July 2007
THINKING OUT OF THE BOX ... a colleague at work said that was what I was doing when I decided to retire in Brazil. Since my early retirement in January 2005 from working as a metallurgist in a Canadian uranium mine, and after having settled in my new adopted country, I had more time to ponder things over and to realize he was right. By thinking out of the box I gave myself new and remarkable possibilities I never dreamed of in the past. 

And the end result? 

Here I am in a tropical paradise populated by friendly beautiful people where magnificent mountain peaks, rolling verdant hills, gorgeous lakes and endless stretches of white sand beaches dominate the surroundings – not to mention that the sun shines almost all year through.

I consider life as a borrowed privilege. So at the age of 56 I opted to go on early retirement and make the most of what the rest of that privilege has to offer. Thirty years of working in the mining industry, starting from the Philippines where I am originally from, followed by a 2-year stint in Zambia, another 2 years in Quebec and finally in a uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan, Canada has paved the way for this exciting new life. 

Unlike my immigration to Canada which was a long-cherished dream before I even left the Philippines, my move to Brazil was almost a spur of the moment decision. The idea and opportunity came to me almost out of the blue and in a couple of months I was set on making the big Brazilian move.

Retiring offshore (or in another country other than North America) is almost unheard of in Saskatchewan. I heard a lot about ‘snow birds’ migrating to Florida, Arizona, Colorado or some warm state during the winter months, then coming back and staying in their nice and cozy cabins by the lake in the summertime. Seldom did I hear about moving to Belize, St. Martin or Costa Rica. Or what about retiring in Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Panama or the Dominican Republic?

The world is not lacking of wonderful places where one could spend his or her retirement in comfort - maybe even in luxury. There are many exotic locales particularly in Latin America and Asia where it is possible to live like a king or queen because of low living expenses. One could be staying in an ocean-front villa complete with a caretaker and gardener while paying a lot less on taxes and day-to-day necessities.

Being creatures of habit, we tend to do things we are comfortable with, in places we are familiar with. By doing so we limit and confine ourselves with what we see and experience. Thinking out of the box removes those barriers and leads to greater possibilities. There is a lot more to behold, to savor and to enjoy, especially in our retirement, which should be a time to treat ourselves as we embrace our new state of freedom.

I used to live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada where I spent 22 years while working in a uranium mine in the northern part of the province. I enjoyed living in Saskatoon. It was a perfect size for me, big enough to have all the modern amenities one could wish for yet small enough not to have the hassles experienced in big cities . . . no heavy traffic, smog and pollution, high crime rates, over-population, etc. I even got used to the harsh winter conditions of Saskatchewan. However it came to a point where shoveling snow off my driveway became a back-breaking ordeal. In addition, if I stayed in Canada my pension wouldn’t go very far. It was imperative I made some drastic change. The only way to do it was to retire in a warm place with low cost of living.

Brazil is the retirement haven I chose. A lot of people asked me, “Why Brazil?” The best answer I could muster was, “Why not Brazil?

Undoubtedly, Brazil has everything – fantastic natural beauty scattered throughout the country, year-long sunshine, colorful culture, long eastern coastline that is synonymous to awesome beaches, continually improving economy, growing infrastructure and innovation and most importantly, vibrant, fun-loving, extremely friendly people. 

The country is naturally blessed, with no risk of hurricanes or tsunamis and with very little known earthquakes. The country has more than one-third of the world’s fresh water reserves from rivers, lakes and waterfalls. It boasts of the Amazons, the world’s biggest rainforest and home of rare flora and fauna.

Brazil is a stable democracy. It is a peaceful nation with no enemies. In South America it is the only Portuguese-speaking country but it gets along well with its Spanish-speaking neighbors. Internally, while tremendous social inequalities exist with the huge gap between the rich and the less fortunate, social violence does not.

Economically, the country has become part of a recently coined acronym BRIC, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India and China, considered by economists as the new economic powers of the future. 

Tourism is booming and recent reports show that more and more Europeans and North Americans are heading to Brazil, not only as a holiday haven but as a source of investment opportunities, especially in real estate. The government allows foreigners to purchase and own real estate properties.

Taking all these into consideration, for me the icing on the cake is the low cost of living. Residential tax is approximately $100 a year, 12 ounce (350 ml) beer in a tin can is about 60 cents, a good meal ranges from $5 to $10, fresh fruits and veggies are 2 to 3 times cheaper than in North America and Europe, and many more. As my contribution to save the planet, I have no intention of buying a car. Cab and bus fares are very affordable. For instance, the one-and-a-half hour bus ride to Rio costs only $3 dollars. No need for me to wear fancy clothes. T-shirt, short pants, a baseball cap and flip-flops comprise my regular daily outfit. 

Brazil is also known for its fabulous carnivals, gorgeous women wearing minimal ‘dental flosses’ on the beach and its lilting music and dance called ‘samba’, to name a few. On the downside is the issue of security or lack of it especially in the favelas or slum areas. To generalize Brazil as a crime-ridden place is a big injustice to the country and the Brasileiros. While crime rates maybe high in big cities like São Paulo and in Rio de Janeiro’s world renowned beaches, such as Copacobana, Ipanema, Botafogo and Flamengo, in other minor cities and the suburbs, crime rates are minimal or almost non-existent. 

One such place is Maricá, 60 kilometers or 37 miles east of the famed carnival city of Rio de Janeiro.

To me, the name Maricá is suggestive of an alluring tropical girl – demure at times yet surprisingly vibrant; exotic though truly indigenous; attractive but can easily blend and spice up a crowd. Maricá, a city of 80,000 people, possesses such qualities. Blessed with four connecting lakes that eventually discharge into the Atlantic Ocean, interesting mountain peaks, prolific rolling hills and miles and miles of white sand beaches, Maricá lives up to be that exotic, tranquil, attractive pretty “maiden” in southeastern Brazil. Fittingly enough, Maricá was named after a tree that bears dainty and beautiful white flowers.

Months before retirement, I decided to look for a retirement haven, both as a second home and one that provides an investment opportunity such as a rental property.  My first choice was the Caribbean, being a popular winter destination for Canadians. I found out quickly that the high prices of properties there were beyond my means. At that time too, hurricanes were doing damage in the area. I didn’t want to buy an expensive property one day then find it in shambles another day. So I decided to consider other locations.

What about South America? What about Brazil?

Thanks to the Internet I stumbled unto Maricá quite quickly. Among the Brazilian properties listed on the early stage of my search, an immediate stand out was a brand new condominium complex called Residencial Buganvile (www.residencialbuganvile.com). Further reading on the property, Maricá and Brazil increased my interest even more, eventually leading to an email enquiry. After several exchanges of messages, on the second week of October 2004 I was on an Air Canada plane heading to Brazil to check out the property. 

During my 8-day visit, I was taken around Maricá and its scenic suburbs, as well as the major tourist spots in Rio de Janeiro… the Statue of Christ in Corcovado, the Pao de Asucar or Sugar Loaf Mountain and Copacobana beach. I also had the chance to experience a fiesta in Maricá commemorating the patron saint of one of the districts. In such a short time, I had a glimpse of Brazilian culture and the people’s laidback lifestyle yet fun-loving disposition. To me that was more than enough to make the decision and being a dancer myself, the people’s love for music and dance was a catalyst in wanting to live in the country.

My initial intention was merely to check out the place. However, it was almost love at first sight - feeling in love with the place, the property, the people. On the day of my 56th birthday, I signed the purchase contract. Sheer coincidence to say the least but I am glad I gave myself a Brazilian townhouse for a birthday present.

Residencial Buganvile consists of 2 adjacent compounds of 6 condo/townhouse units each. The units in each compound are arranged in a U-shape formation with a spacious courtyard seemingly like the open arms of a welcoming host. Only 10 minutes from the beach, Residencial Buganvile boasts of a prime location. Perched almost atop Rua do Céu or Road from the Heavens, it is just a five to ten minute walk to hospitals and medical clinics, supermarkets, the post office, churches, schools, department stores and the town centre where people congregate and hold carnival parades, shows and concerts. Now that to me is heavenly!

Having made the decision to leave Canada once and for all and head to Brazil, it was inevitable not to be confronted with mixed emotions: from apprehension for venturing into uncharted territory to a surge of excitement and a sense of adventure; from sadness for parting with friends and colleagues to elation and eagerness for the chance to make new ones; from nostalgia for leaving a part of me behind to bright-eyed enthusiasm for new challenges and bright future ahead. To one friend, my decision was a leap of faith, to most people something out of the ordinary. To me it was simply a much-needed gift to myself.

I was on tourist visa when I moved to Brazil in September 2005. With such visa I could stay in the country for 3 months with a possible 3-month extension obtained from the Federal Police, the government agency that takes care of these matters.

To avoid going through this hassle of leaving the country every so often, I deemed it wise and practical to apply for permanent residency status. Like any immigration bureaucracy, the procedure took some time. In October 2006, I successfully become a permanent resident.

I find people of Maricá are unmindful of tourists and new faces. Foreigners are not subjected to hostile stares or questioning glances. Like anywhere else, it is always good for strangers in any foreign land to blend in with the locals. And even more important is to learn the language or at least show some effort. Brazilians are generally quite forgiving if you don’t speak Portuguese. They don’t give up easily in their attempt to communicate. And they do it patiently... usually with a smile or a chuckle.

I consider myself very lucky. With my Filipino features, I easily pass as a Brasileiro. I fall somewhere in the middle of the country’s wide ethnic spectrum, which ranges from very dark to very fair. I also picked up the language quickly because of past courses in Spanish, French and Italian. This came in handy especially in the first few weeks since very few Brazilians speak English. I’ve always had the penchant for foreign languages so learning another one is an enjoyable and challenging treat.

Having settled and found easy acceptance and comfort in Maricá, I am enjoying my retirement immensely. I feel as if I’m living like royalty - at minimal expense to boot. At least, that is how it seems as I take it easy day by day in this tranquil coastal town, where basking on the beach or laying on a hammock while reading a paperback or solving my Sudoku puzzles is part of the norm; where a diet of fresh tropical fruits and vegetables is a regular fare; where listening and dancing the hours away to irresistible samba rhythms are normal; where doing what I want to do in this new unhurried pace fills up my daily rout.

In Brazil, I found not only my retirement haven but also great investment opportunities. My friend said I think out of the box. I believe him!
 

(For more info on Residencial Buganvile, Marica, traveling to Brazil and purchasing and owning a property in the country, email the author at eureka56@tonsofdesigns.net)

Uruguay for Retiring, Investing, or just Good Living - Read on, to discover the absolute best value for your second home dollar in Latin America today.If you've never considered Uruguay as a place to live, or even to visit you´re going to be completely surprised by all it has to offer.The country is diverse. Montevideo is an old-world European style city with fine restaurants, colorful markets, sycamore-lined streets and a cultural scene second to none. Here you´ll encounter an honest, European culture that´s representative of what you´ll see throughout the country. In Colonia, you´ll find that the original Portuguese settlement has been restored, and its residents have made it one of the finest examples of old colonial architecture in South America. With it´s year ´round tourist trade, Colonia is a great place to invest in a colonial restoration or a rental property.