Hello all,
I worked for 22 years as a manufacturers rep. The money was good but the work was BORING and I was on the road a lot. I knew I'd eventually burn out so I started investing in rental houses in the late 1980's. I finally left the company in June of 1999.
My high maintenance wife of 7 years knew I had no intention of going back to work and hated the thought of giving up her upscale lifestyle, so she hired a divorce attorney vowing to take me to the cleaners. She failed miserably and by mid August, the dust had settled and I was single.
In November, I visited the Philippines and Thailand spending 3 weeks in each place. Afterwards, I went back to Seattle, put all my stuff in storage and by the first of the year, I was living in a nice new townhouse in the Philippines.
I had a great time exploring the islands and made a few trips back to Thailand as well but I've always been a "relationship guy" and by late summer, I was involved with a lovely Filipina who just happened to come from an idyllic little island in an obscure corner of the country.
In 2000, we decided to move to Thailand and we lived happily there until spring of 2004. We had decided to marry and we wanted to be married in the US because it was the easiest way to get her green card. We lived there for about a year and then returned to the Philippines.
Today, we have a beautiful 1 1/2 year old daughter and we spend half the year in the US and the other half here in the Philippines. I do most of the maintenance work on my properties so that keeps me busy when we're in the States. I recently started up a small scuba diving service on our little island. It's the only one there and I am choosy about my hours and my customers.
Like the song says- I can't complain but sometimes I still do. Life's been good to me so far.
Best to all,
Standupguy