{"id":39075,"date":"2023-10-31T11:25:28","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T11:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prosfunds.com\/finance\/older-single-women-shouldnt-retire-overseas-and-other-myths-busted\/"},"modified":"2023-10-31T11:25:30","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T11:25:30","slug":"older-single-women-shouldnt-retire-overseas-and-other-myths-busted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prosfunds.com\/?p=39075","title":{"rendered":"\u201cOlder Single Women Shouldn\u2019t Retire Overseas,\u201d And Other Myths Busted"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cI\u2019m an older single woman looking for a change. Is overseas retirement an option for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

This is one of the questions I\u2019m asked most frequently as publisher of Live And Invest Overseas.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a misconception, especially among older folks, that it\u2019s uncommon for women to explore the world, whether as tourists or expats, on their own.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been covering the live, retire, and do business overseas beat for more than 30 years and have advised thousands of expats on their international relocations, so I know from personal experience that this isn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n

Older single women are enjoying expat life in countries across the globe, from Panama to Portugal, Colombia to Cyprus, and beyond.<\/p>\n

And the potential of overseas retirement\u2014to enrich your lifestyle while lowering your cost of living\u2014is just as available to them as it is to everyone else.<\/p>\n

To illustrate this, I\u2019m busting five of the most common myths I\u2019ve heard about overseas retirement for older single women.<\/p>\n

Myth #1: Living Overseas Isn\u2019t Safe For Women<\/h2>\n

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Safety is a top consideration when it comes to moving abroad.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s generally more of a concern for women than it is for men. The issue is that women, especially single women, can be seen as easier targets for crime than men.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this applies no matter where in the world women go. It\u2019s just as applicable in the United States as it is in Spain or Indonesia.<\/p>\n

That said, many countries are safer than the United States. You may lower your likelihood of becoming a victim of crime by moving to a new country.<\/p>\n

The United States ranks #131 in the 2023 Global Peace Index, in which \u201cSocietal Safety and Security\u201d is one of the three domains used to measure the state of peace across 163 countries.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible that any of the 130 countries that precede the United States in the rankings could offer a safer environment for single women.<\/p>\n

Of them, I\u2019d recommend Ireland (#3), Portugal (#7), Slovenia (#8), Croatia (#14), Spain (#32), and Italy (#34) as excellent choices.<\/p>\n

Myth #2: Isolation Is Worse For Singles Overseas<\/h2>\n

Moving to a new country where you have no acquaintances can be an isolating experience for anyone, regardless of age or gender.<\/p>\n

This is especially true if you move to a place where the local language isn\u2019t English.<\/p>\n

Not being able to strike up a conversation with the cashier at the grocery store, your neighbor, or anyone else you might casually come into contact with is a unique form of loneliness.<\/p>\n

Even where the locals speak English, integrating into a new society and starting your social life over from scratch aren\u2019t easy.<\/p>\n

This is where single people have an advantage. They tend to be more proactive about getting involved and meeting new people because they haven\u2019t moved with someone they can fall back on for company.<\/p>\n

Couples, on the other hand, tend to be more insular. Each person in the pair can become the other\u2019s crutch for social interaction. Comparatively, single people tend to integrate into new communities faster.<\/p>\n

Myth #3: It\u2019s Difficult To Meet New People At This Age<\/h2>\n

Leaving family and long-standing friendships behind when you move overseas can be difficult, but it also opens the door to new relationships\u2014often with interesting people from diverse backgrounds.<\/p>\n

For many of my readers, the new friendships are what they enjoy most about their lives overseas. And contrary to popular belief, starting your social life over from scratch isn\u2019t impossible.<\/p>\n

Here are my top recommendations for older single women looking to meet new people overseas:<\/p>\n