Retirement and Expats

Hi:

Well, how do you do it - become an expat, that is.

After you have applied and been accepted, there will generally be some time before you actually start the job. This is where you have to get busy!

What are you going to do with your belongings? Of course this depends on how many you have and what your personal relationship status is, etc.

In the simpliest case, if you are single, and rent, it is relatively easy. You can organize a container and leave.

The moving companies now have wonderful systems in place. They basically load your stuff into a container and store the container. It is not unpacked and repacked. It is simply locked in a warehouse. When you return you get your container back.

I had the full contents of a two bedroom apartment stored for around $250.00 a month. I didn't think that was an exhorbitant price.

If you have a house or apartment to rent, you need to make decisions about where you will rent it furnished or unfurnished. It is also wise to get a property agent, to whom you will need to pay about 10% of your rental income. They can handle any issues. Specifically stipulate the handling of marijuana grow-op inspections.

If you want to do a short term contract to try it on for size, it might be just as wise to find a friend, family member or other contact and leave your house intact. However, you would need time off to come home and get it organized if you wanted to stay.

This all points in one direction. Now is a good time to get rid of things you won't or don't need.

If you are finally moving out of your profession, you definitely won't need all the related books, journals and information around it. Have your grown children take their stuff. Cull, sort, delete, hold garage sales. Keep the best and pitch the rest. Time to move on.

More tomorrow about government, taxes and non-residency

M.

retirement and expatriates