New Annual Retirement Index Released

[PeterRS]

I know we get these lists from time to time from a variety of different sources. This time it's the turn of the monthly magazine and website International Living. It's top ten are -

Greece - Panama - Costa Rica - Portugal - Mexico - Italy - France - Spain - Thailand - Malaysia

There are several reasons why I find this list somewhat strange.

Greece is basically burning every summer. Not everywhere of course, but many of the islands now have major fires annually. On the mainland in recent years, fires have come very close to Athens.

In Portugal many native Portuguese are mightily pissed off with retirees. The Golden Visa for those investing around $250,000 have now been withdrawn but you can still get a visa if you bring in something like $1,100 per month. But then try to find accommodation. Many retirees buy their accommodation and the country now faces very high prices in the many towns and cities, especially Lisbon and Porto. On top of that the amount of accommodation available for rent has fallen drastically. There are still benefits like access to free healthcare after five years. Given the feelings within the country, I would not bank on these continuing for much longer because the Portuguese are really angry.

As we know, Thailand has become much more expensive over the years. Add to this the threat of all retirees having to pay tax - I say threat because we have heard nothing more this year on the taxes that we were told would be introduced at the start of this year. Maybe it will not happen, we just at this stage do not know. But we do know that in future the country wants more wealthy retirees.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/01/travel/worlds-best-retirement-destinations-2026

[Paco-Campos]

I believe attending gay parties is one of the most liberating experiences for the community. Have you ever thought about what truly makes a party unforgettable—massive crowds or the quality of connection? Can a really wild event still feel intimate and genuine, or does the chaos overshadow genuine camaraderie?