And another suggestion is to look and see if any other EU countries allow you to retire there. Once you’ve got permanent residence in one EU country you can move to another fairly easily.

I think you might be correct. There used to be a way if you had a lot of money to spend or invest, to come here just based on that, or to retire here if you could show you could afford it, but I can’t find that anywhere on the government website now. Unless you’re an EU citizen, in which case it’s pretty easy to move here. I’m sorry – that flowchart is something like 10 years old now! What I’d suggest, if you like it here, is just coming on a tourist visa and staying here for the maximum you’re allowed to per year, which I think is 90 days. I’d suggest spring and/or summertime because it’s pretty miserable in terms of the weather all winter!

Definitely, flexibility is key for anyone moving to a different country. If you’re a US citizen it’s especially important to do your research, because of citizen-based taxation!

Yes, that’s what I was thinking. Americans, I think, have this view of Canada as being just like the US, but I get the sense that many of the cultural assumptions are different, e.g. about health care.

I’m British so this post isn’t really for me but I nevertheless, like the way you have written this post in a clear and simple manner. And Canada being in a close relationship to Britain is similar to the US on the surface, but in reality, quite European in life-style with great skiing to boot. What not to like!

Except for the cold, I think Canada would be a great place to live, but you’re right: for people who’ve never lived in another country, the differences would be more than they would expect.

Exactly!