Transitioning to a Philippines Retirement

[sonjack2847]

On 6/15/2017 at 4:12 AM, AlwaysRt said:

Coke here, Pepsi in the US, has been my friggin curse. Addicted to the sugar I suppose. True would be much worse if I was killing my liver but carrying around a sack of concrete worth of extra weight aint exactly doing me any good either.

More to the subject of moving after retirement, I was nervous up to and during my estate sale (got rid of everything in 3 days except for my car) but once it was done I actually relief and the weight of the anchor of 'stuff' was gone. Was much scarier to sell my car as that restricted my movement in the States for the last week I was there. Still the freedom of nothing to worry about 'back home' felt amazing. I also fall into the category of 'no regrets, wish I did it sooner'.

I sold or gave away all of my possessions except my house.My van was sold to next door and I used it until the day I left all I did was put the keys through his letter box.The house is now up for sale( after 6 years)as I want to get something sorted for my wife so she has extra income when I go.

[sonjack2847]

On 6/15/2017 at 1:51 AM, bows00 said:

Totally agree because I love my beer.  This is my No. 1 concern and this is what I see a lot of expats doing there, from 10 in the morning.  

The people who I see doing early morning drinking are Europeans (mainland).But has anybody thought that their time clock could be different to ours.Maybe they go to bed at 8pm and up at 2-3 am.Or maybe they might be out and out drunks and I am talking out the back of my head again.

[Jack Peterson]

2 minutes ago, sonjack2847 said:

I sold or gave away all of my possessions

 For me, I Closed the Old Door and Opened the new one overnight (Literally) I agreed that I would not pay the last 2 months rent (I rented then )  I had already sold the House I was Living in. I left Everything for the owner to use or Sell as he felt, Total was about 800 Euro in worth, Top whack, He owed me 600 euro Deposit That he Repaid (I was surprised) as I owed him 1,200 rent I made a Profit. Odd you may think but the Deal was done and he was a Great Landlord who Understood why I was Going. His Giving me the Deposit back was because it was his wife that owned the House and she was a believer in Total Honesty, I had been and she repaid in the same manner. Not only that but they are Business Partners of mine still, they say business lives and private lives don't mix but here is one little episode that can say they do with Honesty on Both Sides

 Not often we come across this but for once I became a little winner. So for me I was so happy to be a Turnkey leaver and have never looked Back. Peace of Mind is what I wanted NO! needed at that time, So whilst it is not always our Advice that can suit all, I feel like saying if you are going to do it 'DO IT'

[Jack Peterson]

12 minutes ago, sonjack2847 said:

.Or maybe they might be out and out drunks and I am talking out the back of my head again.

No mate you are on the right side of the Rails, Whist we (AS you and I) Like a few beers, we KNOW when the time has come to go Home,

 I am not and don't want to think about it, too sure which way it would go if I did not have a Home and people in my Life that matter,

 It is so easy I would imagine to go off the rails if Single here and I think these types are just alone and/or Unhappy that they still think things look better through the Bottom of a glass. I will Admit that when Stressed, a 'Beer ' does wonders for me It is no Secret that I enjoy my 2 Bottles a day when I have my Hour alone each day and a few more when I have a Friend call up. Then there is our Monthly Meet in Town and we YES! have a few more than Norm but as responsible people (I like to think) we have got over that what if thing and we have found the Ground we need to be on 'MODERATION" and this is where I feel some we see let themselves down (And get us a bad name sometimes)

Someone once said "Behind all Great men is a better Woman" and I feel that this is the key to not worrying too much about Binge Drinking as we can sometimes see, Alone you may Drink too much, have a good Lady behind you and you have need to Think twice 

 

 Sermon Over, Time nearly for a 

 

 Sorry for the Deep thoughts but I don't think we should worry too much about this as I have just walked the Dogs and seen many Locals falling all over the Place

[Dave Hounddriver]

2 minutes ago, Jack Peterson said:

"Behind all Great men is a better Woman"

 And here all these years I was thinking "Behind all Great men is a bitter Woman"

[AlwaysRt]

4 minutes ago, Jack Peterson said:

So whilst it is not always our Advice that can suit all, I feel like saying if you are going to do it 'DO IT'

Yes, waiting for the 'right' time to move may seem reasonable to those making plans. Changing perspective, which seems more reasonable, spending your life waiting, or make the move and start living?

[Snowy79]

Since retiring to the Philippines I feel like I've retired twice. The first time more than prepared me for the final retirement.

My first retirement was from the military. I walked through the gates of my first military camp on my 16th birthday as a 5ft 2 inch, 7 1/2 stone weakling. Over the years I trained hard put on the muscle and grew 6 inches. I completed Commando and Paratrooper courses and a whole load more. Traveled the World and done my fair share of operational tours.

I worked my way up the food chain to get to Warrant Officer class 1 at the age of 35 which was well ahead of the game, by the time I reached 40 I was in charge of auditing all the units in Scotland and the eyes and ears to the Commander Equipment Support. At 40 I was told go for a commission or retire. I couldn't sell my soul so opted for no choice retirement as I never wanted to become an officer. 

My final day was a complete eye opener and set my mind for the future. I walked into the headquarters carrying all my uniform and identification card. I was met by what can only be described as a bell end when I went to sign off. It was almost lunchtime and this guy told me to come back after lunch. I explained that as of today I'm a civilian and had given over 22yrs of my life to the Military so would like to do it now. After almost threatening to turn him into a casualty he handed me a signing out form to go around different departments to ensure I never had any outstanding issues. The day proceeded like a comedy of errors with most departments not knowing who In was or for some reason I wasn't on their system ( I'd worked independently and used to set off from home and had served with some foreign units). The headquarters is pretty much staffed by civilians. By 3pm I had handed everything over and the last act was to cut my Identification card up in front of me.

I walked out of the camp and it felt like a knife through my heart. In total I'd given 24 yrs and 32 days of my life. My whole youth and the best years of my life. I'd worked hard and professionally up until the last day of service and not even a thank you. At the end of the day I was just a number and easily replaced.

Sadly we all have a sell by date. It took me about 10 minutes to decide to retire finally. Sure it's a big risk but fortune favours the brave. I'd rather lay on my death bed thinking of the risks I took than have regrets. You will one day have no choice but to retire and in my mind it's better to retire with your health as long as you can financially afford it and I think compared to the locals here most Westerners have a decent quality of life.

I'd hate to think of being retired as a 67 year old with failing health and pretty much thrown on the scrap heap in the cold and wet UK. Dark winter mornings and also getting dark by 4:30pm. It's so much better waking up warm every day with beautiful beaches and clear blue water with a body of like minded retirees. Did I mention the pretty women? 

 

[Snowy79]

This sums us all up whether we like it or not:

The Indispensable Man

(by Saxon White Kessinger)

Sometime when you're feeling important;
Sometime when your ego 's in bloom;
Sometime when you take it for granted,
You're the best qualified in the room:
Sometime when you feel that your going,
Would leave an unfillable hole,
Just follow these simple instructions,
And see how they humble your soul.  

Take a bucket and fill it with water,
Put your hand in it up to the wrist,
Pull it out and the hole that's remaining,
Is a measure of how much you'll be missed.
You can splash all you wish when you enter,
You may stir up the water galore,
But stop, and you'll find that in no time,
It looks quite the same as before.  

The moral of this quaint example,
Is to do just the best that you can,
Be proud of yourself but remember,
There's no indispensable man.

[Jollygoodfellow]

37 minutes ago, Snowy79 said:

and grew 6 inches

You weren't happy with the 3 you had ? 

[Snowy79]

41 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

You weren't happy with the 3 you had ? 

Your wife never complained about the size of it.