My Car, My Life...

[bows00]

I bought my car back in 2004, a brand new Honda S2000 - a high revving, highly in demand sports car that Honda no longer makes.  But instead of driving it to it's full potential, I babied that car... hoping it would last forever, I never missed a scheduled maintenance and never pushing it past 5000 RPM (where red line is around 9000 RPM).  After 12 years of careful conservative driving, the forsaken happened.  Just last week, a car coming out of a driveway sideswiped me - and the car was damaged beyond repair, with only 65,000 miles on the odometer.  The car died with all that music left inside...

Now that got me thinking.  Am I living my life that way too?  Living conservatively at a 40 hour per week job - dreaming at my desk of how life could be in the Philippines.  Am I going to die without living my life to its fullest?  And since nobody knows when they are going to kick the bucket,  what am I waiting for?  The way things are headed, there are going to be many regrets at my death bed.  And what if I knew I had only 5 years to live, how would I spend them? 

Today, I filled out my retirement papers.  I am now committed to the Philippines in 2017. 

[Jake]

2 hours ago, bows00 said:

 

Now that got me thinking. 

Today, I filled out my retirement papers.  I am now committed to the Philippines in 2017. 

Hello Bows,

Those are certainly valid questions or concerns after devoting most of your adult life in the rat race.  Possibly a mid life situation (and not a crisis) where a major decision is slapping you in the face for another reality check.  

You're not alone in this major fork in the road.  And yet, you may have an advantage where you can remain flexible and being resourceful -- your relatively young age is your ace in the hole.  And most importantly, maintaining a healthy lifestyle without any medical issues living your dream in the Philippines.

Nothing wrong with being wild and crazy sometimes -- go for the red line!  Respectfully Jake

[Gratefuled]

Again, I have to refer you to the song by Sinatra, " MY WAY".  

[OnMyWay]

I think you are making a good decision for someone in your position.

I think you are about the same age as I was when I made the decision.  In the years prior to that, I was making good money and hooked on buying "stuff".  I realized that having a good paying job that I was bored to death with, and having "stuff", were not making me happy.

When you are single it may seem like life is good and there is no baggage to hold you back, but now I realize that for most humans, including me, family is what will make you happy, day in and day out.  Sure, nothing is perfect and there will be heartbreaks and setbacks.

I traded this baby

For these babies

and I couldn't be happier!

[Nephi]

Bows00,

We all reach a point in life where we realize there are more days behind us that there are ahead. That's when most of us plan for and commit to some major change in life-it's natural.

The last time I was in the States, due to a long term employment company going under I was working a low pay, dead end job in Nebraska. That is when I made my major decision.

Back then at just 51 years old I committed financial suicide and moved here to the islands to stay and get married. That gave us quite a few years to wait until Social Security and other pensions kicked in. My wife was working a job here that pays us only about $200.00us dollars per month and counting me, there were 7 people living in the house. I arrived in Manila with only $700 to my name in my leap of faith. My wife had to borrow from different family members to pay for my permanent residency visa and the related trips to Manila for it.

I really had to tighten my belt and for the first time in my life I found out what it's like to live the life of a local in every way. That was quite an experience for a person that never lived without most anything I wanted in life.

Although many friends back home in the States told me that doing such a thing was dangerous, foolish, and even stupid; everything worked out perfectly. The years of hardship caused our marriage to become stronger as we worked together on it. Love grew and we found fun and happiness in the smallest things.

Now, we have 4 lovely daughters and life is good. Funny how looking back on the lean and difficult times, they seem like the best times ever.

So what you are doing or have decided to do is probably the best and even if there are bumps in the road after moving here it is well worth the effort and any difficulties you may face.

 

Best Of Luck In Your New Life Here

Nephi

Edited July 30, 2016 by Nephi

[Dave Hounddriver]

21 minutes ago, Nephi said:

We all reach a point in life where we realize there are more days behind us that there are ahead.

Yes, we realize that, and then we wake up one morning realizing that some people have lived to 120 and if that happens to me . . . . Yvonne will be 80 

[Nephi]

24 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

Yes, we realize that, and then we wake up one morning realizing that some people have lived to 120 and if that happens to me . . . . Yvonne will be 80 

I doubt many of us will live to see any age close to that. Just imagine what we would look like at that age!!

[stevewool]

Good luck,

Like many say i bet there are many behind you wishing they could do it too,

I am one of those and am hoping that next year i will be somewhere different , where who knows ,

[Gratefuled]

5 hours ago, OnMyWay said:

I think you are making a good decision for someone in your position.

I think you are about the same age as I was when I made the decision.  In the years prior to that, I was making good money and hooked on buying "stuff".  I realized that having a good paying job that I was bored to death with, and having "stuff", were not making me happy.

When you are single it may seem like life is good and there is no baggage to hold you back, but now I realize that for most humans, including me, family is what will make you happy, day in and day out.  Sure, nothing is perfect and there will be heartbreaks and setbacks.

I traded this baby

For these babies

and I couldn't be happier!

Family is EVERYTHING to me. Relatives and lifelong friends are a close 2nd.  

[Gratefuled]

4 hours ago, Nephi said:

Bows00,

We all reach a point in life where we realize there are more days behind us that there are ahead. That's when most of us plan for and commit to some major change in life-it's natural.

The last time I was in the States, due to a long term employment company going under I was working a low pay, dead end job in Nebraska. That is when I made my major decision.

Back then at just 51 years old I committed financial suicide and moved here to the islands to stay and get married. That gave us quite a few years to wait until Social Security and other pensions kicked in. My wife was working a job here that pays us only about $200.00us dollars per month and counting me, there were 7 people living in the house. I arrived in Manila with only $700 to my name in my leap of faith. My wife had to borrow from different family members to pay for my permanent residency visa and the related trips to Manila for it.

I really had to tighten my belt and for the first time in my life I found out what it's like to live the life of a local in every way. That was quite an experience for a person that never lived without most anything I wanted in life.

Although many friends back home in the States told me that doing such a thing was dangerous, foolish, and even stupid; everything worked out perfectly. The years of hardship caused our marriage to become stronger as we worked together on it. Love grew and we found fun and happiness in the smallest things.

Now, we have 4 lovely daughters and life is good. Funny how looking back on the lean and difficult times, they seem like the best times ever.

So what you are doing or have decided to do is probably the best and even if there are bumps in the road after moving here it is well worth the effort and any difficulties you may face.

 

Best Of Luck In Your New Life Here

Nephi

Happy for you and yours and it makes you a survivor. Like someone once said, " if it don't kill you, it will make you stronger".