Chile Forum

Buenas tardes, all. I am a Houston executive who will be taking early retirement in a couple years to join my favorite Chilena in Arica. I anticipate becoming a citizen of Chile, unless I find a good reason not to. With respect to an international move, I am a babe in the woods. At this point I have no idea what complications I will be facing with respect to such issues as taxes, collecting social security, etc. This is all new to me, so I will be examining the various threads offered here to try to determine what the pitfalls are. I do not expect to move furniture--I will sell it all before I move. My possessions will be mostly books and clothing. I do not know what to do about my 2002 Chevy Silverado truck--probably sell it and bring the cash to purchase a replacement vehicle in Chile.Right now, it all looks very daunting. But this site helps me feel I'm not alone, and that there is expertise available to draw on. I suspect in the coming months I will be combing this site often and looking for help and opinions.

Best wishes to all,
Jack

Forget it about your Chevy Van, sell it in the US, you can obtain equivalent car in Arica much cheaper. Godd idea just bring the essencial. Welcome to Arica

sixtyminuteman wrote:Buenas tardes, all. I am a Houston executive ...

Hola fellow Houstonian Jack,
Hope you will enjoy Chile. BTW, what part of Houston are you from?
TP

Howdy---I live in the southwest part of the city, near Dairy Ashford and Bissonet. I hope that in the next couple of years I will be able to learn enough Spanish to communicate well with my soon-to-be in-laws. Chile looks like a wonderful place to retire, and since I will be stripped down by my coming divorce, the cost of living there is inviting.

I live in Thailand, been here 19 years part time (6 years) or full time, considering a move to Chile .. probably Arica. I'm retired on savings and U.S. Social Security.

One of the questions I can't seem to get resolved is the price of housing. Part of that stems from comparisons. Most expats here seem to be migrating from N. America, Oz or Europe. As such, they rightly compare quality of construction, furnishings, etc to their home countries. It's just been too long since I lived there.

Getting some comparisons from folks who have lived in Thailand and now reside in Chile would be a big help.

klikster wrote:
One of the questions I can't seem to get resolved is the price of housing.

Why do you worry about it? In Chile is all relative.If you have champagne taste with beer money, here in Chile you'll learn soon enough that you must live within your means if you don't want to run into problems and if you do....in the "can" you can get room and board for free ( just kidding). Relax, ven a visitar, observa y luego decide, despues de todo vuelos fuera de Chile salen todos los dias.Buena suerte!

sixtyminuteman wrote: I hope that in the next couple of years I will be able to learn enough Spanish to communicate well with my soon-to-be in-laws.

YEAH,........... RIGHT! Dream on!

sixtyminuteman wrote: Chile looks like a wonderful place to retire, and since I will be stripped down by my coming divorce, the cost of living there is inviting.

Oh, Oh!! another one taken to the cleaners!.....Bravo!! good reason to come to Chile! The grass is not always greener on the other side and maybe...just maybe you´ll be taken to the cleaners for the second time chilean style..

Welcome back, Gloria!

RWS wrote:Welcome back, Gloria!

Thanks RWS, I couldn´t help it...the made me do it! Ahhhh, you missed me...didn´t you!

Gloria wrote:. . . . Ahhhh, you missed me...didn´t you!

Weeeellllll . . . yes!

I missed you too Gloria! The last time I had a jajajaja like that was when Rune intentionally left a post blank.
Glad you're back!!!

Humbly I thank you guys for your comments.There's always room for humor (the sarcastic type coming from me )