As we get to the stewed prune for breakfast age, most of us develop less tolerance for the cold: my parents spent half of each year living in Arizona, in the RV which now resides in my daughter’s back yard. Many seniors are opting for retiring in a tropical paradise with a lower cost of living. You too can buy beachfront property for pennies on the dollar in Costa Rica … 25 years ago.

Now you can choose from a lovely beachfront condominium for half a million dollars, or a parcel of undeveloped land in the jungle with plenty of streams for a guaranteed water source, going for the bargain price of a fully loaded Mercedes. When the ad says that their highest priority is to get quality power, water and sewer into the community, you know that you’re getting in on the ground floor of a retirement dream.

However, when you add to this the expense of carting building materials for your villa by donkey to this remote mountaintop, your dream could become a nightmare. On the plus side the views are insanely incredible; there’s plenty of good rooting for your pig when you let him out in the morning; and you can enjoy the bracing 100% humidity on your two-hour hike to the nearest town.

If neither option appeals to you, make your escape from the high cost of living in the U.S. and check out the special expatriate deals in Venezuela.