Retire in Poland - Good or Bad Idea?

:)it is quite funny be Polish and English are little moaners just moaning about different things. I think Shelley that you can miss a little if you don't speak polish- it is difficult to explain but it is easier to get to know other culture by learning their language. My husband is English and doesn't speak polish and sometimes I can't explain him things.

But....polish like moaning about money( English not at all) the wealthier they are the more they moan and politics , so often. Especially older generation.

English moan probbaly about some inconvenience.
And it is quite strange but I have impression that old people in England are so cheerfull and young moan and moan - opposite that in Poland.

Maybe except Victor Meldrum:)

[bJust because we expect a certain standard??? what do expect us to do, just take bad service (weather is easily dealt with we go away several times a year to enjoy the good weather),

Weather!!! It is great subject for little chit-chat if we don't have much more to talk with someone- like queueing at dring machine at work.

I like it and I do it- I am just wondering if I start doing it in Poland?:) :)

Service- I think that you don;t complain enough about servicxe all this english politeness....
I like it but ... I am not really complaining person if | don't like restaurant I will not go there againg that is all.But as nearly noone complain loudly I would feel really bad to do it.

I went once to coffe-bar -Caffe Nero- in Peterborough and girl servse me coffe but already silt quite much on the saucer she noticed it but didn't bother to wipe. Little thing. BUT IT IS BAD SERVICE FOR ME.

Sorry, but your dollar - your problem. Don't blame Poland and polish economy for turning the dolar into shit level. For a prise of huge economy crisis China can blow the american economy near into the stoneage level (U.S. goverment has debt in China big as the whole milky way galaxy)

Yeah maybe we should implement child labor and sweat shops.

You don't need to do it. Nike, Adidas, Puma for example are in very good shape thanks to child labor. Child labor looks not good in TV so factorias are in Far East and everbody's happy.

But that is not the subject. I'm sorry for of topic.

lol yeah we're all wayyyy off topic.

I'd retire in Poland :)

I plan to retire in Poland too.:) :) :)

I admire foreigners (non-Polish citizens) who plan to retire in Poland without the knowledge of the Polish language and culture.

Mr.Dobry Wujek, first shoud learn how to write in English without mistakes, and second he should stay within the topic "retire in Poland or not" instead of naming people and criticizing their opinions. There are always positive and negative sides of any relocation. It depends on age, health, merital status, family, friends, financial situation, courage, hobbies adaptation to a change, character, etc. It is for sure easier for a native Polish than to a stranger to go to Poland and start living on his own, but everybody should go there at least once before making any decision and stay there for a month or two to learn the country. Good friend and a good guide book about the country should be always at hand on daily bases. Do not go anywhere if you are old and you do not have friends or family there. Money is not enough. Mr Dobry Wujek, do not say that you are Polish. Shame.

He had more brains than that Empty Dumbo that keeps up with posting
than brain dead flitertation.

Retire in Poland?
Nice in theory, but it really depends what you want from your life (well the rest of your life...)

Firstly, you will be moving to a country where it's difficult to meet people. Most people in PL spend all their time watching TV. Or drinking; they don't go out. Hardly at all... They have no interests aside from TV and alcohol and rodzina (family). They don't do dinner parties or restaurants. They live a family life - not a public life. So if you've been used to a good social life, forget it here. (Unless you have a big rodzina/family).

Secondly, the countryside here is generally the land of the poor. It's not like elsewhere in the West where the poor live in the towns and the rich live in the countryside. Here it's the lowest of the low who populate most of "na wsi". And they don't make good Dinner party guests - unless you like $1 fruit wine and lots of swearing in your conversation. Of course, if you have lots of money you can buy your own mansion house and create your own social circle. But don't expect anything from the locals, except jealousy.

Thirdly, healthcare here is not so good, but it's cheap. Take your pick. If your of the age where you might need it, this is a serious concern. It's cheap, but generally it's shit. Having said that you can rent a full time carer here for less than $500 per month - so that's a serious positive!

OK, so money goes a little further here... But money isn't everything. It's very cheap in Indonesia - perhaps you'd like to move there?

Fourth, if you're retiring, you want good company, above there's one thing that really matters - people! If you have good people where you live, why move to PL? It's very unlikely you'll meet open-minded, inspiring people here. (This is really extension of point 1, but what the hell - people are important!)

I'm sorry if some of you readers are offended by what I'm writing. But I'm an outsider who's lived in Poland for nearly 10 years. I'm eminently qualified to write on this subject. And In truth (speaking only personally) I wish I'd never came here.

:)

Arrgghh,

No need to be sorry. There is a lot truth to what you said.

Do you live "na wsi"?

Hi Opts,

No, but I used to live 'na wsi' in GB. For a foreigner, living in the Polish wies (countryside) is a bit like living on an oil rig in the North Sea, and about as friendly (unless you like drinking a lot of alcohol and not much else.)

I would dearly love to live in the countryside - civilised countryside - once again. But it seems it will take another generation or two (25-50 years) before the Polish wies becomes civilised.

Arrgghh,

I should add, there are many cities in Poland that offer all types of entertainment and opportunities to socialize.

Arrgghh,

Why did you retired in Poland?
What city do you live in?
Why did you select that city?
Before retiring in Poland, had you considered other countries?
What was wrong with other countries?

Are you aware of escapeartist.com

Arrgghh,

I think that everything is very subjective.

drinking....
I moved to England I I would say that poople don't do here much more except drinking, drinking,...and more drinking and what goes more talking lots of crap later..And binge drinking seems to to be latest fashion.

What is wrong about being family orientated for me it is very normal and healthy attitude.I noticed that English l really stuggle with creating strong family bonds. They don't exist here.

I lived in krakow where I could go with my friends for a coffe, meal, drink...to theathre , cinema, concert to philharmony., exhibiton....n UK is again drink, drink,.......and ok going to London for some show for very overpriced cost.

Health?

it is not Poland but UK that old people are starved to death in hospital because nurses are so busy to help them with eating, the same happens in houses for old people.

Children are fed at scholl with really awful food.

it is country where is enough money for benefits and expensive hotels for terrorists but not enough for medicine for people who have cancer.

So as you see everything is just point of view.

and I suppose that you are quite narrow minded, cocky and shallow person so you better go quickly to your own country and forget about Poland.

Too sophisticated for you.

Arrgghh,

Your comments are pretty spot on, although a lot of people in other countries only existance is drink and watch TV, the reason why people drink in poland is that they see no future in what they do...

Hi Iwona,
Yes, sometimes I wish I was a narrow minded, cocky and shallow person, it would be much easier to live in Poland.

Actually I'm very broad-minded, have "completed higher education", travelled to over 50 countries all over the world, and spend far too much time thinking...

Which is one of the reasons I see the situation here in Poland in such a tragic light. It really is one of the most miserable places on earth (believe me, I've seen a lot of it!), though perhaps Russia is worse, and Manilla in the Philippines.

As for cocky... No, not cocky, just f*cking pissed off with Poland. Wish I never came here, rather moved some place else where the people are a bit more open, confident and cheerful.

Well, from my observations your are very, very close.... And when I'm saying close, I really think you are nanometres rather than millimetres away from achieving your goal. :) :)


Maybe you should do all this things again? :) :) After that, come back to this forum, and we will judge whether you are still a true Dumbass, or a OK "dude". :)

Don't forget that you'll be taxed on this nice windfall and that includes your nice pension and if you don't they'll find you and the penalties are pretty big!

Arrgh
I do have some sympathy with your views. Everyone in my town constantly asks "why did you ever want to come to Poland there is nothing here ?" . My line is that you all are trying to get to england for opportunity but that lies here (I do believe that).

However somethimes I wonder if they will ever get thier faces out thier beers and actually make Europe happen for them. The first move to go and get some money from the richer countries is very understandable , the next phase in the country is decisive......

If the atmosphere and lack of any enthusiasm continued in my area for the next 10 years I am sure I will be writing the same thing.

I guess what I am saying is Its a vicous circle that they have to break free from.

Like depression really

Hi Janf!
Agree with you. I'm trying hard to be enthusiastic, but it's hard when everyone around you here in Polska seems to be a zombie.

I've never said the UK is perfect. Far from it. One of the main reasons I left for Poland was that the UK had so much wrong with it and was so insular.

Sometimes "you don't know what you've lost till it's gone" (to quote a slightly famous pop song). Now there is a great deal that I value about the UK. But there's far far more that I dislike about Polska.

And I also see how much work there is to do in Polska before it becomes a "civilized" country, which it most certainly isn't at the moment.

Depression... Hmm. I guess it comes in phases, depending how often I have to go to places like Ursynów or Bemowo in Warsaw. Perhaps the trick is to avoid those areas and the rest of time drink lots of vodka?

You sound like the sort of typical British whinger who can't appreciate the good things about the UK,so you go overseas and continue whinging because you can't appreciate any good things in your new country.

People like new pastures, a change is as good as a rest...and all those other cliches!

UK, has lots of down sides, sacrificed on the altar of money!

Poland has lots of downsides.......mainly as the result of 60 years of communism/WW II, plus a latent talent for beating itself up, being self critical, navel gazing, its only natural!

Give it 20 yrs or thereabouts............:)

From every chrysalis emerges a beautiful butterfly................effectively the real Poland has yet to re-emerge!

Long live Polska!

150K wouldn't buy a good flat in Warsaw never mind a good location. Much better deals to have in France or Spain and without the agro for the same money. Like tax on your pension you have more'n 37K zloty and the tax rate is 37%. Sell your flat before 5 years is up and pay 19% tax from Jan 1st. I'm retired here but not a Pole, here through marriage. As for cheap living Hmm I would not agree that it's SO cheap. When the rest of the carpet baggers arrive after 2012 to buy up the remaining land here I guess it'll be a very expensive place to live. But... the music scene is really good and for that alone makes it a pleasure.

I'm reading Polish people think their producs are "the best in the world" (have you heard about this slogan: "Dobre po polskie"). But when the Chinese penetrate the market, Poles will not look at the country of origin - they will look at the price only (like in the US).

Not everyone in the USA buys according to price alone. Millions of other Americans & Canadians boycott goods from the "Peoples Republic of China" ( Although on rare occasions, like last year when I was attempting to buy a non-Chinese mouse, I could not even find one made elsewhere so I broke my own boycott!).

I have visited Poland on three occasions last year, and each time left with less love for the land of my Grandparents than I had beforehand. I was shocked at all of the antisemitic comments commonly rolling of the tongues of English speaking Poles, disappointed by the lack of interest of the young in their own Government, annoyed by the smoke filled air of the Polish clubs (AND restaurants), dismayed by the division and pettiness of the Politicians, ashamed at how the old people are short changed by their Polish pension system (but impressed with how the elderly are shown respect by the young...), surprised by the superiority complex of many of the Priests and the other "well off" Poles (While being amazed at the unjustified inferiorty complex that many Poles have about their place in the world), and ever so grateful that my Grandmother and Grandfather departed from what is now Poland in 1905.

My girfriend likes Poland more than I do, so we will be visiting again in the next few months, and I hope to leave with a greater appreciation than I have in past trips. I love old town Krakow, and hope to gain an appreciation for Poznan & Dansk as well, but I suspect that Poland's Clubs & restaurants will be just as smokey, that as many as a third of the Club patrons will be drunk to a point where they and their friend's & family should be ashamed, and that the noses of the better off will continue to be too high in the air to notice the disadvantaged elderly in need.

Long live Poland, but may she appreciate the incentives of the free enterprise system without disregarding the time honored Christian Concepts that is so rare beyond the walls of the beautiful Churches.

I am from the US and my wife is from Poland. She has a great family and although I can not communicate with most of them as I don't speak Polish and they don't speak English, I always look forward to visiting for a few weeks every year however I realize that retiring there is a lot different from a 3 week visit. I do admit that I do contemplate going ahead and retiring there although I am still only 38 years old. I have been fortunate with my career and would be able to keep a home in the US to be able to come back to but the idea of being able to retire early does sound appealing. I realize I could retire other places with better weather however I almost feel obligated to give Poland a chance since my wife has done amazingly well in the US. Below are some concerns I was hoping someone could comment on to make sure that I make the most informed decision as possible. I realize this would be a very life changing decision however I am not that brave and would probably just try to look at it as an extended vacation since I would still have a home in the US.

- Do Poles like Americans? My wife says yes but outside of her family and friends I have felt some animosity because I am from the US and not a Pole. I understand as I don't speak Polish but in America I feel we go out of our way to make foreigners to feel welcome.

- Would I be safe in Poland? My wife is always making me fearful that someone might rob me and that I should always be extra careful. She is also warning me about Poles who may want to engage me in an altercation. I understand that you have to be careful in these situations wherever I travel however she has got me a little spooked to think that I have to be very alert all the time. I am not sure that is what I would call a relaxed retirement as I don't plan on just staying in the house.

- I have travelled throughout Europe and Asia and have found Poland to probably have the worst customer service. Any signs of this changing?

I have a lot more questions however I was hoping someone could give me their perspective....

Thanks,
Chris

I've not met any Americans in Poland, but have found all the Polish people I have met here extremely hospitable and respectful towards myself (English) and my husband (Welsh). In a few short months I have made as many friends as I have in the UK, and my only regret at the moment is that we do still have property in the UK so we keep having to come back to sort out business. Currently looking forward to a Polish semi-retirement, and I have far less worries about crime and violence in Poland than I do in Cardiff. The only dishonesty I have encountered is in trying to negotiate prices, when I find some Poles bump up the prices cause they think I'm loaded just cause I'm English. But then, if they are stuggling, and they thnk I'm rich, who can blame them for trying it on? More fool me if I fall for it! I have yet to be really put off by anything, not the people, weather, scenery, food...all have been fantastic..the only thing I can't really handle is he Polish Vodka! But ven that paled into insignificance compared to the Ukrainian vodka!

Some of the poles I have met have thought I am American (guess they couldn't define my accent?) and have still treated me with respect and been overtly friendly. I have not come across any anti-American sentiment where we are ...Lubuskie countryside...so go for it! Good luck!

Hello guest....hope life is going good for you....we are definatly going to meet one fine day.......HONEST....

Thanks for the information. I am glad to hear you are enjoying yourself in Poland. I will be going to Poland for a couple of weeks next month and plan on doing some house searching in the Sopot area. As long as I can find a nice golf course to play pretty regularly I feel I am pretty sold on the idea of taking the leap. I just would like to see the US dollar recover a little bit after our presidential election and then I hope to be able to purchase a home.

why the hell are you on the polish forums noone wants your stupid comments here anyway.

Its obvious your not polish and you dont understand a sh1t about anything relating to Poland. I can see from your posts that you are a foreigner its obvious. what happened at your stay Prince ?? With your kind of attitude (arrogant) im sure no Pole would befriend you. man you remind me of some Americans who are ignorant and very much Arrogant Pricks.

Poland is still recovering from partitions, wwII , and communism and it lost half its population to the Nazis.

Its been ****** over so many times, and it seems that you cant appreciate how strong the people are and that we are still here as a people.

These people will have more character then you will ever have. What the hell did you expect in Poland? Golden Toliets, with servants washing your toenails?

Poland does not thrive on the material things that you thrive on.

It thrives on culture, family, tradition, religion. These four qualities is what the Poles truly want.

People like you, who only want material things, will be unhappy and will most likely suffer from mental illness.

Thank you