That's the old bullshit American thinking invading your headspace. People aren't drains on the system. Systems are built to help people. Period, end of story. Probably the one thing you'll want to do is start training yourself to think less like an American. The very idea that an elderly person is a drain on a system would not even occur to many Europeans or other people around the world. It's not a uniquely American idea, but Americans have made particularly noxious use of it.

Start to remove the little American living in your head. It's worse, in some cases, than a tumor.

I'm not a drain on their system as I cared for my late husband for many years. That would have cost THEM a bundle as he died of dementia and VASCULAR problems.

Dying from vascular disease is not the way to go. Good luck tRUMP as you'll be needing is very soon!

I have been scammed by so many since I became a widow. I just got a small amount out of that two year long lawsuit I was dealing with and had no car at all for a few months; well make it two years when considering the "newer" piece of junk I managed to get rid of (along with the lien on it!).

I'm free and clear and by no means rich but the house has quadrupled in value in the 25 years I've been here.

It makes me sad that none of my neighbors care enough to help me out at all. I was outside the other day wrestling with this overgrown plant and almost fell. Some one driving by saw me and stopped, not a neighbor.

The neighbor next door recently spent of $10K having a cage built around the outside of the house so her dog (when not a doggie day care) can go in the front yard. It is a huge black dog and it frightens me as it could easily jump that grotesque cyclone fence she had put up.

So, everyone around here wants me to leave.

I am Irish myself by ethnicity but purely American on other levels. I am a citizen because I was married to my late husband who was from Galway.

Thanks for your support. It means a lot to me and yes, I am even checking into pet passports so I can bring my cats with me!

And supported others. At this point in your life, it’s a matter of personal happiness and I hope you get the advice you need and follow your dream. My best wishes for you and hope you keep us posted 🌺

That is the hard part as rentals for expats are notoriously difficult to procure. Will they accept cash lump sums as income?

I have never been lucky enough to visit Ireland, so have no idea of Donegal, but I'd hope you could connect with an ex-pat community, perhaps of Facebook or Reddit, and make some connections before leaving.

Will you sell all that you have and purchase new when you arrive?

Can you hire someone to help you with the legal issues? There is a site I've looked at, https://www.taxesforexpats.com/, that might at least be a start.

And can you hire someone as a liaison for helping you get established while there? Would you need to make more than one trip, like to suss out where to live, or can you just put yourself in the hands of someone who does this for a living?

Again, just want to wish you luck. It likely won't be the easiest thing, but the peace you will have will be worth it.

l often worry that I will die and no one will notice. Yes, that is how bad it is.

I do have income from SS, a small pension and assets. My income is about $25K a year all combined.

I hire various people to work for me as needed. I'd have to go on welfare to get in-home help, an idea which doesn't much appeal to me.

I no longer cook and live off of frozen food or food that doesn't require cooking.

The main thing I do is care for my three cats and keep the inside of this small 900 sq. ft. house up. The yard in 6,000 sq. feet and it is a constant chore finding someone to keep it up for me. I had no one again and I hope to have found a man nearby the other day. He's supposed to come tomorrow for $60 a visit. We'll see.

How much longer can I go on like this? Assisted living is not an option for me. I'd rather be dead first, no kidding!

Nine day guided bus tour and Donegal was one of the stops. If I could afford it we'd take another trip there - she's FBI (Full Blood Irish).

this step. BRAVA!!! Second, what Prairie Gates said! Third, contact your local Area Council on Aging, whatever name it goes by in your area. They may have resources to help you with things like packing, cleaning, etc. Also ask for the name of a good real estate attorney. More suggestions later when I think of them.

huggggggggs

decision to have some support once you moved. But it sounds terrific to me.

In fact, there is a castle there that I visited a number of years ago!

I didn't care to leave I must admit!

Here is a picture of the dining room with my family's crest engraved above the fire place:



I don't know anyone these days as I'm getting old and everyone has died out. That famine did not help. Between that and TB and a blood factor known as the Celtic Curse prevented my family from getting any larger. I have that same blood type as did my mother and my father. Luckily, I had no kids as the cemetery plots at Holy Cross south of San Francisco are filled with dead little babies and toddlers.


I kept getting deja vu's the whole time I was at/inside of the castle in Donegal.

I'd also consider Aranmore. Great interview from a woman that died at the age of 97 that was there in 1964:

Then maybe you can get your benefits setup at that address. They are strict with offshore Social Security recipients and medicare requires a USA address. Just something to think about, I have a friend lookig to move to Thailand when he retires.

My SS is money I worked for. I'm not on disability.

As for my insurance, it will switch to private if there is not Medicare where I move to.

I had a job that paid not much BUT the benefits are great.

I have all sorts of insurance but the pension ... not much.

So money is not my worry and my late husband left behind one living sister and 38+ nieces and nephews, one of which is in my estate plans.

Stupid me? No.

If you get social security with a foreign address you will have to go to an American embassy every year. I was just relaying details I had heard from someone else making those plans to move abroad during retirement. So the info is for anyone else who reads this thread.

I think a move to Ireland would be a mistake. A better idea might be sell your house and downsize. Get out and do some volunteering, seek activities in your area that would give you an opportunity to make new friends.

I have MS and I can barely make it to the store/doctor.

It is sad really.

I never thought this would happen.

The only reason I am a duo is because the priest (who was from Galway) told me to do it when he realized I was married to a man from Ireland.

After I got my passport, I took it to him and showed it to him and he told me to make sure to never let expire because if it comes to it some day, I'd be way better off there as at least they wouldn't let me rot in a hole somewhere which is how it is these days in America.

If you are well-off you can move into that private care place but I don't have money to pay for such a place.

Volunteering, etc. maybe if I was healthier! Don't I wish!

Perhaps lease out your house for one year and give a year to try out what I consider a huge life change when older and in compromised health.
Did husband have relatives there that you know or know of?
Having some sort of contact before and after arriving would be most helpful.
Not all Irish are extremely fond of all Yanks (or what they consider American attitudes.)

our good people. And we need people here to help us save our country. But in the end you have to do what's best for you.

You're no different than anyone who was born there and lived there their whole life unless things have changed,

Sounds like a resident alien income requirement, but I've never heard of that in the EU.

There are no income requirements for me.

All I need is the passport which I renewed during the pandemic along with the one form the USA. So, I have two that are valid.

when facing a major decision is to sit down and actually write out the pros and cons into side by side columns to help me clarify what would likely be my better choice. It helps me to be able to evaluate the situation in a more objective way. JMHO.
Good luck and best wishes!

You really need to plan.
If you are collecting Social Security try to get a bank there to deposit the payments before you leave. It can be an exasperating experience when you are there since you will have to go through the embassy. At least we did in Germany.
Take careful stock of furniture, books, keepsakes. Shipping adds up in a hurry, by volume and weight.
Make sure your belonging that are shipped go as personal items or you might get hit with a tariff charge.
Remember that most European homes and apartments are smaller so large furniture may not fit well.
Also electric appliances that have motors and the like won't like the 250 volt 50 cycle electric. Or you can use them but you will need a step up transformer. There is an label on appliances, usually near the power cord, that will tell you the electric requirements.

Sorry I can't give you help on Ireland.

in Donegal.



Thanks for your tips. I appreciate them!

I hope all works out for you whatever you decide. It sounds like you lean towards going rather than staying. Lots of good suggestions provided here and before you make a final decision, take some time to look into these.

I don't blame you for wanting to leave. I have thought of leaving the US myself and I have a husband to go with me. Neither of us have dual citizenship so it's less likely we will go anywhere. It's hard to move all by yourself so I hope you are able to get some support. Definitely do what feels right for you!

I don't know how old you are, but I do know that if you are on medicare, you have to continue to make the payments IF YOU EVER THINK YOU MIGHT REURN TO THE US. Otherwise if you do come back you will hit with having to pay what you didn't pay while you were done.

We checked into stuff in 2016 and then when Biden was elected we exhaled. Big mistake. We are now in our early 70's and no one wants us. We're old and can't really contribute to the economy. My grandmother was born in Canada but I cannot find her birth certificate anywhere so I have no proof. Checking baptisms not but don't what religion, if any, they belonged to. There is still Portugal which is affordable but again, it's the health care and the monthly payment to Medicare if you think you might return.

I don't want to scare anyone, but it wouldn't surprise me if the current administration would try something like, you can't get your social security if you have relocated overseas. Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

I've got English, Irish, German and Canadian but too long ago (except for the Canadian) to do any good. Just make sure about your medical insurance and if, or when, you decide to draw your SS.

Good luck.

I have insurance that converts to a private plan if I move somewhere that does not have Medicare.

I'm likely not looking to live but another 5-10 years at the very most, maybe not much longer.

Longevity doesn't run in my family.

Throw in the MS which takes about 5-7 years off of your life, I likely won't be around for a long time.

l will soon be 70 years old and receive very little on SS. My pension isn't much either but the benefits are transferable anywhere in the world. I was smart on that anyway. I could see where women were going in my day and it was nowhere so I worked for the benefits that I now have for the rest of my life.

to live there? Really?

…but OP is already an Irish citizen. You’re not allowed to stay in your own country unless you meet minimum income requirements?

A grand adventure awaits!

I had never left US before except Canada. Couldn't find anyone to go with me and my hubby said he wouldn't leave dog so I went alone. Renting a car was expensive so I took trains, local buses and ferry. Few places were so remote north of Donegal I took taxi from Moville to a small pension that was also a sheep farm.

With a few exceptions I stayed in small pensions all over Ireland. Galway, Westport, Dingle, Doolin, Kilkee, Killarney, Cork, yoga retreat in the Burren, Ballina, Derry, Sligo, Dublin and Inishmaan Island.

I am Irish but my ancestors came here long ago during potato famine. I didn't want to do touristy things so mostly went to small pubs and hiked the hills and cliffs. I met so many wonderful people a few I am still in contact with.

I think Donegal is wonderful, I was walking a mile from town where bus dropped me off to small pension and a woman stopped half way and insisted on giving me a ride. Then invited me to a clothing swap party which I had never heard of but I went and it was me and 6 other women in a country house trying on each others clothes and laughing our asses off while drinking and eating. It was the second place I stayed at but what a wonderful welcome to the country.

It's a small town so I am sure you will get to know some of them. I loved the cozy pubs there. I wish you the best and a bit jealous you can go.

to reinvent yourself. You could let go of your current identity (if that would please you.) It's fun -- I've done it several times!

via the right of return back when Bush the Stupid got his second term. I haven't heard from her in a while so I don't know if she's making plans to unload her house here and go or not.

I thought about doing the same thing but the Irish climate was a major discouraging factor. I suppose I'll continue to cling to the desert southwest, away from damp and mold.

I do think if the US doesn't stop putting idiot Republicans into office, Ireland will be back to its pre famine population levels in no time.

My grandfather came here from Ireland and that entitled me to citizenship. We have been contemplating the same thing. My husband has done a lot of research and it turns out that Ireland is a very expensive place to live. MY understanding is that it is also difficult to get a driver’s license, though that isn’t a deal breaker in many European countries because of their great police transportation systems. It certainly is a beautiful place. Also, anIrish passport gives you rights to live in both Ireland and the UK!

Would one of those 38 nieces/nephews consider moving with you? Maybe there's a deal to be made, with you covering expenses?

Whatever you decide, I hope you find many friends and a peaceful life.

That includes my Democratic Underground friends, of course.

I'm not a billionaire so I guess I'll stay and fight.