What Would Marlon Brando Do?

Marlon Brando - lifestyle on his own terms

Medical Infrastructure – the tie that bonds the medical tourism and retirement industries

It’s popular and practical to think about retirement destinations in terms of available human resources and especially proximity to quality healthcare – major components of cost-of-living.  And I wholeheartedly agree with that “sensible pumps” attitude.

But a part of me rebels against trying to fit my own life into a secure “plan” for retirement based on what the risk-management, financial-planner types recommend.  Not that I don’t appreciate all the input – I’d be foolish not to entertain all options.

After years of carefully researching the medical infrastructure of successful medical tourism destinations, I realize the importance to retirees of proximity to quality health care.  And I find myself in the position of being a subject expert in terms of communicating to boomers what those best destinations are.

Best Places to Retire Abroad

That being said, after passed on all the sensible advice from the medical and aging-lifestyle professionals, I never want to rain on someone’s parade by proclaiming there’s only one way to do anything in life.

For example, some people just want to be left alone – and regardless of the threat of isolation that accompanies living “off the reservation”, – being a stranger in a strange place is sometimes my “cup of tea”.

Like Brando said, “Privacy is not something that I’m merely entitled to; it’s an absolute prerequisite.”

So I like to ask myself, what would Marlon Brando do?

It’s not that I’m a big fan of Brando’s, but I do confess to having Fiji Island envy.  And following the footsteps of the eccentric rich certainly has more inspirational appeal than my accountant’s spreadsheet.

To get away from it all, leave society behind and rediscover or reinvent yourself; it has a certain allure.  And there are certainly places that would satisfy that need.

If not Fiji, then where?

Retiring in Costa Rica, retiring in Mexico, retiring in Panama, retiring in Nicaragua – what are the options?

That’s what I intend to find out.  And I’m wondering who wants to go on discovery tours with me?

To see statistics on why and where people are moving upon retirement, read “Not My Mother’s Retirement”

Because of my journalistic background in medical tourism, I have nurtured relationships with professionals who are subject experts in health care and medical care worldwide.  These “resources” are people I know to give ethical and reliable guidance.

These business associates are some of the most inspiring people I have ever met; people who live in the destinations where others dream of living.

And having built personal friendships with these people, it’s like having a friend who can meet me on the distant shore and show me the ropes.

What remains is to transfer this knowledge of resources and opportunity to members of my EscapeArtist and Traveling4Health community.

Each month membership in Traveling4Health grows over 25%.  And across all marketing channels over 400,000 subscribers find the Traveling4health community.  Ours is a growing and vibrant community of like-minded individuals.

So, even before I have the media kit ready promoting Traveling4Retirement to destinations catering to Americans, I’m sharing with the Community my intention to travel and rate retirement communities abroad.  And I’m asking:  Who wants to go?  Who wants to help?

Guide to Retiring Abroad

The experiences and opinions of the people I meet and travel with will be the basis of my next book; my first book to incorporate my knowledge of medical infrastructure into a consumer guide to retirement destinations abroad.

These will be serious, but fun, working explorations rating destinations against a comprehensive retirement index of standards people can use to match lifestyle preferences with appropriate destinations.

So, if you’re the adventurous type, I invite your input and participation.  Learn through observation and participation what you want to keep from your present lifestyle and what you want to throw away when you choose to retire.

As Brando said, “Nobody tells me what to do.” To which I would add, “Give me an opportunity to experience a slice of someone else’s retirement lifestyle, and I will learn what I want to do and where I want to do it.”