The economy. The state of the union. Crime. All these issues and more are leading many older Americans to retire overseas. The baby boomers are no longer looking at staying in the United States and recent research proves that.

A hundred million adults in Canada and the United States will retire by 2030. Many of them are buying property in other countries, believing that to be a secure investment that will allow them to move overseas if they feel the need.

Should this be a thing that you desire, no matter why, either because of your health concerns or to help keep your present quality of life, you should examine the following “Top Five” list showing ways to “Live the Expat Life.” The list will help make your decisions and preparations a lot simpler.

1. You should build a dependable network of friends when you retire overseas. You may have to venture out of your social circles to meet and get to know new people. Remember to include people in your network who you can contact in case of emergency. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as you go about your networking mission. People are usually eager to share their own experiences, and by listening to them you will be able to gauge who you can rely on. The sooner you can gain new trustworthy and dependable friendships, the safer you will feel in your new life as an expat.

2. Though retiring overseas may be an alluring proposition seemingly filled with glamor and excitement, due diligence is an absolute requirement prior to making a decision. It is important to take a pragmatic look at quality of life issues such as health care before embarking in your new life abroad. Expatriate living can be fun, but don’t expect your life to be completely devoid of problems. Keeping this in mind is important when planning your transition.

3. The internet is a fantastic way to learn all about expatriate living, because there are so many forums and communities where you can both post questions and read about people’s experiences. With a little bit of effort, you can find out if someone can give you useful information about handling the move, settling in, and adapting to a different way of life. Some of those that retire overseas are quite miserable and will let you know about it, and others may be intensely homesick; you should listen to what they have to say as well. After all, you may be going through the same, and it’s good to know how to handle such slumps during the expat life.

4. You should not move overseas on a mere whim, or for the wrong reasons. If you believe that making this move will give you some kind of measurable benefit, such as better medical care or more opportunities to do the things that you like, then you are probably on the right track. However, if the process is purely an emotional one or if you simply want to escape problems at home, then you might find yourself being sorely disappointed, since you probably won’t feel any better over there than you do here. Remember, as trite as this sounds, once you are living there then you are really living there.

5. Even though you can always return home if you want to, consider the move irreversible. Once the deed is done, it’s done. That will make you think much more seriously about what you are planning to do. When you finally reach the conclusion that the expat life is for you, don’t burn your bridges. You might be tempted to tell some of those folks how you’re really feel about them, especially since you think you will not ever see them again. But eventually, you will return home someday, and you don’t want any bad feelings marring your return. I think that there is no such thing as too many friends. You never know when your friends may be of assistance to you.

Get your copy of a free special report on the year’s best retirement havens. You can live your dreams to live overseas with outstanding health care and live like royalty in paradise.