European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 09, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday september 9, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 9 Over Here. _ _ s4s Kan of Togo for Ron Mccain a retired . Army major it s not hard to ret used to life on the turkish Seaside. I be s piloting his Cruiser Thrush a peaceful Harbor on the Aegean. Military retirees reaching for turkish Gold by Deedee Arrington Doke staff writer Izmir Turkey after 20 years in the army Ron Mccain recognized the Good life when he saw it near a Seaside City in Turkey. Today Mccain 41, is one of a growing number of . Military retirees who return to Turkey to enjoy a lifestyle where the living is easy and Inex pensive and the prospects arc Bright for economic Success. It s Beautiful in t it Mccain asked As he nudged his 30-foot Cruiser out into the twinkling Blue Aegean sea on a midweek afternoon. It s not hard to gel used to it. Not difficult at in 1988, the retired army major grabbed for the brass ring and went for the Gold. He wanted to be in on the impending economic Boom in Turkey that s exp Clad to follow increasing tourist traffic and industrialization there. This is going to be the place to be in the next five to 10 years. It seemed More prudent to live Here especially since i know turkish the former. Army translator said of his decision to move his family Back to Turkey after living briefly in the United states. Some . Military retirees return to work in Turkey As civilian contractors with the govern ment. I like said Waller Mullin a 30-year Veteran of the air Force who works As chief of housing management in the Izmir area. My wife Gicz up in Turkey. The people Are very kind peo ple. The climate is Fine. And god bless America but 1 Don t think i d do As Well financially if i was Back in the uni cd another Retiree Mccain knows bought Inlo a turkish Tomato paste factory. Mccain cast his lot with the tourist Industry. You have to be sort of an entrepreneur and do something that in t being done Mccain said of succeeding in business in Turkey. It s hard to break in at his turkish language skills opened doors for him initially. Bui most of Mccain s dreams of Success depend on Selling american travel agents his vision of Turkey As an alluring vacation spot. Turkey s exotic magic already has been discovered by europeans who descend in droves on the country s beaches id resorts at a Csc Bodum and other spots. But americans recalling grim turkish prison scenes from the movie Midnight lag behind in blazing tourist trails to the land where East meets West. Mccain allowed that some turks Are whimsical and vacillate in business dealings but he disputes their cinematic image. Everyone thinks turks Are so Barbaric but this is going to be the place to be in the next five to 10 Ron Mccain they re the warmest people on Earth he said sip Ping a tall Cool drink after having anchored the boat near an Inlet across from a Csc. With his wife and two children Ages 8 and ii Mccain lives comfortably he said on $1.400 a month. His Bills include $1,500 annual rent for a boat slip in Cesmac. A parking spot thai would cosi thousands More in a similarly exclusive resort in the United slates or in most european countries. There arc minor disadvantages for . Military retirees who opt for second lives in Turkey. On Retiree who lives near Izmir noted that property he paid for had to be registered in someone else s name because of government restrictions. But Mccain who rents but expects to buy property eventually disagreed. Foreigners can own property Here. You have to know How 10 get through the bureaucracy hear Gued. As far As work permits go they 11 usually renew it unless you re a in Turkey relic is who no longer work for the government generally Don t have shopping privileges at exchanges and commissaries because of turkish government restrictions. Sending the Mccain Chil Dren to department of defense dependents schools there would Cost about $6,000 per child so the Cou ple plans to Send them to a turkish private school. I Don t really miss the pm Mccain said As he i up a cigarette with inc prices Here. You can get jus about anything you want on the and he s hoping hell find what he wants on inc local Economy. He s got five and 10-year plans to score a financial coup from his slay abroad which will last no longer than a decade with a smile he declined to reveal his plans except to say icy involve the tourist Trade and maybe a rest aural bar Lype thing in he Winlon to say i Vegol to work a lol harder than i used to. It s More rewarding except when you have Little he told of making numerous phone Calls the Day before for a customer who requested a boat trip. After Mccain arranged a Daylong excursion inc Cus Lomer cancelled it late in the evening. But when you put together a really Good he said you feel Good about the sparkling Waters in which inc Cruiser res cd were broken up by the splashing of swimmers and a handful of Young women who drove around inc Inlet in a Small boat. It s Beautiful in t it he asked again reflecting briefly on the Sun. Sea and Sand around him. You used to find trash everywhere but they re cleaning up now although european tourists arc abundant in Cosme the resort an exquisite melange of aging marketplace and natural Beauty in t overcrowded. And its atmosphere does t scream tourist i Mccain Sells american tourists on Turkey that pleasant environment could change. I know. I m a Lillic jealous Aboul that he acknowledged. I m torn Between two things. Some times i want it to stay just the Way it is but some times i want to share ii Wilh of her
