In 1990, the median rent for an unfurnished apartment was around $375, and the median home cost was around $120,000. I don’t know what you’re paying now, but I bet it’s more than that. When you start adding the increases in taxes, living costs and gasoline, you might realize something’s gone a little wrong.
Financial benefits to life abroad
Many veterans live on a fixed income after their military service. Even if you take in a military retirement and VA benefits, the money doesn’t go as far as you want it to. Traditionally, there are two ways of improving your financial situation: spend less or earn more. However, more veterans are waking up to a third option: move abroad. That’s what I — along with tens of thousands of American veterans, according to the American Legion and other census data — have done. There are American Legion posts as close as Mexico and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts as far away as the Philippines.
I live in the Dominican Republic, where property taxes don’t even exist if you buy a place for less than $170,000. I live in a nice place with a pool, and I’m even able to employ a cleaning service. On the philanthropic side, it’s easy to give back since a little bit of money goes a long way, and our veteran organization, Veterans in Paradise, raises money for local public schools. We hold monthly veteran events and do everything from cigar tours to scuba diving trips.
Finding peace … and adventure
Many veterans have discovered a high quality of life at half the cost on this island paradise. For me, escaping the stress, political division and sometimes craziness of the United States has been enormously beneficial for my post-traumatic stress. I sleep better, swim in the ocean every day, eat fresher food and I have coconut trees in my backyard.
Veterans are well-suited to living abroad; we’re used to picking up and moving, and some of us were stationed overseas during our military careers. We’re comfortable adapting to different cultures; we know how to take care of ourselves, and we’re more adventurous than most. If a boring life was for us, we wouldn’t have raised our right hand and put our lives on the line.
When I got out of the military, moving abroad kept that adventure rolling for me. I get to be outside more like I was in the military, and now I get to have more freedom with my time. My days are spent doing the things I want to do, and I don’t feel trapped in the endless rat race where the to-do list only grows.
Ready to go?
Living abroad isn’t for everyone; to be honest, it isn’t for most people. But joining the military isn’t for most people either.
If you’re interested in moving abroad, I have a “Free Veterans Guide To Moving Abroad” on my blog and send out a monthly newsletter. Life is slower and more peaceful, and if you come to the Dominican Republic, I’ll have a cold beer waiting for you.
John H. Davis is a decorated combat veteran, Harvard graduate and has spoken to Congress as a legislative fellow for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He’s an award winning author, avid traveler and veteran advocate.
