Where Should I Move To Retire & Kite?

[John Doe]

Thanks in advance for any advice. I know there have been a few posts like this before. But, I am wondering where in the world I should move to retire & kite???? A few parameters below:

I am an American, U.S., so I guess this means I'm limited to 3 months in some countries? Even if I buy property? Ideally I would like to move to foreign country.
I am married & need stuff for my non-kiting wife. She couldn't be in the middle of nowhere.
I like to surf. I like to kite waves. Not sure I could handle flat-water only.
I am not rich but if I sell my house in California I could buy one somewhere cheaper with money left over to invest.
I speak some Spanish & some French but feel that I would have a better chance becoming fluent in Spanish.
Warm water is a must. It's freezing where I live, I'm over it!
The country would have to have favorable economic parameters for a foreigner coming in.

I've traveled a bit but I think the big thing is the legality. I have some Portuguese friends & one is married for 30 years to an American. They've had a really tough time getting permission to have him stay in the country for more than 3 months, even with her citizenship & owning property. I'd love it there but because of that I don't think it would work.

Thoughts????

[elguapo]

Cambodia.

[Toby]

Brazil.
Spanish is similar to Portuguese, I came the same way like you.

Exchange rate is insane cheap for USD currently, can buy a nice house! Plus this entitles you to a residency!

Cumbuco is best bet, sweet place and big city just 30 min away. Waves around as well.

Cabarete is nice too, but missy won't be that happy there without having a bigger city close by.

Also have a look at Puerto Rico as option.

And Capetown, South Africa.

Let us know what you have decided for at the end and why .

[elguapo]

how difficult is it obtaining perm residency in brazil?




i mentioned cambodia.. because it is super cheap. and the residency formalitie are as simple and easy as it gets.

puerto rico is easy for an american.... but the absolute easiest (and probably best) place for an american to retire and kite would be corpus christi.
however.. if california or the northeast is your utopia... then you will hate texas (don't come)

maybe think about a RV lifestyle
lots of kiters spend wnters in baja mexico.. and then summer in the states.

[piccio]

no way.....you have to go ...stay...try .....how do you feel both in the new place .....once ,twice,three times then think and decide .it is not easy.
I am retired too ,could buy small house in SA for their summer time (our winter) but my wife does not like at all SA.(cold water,does not speak ,no friends ) so no way for me.
maybe brazil worth have a look to ...maybe hawaii....portugal is nice but winter not very warm.
do not expect much from kiting only ...after a while little bored ,I mean some free travelling ,some little work possibly and kiting when you feel it would be best.
other than portugal forget europe....no waves ,cold winters not very cheap
ciao

[recoprianto]

Maui - it is a bit expensive, but wind year round, excellent waves in winter. Either of you could get a part time job to supplement income.

[Toby]

Forget Europe...cold for too many months.

I think it is not that big of a process to obtain it.

But as mentioned before, have a look before you decide.
Either you love it or hate it..and go from there

[John Doe]

how difficult is it obtaining perm residency in brazil?

i mentioned cambodia.. because it is super cheap. and the residency formalitie are as simple and easy as it gets.

puerto rico is easy for an american.... but the absolute easiest (and probably best) place for an american to retire and kite would be corpus christi.
however.. if california or the northeast is your utopia... then you will hate texas (don't come)

maybe think about a RV lifestyle
lots of kiters spend wnters in baja mexico.. and then summer in the states.

Thanks guys. I guess I would have to checkout SE Asia but I don't wanna be one of those people that lives somewhere who doesn't speak the local language & I don't think I could handle Thai or Cambodian.

No Europe??? I thought it can be pretty cheap there, Italy, Spain??? Thought I saw condo's in Spain for something like $100k Euros? That's super cheap by California standards. And, by the way, California ain't for me. Been on Cali coast for 30 years, too cold, too expensive. I could never afford my house if I had to buy it today. Utility bills are crazy. I have several friends that have houses in La Ventanna Baja & they say their utility bills are 10% of what they are in the U.S. Mexican electric bill is something like $3-4 US a month, water, gas is close. They get a sim card for their phones for $15 a month. Our current California water-sewer is $100 a month, phone $100 a month per line roughly, gas $40, internet $42, electric is $30. That adds up to about $300 a month more than Baja.

Was thinking the wife would like Europe???

[dice]

Greece might be an option too if you're looking at Europe. I only don't know if there's wind all year around.

[Clarencephil]

Greece is relatively cold in winter. The Mediteranean islands are deserted. And the good wind, the Meltemi, is in summer.