BristolUK

Does 47 count? It's close.

To be fair, I had been working towards Spain but fate stepped in.

Davita

I was 53+ when I retired to Vancouver in 1990. Then they had a retiree program for those over 55 so we were given a Minister's Permit to stay till I qualified by age. This had been arranged by Immigration lawyers.
Unfortunately, the Minister canceled the retiree program before my birthday so I was caught in a trap having bought a large house, shipped our furniture, our dog, bought 2 cars and a yacht, joined the Canadian Power Sqdn and the church, then to find we faced deportation.
Immigration in Vancouver washed their hands of me so I instructed the lawyers, who had initialized my immigration as a retiree, to sue the government. That got their attention so I went to London (I'm British) where they reviewed my case and issued a Landed Immigrant status with a work permit as a stock market broker...I've only been an RAF Officer or worked for an airline.
Three years later we became citizens...but now living in Bali.

bats

I try not to be common.

We had more than minimum points to get in. Those other countries may be easy in theory to get in but how do you work if you don't speak the language? I wouldn't want to live in an expat ghetto.
It's 32C here again today btw.

MillieF

I wanted to congratulate you too Bats on your decade! I do hope the next one will be interesting, settled and contented.

Is age a 'thing' now? I know hesitant 'sensible' people in their 20's who have not one whiff of adventure or dynamism to them and they will die, probably of boredom, not too far from where they started....which is great...for them!

I will always have ants in my pants, and having taken the 'quick' route to Canada (but endured 20 years of marriage to get here) didn't have to count points. However, I am planning on moving again in 3 years when son and heir finishes high school....and I really don't know where, depends on Brexit...

Age shall not wither us...but the snow bank might get to us first!

bats

Thanks.

Yep, age is the new thing to get at. Nah it's not new at but now I'm old I see it more.

dbd33

Heh! Congratulations on your decade.

Novocastrian

Not me.

Congrats on the decade and on retirement bats. Best to batsman.

Gozit

Yeah. I find it odd... A whole dynamic of people who have never had passports, never left within 50 sq. km. of the town we live in except to go to Toronto a few times, and they are content with it. Boggles the mind.

It only gets to me when those same people ask "Why do you spend so much money on travelling when you could buy x x x or save for x x x " ...

Siouxie

Congrats bats!!

Well deserved retirement too - may you live your life in splendour!

goneforgood

We're upping sticks and emigrating to Canada in our 60s. Never really thought that age would be a limiting factor, why should it be? But then 'upheaval' is my middle name. Never afraid to take on a challenge, so long as it's not foolhardy or financially ruinous. Decrepitude can be held at bay so long as you can keep moving. Yes the joints ache sometimes, and the eyesight isn't what it used to be, but we will be building our own house with our own hands on a piece of land we could never ever dream of owning in the UK.

bats

Well thank you. It won't be splendour but it might be splendid.

Good for you, enjoy it. Where is the piece of land?

Davita

Good on you GFG...
I'm now 79 and recently had to slow down due surgery but, since retiring and immigrating to Canada and sometimes Arizona and now Bali, I've never worked harder.
I've personally renovated two houses (5 bed and 2 bed), maintained four boats (35-50 ft range), moved house four times within two continents, boated up and down both N. American coasts and drunk lots of wine and beer....not all at the same time...

So I'm aware of the hardship and pain you will endure in your project but ‘idle hands are the devil’s workshop’ has some truth...so good luck in building your own house. I'm a little envious and expect Home Depot and Lowe managers must be rubbing their hands...

goneforgood

Thanks Bats and Davita The land is near Creston, BC. We bought it two years ago on a visit (and no, we are by no means wealthy. Just resourceful. And not afraid of hard work). Davita...what a great 'retirement' ! You must have stories to tell and I envy the gentle breezes of Bali. Where are you based for your golden years Bats?

Shard

Congratulations on your first Canadian decade Bats!

How do find Canadian winter, you never seem to complain much about it ?

bats

Golden years? Eek! I'm in Ontario.

I don't mind it until February then I've pretty much had enough. As long as the roads are clear and not covered in ice or slush then it's all hunky dory. The snow looks beautiful, bright blue skies, crisp air.