Female baby boomer expats embrace solo travel and retirement overseas

According to a popular international expat website, female baby boomers are the latest group to take on travelling solo and retiring overseas on their own.

It seems single women are breaking free from convention and taking off across the world to live their lives solo in their chosen countries. The new trend is the result of an increase in women travelling alone on business during their working lives, thus getting used to enjoying their own independence and ability to cope. At this time, marriage rates are down, and women who get divorced or are widowed are far less likely to remarry than in the past.

Surveys show far more women travel alone than do their male equivalents, leading to the decision to value their independence enough to become solo expat retirees. Most find the experience a fulfilling adventure, with USA females heading for exotic countries south of the border and UK women preferring Europe or Asia for their solo adventures in life after retirement. Most find the freedom to go where they like and do what they please a stimulating and empowering experience, and the majority feel safer in their chosen destination than they did in their home countries.

One single woman from the USA searched for a welcoming, safe place in which to settle, ending up in the Malaysian island of Penang. She doesn’t regret her choice of Georgetown as her home, having found new friends in both the Malaysian and expat community social scenes, and loves the historic city as it’s walkeable and totally safe for lone females. The English-speaking locals make her life easier in many ways, whether she’s shopping or needing advice on any subject. For those looking to follow in her footsteps, her advice is to try your chosen destination for six weeks or so, then make your final decision.