Been living here in Japan for 27years now . Have three Japanese kids. No husband. Twelve years from now I’ll be retiring from my job and will be receiving my pension. Anyone out there also wondering where is the best place to spend their retirement years?
I haven’t stayed in my own country for more than a month, each time I go there for vacation. So much used to Japanese life now, but whenever I think about the pension money that I’ll be receiving, I think I might as well go home to my own country but at the same time I’m also afraid coz I don’t know how to start. Still have 12yrs to think about this, but I can’t help thinking about it everyday. Really confused.
7 comments
Yes, it is a good time to think of it. I am in Japan after I retired. I have a decent income. I am both tired of the little annoying things about Japan and conversely dependent on things I like about Japan. (The Hospital System)
I hate my small apartment and look forward to buying a home in the US.
(Which is MUCH more difficult to do here.)
I am in a relatively similar situation, just more immediate. I already have my free bus ticket and was thinking about selling everything here and moving to Europe. Mainly because the services that would be available to me are better there, if my mobility/vision/anything were to deteriorate. And for the life of me, I could not imagine at all to live in a Japanese nursing home. But now the Yen crashed and things are not as easy as they looked before. So I’ll just keep working for now.
I think, it wouldn’t be as easy as just moving there and be “home” again after all those years and decades, unless you’re incredibly lucky. You may have to readjust, even have to go through a reverse culture shock. And you’d have to start a whole new life one more time, possibly from scratch. Your family and friends there have lived their own lives without you, while you were here, and they’re not waiting for you. Your kids, if old enough, may want to stay here and not go with you.
If I were you, I’d start to plan now, talk with your kids, and see how you’d make your move. Always keep in mind, where and how you would be the happiest, and how you’d live with the disabilities that creep up behind you, when you get older. You are not in a rush and can still decide to stay here. And many things can happen in 12 years, so try to stay flexible.
All the best!
Portugal.
Safe
It’s in Europe
Cost of life is cheap
and you can live with just $800 per month.
I still have 30 years to think about it, but I might retire to Spain. Whether it will be on the mainland or some of their island territories remains to be seen. I love Japan but once I retire I will have spent over 2/3 of my life here, so maybe I’d want to spice it up.
As you get older, you’ll want to really consider healthcare implications (cost, access etc.).
If your own Country is America, stay in Japan.
TLDR: if they are old enough, talk with your children about what you are feeling.
If your kids are at least HS age I would take a moment to talk about it with them.
An empty nest is the first thing that might occur and your kids would need to understand how they may or may not need to help or assist you during that and in retired life (wherever it might be).
If you don’t have a will/trust or similar sort of thing it is never too late to think about it. Unfortunately it’s not common in Japan, but really should be… especially with all the inheritance drama and young caregivers, etc I always see. You might feel your kids deserve to know how they should handle a situation regarding you post retirement.
A move overseas may or may not weigh in your favor money wise, but may have a significant affect on the how the children will be a part of your post empty nest life.