New members of the Puerto Rico forum, introduce yourselves here - 2024

Hi Im Terry

Im new here too as just arrived in PR on 3/24.

59 and here to take adv of tax breaks and retire i guess lolol Everything looks so old, im committed but i have no clue how im going to adjust to life in pR....any helpful suggestions? 

I want to buy land and build a brand new house!!! Looking at Rio Grande on south side of Route 3

Nice to meet you all!

@Tld14950

Welcome...  built a few times in PR.  I can't help much but have built and West is Best... If you end up on that side (normally less destruction from hurricanes as they come off Africa and hit the East) let me know.   I really don't know anything about the East part of PR other than visiting it... prefer my West Coast side.  More protection from hurricanes historically.

Good morning,

My name is Jenny and as you can see I'm looking to escape the life and Wisconsin where I was born and raised, it's too cold here! I always thought we would find property on St Croix US Virgin Islands since I have had family there for over 20 years but after visiting Puerto Rico my husband and I have decided we would like to snowbird/retire there in the coming years instead. We fell in love with Luquillo PR! However, we will be visiting/ exploring West end of island and Ponce next winter to make a clearer determination on what will work best for our future decisions. Looking forward to learning from this forum. Thank you!

Good morning,

I'm Jeffrey from Virginia, retired USMC 60 yrs old currently working for the USPS. I was approved for a transfer to San Juan and due to report  May 4th. Didn't think I could get this transfer but it happened for me to finish my last three years to retire.

Looking to rent close to Carolina with no more than a 30 minute drive for work..Traffic can be horrendous as I found out two weeks ago while visiting.  I'm  used to it as I grew up in NYC and now in Virginia.

The added benefit for me is the military base Fort Buchannon which can assist me in this transition. I'll have plenty of time to make a decision to acquire property and maintain my condo in Virginia Beach. The snowbird idea sounds good to examine.

Anyways looking forward to this next phase of life and living it in abundance on a tropical island with a drink in my hand and my feet in the warm sand. And I don't mean Oman or Afghanistan……lol

Hi,  Jeff, I am new to this forum. i will be visiting next month to check out neighborhoods. i plan to move to apuerto Rico by next May. As a 70 something widow, I  hope to learn valuable tips by reading the posts. looking forward to any interesting and insightful comments the group cares to share.   Jenquepasa

@Get me out of Wisconsin

We are in WI too and considering a warmer climate to retire to in a few years. We really love Mexico, but recently started considering Puerto Rico since Medicare would be usable there.  Any thoughts would be helpful for us to narrow down a location! We plan to vacation to Puerto Rico in the next few years to see how the vibe is.

Husband is retired from 35 years at USPS. We're from Miami been here almost 4 years. We live in Humacao. He almost had a trade with someone in San Juan several years ago but never followed thru with it & when they were offering transfers after Maria he was awaiting knee replacement & wouldn't have been able to physically do it.

@juliebar21

Vibe is fine here, but as for health care. It's very scary and lacks lots of services or services aren't timely.  We have a neighbor who is puerto  Ricans who fell in a parking lot fracture here arm from the elbow down

She was in a hospital for 4 days before they could find another hospital to do the surgery.  When she got transferred to the other hospital she was there for days before they even did the surgery.   It took so long that she started to heal. They did the surgery and botched it so bad that she had to go to the states.

She is in the states now and the surgeon there can't believe how bad of a job was done in Puerto rico.

Now they will ahve to rebreak and do the surgery again.    This is a simple surgery that should have never go so botched.   If you have a serious medical issue you will die waiting for an ambulance if not you will surely get half ass care in 99% of the hospitals here.

@sandrarduncan Can i ask why are you still living there? Why dont you leave. sounds like your very unhappy there. Sure the States have better services.

We have a house here and we are here because my husband gets his free medical care at the va hospital.

We have lived in other countries.  Recently we lived a year in belize, we lived in mexico for a year and half and are permanent residents of mexico.

We love the people here but paradise has its issues. I don't sugarcoat stuff. People have no idea what they are getting into moving here.  Have you ever been without water for 62 days? Power for 72 days? Without cell service for months? Without internet for 6 months??    Facts are facts.  Some people can't rough it other people can't. So once again what I am telling you if facts.  If you can live with those facts, that's awesome.  If not, it's better that's someone is giving you the facts so you don't have to find out the hard way.   We have lived in 6 locations on the island over 8 plus years.   I wish you the best on your journey no matter where that leads you too. If you would like to speak privately you can add me to your contacts.  I can also give you information on other locations in the world that might be a better match for you. Or I can provide you with tools for you get get information worldwide that might change your mind on locations you might have not considered

Moved to the USA as a teen and moved back few months ago after 35ish years in the Great New York metropolitan area.  Dealing with establishing myself  and the bureaucracy here.  I also speak Spanish fluently in case anyone really needs some help.  The biggest adjustment for me when dealing with government agencies or businesses in general is the lack of communication.  Seems most people assume you know the basics but thankfully people try their best to help.

@sandrarduncan Was that during the hurricane Maria? It is never that bad during normal times.  In Carolina the electricity hardly goes out.  In five months I've been here  it has gone out no more than 3 times and all were from 10 minutes to 20 minutes and all during the same month.  Only one time the lights went out for like 4 hours. I guess the electricity goes out more in some areas than others.  Water never goes out in this area near the San Juan airport and  Isla Verde. The island is big even though it is supposedly 100x35 so people would need to specify the areas where utilities are failing.

@Jeffreyglenn5a

Hey Jeffery. My name is Franco. I just retired from law enforcement a couple months ago.  I tried to reach out to you yesterday but i deleted it.  From what your message said, you are in San Juan and you arrived not too long ago.  My objective is to go to the west side of the island and slow down, to a point.  I dont know why I'm sending this message.  I'm on this forum to get some help in the move.  There isnt a whole lot you can help me with. For what ever reason I feel I need to introduce myself. Anyway, nice to meet you. Im hoping to be there before the next winter 

@Julien

Hello, my name is Franco.  How do i ask a question in the forum?  I see I can message someone directly but i was hoping for different experiences 

@Momogavero

Hello, click on this link : https://www.expat.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=245

You will see the orange button "Post new Topic' at the top. This is how to can open a new thread by posting your questions.

Regards

Bhavna

Hi everyone!

Happy to be new here. I have been living in Puerto Rico in the San Juan area for many years, although I have a home on the West side of island.  Adjusting here was difficult when I moved here due to the Spanish language and the hellish traffic (the west side has less traffic). I had to move to San Juan because my wife went to law school at the university of Puerto Rico then got her license to practice law on the island. We should have returned back to the West side where it was more peaceful, but my wife decided to get her notary license as well, then after that she got her master's degree in law. Hopefully she doesn't try to get her doctor's degree in law.

I am retired from the military. And the dream of living on the island has come true for me. There are no limits on things to do on the island, the food is great, there are many more good people than there are bad actors (do yourself a favor and don't turn on the news and never go exploring in the city without a local). Hang out with people who have purpose in living a good and peaceful life but full of new chapters to fill.

Don't rely too heavily on the Puerto Rican government although they have always been helpful just to slow. Do make friends within your community (if there is no community then that would be an indication for you to get up and go.)

I leave it here. If anyone has questions about Puerto Rico and If I have some insight, I will gladly help.

@PRVacationHomes You've built a few times?  Any suggestions for contractors on the West side, Cabo Rojo?  We've been looking for someone (reliable) to build our home for almost 3 years.  Me avisas, y GRACIAS!!

@meloandriotswela

I'd be interested too on any leads for good contractors!

Welcome to the expat dont worry you are in good hand with all state meaning us  what we can not do alone here in expat we all do together 

@sandrarduncan

Thank you for the information you posted. My wife and I are thinking about retiring in Puerto Rico in about 2.5 years. I am a veteran and possibly can use the VA hospitals. We are also thinking about a 2nd residence in the US to get away from the storms. Any advice on areas to live in and to avoid is greatly welcome including healthcare and internet providers.  Would private insurance be better than Medicare?

Thanks again,

Don

@laserjetme54b

Thank you for the information you posted. My wife and I are thinking about retiring in Puerto Rico in about 2.5 years. I am a veteran and possibly can use the VA hospitals. We are also thinking about a 2nd residence in the US to get away from the storms. Any advice on areas to live in and to avoid is greatly welcome including healthcare and internet providers.

@dgunnoe

Hello and welcome !

Please note that it's been a while since these members visited the website.

I would suggest that you open a new thread on the Puerto Rico forum so that active members can can guide you.

All the best

Bhavna

@Jeffreyglenn5a

Howdy, Jeff...

I'm USMC-X, retired and a FIT (Foreign Independent Traveler)...backpacks and lonely planet guide stuff..

Although I've literally been around the world...Puerto Rico was my first "TrustTerritory"?...

I think it's a literal "turn key"....to transition from the USA..... to this place...

However, You must learn Spanish....otherwise you will be assessed a "Gringo Tax"....on a sliding scale depending on your proficiency in the language.

Did 2 "sonar pings" on the place this year for a total of 6.5 weeks on the "Nestle CRUNCH bar shaped Island.....Looking forwar to an extended stay very soon.

Semper Fi.

🇵🇷🇺🇸Welcome on board🌴