Retirement options: Ten Best Overseas Destinations.

I’m leaning toward Portugal overall. And I figure . . . live there, and I have the entire cultural candy store of Europe at my beck and call. And if by some miracle, I ever sell a novel, which would entail me actually trying to sell a novel, I’ve heard, I might finally achieve my dream:

Own a castle. Live in a castle. Fight off invading hordes from my castle, if necessary.

To be honest, there is very little I’d miss about the US, beyond the ability to watch the Rams, Lakers and SF Giants. Well, I’d miss the land, its beautiful variety, its mountains, valleys and vastness too. A hell of a lot. But the combination of empire, hegemony, its being the evangel for the economic system I despise above all others, its reactionary politics — and this was the case prior to the Trump era — has soured me almost beyond repair.

The reaction by too many Americans to the pandemic sealed the deal for me. Once, long ago, I could pretty much hold the Land and its People above the workings of empire, hegemony, etc. etc. . . . and find a way to push on from there. But too many Americans showed me that reactionary, selfish, hate-filled, fanatical souls are far too prevalent here.

Not sure if I’d really escape from that moving anywhere else. But I’m willing to find out.

Zooey wrote:

Portugal is very high on my list. France, Italy, Mallorca. Maybe Malta.

Vietnam is high on my list if/when I return to Asia, but I want to return to Europe first.

So I’ll see you in Portugal.

How’s the health these days, Billy?

Thanks for asking.

No new eye-tears, but the eye-floaters are still there, and very annoying!

Still in remission, doing maintenance chemo every other month. That regimen was designed for a two year cycle, which is nearing its end. Hoping I can have a break for a bit after this. We’ll see, as they say.

Yep. Portugal sounds great. Maybe I’ll learn to read Portuguese, so I can engage directly with the writings of (perhaps?) the only leftist Nobel Prize winner for literature, José Saramago. Have read him via translations, but they can’t really get us there. Same with Fernando Pessoa and Graciliano Ramos, two more of my favorites.

Of course, there’s the amazing food, the beaches, the music, the wine — and the castles! A hell of a lot to recommend it, and if I pick the right spot, it’s relatively affordable — they say.

Hope all is well —

waterfield wrote:

Billy_T wrote:

Zooey wrote:

Portugal is very high on my list. France, Italy, Mallorca. Maybe Malta.

Vietnam is high on my list if/when I return to Asia, but I want to return to Europe first.

So I’ll see you in Portugal.

How’s the health these days, Billy?

Thanks for asking.

No new eye-tears, but the eye-floaters are still there, and very annoying!

Still in remission, doing maintenance chemo every other month. That regimen was designed for a two year cycle, which is nearing its end. Hoping I can have a break for a bit after this. We’ll see, as they say.

Yep. Portugal sounds great. Maybe I’ll learn to read Portuguese, so I can engage directly with the writings of (perhaps?) the only leftist Nobel Prize winner for literature, José Saramago. Have read him via translations, but they can’t really get us there. Same with Fernando Pessoa and Graciliano Ramos, two more of my favorites.

Of course, there’s the amazing food, the beaches, the music, the wine — and the castles! A hell of a lot to recommend it, and if I pick the right spot, it’s relatively affordable — they say.

Hope all is well —

Yeah I got them floaters too. Result of cataract surgery. I may have told you my son went through radiation therapy following major surgery on his lip as a result of a melanoma that metastasized into his saliva glands. His melanoma returned after the radiation and he underwent a major surgery to his lip that resulted in significant disfigurement. He then went on immunotherapy (same cocktail Jimmy Carter on for his brain cancer). So far so good but he’s lost his immune system. So he is very vulnerable.

Sorry to hear all of that, W. Send him good cosmic vibes from here, please.

I worry about melanoma too, which I’ve had. The nature of my particular form of cancer can create one of those perfect storms, if paired with it. If I understand the fine print, it basically acts as a super-carrier, swift and extensive, if the melanoma ever blows up.

Cataracts and surgery. Not sure, but the latter may have added those new floaters. And perhaps the subsequent retinal tears. I was even worried that the surgery for the tears caused more tears. But, knock on wood and all of that, it seems to have leveled off.

Stay safe, W.