Retirement in Antigua; Your Suggestions

Dear Readers and Contributors,
My name is Erich and I am new here to this forum though I hope to become more frequent. I am VERY seriously considering retirement to Antigua. I will be going there for one week in January to check out prices, medical access and just get a general feel for the place I have heard so much about.

My situation is this. I am 44 years old and recently placed on Social Security Disability due to Peripheral Neuropathy in my feet. It's a condition related to Diabetes and it makes standing, walking, etc very painful and unstable. The pain can be controlled with medication but I generally walk with a cane. I will receive $750 a month on which to live and I have confirmed that SocialSecurity WILL direct deposit to my bank in Guatemala. I am currently a Military Services Case Worker for The American Red Cross and would love to continue doing volunteer work in Guatemala. I have an RSA/CTEFLA-Cert to Teach English as a Second Language to Adults and taught for 8 years in Germany and Hungary. I speak German and passable Spanish as a result of about 7 months in Central Mexico.

Your suggestions? Can I live decently on my Social Security? Volunteer opportunities in Antigua? Oh yeah...and what about my two Pug dogs?

I am retired and live in GUatemala. WHen my husband and I were first here in 1999 we were on a very tight budget as we were sailboat cruisers and had to pay for upkeep on the boat and marina fees in addition to living and travel expenses. We lived for six months on the boat in the Rio Dulce and for 6 months in a house in Antigua with a GUatemalan family. THe living in Antigua was such a positive experience (and affordable) we eventually decided to move here full time (three years ago...though we rented apts. each year between 1999 an then for a couple or three months a year).

We know two retirees here who have been able to find rooms/efficiencies to rent for around $250 a month. It is work finding such a place in Antigua and it won't be luxurious, but it may meet your needs. You will be able to scout around while you are here. There is an active American Legion post here and the commandant, or whatever he is called, is very active with the veterans and other ex-pats living here. Some of the military ex-pats meet everyday on park benches at the side of the park facing Cafe Condessa Restaurant so be sure to go there to meet those guys while you are here, just look for several older gringos standing around smoozing. You will have an entree with them even if you are not a vet, since you are doing military related work. You may make some friends and they are a wealth of info for living in Antigua on a budget.

I am retired and live traveling because it is much more economical than living in the US. I have been to many countries in Central and South America as well as SEA.

Usually, I rent monthly and get involved in the local community. Currently living in Panajachel (you might consider) and have rented monthly in Antigua. It is cheaper here without a huge downgrade in quality of life.

I have ultimately decided to [settle[ on Dalat, VN. One of the biggest reasons is it is farther away from the US. It is more economical than CA and the services are as good if not better. The family is of prime importance in both places, which is of great importance to me.

My income is similar to yours and I have no problem making ends meet. I rented a room with all the bells and whistles in antigua for a little under $200US. My rent for similar in Pana is $130usd/mo. The dollar goes a long way here--go for it!

Drifter

You need to make many many trips to Guatemala to make sure this is for you. One of the problems may be that a Guatemalean bank may not want your account at all and you will need to have your funds accessed in a USA bank and withdrawn in Guatemala via an ATM . So on your upcoming trip do visit alot of banks as I have been told recently they no longer want to bother with accounts from folks from USA.

Antigua may present another difficulty worth considering: walking is often difficult because sidewalks are narrow, uneven and in poor repair, while streets are generally paved with cobblestones, making them difficult to cross. Further, the idea that a pedestrian should have the right of way is absolutely foreign to most Central American drivers. It is difficult to travel on foot in Antigua without being jostled by crowds of walkers, and anyone with balance problems may find that even a simple short walk can be a challenge. It is certainly something worth keeping in mind as you make your assessment.

Helo here check out www.bamboogroupsa.com which offers furnished efficiencies or apartments at very low rates, which in my opinion no where else in the world nowadas you can find something like this at such affordable rates. In guatemala city there are several medical clinics that specialize in treating diabetic patients. I saw their adds on one of the newspapers. In fact there is a also a shoe place that specializes in making special shoes for them also.

Even though walking may be difficult you can tuk-tuk everywhere and its cheap.

I would also recommend that you rent on a short term basis, which will allow you to explore this wonderful country, without any long term commitments. Most of the places in your price range will only rent on a month to month basis, and you will be amazed at the places you can find, once you have lived here for a few months. I would begin living in Antigua first, to give myself a chance to become acclimated with a fairly large gringo support group.

Don't even try to get a bank account down here. The U.S. government has put so many restrictions on any banks here that are correspondent banks (with banks in the U.S.) or owned by U.S. banks, that you need to own a business to make the hassle worthwhile. Patywolf has given the best way to handle getting money down here.

There are volunteer opportunities all over Guatemala. You will be able to check them out first hand once you live here.

As for the Pugs; find them a good home in the U.S. (If you don't take this advice, you will deserve all of the almost insurmountable problems they will cause you).

All of the above is good and very valuable advice. I have one local friend (American)who spends half of his time here and half of his time in S.E. Asia, going to different countries. He likes the low cost of both and says S.E. Asia IS cheaper and he likes the contrast of the two lives. But he has done away completely with possessions and lives with just what he can get in a pack, something most people would not have the self-discipline to do. He lives a "free" life, in a very Buddhist way.

THere are less expensive places to live in GUatemala as #2 mentions. Pana is one of them and has a large gringo population as does Antigua. It is best to BEGIN in one of these places. And the streets in Antigua can be a problem, you will have to check it out for yourself. All of the posters have given you great advice...paty has checked out the banking issue.

And Juan3 is right...best to come down several times or better yet for a long temp. stay before deciding and that would apply to anyplace you were considering.

I am owned by 2 pugs myself. I will take your pugs! Interesting when I was there in feb. - while visiting el remate, an american from georgia owns a rest/hotel there and she owns a pug. Imagine my delight when i walked up the hill to the hotel and was greeted by a pug!!!!