Ever feel like quitting the rat race and moving to an island? I do.

[joeychitwood]

I was an ER doc for 26 years. In 2011, I was attacked by a patient, and I sustained a traumatic brain injury with subsequent cognitive deficits (brain damage.) I quit medicine altogether last year and did not renew my license this year. I have long-term disability income, but it won't last forever. I am 57 years-old, and I'm trying to decide whether to remain "retired" here in Minnesota, to start a second career doing who-knows-what, or to chuck it all and move to a nice island somewhere. Seriously.

Knowing that the TRF community is vast, varied and of all nationalities, I'm interested in your experiences and opinions. My questions are:

1) Have any of you given your corporate or business life the "heave-ho" and moved to the tropical paradise/country/setting of your dreams?

2) Given that ex-pats have driven up the cost of living in many countries, are you aware of any diamonds in the rough that seem to be undiscovered so far?