
Countries around the world have slowly turned
their attention to reducing environmental
damage, including France, Vanuatu, the U.K.,
and Taiwan who have banned plastic products
altogether. Several other countries have banned
plastic bags or polystyrene, including Morocco,
Rwanda, Kenya, Australia, and Zimbabwe.
Malaysia and the Philippines, recipients of much
smuggled global garbage, have announced
their intention to return thousands of tons
of unrecyclable plastic waste back to their
originating countries, including the States,
Canada, the U.K., and Australia.
Power Outage In
South America
On June 14, all of Argentina was left without
power for 14 hours because of a glitch in an
electrical system. Parts of Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile,
and southern Brazil also experienced outages.
Electricity distributor Edesur managed to restore
power to roughly 80% of its clients by 3 p.m.,
prioritizing customers whose health depended
on electricity.
The cause of the system failure is unknown
but is under investigation. Edesur launched
an emergency operation plan to deal with the
situation that left three countries, 55 million
people collectively, without power.
Just another chapter in Argentina’s never-dull
saga… expats to this notoriously unstable country
must always be ready to roll with the punches…
Overseas Living Letter
CARICOM And
Germany Together
For Biodiversity
The Regional Integration for Marine Protection
Project just received a 25.5-million-euro
contribution from the German Development Bank
(KfW) after a meeting between the Secretary
General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
and Germany’s CARICOM ambassador.
Over the last few years, Germany significantly
stepped up in its commitment to biodiversity,
doubling their support in protection of forests
and other ecosystems worldwide, specifically in
developing countries. The Caribbean Biodiversity
Fund manages such resources by using them
to sponsor select projects for the conservation,
protection, and maintenance of biodiversity in
the region.
The is expected to be implemented by a
wide range of local, national, regional, and
international institutions.
Best Roads In Latin
America?
The Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Panama,
and Nicaragua’s roads boast the best connectivity
and quality in Latin America, according to
Deloitte’s most recent Global Competitiveness
Index. On the flip side, Honduras, Costa Rica, and
Guatemala have the worst. Connectivity was a
new factor to be included in the grade and is
described by Deloitte as measuring “how long
drivers take to get from one place to another.”
Low And Behold...
The town of Mszczonow in Poland (about 30
miles from Warsaw) expects to open the world’s
deepest pool by the end of 2019, displacing
Italy’s current title holder near Venice. Its lowest
depth will be 45 meters (248 feet), it will hold
8,000 cubic meters of water—27 times the
volume of an average 25-meter pool—and will
feature caves, overhangs, and an imitation “blue
hole” for divers to explore.
A training ground for professional scuba divers,
the pool will be a major amenity for nearby
hotels and conference facilities, some of which
will feature pool-view rooms.
However, the record isn’t expected to be held long,
as “Blue Abyss,” an even deeper pool (of a 50-meter
depth) in the U.K., is currently under construction
and projected to open in 2020. Blue Abyss is to be
used as an astronaut training center.
36
 Events Notice Board

OLL S
ubs
save cribers
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MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA
JULY 13–14, 2019 JULY 17–19, 2019

OLL S OLL S
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SEPT. 7–10, 2019 OCT. 9–11, 2019

37 Overseas Living Letter

 Coming Next Month:
From Colonial Splendor To White Sand Beaches,
Mazatlán Offers A Lifestyle That’s Right For You
By Lee Harrison
Mazatlán, Mexico, offers over 10 miles of sandy beaches, varying from bustling and energetic stretches alongside town to sections of isolated shoreline
getaways. Mazatlán’s beaches are accessible and its wide, new boardwalk is five miles long.

But Mazatlán is also a haven for Spanish colonial buffs who want to live near—or on—the ocean. Its historic center has enjoyed a major restoration
over the past 10 years and is now a source of pride for expats and locals alike.

Best of all, both the beach and colonial lifestyle offer countless fine-dining options, quiet coffee shops, energetic and friendly bars… as well as a
dynamic and active real estate market.

Here are a few more benefits we enjoy in Mazatlán…

A large and diverse expat community to help you feel at home.

An active live contemporary and classical music, theater, and arts scene—a great way to enjoy time with your friends and neighbors.

You can “go local”… or not. You can choose to live among expats, speak mostly English, and ease your way into Mazatlán aided by people who have
come before you. Or live in a Mexican environment, speak mostly Spanish, enjoy a lower cost of living, and immerse yourself in Mexico’s charming
culture.

Prices are great. Whether you’re dining out or buying a property, you’ll find prices are amazing at today’s exchange rates… property prices are low
compared to other beachfront markets around the world—including elsewhere in Mexico.

Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Auto Zone… Mazatlán has local shops and Mexican supermarkets a-plenty, both big and small. But nothing beats a
Walmart or Home Depot for convenience.

Hundreds of us expats have settled in Mazatlán to enjoy its warm weather, active social scene, beautiful beaches, and stunning sunsets.

With convenient air service to the States and Canada, a safe highway to the American border, and all the amenities and services you could want,
Mazatlán could well be a good choice for you, too.

From Mazatlán’s best restaurants… to Mexico’s super-easy residency… to exciting nearby pueblos to explore… we’ll have all the details in next
month’s issue of Overseas Living Letter.
Overseas Living Letter 38