Skelley-Bird walks readers through the steps required to retire abroad in this debut manual.

Plenty of people daydream about retiring to a different country—perhaps with a warmer climate or a lower cost of living—at one point or another. But how many actually consider the steps involved? Skelley-Bird retired with her husband, Darrell, to Panama (and subsequently moved back to Nevada). She is here to tell you that, while there are many hoops to jump through, retirement abroad is an achievable dream. “There were what seemed like hundreds of small details that required attention, as well as literally dozens of not-so-small tasks to accomplish,” writes the author. “Within these covers you will find my time-lined detailed ‘To Do’ List, without which I would have lost my mind.” Skelley-Bird, using her own experiences as an example, informs readers about all the obvious (and not-so-obvious) actions involved, from selling their houses, cars, and most of their possessions to hiring an immigration attorney and figuring out living arrangements and insurance in the adoptive country. The author shares the experiences of other expat couples who have chosen to move to Panama as well as a couple who considered that nation but ended up remaining in the United States. Along with numerous photos and spreadsheets documenting the various preparations, Skelley-Bird offers advice on the less-tangible aspects of making the decision (such as interrogating the motivation for moving). Nearly everything costs more than one would expect, but the author is here to attest that retiring abroad is possible for those willing to do the homework and legwork. Skelley-Bird writes in a cheerful, accessible prose that reflects the original Facebook notes upon which this book is based. Her editorial voice captures her quirky personality, as displayed in the original list of priorities that she and Darrell made when selecting a country: “No hurricanes, which ruled out most of the Caribbean,” and “Close enough to the States that friends would visit. (Without exception, every person we asked said they would not visit if we moved to New Zealand; the flight is just too long.)” The manual is based heavily on the experiences of Skelley-Bird and couples whom she knows, which means that it is perhaps overly specific to the Panama scenario. Even so, much of the information it contains is applicable to moving anywhere outside of America, and the process by which Panama was chosen illustrates many of the practical compromises that a would-be expat must make. The author includes many useful pieces of advice that might not occur to retirees itching to make the plunge. For example, about half of Americans (including the author) who retire abroad find that they dislike it and end up moving back home. For this reason, renting out your house in the United States as opposed to selling it (and renting a place in the new country) is advisable, at least for the first year. The book’s specificity and the author’s real-world experiences make this smart reading for Americans thinking about spending their golden years in another country.

An idiosyncratic but highly informative guide to retiring outside the United States.