Life Starts Afresh as a New ExPat.

[Eddie1]

Well, I have been formally retired now for 15 days and its feeling good.  I have now reached my destination of Dumaguete, I got into Manila at about 1AM Saturday morning, lashing with rain.  Got a cab over to Makati and spent Saturday there catching up with friends and trying to avoid more heavy rain showers, even managed to catch some streamed footie in a bar, actually my own team of Westham United, that was a bonus as I cant even get to see it live on TV at home.   Took an early morning flight out of Terminal 3 today (Sunday) to Dumaguete,  flew with PAL,  all good as we left on time and arrived early into Duma, it was definitely a better experience than flying over with Cebu Pacific which I did for the last two years. 

I had already rented a studio since last month as I knew I was coming out but was just unsure of the date,  Hermagina Apartments.  I stayed there last year and the year previous but just short term as I was on holiday then but of course it is all so different now, I am here to stay. Tomorrow we will begin shopping for the many items we don't buy when we are on vacation, microwave, toaster, fans, rice cooker for the missus, etc etc lol.

Its a nice feeling I am enjoying at the moment, I have read articles on here over the past year about retiring and how people consider what it will be like in taking that big step, i.e. retiring and relocating to the Phils, in particular money worries and will it ever be enough etc.  For me personally I did a couple of private messages on here to forum members that I have met and trust and got a breakdown on what I would need per month on a reasonably tight budget and I consider that to be good information.   I don't have any family back home in the UK and apart from giving up my dog it was an easy decision for me, I have nobody to miss and apart from a few friends nobody is going to miss me so therefore no emotional ties back home tugging on the heart strings.   I am totally committed to my new life as an expat, its what I want to do and the Philippines is where I want to be, sure there will be bad days and maybe even bad weeks at times but not really a major problem, I had plenty of them back in the UK as well!  I think Dumaguete is a good starting location as there is a nice little group of forum members already here, a bonus of that is that there is a wealth of information amongst them, many collective boots on the ground so to speak Lol,  but I do believe that the Phils is worth travelling and exploring and over time we will begin to do so, initially it will be to explore the whole of Negros and hopefully as we gain confidence and experience we will venture out further and explore much of the Visayas.   I would like to maybe get out to some of the more remote islands that have less foreigners and see if it will bring different experiences, I mentioned before in a previous topic that I would like to do some voluntary work in the community, perhaps to try and give back a little where some help is needed. 

So, tomorrow Noime and myself will start chipping away at an ever increasing shopping list and we will start to slowly build our new life together here,  it is a new and exciting chapter in my life, actually to be truthful it is a new chapter in our lives not just mine.  Regarding finance, I have what I have and it will have to be enough, life is too short to stay at home any longer worrying about it, the time to live is now, I am newly retired and I am a new expat in the Philippines.  What more could a person want? 

[stevewool]

So please for you , it was great reading this as what you have said i have all those feeling too, but i have a few more months to top up my savings.

If you have the time to write more about how you are getting on it would be appreciated, good luck.

[Old55]

Congratulations once more 🎉and thank you for taking the time to share with us.

Exciting adventures in your future for sure!

 

[Dave Hounddriver]

9 hours ago, Eddie1 said:

   I am totally committed to my new life as an expat, its what I want to do and the Philippines is where I want to be, sure there will be bad days and maybe even bad weeks at times but not really a major problem, I had plenty of them back in the UK as well!

That's the spirit.  Your entire post is well written but this is the part that will make you a long term expat.  Congrats on your move.

[BrettGC]

Congratulations mate, must be an amazing feeling.  I'm about 18 months behind you on my timeline but already have a sense of anticipation.

[Jake]

28 minutes ago, BrettGC said:

Congratulations mate, must be an amazing feeling.  I'm about 18 months behind you on my timeline but already have a sense of anticipation.

Anticipation?  Is that like a virgin teenager on his first date ready to blow his cookies?  

Well Eddie, you've come a long way to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  It shouldn't be all about keeping up with the Jones now.  Learn how to relax, enjoy the treasures of the family, spending quality time with no concern about time itself.  

Congrats Eddie!   

[BrettGC]

Just now, Jake said:

Anticipation?  Is that like a virgin teenager on his first date ready to blow his cookies?  

Yep!

[virginprune]

Congratulations Eddie, the life of now starts for you...have fun and rewarding times 

[RBM]

Expect with your attitude things will be just fine. Obviously no rose tinted glasses, yes good bunch of forum members there, hope catch with them and yourself again soon.

Just watch those trikes when crossing the road.....

[sonjack2847]

Hi Eddie welcome.

I will suggest that when buying things for the home take your time as you can buy in haste and repent at leisure.I have with a few furniture purchases.See you Thursday.