Page 6 - atoday

A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 29 december 2016
Growing number of Americans are retiring outside the U.S.

MARIA ZAMUDIO Japan experienced big-
For The Associated Press gest growth, 42 percent,
Newly widowed, Kay Mc- of American retirees than
Cowen quit her job, sold any other country between
her house, applied for So- 2010 and 2014, according
cial Security and retired to data from the Social Se-
to Mexico. It was a move curity Administration. The
she and her husband, Mel, large U.S. military presence
had discussed before he in the country may be a
passed away in 2012. factor.
“I wanted to find a place There are more than 50,000
where I could afford to live U.S. military servicemen
off my Social Security,” she and -women stationed in
said. “The weather here is Japan. The presence is so
so perfect, and it’s a beau- large that in the island of
tiful place.” Okinawa, the U.S. military
She is among a growing occupies about 19 percent
number of Americans who of the area, according
are retiring outside the to Ellis S. Krauss, professor
United States. The number emeritus of Japanese poli-
grew 17 percent between tics and policy-making at
2010 and 2015 and is ex- the University of California,
pected to increase over San Diego.
the next 10 years as more Roginski, who volunteers for
baby boomers retire. the Misawa Air Base Retiree
Just under 400,000 Ameri- Activities Office, said he
can retirees are now living In this photo provided by Joseph Roginski, taken May 13, 2011, Joseph Roginski, right, holds a helps connect more than
abroad, according to the package in a storeroom of the Misawa City Hall in Japan, where donations of clothing and sup- 450 retirees and their fami-
plies were being kept for earthquake relief efforts.
Social Security Administra- Associated Press lies living in Northern Japan
tion. The countries they with resources. He said he
have chosen most often: Lake Chapala, is half of says the biggest obstacle is Joseph Roginski, 71, says would never move back to
Canada, Japan, Mexico, what she was paying in Tex- not speaking the language that while the cost of liv- the United States.
Germany and the United as. And since the weather or knowing the culture. ing is higher in Japan, ac- “We have a real strong
Kingdom. is moderate, utility bills are “Many of the people we in- cess to health care is not. sense of security here,” he
Retirees most often cite the inexpensive. terviewed said they spoke “Things are very expensive said. “I can leave my door
cost of living as the reason In some countries, Mitch- Spanish, but they actually here. It is impossible to live unlocked and no one will
for moving elsewhere said ell said, retirees also may spoke very little Spanish,” off Social Security alone,” take anything.
Olivia S. Mitchell, director find it less expensive to hire said Rojas, who is writing said Roginski, who was sta- When I go to another
of the Pension Research someone to do their laun- a book about retirees in tioned in Japan in 1968. country I feel nervous, but
Council at the University dry, clean, cook and even Mexico. “They didn’t have “But health insurance is when I come back I feel
of Pennsylvania’s Wharton provide long-term care the capacity of speaking a major factor in staying like I’m home.”
School. than in the United States. enough Spanish to meet here.” Mexico has become home
“I think that many people McCowen has a commu- their basic needs like go- The former military lan- for retired firefighter, Dan
retire when they are in nity of other American re- ing to the doctor or to the guage and intelligence Williams, 72, and his wife,
good health and they are tirees nearby and has ad- store.” specialist said he pays $350 Donna, 68. The couple has
interested in stretching justed well. Access to health care also annually to be part of Ja- been living near the same
their dollars and seeing the But for others there are hur- can be a challenge. While pan’s national health insur- retirement community in
world,” Mitchell said. dles to overcome to adjust retirees still can receive So- ance. His policy covers 70 Lake Chapala for 14 years.
McCowen’s rent in Ajijic, a to life in a different country. cial Security benefits, Medi- percent of his costs. The rest “The climate and the medi-
community outside Gua- Viviana Rojas, an associ- care is not available to is covered by a secondary cal services are very good,”
dalajara near Mexico’s ate professor at the Univer- those living abroad, Mitch- insurance program for re- Williams said.q
sity of Texas at San Antonio, ell said. tired military personnel.
Police, FBI, other agencies ramp

up security for Rose Parade

JOHN ROGERS Pasadena Police Chief Phil- Rose Bowl football game
ASSOCIATED PRESS lip Sanchez told reporters that follows it.
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Wednesday the measures Police are working with the
Authorities, saying they include water-filled barriers Secret Service, Homeland
have learned valuable les- at some streets. Security, FBI and numerous
sons from the March ter- He adds that such barri- other agencies to ensure
rorist attack in Brussels, are cades are designed to stop safety at the events, which
ramping up security for Pas- would-be terrorists from are attended by hundreds
adena’s 128th annual Rose crashing cars into crowded of thousands each year. Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez, center, speaks about
safety issues ahead of next week’s 128th Rose Parade as he is
Parade with barricades, areas. Authorities are also ask- joined by Pasadena Fire Chief Bertral Washington, background
security checkpoints and Bomb-sniffing dogs will also ing attendees to call po- right, and Rob Savage, special agent in charge of the U.S. Se-
other measures they aren’t be deployed at the pa- lice if they see anything cret Service Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, in Pasadena, Calif.
disclosing. rade and the 103rd annual suspicious.q Associated Press