2007 Retirement Index

Ranking) Country, Real Estate, Special Benefits, Cost of Living, Culture, Health, Infrastructure, Safety, Stability, Climate
1) Mexico, 84, 71, 84, 78, 79, 48, 92, 87, 79
2) Ecuador, 90, 72, 85, 66, 73, 42, 92, 94, 78
3) Italy, 63, 63, 68, 100, 92, 66, 100, 85, 77
4) Panama, 80, 85, 82, 57, 75, 48, 92, 48, 76
5) Australia, 80, 55, 73, 72, 88, 70, 100, 89, 75
5) Malta, 71, 65, 70, 73, 88, 55, 100, 90, 75
7) Spain, 75, 49, 70, 83, 92, 69, 100, 80, 74
7) South Africa, 87, 23, 71, 68, 58, 44, 86, 97, 74
7) Malaysia, 92, 65, 86, 69, 71, 43, 86, 50, 74
10) France, 60, 42, 62, 98, 100, 77, 100, 80, 72
10) Thailand, 84, 50, 85, 71, 78, 54, 86, 50, 72

2007 Retirement Index -- by International Living Magazine

Worth noting that Thailand came in top 10 in the world (2nd in Asia) together with France . It loses to Malaysia (by 2 points) mainly due to Special Benefits that Malaysian government offers to foreigner retirees, but Thailand beats Malaysia in Infrastructure, Health and Culture categories.

What is not measured is friendliness towards Singaporeans, which Thailand beats Malaysian hands down.

Taiwanese Dilemma

Saw recently on Taiwanese TV about the following discussions:
1) Taiwanese compared their election campaign with the Korean. One of the latter's candidate articulated target to make Korea the 7th economy in the world and annual economic growth of 7%. That compared with the campaign of mud slinging between the 2 Taiwanese candidates -- Ma Ying Jiu and Frank Hsieh; both brought no clear deliverable targets to the country.

2) Taiwanese compared their past years achievements to that of Singapore's and found themselves fallen short of the other island in the so named 4-little-dragons club. The comparisons were in the aspects of economic growth, global competitiveness, global ranking as the place for foreign investment, corruption index and etc.

In my personal opinion, I think: The Taiwanese society is facing a diminishing middle-class, decrementing educational level, and losing global competitiveness.

The middle-class diminishes due to manufacturers fleeing to China leaving many unemployed or under-employed, but yet the cost of living went up instead of down, hence pushing the middle layer in the demographic downward.

The education system decided to allow many more private universities while at the same time promote "native or love Taiwan culture" i.e. speaking more Taiwanese and become inward looking. The policy damaged the already handicapped English proficiency and caused a drop in Mandarin level. It also direct student's focus away from world's affairs.

The "Love Taiwan" campaign is a camouflage for the failed foreign affairs in winning support over China amongst international community. Every failure in turn reinforces besieged mentality thus fortifying self-pity and rebellion against the world. Need not say, politician capitalized on such for votes by advocating false hope of breaking away from China as a new republic.

The government's failure to revive the economy in the past 7 years had led to a lost in confidence in civil institution, self-confidence amongst workers, and combined with the dropped in educational level, create a lame environment not conducive for foreign investment and deficient in global competitiveness.

There is no lack of intelligence in Taiwan. However, failure is contagious. Without quick remedy, the diminishing middle class, waning economy, degrading education, reduced global competitiveness, and an inward self-pity outlook will weigh on the Taiwanese and eventually causing the people to feel helplessness and failed.

Taiwanese dilemma is a free-for-all and badly abused democracy doesn't facilitate a quick fix on economy, which without will further erode self-confidence.

BUT, would anybody in Taiwan want to give up democracy to be more like...say...Singapore???

Retirement in Chiang Mai

Cost of living in Chiang Mai is low relative to Singapore. It can't be high because a mid-level manager there may earn just about Bht20,000 to Bht25,000 per month (S$1K - S$1.2K), and the earner is subjected to tax, housing loan expenses on top of food and transportation expenses.

I estimated that my wife and I will need approx. Bht20,000 per month for living and transportation to retire there (not including housing and tax). We will have a fully paid-for house and no income tax by then.

Hence, budget of S$18K/yr would be comfortable.

If I put S$180K in investment with a Compounded Annual Growth Rate of 7%, the sum will double itself every 10 years.

In other word, if I put invest S$180K today, I can retire in Chiang Mai in 10 years time without worrying about income anymore. If I have S$360K today and I put half of it in investment, I can retire NOW (of course provided the house is fully paid).

All in S$500K is all that it takes in Chiang Mai to live like one with more than S$2M cash plus a paid-off landed house in Singapore.

Alternatively, if my wife and I could make S$18K/year there, we could also live there now; actually, either of us will be able to make that by doing freelance projects for 3-4 months in a year. So, semi-retirement is possible.

Back from Chiang Mai 2

Almost 1 year ago, I shared information about buying property and retirement in Chiang Mai. At that time, I just placed order for a make-to-design house in Chiang Mai. The topic aroused plenty of interest amongst Sammyboy's Forumers.

I just returned from Chiang Mai again, and this time the house is ready to move in.

The property (land & house) costs approx. Bht 2.9M (approx. S$138K). It's situated in a nice neighbourhood within a gated community completes with security guards, club house, and property management. The 2-storey detached house sits on a land area of almost 3000sqft. 70% of neighbours are foreigners from EU, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, US and etc.

I won't say that the quality of the house is comparable to a S$2M bunglow in Singapore, but for this price, I can only get a 3-room HDB flat of lower quality in Singapore re-sales market.

Interior

Clubhouse

Oh Canada!

The United Nations and many surveys have often rated Canada as the best country in the world to live in. Canada has the highest standard of living and best quality of life. Comparing to Singapore, she has edges in:

• Clean and beautiful environment;
  


• High standard and affordable healthcare;
  


• Quality education;
  


• Good social safety net for all;
  


• Good job prospect & Low income disparity;
  


• Long term sustainability;
  


• Democracy;
  


• Work and life balance.
  

1. Growing Job Market & Low Income Disparity
The economy is BOOMING! Hundreds of thousands of new jobs created each year. Canadians earn an average annual income of approximately $40,000; and income disparity between to top 20% families and the bottom 20% families is only 5.6 times in 2005.

2. Business Sustainability & Natural Advantages
Unlimited opportunities for development exist in the natural resources, manufacturing, construction, import/export, commerce, high-tech and service industries. Even China, India and USA are competing to secure natural resources including oil from Canada. Such Canadian advantages shall persist as long as these big nations continue to demand such resources for their survival. Canadian also has no fear for lack of clean water for drinking, industry, and for generating cheap and clean electricity. High-tech companies like Blackberry, Northern Telecom etc are Canadian produces.

3. Top Quality Education
Offering free primary and secondary education and subsidized post-secondary studies, Canada spends more on education than any industrialized nations. Canadian universities and colleges have an excellent international reputation for high quality.

4. Health and Welfare
Canadians have access to social assistance programs, affordable housing, FREE healthcare and a strong government that helps its people.

5. Democratic, Safe and Gracious
Canadian government is democratically elected and sustains high level of integrity. Community policing, strict gun control laws and a fair justice system make Canada safe and secure for everyone. Crime rates are among the lowest in the world and continue to decline. Canadians are also gracious in sharing and helping the less privilege.

6. Multiculturalism
Canada encourages immigrants to retain their unique culture. Nowhere else is there such a diversity of cultures existing together in a tolerant, peaceful society.

7. Work & Life Balance

Canadian society permits workers to enjoy a good work and life balance. Typical Canadian works hard and plays hard. They embrace sports, learn life-long at very affordable price, and work with job security and dignity.

About 65er

I am an atheist and existentialist. I believed that there is no god, there is no pre-determined meaning in life -- essence doesn't exist in the absence of existence.

I am straight, but, I believed that gayness is in-born, gay should not be discriminated, and homosexuality should not be crminalised. I wished I could turn back the clock to apologise to the gay schoolmates that I humiliated during the time when I didn't know better.

I don't believed in being the "factory" of the government to produce baby. I am doing well economically, but I can't even gurantee myself let alone gurantee happiness, health and wealth for offspring. One can refuse to create out of love.

I also believed that one has the right to leave this world at his own time with dignity.

I also think that some religious institutions are criminal.

I derived meaning from advancing knowledge and alleviating pain.