My R2I Story - 3 Years after R2I

[puneri_punter]

r2blore2009

Very informative post.

Assume your house in India is fully paid and you have a job that allows you to take care of living expenses of about Rs. 1 Lakh per month.
What do you do about retirement? Do you need to still keep aside some portion of your salary (like in US) towards retirement? Wouldn't that increase the cash flow requirement and hence the stress to stay in a well paying job?

Please share your thoughts...

[r2blore2009]

puneri_punter

Sure, more cash flow , the better. But how much is enough is a separate thread, where I see anywhere from 3 Cr to 5 Cr. For me ,the cutoff date to r2i was my elder son starting 5th grade. In India , 2nd language is introduced in 2nd grade and 3rd language in 5th grade. Kids can somehow manage if they at least join in 5th grade. Past that, the 2nd and 3rd languages get tougher. I did not want to put my kids thorough anymore hardships. So, I packed and left US like pulling a band-aid. If I had to wait for me to get to a real comfort zone of 3 Cr to 5 Cr above my housing needs, I had to stay in US till my kids reached 10th grade, at which time I thought it will be too late

Plus, I'm hoping Uncle Sam, will help me past 66 yrs of age:).

[okonomi]

Sure, more cash flow , the better. But how much is enough is a separate thread, where I see anywhere from 3 Cr to 5 Cr. ........
Plus, I'm hoping Uncle Sam, will help me past 66 yrs of age:).

Good scheme.... with your 18 years of work with the aforesaid uncle taking away FICA from your earnings, you ought to be able to go to the social security website and check your post-66 payments.
We are all talking about cuts to the program, or raising age of eligibility to start receiving the money.... Keep your eye on your country's politics.
Good luck.

[r2blore2009]

I noticed that I did not mention Bangalore weather as one of the positives. Bangalore weather is still pleasant for the most part, but somehow it does not strike me as a positive any more. Maybe, I got used to it. Maybe the noise,traffic, density of population busy lives that we lead have all masked the joy of Bangalore weather.
I have only appreciated Bangalore weather after returning from short trips to the US (work related) or from Chennai or Hyderabad(again work related). Not sure if other returnees to Bangalore feel the same.

[My Roots]

In India , 2nd language is introduced in 2nd grade and 3rd language in 5th grade.

Just s small addition. The above is true wrt CBSE.
If it's ICSE, 2nd and 3rd language starts from 1st grade/standard itself.
If its state board it's totally different ball game.

[indian6]

Thanks for your diary and you captured exactly what I was thinking (both on job front and on expense part) . I am in exact same position like you, my family R2Ied (to Chennai) early this year. I thought of staying here couple of years, but after seeing the stress on my wife in a recent 2 weeks trip, I have no option except to return to India very soon. (ie with or without job). It is very scary to return without job and without house, but may not have options.
But housing is so expensive and can't afford in city where my kids are going to school (Fortunate to get school admissions last year with much difficulties and with some help) So moving outside where rents are less is not an option. But rental income from houses outside city is way less.

But your diary and my recent 2 weeks trips are big eye opener, but really no clue on what I will be doing after R2I.

[returning_indian]

Good scheme.... with your 18 years of work with the aforesaid uncle taking away FICA from your earnings, you ought to be able to go to the social security website and check your post-66 payments.
We are all talking about cuts to the program, or raising age of eligibility to start receiving the money.... Keep your eye on your country's politics.
Good luck.

Avg age for Indians is 66. With age increases we shouldn't worry about SS payments. Moreover the way dollar is going hopefully SS payments will pay for some maid's salary.

[PeterGriffin]

But your diary and my recent 2 weeks trips are big eye opener, but really no clue on what I will be doing after R2I.

Do you think if R2I is really worth it at such times?
Why suffer through such mental trauma and anxiety to go through R2I during such an uncertain period? How does the thought process work during this time? I would like to know.

[returning_indian]

Do you think if R2I is really worth it at such times?
Why suffer through such mental trauma and anxiety to go through R2I during such an uncertain period? How does the thought process work during this time? I would like to know.

His wife is already in India with his kids. He was planning to stay here and make some money for couple more years while they lived in India. If he had a choice his wife would have stayed here longer. That is my guess.

[r2blore2009]

Thanks for your diary and you captured exactly what I was thinking (both on job front and on expense part) . I am in exact same position like you, my family R2Ied (to Chennai) early this year. I thought of staying here couple of years, but after seeing the stress on my wife in a recent 2 weeks trip, I have no option except to return to India very soon. (ie with or without job). It is very scary to return without job and without house, but may not have options.
But housing is so expensive and can't afford in city where my kids are going to school (Fortunate to get school admissions last year with much difficulties and with some help) So moving outside where rents are less is not an option. But rental income from houses outside city is way less.

But your diary and my recent 2 weeks trips are big eye opener, but really no clue on what I will be doing after R2I.

Indian6, I know it is a tough choice, but I would advice finding a job in India before you return.