Retire in Poland - Good or Bad Idea?

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