Looks like our decolonization is going to be permanent

[Old Crank]

Ten years ago my wife got a job in Munich and we picked up sticks in 90 days for the move. I retired half a year early and we have been here ever since. We have spent the last 3 years getting our daughter to be able to stay here and that may be bearing fruit.

The big question from friends and relatives has been, are you coming back to the US to live. Never say never but....
The chances are dropping. We like living here. We like being retired here. And it looks like we are buying a flat. We see the notary to sign purchase contracts next week. In about 90 days, should everything work out, we should have our own place.

It has been a challenge, my German sucks, but we feel better having stepped away from the craziness of Silicon Valley and the tech bro culture.

The fourth country I have lived in and the adventure continues.

[LiberalLoner]

1. Very wise decision! I wish you and yours all the happiness in the world! 💙💙💙

[Old Crank]

6. Thanks

To coin a phrase..... What a long strange trip it has been....
😁

[chia]

2. Best wishes to you. If DU doesn't have an ex-pat forum, it might be good idea to start one.

I like to hear about the experiences of our members here who've made the jump, whether recently or long since. Having just come back from another trip to your part of the world, I miss it already.

[Old Crank]

8. I didn't find a forum on DU

I may look into what it takes to start one.

One issue is that there are so many countries and rules to follow.
The landscape is changing internationally as it changes in the US.

[chia]

23. Please let me know when you do, there are other ex-pats who post here regularly

[augyboston]

3. Congratulations on your retirement. We here will do all that we can, so you can come back if and when you want.

We too have a plan B should Donnie Rotten succeed in creating a dictatorship, but after Saturday we are more hopeful that we will be able to stop him.

We have a long steep hill to climb, but for the first time since its election we are feeling that the people are going to stop this madness.

Enjoy Germany and pray for us!

[Old Crank]

9. Thanks, we may be back for the occasional visit

or death in the family. We have a wedding in November that we are waffling about going to.... Wouldn't have been an issue before.
As for the plan B. it never hurts to have options. If you can do your research and see if there are other expat people you can find out the lay of the land from. We just jumped and made a few financial mistakes. One thing I would advise is getting some of your assets into cash or liquid assets that won't trigger taxation when you draw on them. European tax rates on income are higher. (Although our tax lawyer here has managed to convince the finanzamt (think IRS) that our money from IRA accounts are the same as pensions. Remember that the US taxes on world wide income.

I hope you don't have to jump for political or safety reasons.

[Just Jerome]

4. Viel Glueck!

[Old Crank]

10. Gerne

[Goddessartist]

5. Sounds wonderful!

A young lady friend of mine moved to Germany after starring in an opera there as she loves it so much. She's now becoming a dual citizen and her German is getting better.

I lived there as a kid (military family). It was beautiful.

Congratulations!

[Old Crank]

11. We are working on the citizenship thing.

Germany in the last 2 years has made it possible to hold two citizenships. I found out that I have two already so I will have 3.
I'm studying for the German test. For some reason you can't take it in English..... I wish her luck.

I didn't get to Germany when I was in the Air Force. I was forced to spend 2 years on Crete. The humanity!

[Goddessartist]

13. Awesome!

Crete, what a beautiful place. My better half spent three months there when he was in his early 20's. He loved it.

[Old Crank]

16. If you go,

Try to stay away from the north coast, tourists galore. Also Malia.
Inland many of the people and places are like they were in the mid 70's
Message if you plan on going.

[Goddessartist]

18. We're not planning

To travel. I'm at this point in my disease, disabled, so I wouldn't be able to walk around. But I can imagine how beautiful it is. He has a few pictures of his time there.

[DFW]

7. Germany has its ups and downs

But it is livable, especially if you have CYA financially and legally. All EU countries drown their citizens in bureaucracy and paperwork, and resident foreigners even more so. I married one of the friendliest natives, which helped the paperwork along. I passed the language test when I first applied, and they practically asked why in the world a German would be applying for a residence permit.

[Old Crank]

12. All countries have them.

No one confuses my German for native, no one....

We just work our way through the paper work. the next step in the Einburgerungsprufung...

[DFW]

14. That is something I don't intend to apply for

Last edited Tue Jun 17, 2025, 08:51 AM - Edit history (1)

Not yet, anyway. It's an honor of sorts to be mistaken for a native, but I have no wish to subjugate myself to all their laws and regulations. There is still a bit of Gestapo/Stasi in many German Beamten (far from all, but even one is too many), and I will not voluntarily subject myself to their whims. I want that path back home open to me if I feel I need it.

[Old Crank]

17. Well you can keep your US citizenship

So there is a path there. I also hold Canadian citizenship. Found out during Covid.
So I have two outs from Germany

[DFW]

21. My brother, sister, and two daughters are US citizens (daughters dual).

We'll tough it out. And my residence status is permanent as long as I want it, so I see no need to renounce citizenship. I doubt Trump will dare trying sending ICE storm troopers to Düsseldorf.

[Botany]

15. Ja das ist zehr gut.

Enjoy your time in Germany.

[RVN VET71]

19. I feel like the lone late arrival standing on the dock, watching the ship sail away to freedom

And I hear Miller's Gestapo in their heavy,, metal-toed boots approaching behind me, their masked faces and soulless eyes.

Good Luck!

[Squaredeal]

20. My daughter, son-in-law and grandkids have lived in Germany the past twelve years.

The grandchildren were born there and now attend German schools.
With Trump again in the White House, my daughter says it will be at least another four years of their living there.

[Paladin]

22. Best of luck to you and your family. (nt)