A Walk Around the Garden and a Few Uncomfortable Truths.
It's an extraordinarily warm October afternoon here in our little village in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I'm walking around the garden, looking at the grapes slowly withering on the vine, the apples still hanging from the trees, and the countryside stretching away towards the River Vrbas.
And I've been thinking about getting older.
I'm 73 now. I arrived in Bosnia in 1998, never imagining that more than a quarter of a century later I'd still be here, calling this country home.
But growing old in another country brings questions that don't necessarily occur to you when you're younger.
Questions about health, independence, family, and what happens when you can no longer do everything for yourself.
When Your Mind Is Younger Than Your Body
I think I first realised I was getting older when I broke my ankle a few years ago.
The treatment was excellent, but the recovery seemed to take forever. Things that once healed relatively quickly suddenly required patience. Lots of it.
The frustrating thing is that inside my head I'm still about sixteen.
I'm curious, constantly coming up with ideas, planning projects and wanting to get out and explore. Unfortunately, my body doesn't always agree.
I still walk, hike when I can, produce podcasts and write. Staying physically and mentally active matters enormously to me.
But I'm learning that getting older and feeling old aren't necessarily the same thing.
Healthcare and Growing Old in Bosnia
One of the biggest concerns about retiring abroad is healthcare.
Living in Bosnia, I've had to learn how the system works. And although the country has its difficulties, my personal experiences of healthcare here have been reassuring.
Recently, I've been undergoing some medical investigations. Naturally, there's always a little anxiety when doctors start ordering tests.
What has impressed me is how quickly I've been seen and how straightforward the process has been.
Of course, this is my experience. I wouldn't suggest everyone's is identical.
But it's another reminder that assumptions about healthcare in countries such as Bosnia don't always reflect the reality.
Independence Matters More Than Ever
Living in a rural Bosnian village is wonderful.
There's space, peace, fresh air and a sense of community that I genuinely treasure.
But there's a practical consideration.
What happens when you can no longer drive?
Our nearest bus stop is around two and a half kilometres away. That's manageable when you're fit and mobile, but perhaps less so as the years pass.
I'm fortunate to have Tamara, who supports me enormously.
We've already talked about the future, including arranging additional help if it becomes necessary.
I don't want my growing older to mean she has to surrender her own independence.
The Things You Stop Worrying About
There are advantages to getting older.
One is that I've become considerably less concerned about what other people think.
I don't feel obliged to fit into somebody else's idea of how a man in his seventies should behave.
I still want to create things, meet interesting people, learn new skills and occasionally do something completely ridiculous.
Life doesn't suddenly stop being interesting because you've passed seventy.
If anything, I'm more curious now than ever.
Would I Still Choose Bosnia?
Absolutely.
I miss certain things about Britain. Yorkshire tea, proper cheddar cheese and the occasional familiar cultural reference.
But I don't feel the need to return permanently.
Bosnia has become home, not simply because I live here, but because I've been accepted by the people around me.
I haven't become Bosnian, and I've never pretended otherwise. I've simply learned to live alongside another culture with respect and tolerance.
There will undoubtedly be challenges ahead.
I know I'm not getting younger, and I'm increasingly aware that independence isn't guaranteed forever.
But I have no regrets about choosing this country.
And tomorrow morning, provided everything goes according to plan, I'll wake up with another idea, another project, or another reason to go exploring.
Because growing old abroad isn't simply about where you retire.
It's about continuing to live, wherever you've chosen to call home.
