World Aware is a weekly newsletter from Amelia And JP about moving abroad, expat life, and the realities of building a life outside the United States.
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"If you were RETIRED, where would you go?"
Published 21 days ago • 3 min read
by JP Stonestreet
"If you were retired, where would you go?"
Several people have asked us that question on this Leap to Spain.
And every time, my first thought is:
Retirement changes the list.
The biggest thing standing between us and a lot of countries right now isn’t whether or not we would enjoy living there.
It’s that we're not retired. We still work and earn a living.
And once you add earned income into the equation, the residency and tax picture changes.
Some countries have visa options that work well for retirees, but not for people who are still actively working.
Other countries have visa options that would work for us, but the tax hit on earned income is so high we couldn't afford to live there and still save for retirement.
So our list today is different from the list we’d have if we were retired.
Ecuador would still be near the top.
Todavía nos encanta Ecuador 🥰
Albania is still very appealing and their tax rates are more reasonable than a lot of countries.
And we're still hopeful Mexico could work someday once we restructure our finances and wait until we meet the requirements.
Those are three countries we already know very well and could picture ourselves living there quite happily.
But retirement would open the door to a lot more possibilities.
We could look more seriously at countries with retirement visas, good private healthcare, and no (or reasonable) taxes on retirement income.
Places we might rule out today could become much more interesting sans earned income.
Countries like France, Spain, Malta, and Italy would definitely make the list.
Panama would also make the list with their pensionado visa, but they don't have a good visa for us now.
And that’s an important consideration when people ask us where we’d move.
There isn’t one universal "best country."
The best country for someone still working might be completely different from the best country for someone living on Social Security, a pension, or investment income.
Which is why our answer today isn’t necessarily the answer we’ll give ten years from now.
So when someone asks us:
"If you were retired, where would you go?"
The answer is still Ecuador, Albania, and Mexico...
but the list could get a whole lot longer in 10 years.
The Turtles at Alhambra – Granada, Spain
Leap to Cuenca
Our Leap to Cuenca sold out within a few hours during the lifetime member 24-hour early access window.
We're planning Leaps for next summer/fall and will be announcing the next Leap in a month or so.
If you would like to join us on a future Leap for an unforgettable experience with an amazing group of Turtles, join the lifetime plan now so you get the early access link.
Thailand came out on top for expat happiness in the 2026 InterNations survey, with 86% of expats saying they’re happy with life there and 42% saying they want to stay forever. Low living costs, affordable housing, friendly locals and good healthcare helped make it a favorite, although bureaucracy and air quality remain drawbacks. [Source]
The World’s 5 Cheapest Places to Retire Are All in Asia
Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Bali and Malaysia took the top five spots in International Living’s latest affordability ranking. Reported budgets vary widely depending on lifestyle and location, but the list highlights just how far retirement dollars can still stretch in parts of Asia. [Source]
Spain Is Europe’s Top Country for Expats
Spain ranked highest in Europe in the 2026 Expat Insider survey, while Panama took the world’s top spot for the third year in a row. Spain earned especially strong marks for quality of life, while the survey found that expats in Thailand reported the highest overall happiness. [Source]
She Retired to Mexico at 50. Here’s What She Wishes She Knew
An American who left her career and moved to Ajijic, Mexico, at 50 says she would do it again—but she’d approach the move differently. Her biggest lessons after three years abroad: spend an extended period in your destination before committing, learn more of the local language and build a bigger financial cushion than you think you’ll need. [Source]
That's all for now. Let me know if you have any questions or comments by replying to this email.
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