Leaving you Comfort Zone?

[sonjack2847]

22 minutes ago, OnMyWay said:

Gary, how do you take care of your property when you are out of the country?

You are at the mercy of the management company.Even if they have a good reputation thing can go awry very quickly.The last lot I got rid of cost me over 800UK and I was only given 250 by the letting agency who would not even consider my side of the story.

[OnMyWay]

1 minute ago, sonjack2847 said:

You are at the mercy of the management company.Even if they have a good reputation thing can go awry very quickly.The last lot I got rid of cost me over 800UK and I was only given 250 by the letting agency who would not even consider my side of the story.

No, in Gary's case, 6 mo here, 6 mo there, I was referring to who takes care of the house while he is in the Philippines.  I assume it is left empty or with a caretaker.

[Gary D]

5 hours ago, OnMyWay said:

No, in Gary's case, 6 mo here, 6 mo there, I was referring to who takes care of the house while he is in the Philippines.  I assume it is left empty or with a caretaker.

Haven't thought that far ahead yet. I don't think the renting route would work. Our son will still be here in the UK, he has just finished university and is looking for a job. If he can find a placement locally like Cambridge for instance he could live in our house for the cost of the utilities etc. If he moves away an option is to sell up and buy something local to him. A flat would work as long as it has a garage for the car. Being able to just shut the door and not worry about gardens etc would be good but we would still have the underlying costs plus the housing association dues, so not a cheap option either. Our son renting from us would be the best and we don't want to lose the bolthole in the UK in case the wife can't get on with all of the crap in the Philippines.

[Kuya John]

1 hour ago, Gary D said:

Our son renting from us would be the best and we don't want to lose the bolthole in the UK in case the wife can't get on with all of the crap in the Philippines.

That sounds the  best option, I would say Gary

The stories I've heard about bad Tennant's would put anyone off renting out their home.

Leaving your home unoccupied  for months would invalidate you insurance cover too and be to risky especially in winter. (burst pipes etc)

[Heeb]

Well it's Sunday morning here in Spokane and the wife just left for work, it's my home alone day, so what to do? I used to think about retiring to P.I. mostly when I was at work, on my days off not nearly as much, now I think about it constantly. Last summer I went on a motorcycle trip to Alaska with some friends, it was a rough trip for me because of my back and tent camping I couldn't get a good nights rest, it was hot at times, 99 degrees, rainy, and we went through a snow storm. One of the riders called it quits and headed back home at day two, I wanted quit at day four but my friends talked me out of it. As I sit in front of my computer on my day off, still in my drawers, I wish I was on that trip right now, even thought at the time I said never again. I know when we're living in the P.I. I might have those same feelings so I'm keeping the house here for awhile, I really would love to sell it because I'm tired of the upkeep, I'm hoping that we will love retirement over there so I can sell. I was also thinking that maybe we could take breaks from the Philippines to another country but with a dog it might be difficult.

[bows00]

15 hours ago, stevewool said:

Talking to a few friends that have property they rent out , they have had some bad tenants but on the most they have more good then bad and like you if you can get a long term renter then you are on to a good thing.

Being a landlord is one thing, but being a long distant landlord is another.  I have weighed my options and have decided to keep my Hawaii condo vacant during my travel ventures.  I would sell it before becoming a long distant landlord.  

[Queenie O.]

Hi Jake,

Getting out of my comfort zone meant both my husband and I leaving jobs, but we were both ready to do that. Leaving a nice apartment in a city I loved and a close knit family and neighbors that we really liked. After four years living here,  many initial fears and frustrations have fallen away for the most part over time.  Having a house and garden and my husband's family/extended family not far away have helped. Thanks to S&R and other supermarkets in Cebu I've come to eat more imported food than I'd ever imagined to get or desire, along with plenty of fresh local fish. I've been lately buying US imported fabric and having a local seamstress make me a lot of fun clothes/new wardrobe to my liking which has been great. A great Japanese hair stylist and salon has added to my comfort. I speak the local language with a decent proficiency, so that has helped me to adjust too.

Not having to work has freed my husband and I up to choose what to do, create with our days/daily lives, instead of being a slave to work, traffic, bills, weather, and other daily routines and stresses in the States. We moved here pre-Trump and craziness, so that is another factor that we wouldn't now have to contend with. I would consider my husband and I to be generally easy going people, and we were happy living in the States for the most part, but are happier and much more free now, in our new life. We pretty much burned our bridges in getting here, but although not always a good thing to do, it has worked out for us. I worry a lot less than I used to in my old life, and live more in the moment here now. Can't imagine being anywhere else. I miss my family and friends at times, but feel content that the move was worth it 

I guess in getting out of my old comfort zone,  I've adapted through trial and error over time, in getting to the "new" comfort zone that I'm in now. Living/ adapting here is unique for everyone, and transitions and expectations are also personal and different. Being a woman expat seems to have different challenges too, but nothing I can't handle.

 

[Queenie O.]

On 8/18/2018 at 10:10 PM, Jake said:

Hey Joe,

I could remember Seattle being like San Diego but more laid back.  While San Diego had illegals, I believe Seattle or the Pacific Northwest area was being inundated with lost Americans trying to escape normal life by going bare ass naked in the woods of the PNW.  Sort of like The Burning Man and Woodstock all rolled into one happy joint.  Don't worry, be happy was their slogan, camping out on the streets and nearby wilderness before heading north to Alaska.....he, he.  Yeah, and the politicians and politics are going to chit too.  

I had a very nice comfort zone while residing in Silverdale, Kitsap county and wouldn't mind living there again.  But as Dan (Old55) would suggest, maybe 6 in, 6 out rotation.  It would seem like a fair compromise -- being able to return back to home base while you need more time to adjust/adapt/reject your new comfort zone.  

Perhaps that would be my comfort zone -- remaining flexible?  

Being able to stay in two places would probably be a good thing. For myself I think it would be harder as an expat to make the transition to a new life. While in one place, I might still be thinking about the other place. Always adjusting to where I was at any given time, without committing to either one. I was ready to make the move, and made up my mind that I'd make it work no matter what, so that has helped me I think to more easily adapt. That's just my perception though. 

For specific reasons though, having a part time life here could be a great and acceptable thing for many. 

Edited August 20, 2018 by Queenie O.

[Jack Peterson]

 For something like 40 years I have been a Foreigner somewhere, 27 years military and "WOW that is a lot of moving, Last 13 years in various places to me My comfort zone is where the Heart is. Here 

[Gary D]

On 8/19/2018 at 9:52 AM, OnMyWay said:

No, in Gary's case, 6 mo here, 6 mo there, I was referring to who takes care of the house while he is in the Philippines.  I assume it is left empty or with a caretaker.

Our main house in Bataan, the mother in law lives there, father in law died 25 years ago. The small house near Dumeguete, an aged aunt and cousin live there.