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ItDontMeanAThing, Sorry things didn't work out for you. Here are some thoughts for living not just visiting overseas. Cities like MetroCebu are large urban complexes. Traffic and pollution and crime will seem intimidating in a city of 4 million people. I live in a city stateside of about...

Haven't been there yet, but hope to visit in the future. Looks like they're playing a bit of catch up as far as development goes, but its definitely someplace I'd like to see ... had a few friends who served there.

Living is what you make of it. Every place presents opportunities and drawbacks. Find the spot that works for you and you'll be happy. If you learn to navigate a country and its culture, it's a lot more doable, but it's not for everyone. When I navigate the Philippines, and I do so solo, I...

Thx ... yes, I fully expect to go through some adjustments. I worked in Colombia many years ago so am not so newb to living abroad, but yes there are many adjustments to make. As for passing ... hehe ... I was hoping to live to 120 ... but it is an issue I will pay attention to.

LOL ... I'm not sure things could ever get that bad for me to want to do a David Carradine. But its a good point about the cost of living changing over time. Most of the nice destinations are nice because they are slowly developing the infrastructure to make them appealing. But if they...

I agree completely. To get the housing cost down, you might want to look at properties in the smaller cities or on the outskirts of Metro Manila. If you're in Manila, you're competing with a lot of working expats from Asia and the West for the nice properties. I've found a nice 4 bedroom...

Teeruh, yes if you want cooler weather Baguio and Tagaytay are nice alternatives in the mountains. Buns, you are correct. It all depends on how you live. When you move abroad some commodities don't change in price and in fact may get more expensive. On the other hand if you learn to adapt and...

Yeap, I'm mostly likely to end up in Cebu or just outside the city. Manila, Cebu, and Davao are all pretty modern by my standards. Haha ... if you ride around in the jeepneys hang on to your wallet!

Well, with China I had 2 options. One was joining up with the Peace Corps and being assigned somewhere in the interior of China. It is actually pretty nice duty, teaching English at some university. Not the typical Peace Corps assignment you might think of. Aside from that I enjoyed Nanning...

Just retired at 57. Since I am planning to live to 120 years, it's still a few years before becoming middle-aged. :coolsmiley: Had a small additional nest egg (403) that has now paid out and getting ready to retire abroad. Didn't get rid of all my debt first, but it doesn't look like such a...

Hehe ... well after Southeast Asia, then Mexico, Costa Rica or Panama would have been my picks. Little pricier, but still a lot less expensive than stateside.

China was my first pick for retirement living. But after going through 8 CD's and not learning much more than ni hao, I had a change of heart. Heading out for the Philippines in about a month. Will spend some time in Manila then head south to settle in Cebu or Davao. Cost of living is quite...

I think the greatest thing that bothered me prior to retirement was, did I have enough of a retirement income. Too much of my thinking was focused on the income side of the equation which resulted in thinking ... hmmm one more year ... wait for another pay raise to boost the pension ... put a...

You know one day while driving home from work, I drove through a fast food place for an ice cream soda. Well, the ice cream must have been bad because by the time I got home, the ice cream was insisting on being released in any way possible. I sat on the old throne for a long time. And...

Once I collect on a tiny nest egg that I've put away, I hope to go on a permanent vacation. Hope to set up a new home in the Philippines for at least a year. Might stay there or might move to a new country every year for a change of pace. The Philippines isn't for everyone, but after making a...

Decided to pack it in and retired a month ago. Since I plan to live to 120, I am not quite middle aged yet. :whistling: Will be headed out to Asia in a month or so. Wish I had discovered this forum sooner. Might have retired sooner!