|
After settling in to a new lifestyle following retirement abroad retirees will, eventually, seek things to do. It is not easy for most to be totally idle for long. The object is engage in a satisfying and achievable occupation that will relieve boredom and also be fun. The following ideas can be profitable and within the tax and employment laws in the settlement country without being too onerous for a retired person. 1. If traveling is an interest and organization is a natural skill then arranging tourist trips for groups will be a possibility. With some experience it is likely that personal costs for both travel and accommodation will be free to the tour organizer and eventually some commissions and other earnings may accrue. It is best if tours are arranged to places that are attractive and known to the organizer for particular reasons. Such "niche" tours can be advertised on the internet. It will be best to take friends on the "learning" tours. Such groups may be more forgiving of errors and problems on "trial runs". Alternatively going on such tours with a view to learning about the arrangements that must be made is instructive. There is also the possibility of traveling as a secondary guide on some tours with the same objective in mind. Perhaps "insurance" is the watchword to understand in this kind of venture. 2. Any ability with a camera can be turned into cash. Firms that store and hire out photographs exist to supply material to people and organizations that want generic rather than specific photographs but who do not wish to hire a photographer. Such firms have various categories, sections or classes of pictures. These can be easily viewed in the internet. It is possible that some of the objects, views, scenery or other photographs taken in a given location may fit into some of the classes that are wanted by stock photography businesses. If chosen by a customer then the photographer is paid a royalty or fee. Pictures must be representative of the class in which they are placed and be of outstanding quality. Good photographs may be chosen many times for purposes that occur on a regular basis and can become classics of their type. As with writing there are many possibilities to attend classes or conventions in this field but testing the water by submitting some photographs before spending money is advisable. Small successes may justify pursuing this activity. 3. Any traveler will have noticed that almost all of the "local" souvenirs sold at airports and at many shops are not manufactured in the country of which they are supposed to be representative. Many people prefer genuine items made by local craftsmen from natural raw materials. There are problems for tourists collecting real souvenirs. It is not easy to identify genuine items. Airline baggage limits often make it impossible to carry desired items back home. Even if brought home items may be confiscated by border control authorities usually for quarantine reasons. Most countries have rules about the importation of foodstuffs, animal and vegetable fibre. As a new resident it should be possible to source local suppliers or makers of characteristically local items that may be good souvenirs. Careful investigations can establish just what form of treatment or fumigation will be necessary for entry into given countries. Obviously information should be sought first about such formalities relevant to countries from which the majority of tourists originate. Postal and shipping rates are easily ascertained as are details of the appropriate customs and quarantine declarations that must be completed. Local sources must be vetted for reliability of supply and manufacturing times. All of this information should be put on a web site and the site itself advertised at travel agents, in airline magazines and at local souvenir outlets. The benefits to tourists of buying from such a site are clear. There is no currency difficulty, no excess baggage problems, and there is guaranteed protection against confiscation on arrival. Maintaining such a venture as an online business avoids the need to become involved in physically exporting goods to retails outlets overseas. This latter kind of operation would very likely be well beyond the capabilities of most retirees and far too onerous and time consuming for those simply wanting to avoid boredom and enjoy a secondary income source. Some countries are more suitable for this kind of activity than others. Those with an ancient civilization are usually most productive in local peasant items of clothing, decoration, and jewelry. In central and south American those places which immediately come to mind are Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Belize, El Salvador, western Honduras and Ecuador. In these countries the Aztec, Mayan and Inca peoples lived, although not all in each place. Retirement bases in Panama, Belize and Ecuador would suit such businesses. After making a success of the exporting and marketing of one country's artifacts attention can be turned to others. The Caribbean region is not the only area that would be suitable for this kind of trade. Many places in Asia and Africa also qualify for attention. Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, India and Burma in Asia and South Africa, Kenya, Uganda in south and central Africa and the less volatile countries of west and northern Africa and the middle east come to mind immediately. With care none of the above activities need impinge more than is wanted upon the retirement lifestyle. Development of these opportunities can be at any pace but at the very least boredom will be avoided and pin-money can be booked. It is important not to be over-ambitious in any venture. Loss of the "retired" experience is probably not what is intended. Les Johns, who enjoys traveling and meeting people, has a web site that will save those contemplating retirement abroad hours of research time. Also at this site the inexpensive country specific books in the series "How to Retire in ..." can be purchased. These books are published for the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes and Noble Nook.
Related Articles -
Retirement Abroad, New Lifestyle, New Country, Retirement Country, Occupation, Profit,
| 
