R2I now and R2A after 20 yrs?

r2i2008 · Post by **r2i2008** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:10 am

We r2I for the sake of our kids/parents now. 15-20 yrs down the road, we get old and our kids are located elsewhere, perhaps in US. Would we as parents R2A for the sake of kids again? Does it make sense to R2I at all in now? Just wanted to get opinions on what people's thoughts are.

LoveIndia · Post by **LoveIndia** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:19 am

r2i2008;10720We r2I for the sake of our kids/parents now. 15-20 yrs down the road, we get old and our kids are located elsewhere, perhaps in US. Would we as parents R2A for the sake of kids again? Does it make sense to R2I at all in now? Just wanted to get opinions on what people's thoughts are.

It all depends on so many factors primary being 'Kids Choice'. If they chose to live in US for career opportunities, then we can certainly give them guidance, acclimatize to USA and accompany them for a short time till they get a firm ground. However, in my case I dont think that I will settle down again in USA after 20 years since I will feel out of place with USA due to lack of social life and acquaintances. I will most probably be a visitor here and can never live permanently due to high living costs (No Income), high health costs and undesirable financial burden to my kids if I stay with them for long term.

Maybe, kids might live in this country just like us - probably will browse the same forum and will have plans to return to India just like what we did :emteeth: Probably my kids friends might ask the same question as you have asked and my kid will respond in the same fashion I responded so that my kids along with grand kids will be returning to India for their education and my kid will R2A after 40 years to support my grand kids who want to establish a career in USA - I think it's too much for me today :mad:

nand · Post by **nand** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:57 am

hard to say what it will be like 20 yrs from now. Maybe US will not be as attractive as it is now, maybe not. Maybe India will become a super economy and our kids can realize all their dreams there, maybe not.

In any case unlike your parents, you are better positioned to come back and live in the US 20 yrs from now, if the need be so.

My approach to this is to not think too far ahead. If R2I is in your mind, try it out and if you like it there, stay there and take it as it comes. If you are happy LIA stay here. Either way you will be presented a set of challenges and problems 20 yrs from now that you have to tackle then. Yes, if past performance is an indicator of future, then US will continue to be an attractive place and India will definitly grow and prosper but will continue to have problems mainly due to the sheer effect of population etc. There is no right answer here.

money_in_my_mind · Post by **money_in_my_mind** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:17 am

r2i2008;10720Would we as parents R2A for the sake of kids again? [/quote]
In other words, you just want to tag along with kids..wherever they go. I suggest and certainly hope you develop your own social network in 20 years in India so that you have a firm base there rather than living like a new (senior) immigrant in this country and eventually become a drag on your kids.

realentity · Post by **realentity** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:21 pm

Also remember the cost of insurance and health care shoot up as you grow older in the US. Older people in the US almost always end up in a retirement home.

swadesh · Post by **swadesh** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:05 pm

LoveIndia;10722It all depends on so many factors primary being 'Kids Choice'. If they chose to live in US for career opportunities, then we can certainly give them guidance, acclimatize to USA and accompany them for a short time till they get a firm ground. However, in my case I dont think that I will settle down again in USA after 20 years since I will feel out of place with USA due to lack of social life and acquaintances. I will most probably be a visitor here and can never live permanently due to high living costs (No Income), high health costs and undesirable financial burden to my kids if I stay with them for long term.

In my opinion kids may come to US or go to other countries for higher education or career. It is so easy to say we will not accompany them, but when we look further deep; If parent's don't accompany kids, our kids will have to go through same emotional and mental dilema, like all members of family can't see each other enough and provide support when needed most. In my opinion we can reduce this dilema by doing following.

1. Keep myself financially independent. This includes if I want to travel down and see my kids twice a year I should be able to do with a pleasent smile.
2. Build a close social network of family and friends.
3. Spend time everyday to keep me fit (NOW) so that I can be as healthy as possible when I am old.
4. Develop a hobby which is fun, satisfying, location independent and I am passionate about it.

I mean I will keep my life and will stay focus on it, I will give kids my wisdom and let them choose when and where to settle.

None of this can fulfill the joy and fun of physical presence and learning which happens on regular basis.

I agree with LoveIndia, I will not do R2A :emwink: but will be a visitor.

For now let me R2I first......:emteeth:
-Swadesh

Old-Spice2 · Post by **Old-Spice2** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:12 pm

Older Americans, after retirement move to Mexico or S America to stretch their dollars. Why would anyone come to US after retirement?

I feel it is a torture to travel by plane for 25-30 hrs. As you grow older, this will become harder.

r2i2008 · Post by **r2i2008** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:17 pm

Thanks for all the responses. Appreciate it.

DosaiLvr · Post by **DosaiLvr** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:17 am

r2i2008;10720We r2I for the sake of our kids/parents now.[/quote]

My parents are deceased. No homesickness. My job is certainly not the reason for my R2I.

I could be one of the many rare cases.

[quote] 15-20 yrs down the road, we get old and our kids are located elsewhere, perhaps in US. Would we as parents R2A for the sake of kids again? [/quote]

I have 2 strong reasons for R2A

1) Kids - Right now my parental instincts are strong because of the ages of my kids. (After they grow up I may not mind sending them to the US on their own.

2) Earning potential - I'll spend my working life in India and come "home" to the US and retire!

All factors remaining constant, my assets could grow faster in India.

One could invest in India while sitting here in the US, but given the nature of my plans, I'd rather be there in India.

[quote]Does it make sense to R2I at all in now? Just wanted to get opinions on what people's thoughts are.[/quote]

Certainly. There is a plethora of reasons why R2Iing makes sense... it is different for each R2I'ng individual though.

neesha · Post by **neesha** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:18 pm

As someone has already said, not sure if 20 years down the line US(and especially the dollar) would be as attractive as Today.
We probably grew up in a culture where we never had a second thought about going to the US. Will our kids feels the same ? It is a smart generation of kids, they will see the world in a much earlier age than us and know many more things in an early age. Sometimes I wonder what would motivate them to go to the US ?