Retired Navy Senior Chief - Where To Live

Have you ever surfed in San Juan, La Union? It's not Siargao but it definitely has the beach town vibe you may be looking for. There is a golf course near by, albeit a 9-hole. I don't know how good it is though. I have only been to the club.

I understand your dilemma as I am in the same boat. I do think that you may feel a bit restless living abroad as well, just in a different way. At least, that's how I think I would be. My plan in a few years is to have my home base here in California, live part-time in the Philippines and part-time traveling wherever looking for surf

Thanks. Yes, I’ve been looking in La Union as well. I think you’re on point about getting restless there as well.

Hello Shawn

My name is Wayne. A retired Marine and civil service worker as well. I retired in Philippines with my filipina wife. I was stationed at Subic bay and have visited there since living here.

I think Subic would be perfect for you. Gone are all bars and go go girls. They have gym and all other western things you love. They have TGIF even Kristy crime donuts. You can rent home or condo on base. They have modern hospital. Now there is a giant SM department store right outside where the old front gate to base use to be.

There lots to do there. Lot expats as well.

Thanks a bunch Wayne. Definitely interested in Subic Bay for all the reasons you have mentioned. Do you still live there, or just visit?

I've also noticed a few nice beaches north, towards Panduquit. Looking forward to my visit this April.

Thank you for the response,
Shawn

jbol wrote:

My plan in a few years is to have my home base here in California, live part-time in the Philippines and part-time traveling wherever looking for surf

Nothing like the endless summer.  We do it without the surfing, spending our summers in PA and our winters in Ilocos Sur and hit other spots in SE Asia, leaving tomorrow for Manila and then Singapore and a 12 day cruise ending in Hong Kong.

Shawn

I live in Bicol region. It’s like south from Manila. About 250 KM. I do missionary work here really trying help poor. Not to many that fit that bill around Subic.

Lots to do there. It only gets really busy when people come Manila on some weekends. Nothing like the will remember it when the base was there. All girlie stuff is in Angeles city where Clark air base was.

There are really nice major freeways going to Subic. They don’t allow tricycles or any other slow moving vehicle on the freeway. The freeways are the best I have seemed here. Just like USA.

Great places to eat there. And really you can rent some place nice there. Lot people rent there places and come there seasonal. Let me see if I can send you a link.

I will try to see if I know how to send you a friend request. Then I could send it to your email.

Wayne,  I will be very grateful if  you could send that link to me as well.  I will be going to the Philippines in April I will love to take a look then

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1eKzERxVK … utu.beu.be

Awesome link! I’ll be there in April as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eKzERx … ture=share

Awesome, thanks.

Hey guys Subic is a nice setting. Also if you been to San Diego and like that kind of setting Laguna is very nice. It’s about hour from Manila.

It’s a very developed place nice malls and restaurants. So it’s nice as well. Let me see if there is link for that

Laguna link. Doesn’t show malls nor is it in English. But very nice video. Nuvalle is also not featured it’s nice part Laguna. They have S&R store that’s just like Costco with Costco products. Plus they have hardware stores just like Home Depot.

https://youtu.be/q6yQIHlNS7A

Here is Laguna nuvail Santa Rosa’s link.

https://youtu.be/Tw8bCA6xoOo

It’s a very nice model place to live.

Laguna Nuvali mall link

https://youtu.be/sBC5sLCqOK0

I love to travel, but traveling is much different than living in a different country... However, it sounds very exciting to me. I am a single guy, healthy and I bring home approximately $3700 U.S. per month (military retirement/ VA disability).

Staying fit and having a gym nearby is a must. Does anyone have any recommendations where I should be looking? I do enjoy my western style living and I do understand I would be giving a lot of that up.

Should I wait a few more years and work, build up my government retirement, or get there and slow down my life?


I WANT TO BE A HEALTHY 47 AGAIN!!!

I think you should work until you are fed up with your job and surroundings.  Though I've never been to Vancouver, WA, my co-workers who have lived there and still live there have told me, wonderful place to live and driving distance  to Portland, OR

Have you done your financial calculations.  If you can keep in mind, once you retire or quit your job, can you work and make as much $ or more that what you are giving up?

I have been going through this for many years, and I'm still waiting on retiring.  My job is somewhat flexible, so I am PLANNING, still haven't decided to, work six months and collect SS, and live in Philippines for 5-6 months, then eventually fully retire.

For me, time change is a killer for me, 13 hr time difference to Philippines, at the present. 

If you can take a leave, that would be the best answer.

Not having enough money when you leave the US, is the worst thing you can do. 

I have to have my a/c and hot/warm shower.  Things like that are a luxury, I have to have at least 800 sq ft apt/condo, good luck with that without paying a premium price tag.  I can go on on what I want...mainly my ebay addiction and online shopping addiction.

You need to look into currency exchange, just because it's 51-53 pesos to the dollar, doesn't mean it's gonna stay that.  5 yr Forecast is up to 66 pesos when I looked last, a few months ago, but could get strong to 40 pesos or less per dollar, because the Chinese are putting alot of $ into the Philippines.

So do your financial math and try to cover your bases.  Health insurance is not friendly to 60 yr old+ expats, from what I've heard, but I'm new to researching stuff, can't get much info being here in the states.

and what's with this 50 yr lease on buying condos?

so, each country has their weird laws,

You have now left the UNITED STATES,

YOU HAVE NO NO NO NO RIGHTS!!!!

Forgive me for being negative, but much to consider, as I am

Wayne,
Thanks for the link.

Hello JFKMNL

I am retired USMC, disability like yourself, but I also am retired civil service worker. You said your take home retirement would be $3,700.00.

I think that general belief to live here in what amount depends on your life style. It starts with where you live. If you are looking to live a semi western style life here near big city that’s not a lot. It maybe more if you don’t plan on paying a new car. I did because I had to have something dependable. You cannot get good dependable vehicle I don’t believe unless you really know who you are buying vehicle from and it’s history. New vehicle has a big added tax with them. And if you plan on financing it that’s a bit expensive depending on what you buy. I bought Toyota Prado (JR. Landcruiser). I finance it via credit union in USA. Don’t mind telling you I pay over 1K US dollars a month. So, just think about that.

Much more say about finances but I will keep it short. I would say to you don’t rush to retire here. Make all money you can and save it. Get another retirement if you can. You will appreciate you did when you retire. Take vacations here until you can retire. I did. I waited until I was 61. Then remember at 60 something you can get SSN if you paid in.

Hope this helps.

Wayne,

Thank you for your kind words.

Actually, I was trying to give Shawn some advice, maybe I didn't do it right?
I don't know to highlight his post, so I ended up underlining part of his post. 

I'm a newbie when it comes to commenting.

I wish I will have $ 3,700/m net retirement, as my good friend always says, I would rather be able to live like a KING in the Philippines vs barely making ends meet in the US!!!!

but that is Shawn's current salary.  I don't know if that is his retirement monthly income, but I sure wish it was mine!!!!

To give you a little more info on me and what I am thinking for myself.  Currently I am fully employed, however, I don't work my full schedule.  Therefore it gives me the freedom to live in another country and work in NY, but will soon be transferred to Chicago on May 2, and I plan to transfer back to NY in November 2019.

I am much older than Shawn, planning to collect SS at 66, and still work as a full time employee with my current job.  I don't know how long I can do that, maybe 2 yrs at the most?  My body definitely won't be able to handle the 12-13 hr time difference and the over 24 hrs from the time I wake up to get to MNL and back to JFK or ORD.

I haven't driven for at least 5 yrs now, and I am picturing myself driving at 70 yrs old...
naaaah

grab taxi?
is that what it's called in PI?

and wherever I plan to retire in PI, i'm sure there's always gonna be tricycle and jeepney, maybe even a bus!!!!

or make friends and bum a ride off of them here and there...

I didn't think that was possible, that you can purchase a vehicle in the PI and finance it through a US bank/credit union.  How about housing?  Can you finance through your CU?

Yes, my plan is to pinch every penny till I fully retire and probably a miser worse than Scrooge in PI!!!!!

At the present time, I am researching Airbnb, not a bad monthly price, however, alot of them are definitely out of my price range, $900/m + for a tiny condo room in Manila?

might as well pay $ 400/m in Japan for a little larger room that actually has a bathtub!!!
of course in Tokyo, maybe $ 600/m if you're lucky near the train station.

So, Shawn, now you have 2 opinions of don't quit, work till u can financially support yourself, cuz like I said, once u quit, u can't go back to the same job, unless u can, i know if i retire, i cannot go back to my job with all the benefits.  Think of your current benefits that you get with your current job,

Maybe you can gather rich filipino kids that wanna learn to surf and you can teach them and haul in $ 250k/m plus your US retirement?

Do action surfing youtube videos and haul in another easy $ mil?

you have such potential, and remember, I get 10% of what u make, cuz I came up with the ideas!!!!

that would really help my retirement at 66, and maybe I could live like a KING!!!

Hi Shawn, sorry just got wind of your question. Are you already in the Philippines? Where have you settled?

Hi Shawn, sorry just got wind of your question. Are you already in the Philippines? Where have you settled?

Cebu; good place

I lived in Baloy beach and never saw surfable waves.  Belize is nice.

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