The week before, I went on a diet. My timing in that respect was a bit off.
Prior to leaving, I also saw the movie Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. For those of you who have not seen this film, it is about a group of British retirees who have decided to "outsource" their healthcare and retirement to India.
As I was watching this movie, I realized that I was on the right path. It solidified my belief that moving to another affordable location to retire was a plausible and maybe. a great idea.
Although a promising a life of (inexpensive) leisure on the exotic subcontinent of India is not what I personally have in mind, I am open to going somewhere where my dollar will fetch me more and better healthcare and an easier go at it when my husband and I get older.
Clearly, I am not alone.
Studies show that an increasing number of US Baby Boomers are contemplating retirement outside their country. I believe that this is a perfect time to provide insight into some options, France being one of them.
In many respects, Boomers tend to be more energetic and daring than previous generations. Most importantly, Baby Boomers in US understand the requirement to optimize their diminishing retirement incomes. So the idea of overseas retirement is attractive to many.
One of the reasons I went to Paris was to investigate what I have long heard - that because of its mild climate, relatively stable economy and picturesque, idyllic villages, France is a great retirement destination for foreigners.
Who am I kidding?! It was all about the cheese! I mean pastries...the local wines...the fresh bread and.......(but not escargot, despite the photo for this article! - I did that for my son Eli, who demands that dish every time we go for French cuisine)
In truth, France has won numerous accolades as a retirement destination, consistently being featured in top ten lists from publications across the world.
In 2009, it was one of Forbes' top ten retirement havens. Forbes said: "Along with the terrific food and urbane culture, France offers perhaps the friendliest of policies toward American retirees of any European Union nation. [France has] the most affordable quality health care in the world, plus low taxes for American ex-pats."
Even across the pond, Brits consider France a top destination to kick back and age. In May 2011, the British newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, voted France into its own top ten list of overseas retirement destinations.
Here in the states, CBS News placed France very high on its list; it chose to feature France due to its food and culture and the fact that it ranked number one in the 2010 International Quality of Life Index.
In this era of uncertainty about the affordability of our health care system (despite the passage of the Affordable Care Act), my investigation was hyper focused on France's system as it has what is widely considered to be one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Many expats are choosing France as their retirement destination because of their ability to access quality care there.
France's healthcare was rated the best by the World Health Organization in 2010...
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