Would you do it all again?

["P2"]

Well.... would you? Knowing what you know now, would you still make the move to the Philippines?

In a previous thread I spoke about seriously considering moving to the Philippines.... But how did you do that? Do you guys have family back in your native country? 

Did you bring your family with you? Did you come by yourself? What were your circumstances?

If you left family behind, how are you handling that? I have 3 young adult (20 something) kids and I know that they will not want to come to the Philippines with me . What do you do? It would be hard because I wouldn't want my 

kids to think that I'm abandoning them, yet at the same time I have to think about myself and my future in regards to a happy retirement. 

Have any of you regretted in any way moving? Has it been hard leaving family (not necessarily kids but parents and brothers/sisters) if you left family behind. 

So would you do it all again?

[Dave Hounddriver]

10 minutes ago, "P2" said:

So would you do it all again?

Yes, if I was going back in time.  But this is a different time.  I would surely look at other options before taking a leap of faith that the Philippines is some kind of paradise.  Note that I am being very carefull not to suggest you don't do it.  You won't know until you try.  But don't burn any bridges for a couple of years.  It may take that long for the euphoria to wear off.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

I was a single dad for 16 years.  My kids were both in college and in other cities.  I quit work at 48 and moved over here. I "should" have worked a few more years. I 'could' have looked into Mexico or South America, and been closer to the old country...

But, yes I would do it again.  If not - I would go back now.  I did not come all this way to be unhappy. If I did not like it I would look elsewhere, or go back.  

6 1/2 years and still loving it. Every day is a holiday, every meal is a feast ha ha (an old Navy saying)  

[Mike J]

I will have been here seven years this coming October.  The only family I have left back in the USA is my brother 71, and a sister 68.  We keep in touch on a regular basis via email.  When I left the USA I told them I would "probably" not be making any trips back to the USA.  Thus far I have not returned and, at present anyway, have no real desire to return.  Perhaps I would feel different if I had children or grandchildren living there.  Am I happy?  Happiness is, at least for me, a more difficult term to define and answer.  I can tell you that I enjoy my life here and am quite content.  My wife and I have a small ministry and I enjoy working with young people.  I have found an interest, and some even a little talent, in painting and sketching that I now enjoy.  We are fortunate to live on the water and I can enjoy the beautiful view each day of the year.  I do miss the convenience and service levels that I was used to in the US.  People in the US for the most part follow the "rules", they obey traffic laws, fall in at the end of lines, wait their turn, etc.  Business and government are FAR more efficient in the USA.

People have asked me "What is like to actually live there?"  I tell them that the Philippines is not for everyone.  You will either enjoy life here, or wonder why anyone in their right mind would want to live here.  The difference will be in how and whether you can adjust to the Philippines culture and a lower standard of service and infrastructure.

Would I do it again.  Absolutely!  The warmth and friendliness of the Philippine people is amazing and I have no desire to leave my Filipino extended family and friends.

I was getting ready to click "Submit Reply" and realized I need to add to my post.

My Filipina wife came to the USA on a finance visa so she spent 8 years there while we were married.  She misses the USA a lot and speaks often about wanting to move back.   I was a little surprised when she first talked about it because she had missed the Philippines quite a bit while living in the US and enjoyed our trips here.  She has discovered, like many expats, that a vacation here is different than a life here.  So it is not just you, but also your wife, who would be making quite an adjustment should you choose to make a permanent move. 

[sonjack2847]

I have been here 8 years and the only regret I have is that I was laid off from work and not able to save for 2 more years apart from that no regrets.

[Tommy T.]

10 hours ago, "P2" said:

Well.... would you? Knowing what you know now, would you still make the move to the Philippines?

 

Yes. Without a doubt.

[Jack D]

Since I'm now living back in the USA again (after 6 years in the Philippines), I have no plans to go ever go back to living in the Philippines. The best parts of my Philippines experience is that I now have a loving Filipina wife and I truly appreciate my homeland more than ever before (after living in a 3rd world country). I might go back for a visit, so that my wife and I can visit family and friends but I'd never want to live there again as an expat.

[Mike J]

39 minutes ago, Jack D said:

Since I'm now living back in the USA again (after 6 years in the Philippines), I have no plans to go ever go back to living in the Philippines. The best parts of my Philippines experience is that I now have a loving Filipina wife and I truly appreciate my homeland more than ever before (after living in a 3rd world country). I might go back for a visit, so that my wife and I can visit family and friends but I'd never want to live there again as an expat.

It may be helpful to the OP if you could give the reason(s) why you would never want to live here again as an expat.

[Jack D]

36 minutes ago, Mike J said:

It may be helpful to the OP if you could give the reason(s) why you would never want to live here again as an expat.

Some (and not all of my) Reasons - in no particular order

• The air is too polluted.
• Dusty roads and streets.
• Tap water (at least mine) was undrinkable.
• Unable to use toilet paper in my bathroom since the pipes couldn’t handle it. I never liked using a tabo and I didn’t have a bum gun.
• Water pressure in the shower was so weak that it was almost non-existent
• Three hours at the car wash (only to need another car wash on the following day).
• Tired of smelling burning garbage (basura).
• Long lines everywhere.
• Horrible internet and telephone service – I could not call all phones in the Philippines with my individual telecom company (Globe) without paying extra money (or having multiple SIM cards, including Smart).
• Hospital held me as a prisoner until I paid my bill in full.
• Too many rats and roaches.
• Being hit in the arm by every beggar.
• Inability to have an intelligent conversation in English with most locals, unless they were professionals or other people with college education.
• No personal space – people crowd right on top of you.

 

 

 

[Dave Hounddriver]

43 minutes ago, Jack D said:

Some (and not all of my) Reasons - in no particular order

These are all good reasons.  Some people have more tolerance to all these problems.  I had more tolerance as a younger man (thinking with the small head and lots of beer in my stomach) but my tolerance decreases as I age and drink less beer