Yesterday I explained that in my Plan B Club, I set out a process that can help potential expats and overseas retirees make one of the most difficult decisions of all: where to live after making your escape from America. The process of planning an escape from America starts with understanding yourself. The task is to assess your tolerance for the things that may characterize a new home … like ambiguity, a slower pace of life, the absence of certain creature comforts and of course, climate. (If you're a couple, this applies to the two of you. Nothing gets in the way of a happy life abroad more than disagreements about things like those.) Today, I'm going to apply my method to the Central American nation Nicaragua, using myself as an example. Nicaragua is in the expat news a lot these days, and I get many calls and letters asking about it. So let's take a closer look… Start With Your Goals The single most important thing to do when planning a major life move is to be clear about what you want to achieve by it. That's seems obvious, but the fact is that many people get so caught up in the details that they lose sight of what they're trying to achieve. For most people, the overarching goal of a move abroad is a better quality of life than they could enjoy where they are now. That includes wealth, lifestyle, personal relationships and home and possessions. The trick is to strike the optimal balance. As I said yesterday, some places that offer outstanding tax and financial benefits are boring, expensive and cold. They may be great places for your money, but not for you. Or maybe they are — but only you can be the judge. Who Am... More