Читать книгу The Self-Sufficiency Handbook - Alan Bridgewater - Страница 14

More and more people are moving abroad—for example, from the United States and United Kingdom to places like Spain and France—for the simple reason that land and property are cheaper and the weather is perceived as being easier. Of course, it is not all sunshine and siestas, but for many people it is a good, solid option.

My best advice is to never move abroad without building in an escape route. If you are young and ready for anything, you may think that my advice is a bit overcautious and parental (and I agree, it is), but I feel that it is vital for you to be able to move back home if your venture fails. Just be aware that today’s dream place in the sun can be tomorrow’s nightmare. Of course, you cannot and should not plan for every grim “what-if,” but you should try to maintain a foothold in your native country, whether an apartment, a piece of land, or a cache of money in the bank. Manage your move abroad in careful stages, making sure that you complete one step before moving on to the next.

ADVANTAGES

• The food can be wonderful: lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, local wines, locally caught fish, and more.

• Some parts of the world are blessed with a wonderful climate and a more relaxed lifestyle.

• Rural areas in other countries can be very affordable.

• If you want to move from one country to another within the European Union, and you want to take over a vineyard or grow food or pursue similar goals, you may qualify for a resettlement grant.

• Your child may initially experience a setback in school, but his or her overall experience will be enriched by learning a second language.

If You Want to Move Abroad

1.Dream about your move abroad.

2.Have a yearlong trial run in the country of your choice.

3.Plan your escape route so that you can go home if things don’t work out.

4.Set up your mother-country home base and rent it.

5.Employ an experienced legal adviser to guide you every step of the way. Make sure you know about your legal rights in your chosen country.

6.Move to the country of your choice.

DISADVANTAGES

• The weather might be milder overall, but summers may be too hot, or it may rain for half the year.

• There are earthquake zones in New Zealand, Greece, India, and some parts of Italy, to name a few. Do your research.

• You may not be able to speak more than a few words of the language.

• Moving abroad can be a culture shock. This may not be so bad if, say, you are English-speaking and moving to England, Canada, or Australia, or even a country that has long associations with America or England, but moving to a place like Vietnam, Goa, or Bolivia is very different.

• Laws and rights can be very different from one country to another and very complex, so don’t take for granted that you can do whatever you want. For example, can you can sell a property in Ecuador and then take all the proceeds from the sale out of the country? Again, do your research before you go.

• You may not have access to the same standards of healthcare you are used to. Be aware of this if you have ongoing special needs.

• Building standards can range from good to terrible, so find out as much as you can about a prospective property before you buy.

• Schools can be very different from country to country, and the quality of education may not meet your expectations.

• You may meet local resistance to being a foreigner and trying to buy land.