For some retirees, the recession has made relocating to another country an attractive way to cut expenses while still living the dolce vita. But although your cost of living may plummet and your quality of life could improve, make no mistake: You won’t be in Kansas anymore.

Living in a non-English-speaking environment is just the beginning. “Everything, from grocery shopping to celebrating Christmas, will be different,” says Kathleen Peddicord, a longtime expatriate and author of “How to Retire Overseas: Everything You Need to Know to Live Well (for Less) Abroad” (Hudson Street Press, $25.95). “If that will be a source of frustration, retiring overseas is not for you.”