We’re delighted that you’ve found our Retired in Taiwan website. I’d also like to extend a warm welcome to Taiwan. This group is mainly for foreigners, but local friends are warmly welcomed too if they’d like to join us.
I hope you’ll find this website both interesting and helpful. Our aim is simple: to bring together anyone who is retired, semi-retired, or even just thinking about retirement, so that we can support one another as we navigate life here in Taiwan.
Retiring in a foreign country
Being retired in a foreign country isn’t always easy—especially if, like me, you don’t speak the language. Taiwan can feel a little tricky at times, whether it’s customs, laws, or simply finding your way around daily life. Unlike places such as Thailand, Singapore, or Hong Kong, the foreign retiree community here is quite small, which can sometimes leave us feeling a bit isolated.
Welcome to Retired in Taiwan Club
Our Retirees’ Facebook Group officially began in February 2025, shortly after I retired from teaching (33 years in total, the last eleven of them at Taipei European School). I had imagined retirement would be simple: reach out, meet fellow retirees, and quickly find “my tribe”.
How wrong I was! To my surprise, I couldn’t seem to find anyone in a similar situation—where were they all hiding? My first year of retirement was frankly rather lonely, especially living out in New Danshui.
Then I remembered the Community Services Center in Tianmu, which had long been a hub for the expat community. I reached out, began volunteering, and suggested they host a retirees’ coffee morning. And, as they say, the rest is history—our group was born.
Welcome to Taiwan
We’re not a huge crowd, usually around eight regulars meeting every Monday for coffee and a good catch-up, with others joining in when they’re in Taiwan (many divide their time between here and their home countries).
Some folks only ever get involved online through our WhatsApp group, which is fine too, as long as people are making connections that suit their needs.
Over time, we’ve enjoyed lunches, art exhibitions, bike rides, and plenty more. I hope this gives you a little flavour of who we are and what we do. The group is always evolving, thanks to new faces and fresh ideas, so you’ll find something different each time.
We’d love for you to come along whenever you fancy. At the moment, we meet every Monday at 11.30 a.m. at: CE’&LIB-RARY
Alternatively, you can join our WhatsApp group using this link: Retired in Taiwan. When you join, please let us know who you are, and maybe even a little bit about yourself – whatever you feel comfortable sharing.
I look forward to either hearing from you online or welcoming you in person soon.
Warm regards,
Grace Kennedy