I have been talking to my girlfriend for over 5 years now. She is in Rio de Janeito and I visited her there 2 years ago. We have been talking a lot about my moving to Petropolis in a few years when I retire at 62.

She has advised me well on the particulars of the cost of living in Brazil and what I might do with my painting and music there.

My specific question: Will the US government send social security payments to Brazil, whether it be a bank or by mail. If not, would it be feasible to return once a year to the Miami to transfer the money out of an account theree and into one established in Brazil. Since I will be dependant solely on my social security retirement check, this is perhaps the most important information for my decision on whether to move or not to Brazil. Mexico is my first option after Brazil, cheaper top live, closer to the border of the US for medical care, etc.

I would appreciate any insight about this topic.

The Social Security Administration will not deposit in a Brazilian bank.  Here are some of their rules on receiving SS payments while outside the U.S. 

As to Mexico; I believe it may easier to deal with for people from the U.S., especially the SW, than Brazil. Except in the area of hygiene, here Brazil wins hands down.

Well I did declare my age (thereabouts) to all and sundry in another post. Its all relative though this age thing isnt it?  My (very much) younger brother in England is a grandfather , three times over, at the grand old age of 45! I doubt that I will ever see my granchildren.

I enjoy the cut and thrust of these posts and like to contribute in my own little way. I feel something in my meanderings might asisst someone.

I have settled in the mountains of Minas and at the moment it is so cold it might as well be the mountains of the moon. Ours is a small town where I teach English and help out at the local university. I work to keep the old grey matter stirring. I didnt need to, but after washing the car for the umpteenth time and becoming intimately involved (steady there) with the garden I decided I might return to teaching, though I am a retired Civil Engineer. I have many strings to the old bow some not yet plucked, but the thought of returning to construction work in Brasil fillled me with horror. The pay is poor and the competition, ferocious.

I too am blessed with beautiful young daughters (one born in England and the other in Minas) and a Brasilian wife. On Monday they wore their England football shirts to school!

I spent too many valuable years working in and around London. I first came to Brasil in 1993 and by 1994 I knew I would be living here permanently. It took a while, but like my story, I am here.

As I drove into work on the M40 I used to pass a huge roughly painted sign on a fence which read "why do I do this everyday?" Indeed, why did I?

Porto Seguro sounds ok according to the good lady and thank you for "give me a shout" I havent heard that in many a long while. Meandering again, must go.