SERENDIPITY

 

Recently I discovered that I'm eligible for Irish citizenship along with a passport that allows me to live and work anywhere in the EU thanks to an Irish grandmother born in County Tipperary.

She was the grandmother I never knew. She died when my father was 7 years old. Afterward Dad and my grand pop went to live with my father's German born grandmother. So I am what was described in the Godfather movie as a Kraut-Mick combo with a little Limey (English) thrown in for good measure.

My first trip abroad was to Ireland in 1976. Among other places there I visited County Tipperary. I wondered if my grandmother's ghost was looking on. I've also been to Germany & England; perhaps even more ghosts were looking on.

In 2007 when I was in group therapy the lady next to me was from Ireland and traveled back and forth to visit family. I told her of my trip there in 1976.

"You'd never recognize it today!" she exclaimed. "It's been greatly modernized."

I almost said, "I certainly hope so!" Back when I was there in 76 they were still delivering milk by donkey cart even in Dublin.

Since Irish citizenship along with a passport would allow me to live anywhere in the EU I was thinking Portugal should I consider expatriating again. Perhaps it would grant me the affordable healthcare available in Europe that I will never have here.

I've been to Portugal, and the two things I remember most are that it was quite modern even then, plus it had the most delicious seafood dishes I've ever tasted.

Currently Portugal is popular with retirees from around the world. But I've read it's beginning to struggle under the volume of these. That's the problem with these places where seniors can live comfortably on a fixed income. They become popular suffocating the goose that lays the golden egg.

Ten years ago Ecuador, Thailand, & Mexico were on the list as the best places for retirees to move. Now none of them are!

I made exploratory trips to both Ecuador & Thailand six months apart last decade. Both proved too third world for me. And during the 1970's I made frequent trips to Mexico with family. Today Mexico is far too violent to even consider.

Perhaps getting an Irish passport is something I should check into further. Of course I'd prefer to remain here. Unfortunately if I'm forced to do any serious hospital time I may end up living in my car after being released!