Day one of the rest of my life

A cliche maybe; a truth in reality for sure. Coming off probably the worst year in a series of difficult ones, 2016 is sure to be a crossroads for our family.

When my wife Brenda became sick six years ago this coming May, our lives and future became sidetracked from our expectations of what our Silver years might be like.

In the Spring of 2010 we had some money in the bank, were for the most part debt free, Brenda was half way through training for a second career in the legal field and I was well established in my industry of choice. Life was good and the future that we hoped would take us into our retirement years looked set. But while Brenda was able to finish school, permanent disability replaced an expected career $50,000 a year of income earmarked to savings. I would end up needing to take a couple extended breaks from work to help with her care and logistics to try and stabilize her condition. Our savings eroded and today, as I enter my 62nd year, retirement would seem to be as far away as ever.

A few years back I had started a passing interest in researching life outside the United States as a more affordable option as we grew older. I never did stop the International Living Website "postcards" I received periodically but that focus waned as work, caregiving and just plan survival took precedence.  A plan developed after I turned 60 that by taking early Social Security payments and supplementing them with part-time income, Brenda's disability payments and maybe a small home-based business income could allow us to manage a modest lifestyle here in the States.

This Plan A became superseded by the re-interest of an expat retirement when a recent decision to reevaluate Brenda's care regimen that would allow a simpler treatment protocol and open up healthcare options.

More later on how we got to this point in the story but a new plan has developed a focus of efforts on being in a completely different environment when we celebrate the new year 365 days from now. A year round tropical climate, and a cheap cost but modern standard of living would fit the bill.

This blog is intended to chronicle that journey and provide the background of one baby boomer generation couple ( and their two four-legged children) as they navigate to survive the modern world while they enter the last chapter of their lives.