As a registered nurse, I learned that the best outcomes often come not from making decisions for people, but from giving them the knowledge, support, and environment they need to make informed choices. That philosophy guided my nursing career, and it became the foundation for Next Horizon.
Rather than telling you where you should retire, my goal is to help you understand your options. By bringing together reliable research on cost of living, healthcare, taxes, residency options, housing, climate, safety, transportation, and quality of life, Next Horizon is designed to put you in the best position to make one of the most important decisions of your life.
Why I Created This Website
For as long as I can remember, I've dreamed of living abroad.
The idea of experiencing different cultures, learning how people live, discovering new places, and embracing the adventure of exploring the world has always inspired me. As retirement moved from being a distant idea to something I was actively planning, that dream became much more personal.
I started asking the same questions you may be asking today.
Where could I afford to retire?
What countries have excellent healthcare?
How do taxes work?
Could I really live in Europe? Or would another destination be a better fit?
The deeper I researched, the more I realized how difficult it was to find practical, trustworthy information in one place. Every answer seemed to lead to five more questions, and important details were scattered across government websites, financial articles, expat forums, and travel blogs.
So I began organizing everything.
What started as my own research gradually grew into a structured knowledge base, and eventually became Next Horizon.
My Approach
I'm naturally curious. When something matters to me, I don't stop after finding one answer. I enjoy exploring a topic from multiple perspectives, comparing sources, questioning assumptions, and continuing to learn until I have a well-rounded understanding.
That curiosity has shaped every part of this project.
Rather than promoting a particular country or trying to convince you that one destination is "the best," I focus on presenting balanced information that allows you to compare your options based on what matters most to you.
No retirement destination is perfect.
Every country and every U.S. state involves trade-offs. My goal is to help you understand those trade-offs so you can make confident, informed decisions for your own situation.
About Me
My name is Laura Scates, BSN, RN, CRNI.
For more than a decade, I've worked as a registered nurse, helping patients understand complex information, navigate unfamiliar healthcare systems, and make informed decisions about their care.
Those same skills have proven invaluable while researching retirement. Whether comparing healthcare systems, understanding tax implications, evaluating residency pathways, or organizing large amounts of information, I approach this work with the same commitment to accuracy, curiosity, and thoughtful analysis that has guided my nursing career.
Trust, but always verify.
Every figure, tax rule, and visa requirement on this site is researched and sourced — but tax law, visa rules, and healthcare policy change, sometimes quickly. Guides on this site label what's settled and what's genuinely contested or unclear, with sources cited throughout so you can check them yourself.
While I'm not a financial advisor, attorney, tax professional, or immigration consultant, I believe that clear, well-organized information empowers people to ask better questions and make better decisions. Whenever possible, I encourage readers to verify important details with official government sources and qualified professionals before making major financial, legal, or healthcare decisions.
My Mission
Choosing where — and how — you live is one of the most powerful decisions you'll ever make.
It's the freedom to retire abroad, work from anywhere, slow travel the world, rotate between countries on your own terms, or simply choose the U.S. home base that fits your life best — whenever, and however, you're ready to make that choice.
My hope is that Next Horizon saves you time, reduces uncertainty, and gives you the confidence to explore your options with clarity.
If this website helps you find the place where your next chapter begins, then every hour spent building it will have been worthwhile.
Welcome to Next Horizon, and thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey.